Dave:
You made this statement in your original post concerning this thread:
.....with the slower bows it wasn't as big of an issue as the burners we have now. My aluminums hit the same field tip or broadhead. With carbons you can use the little plastic washers.
Today's bows seem to require a much higher degree of tuning at all aspects due to the increased speed and much shorter ATA. The bow I have now is probably close to 100 fps faster than my Whitetail legend I bought in 1990.
I agree with you totally on the issue of "Today's bows seem to require a much higher degree of tuning at all aspects due to the increased speed and shorter ATA."
What I have todisagree with you about is this statement
I believe that if you buy quality arrows you will get a quality product.
, and this statement
For the average person they do not have the resources to sift thru arrows to find the perfect ones and theflawed ones.
, and this statement
Tools like the ASD square the insert to the shaft. Therefore, even if the insert is not properly seated the broadhead will seat properly to the shaft.
I also have to disagree with MDBUCKHUNTER on his post
Sometimes you just gotta let the professionals be professionals and go hunting.
While it's nice to tweak every little piece of your equipment, some things are better left up to the manufacturer. Remember, he gets paid to monkey around, you don't.
0.001" tolerance plus or minus should not be your focus. Focus on the major items and you will drastically increase your chances of taking any animal.
Now let me address these issues one by one.
1. You may spend good money on 'quality' arrows but I think you, like many others, are basing quality on manufacturers' advertising. I can assure you that we've seen .001 arrows that measured between .030 to .050. That's 30 to 50 times worse than what was advertised. Then you have the issue of spine consistency that can be tested with a very expensive spine testing machine (which we have) or various other 'no tools needed' methods. And keep in mind that spine consistency does not always directly relate to advertised spine.
2. The "average" shooter can surely sift through his arrows to determine which is better than the other. One way is through broadhead grouping/tuning and there are several other ways that do not require special tools.
3. The ASD tool will surely square the insert to the 'end' of the shaft, but will prove useless if the shaft is not straight.
4. It's up to PROfessional people like myself who have dedication to their face-to-face everyday customers to evaluate/test and report findings that are at times contrary to advertised specs. This is in the true interest of the end user - my customers (case in point). Manufacturers come and go, but the true PRO Shop is something that must always strive to gain and maintain the customers' respect and dedication. "Honesty is necessary to long-term relationships".
5. The manufacturer gets paid by retail outlets and rarely has a one-on-one relationship with the end user. The retail outlet takes your money and has the responsibility to make sure you are properly serviced. The more intimate you the customer are with the retail outlet, the more honest and service-based that outlet must be. If your service agent is just passing on goods with no desire/method of whether or not you're getting the best goods for your money, then maybeit's time tofind another service agent/outlet. In other words, is the customer just a number or a person with a name and a need?
6. Focusing on major items will get you in the 'ballpark' while focusing on the minor items as well will win you the 'championship'.
7. IfI'mpaying for .001 and test to find I'mgetting .050, I've really got a problem with that and won't pass this product onto my customers. If others would have the same capability/principles, the manufacturers of those overly advertised products might get the message and start providing us all with what is actually advertised.
In closing, it's very easy to make an aloof statement about quality as long as others don't question that quality and blindly accept it. Yes, I may look negatively on many things, and I've been accussed of that before; but, with the knowledge and tools that I have, if I don't look out for my customers, my customers might notstay my customers.