first shots

[Bowman4440]

Hey, just got done shooting a recurve for the first time. Im hitting the target and my groups are in an 10"circle but when my arrows hit the target they enter on a downward angle and don't get much penetration. Can anyone tell me why they are hitting at a downward angle and how to fix it?

Could be two things. One, very low nocking point, or two very high nocking point. Do you have a bow square? If shooting 3 under, the nock point should be around 1/2" high above square, if shooting split, only about 1/4" above (the diameter of the arrow).

You want to bare shaft tune the bow. Tear off the fletch off an arrow and shoot, from 10 paces or so. If it hits high, lower the nock point 1/32 at a time until that goes away. Then notice if it hits left or right. And cut the arrow or change point wieght to fix this until you get a lightly weak condition and your set.

[Bowman4440]

I have no bow square i think i will stop at the shop and get one along with a stringer. I am using my compound bow arrows which are easton carbon storm 400's with 100 grain field tips. I am going to get some different arrows soon for my recurve. I am shooting 45# @28 but my draw length is only 26 1/2 or 27 inches. So any help/suggestions on what to do woul be appreciated. I am very green in traditional but after shooting today i am enjoyingit a lot.

ORIGINAL: Bowman4440

I have no bow square i think i will stop at the shop and get one along with a stringer. I am using my compound bow arrows which are easton carbon storm 400's with 100 grain field tips. I am going to get some different arrows soon for my recurve. I am shooting 45# @28 but my draw length is only 26 1/2 or 27 inches. So any help/suggestions on what to do woul be appreciated. I am very green in traditional but after shooting today i am enjoyingit a lot.

wow, your way overspined with those arrows. You also need feathers to shoot on the shelf.

I highly suggest 1916's aluminums with 125gr points.

[Cessna Flyer]

You are over spined, but you cannot tell anything about arrow flight by the arrow sitting in 90% of targets out there, bag, layered foam, etc targetsare not good for this. The foam 3-D are pretty good but not perfect. But, looking at the arrow in flight is the best, note two people are nice for this.

I am not up on aluminum arrows, but when i did shoot aluminum with 45 pound recurve, I shot 2018's and 2016's.

Some may disagree with what I have just said about the targets an that is fine, but they would be in error.

[Bowman4440]

I am shooting a 3-d Buck. I stepped back to 30 yards so i could try and see my arrow fly better and i saw it kick up right before the target. I got some old aluminums laying around ill see what i have.

[Tox]

Cessna Flyer is right on. I tune my arrows by watching them in flight, and then shooting for groups. In some tgts they may be at many different angles, but if they group good, Im good to go.60 yrs of bow shooting. Good luck to all. Tox