In accuracy that is..
Did you ever, or do you now, have some items of equipment that you just don't want to change, that you'd find hard to give up? Things that over the years have proven so reliable, and maybe even "necessary" to your setup? Things you might not use any more that you really would like to, but don't for some dumb reason or another?
The reason I'm asking is because this past year I realized that 2 seemingly unimportant pieces of equipment make a serious difference in my comfort level, accuracy, and consistency when shooting.
Here's my tale...(yes, of course, it’s another windbag story from Jeff)
Years ago when I first started using a release, a friend of mine let me have his "old" release. It was a Winn Free-Flight..one of the OLD ones before the camo glove; It kind of looked like a brown golf glove IIRC. I used that release for a year or two, and then bought a new one when needed. When I switched to LH shooting in 1992 or 1993, I bought a LH Winn. That's about when I started to get really serious about Archery. Over the next few years I started trying all kinds of release aids that the "pro's" used, and shortened my draw length to compensate (the Winn let's you get away with more draw length: about 3/4 to 1"
I tried FletchHunter's, Cobra, Scott, and Gametracker Calipers, a Carter BK-Hunter, the GK "Answer" ,and other's I'm sure I have forgotten about. But I always went back to the Winn after awhile. More recently I had used a Winn or a Tru-Fire Bearpaw (basically a direct copy of the Winn, but quieter and possessing a much crisper trigger) on a few occasions w/ a few different bows; My first Conquest, my Rival Pro, my Defiant, my Bear/Jennings Epic, and my Maverick. However, even though I was driving tacks w/ all of these bows, I just didn't want to shoot the Winn. It’s “clunky”, it has a mushy trigger, and tendency to torque the string and eat up servings compared to the caliper styles. So I gave them up in late 1999 and started using a Scott Shark, and later when I started shooting loops, a Rhino exclusively.
A few months back, when I was having a shooting slump, I started thinking of those old bows, and how consistently well I had shot them at first and then experienced a big decrease in day to day consistency. Every one of those bows I had initially been extremely happy with, yet after a few months either got rid of them, or "retired" them as I saw my accuracy wane. I started racking my brain, trying to think what may have happened. Why did things go wrong? My form? Poor tuning? Sub-par Manufacturing? Deficiencies in single-cam technology? Eventually it came to me. All of those bows I had initially shot w/ the Winn release, then later I shortened my draw and went to the Scott's.
So about a week into my bow season, I was out practicing on my deck. Although during the bow season I generally refuse to even try new equipment so as to promote consistency, I let my curiosity get the better of me, went inside, dug around, and found my old beat up Winn, and walked outside. The release was a B@#$h to get hooked up to my nocking loop, but I did. I drew the bow back (and remembered how much easier it is to draw a bow w/the Winn), and found my anchor..which felt much more comfy than normal. As I got the pin close to the spot I wanted to hit on my blank target face (how I practice during the season..to make sure I pick a spot), I noticed much less pin oscillation. The bow went off and the arrow hit the exact spot I was aiming at from 30 yards...and I mean Exact. I took a few more shots from farther away, and noticed that the bow held much steadier as the limbs closed as well as during aiming. I figured it was just a fluke that I was enjoying the kind of accuracy at 30-35 yards, that I previously only experienced at 20-25. I put the bow away and pulled it out the next morning before work along w/ the Winn. Again I took a 30 yard shot and absolutely knew that the bow was aiming MUCH steadier for me. 2 more shots as well as the first were dead on the money. The next morning, the same thing, and the next too.
THIS COULDN'T BE!! Could it? It had to be because my draw length was shorter now, maybe even too short. I tried the Scott again one evening and my groups opened up from arrows touching, to 2-3" at 30 yards. The draw length w/ the Scott wasn't too long. My alignment was good. But there was no denying that w/ the Winn, I was much more stable at full draw, and much more consistent. I eventually put a tru-fire bearpaw head on the Winn glove and now I had the trigger crispness I wanted, and it was easier to hook up to the loop. I even tried the Winn/BP combo on some other bows I had never shot w/ the Winn style release, and could see the difference with them as well. I took the bow I felt least comfortable with in my collection and shot better w/ it than I ever had previously.
Even now, 2 months later, I'm still shooting as well or better w/ the Winn/BP combo than that day a few months ago I “first” tried it. I guess I shot the Winn for so long early in my bowhunting days, that my form became based around it's use.
BTW, I'm not condemning Scott or any other brand of release. They are all fine pieces of equipment.
I can only think of one other thing in my setups that I just can't give up even though they have some qualities that I abhor..
Feathers....
Yep...
Natural feathers..
girly colored feathers..
Two florescent yellow, one hot pink, 4", parabolic cut, right wing feathers to be exact..
Every year I say “I'm going back to vanes, I'm tired of fooling w/ the longer fletch times, and waterproofing them, and (insert various B@#$%ing and moaning here)”
I've never had a problem w/ Feathers. Never had them waterlog when I waterproofed ‘em well. They fly great even when torn up. They stay on forever when fletched w/ the correct glues.
Not once have feather-fletched arrows let me down hunting. But there's that nagging voice in my subconscious that just makes me try new and/or different things all the time.."vanes are good..you must try them again...the colors are brighter...you must try them again...they won't waterlog...you must try them again ...there are several different brands to try and you MUST TRY THEM ALL, MEWHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!….. (that's a diabolical B-Movie Villain laugh, by the way. Pretty girl tied to a railroad track, train coming down the track, handlebar moustache on a guy w/ a cape and mask…”MEWHAHAHAHAha ha ha ha… h…a…..”
*Ahem*..
But after shooting vanes for a couple of months, I always go back to feathers. Then the next year or so, I do it all over again! What in the h-e-double hockey sticks is wrong with me???!
It's a sickness..a Sickness I tell you!!!!
When will I just get it through my thick skull that in my hands feather fletched arrows just plain shoot more accurately w/ and without broadheads? Or, for that matter, Easton ACC's? Or the bow that I'm currently shooting? Why, Why, Why???!!
I'm off to therapy now…
Anyone have similar stories or “must haves”?
JeffB
