Check your arrows
 

I've been meaning to post this for several days, but for whatever reason I haven't gotten around to it.

While paper tuning a customer's bow several days ago, I nocked an arrow, released, and watched as the arrow I shot exploded halfway to the target.

I can't explain why it happened; whether the arrow had been hit by another previously, whether it was warped, or what, but the arrow exploded halfway to the target. I hung the bow up, walked to the back wall of the range and pulled both pieces of the arrow out of the target.

Eight inches of the forward end of the shaft were stuck into the target about a foot low and left of the remaining portion of the arrow.

We often take for granted that our arrows are extremely durable; sometimes to the point of foolishness. I just want to remind everyone to check your arrows before shooting them. I was lucky this time.

The customer's bow was perfectly fine, if any of you were wondering.

And no, I'm not going to say which arrow brand I was shooting at the time.

RE: Check your arrows
 

I second this! Arrow inspection is key... this is why Im ordering 2 doz new shafts:)

RE: Check your arrows
 

Carbon? Thanks for the heads up also wash

RE: Check your arrows
 

Yeah, it was a carbon arrow.

RE: Check your arrows
 

I can't recall hearing of an aluminum shaft doing that. :D

RE: Check your arrows
 

I shoot aluminum but I still check them every time I shoot. This also gives me something to do when I am in the tree waiting for deer.:D

RE: Check your arrows
 

Thanks Wash. good idea, last week while inspecting my arrows I had small holes in them. Finally figured out that my Jack Russel, Jackwho loves guns, bowsand also arrows. He was running to the back of the target everytime I shot, looking for a dead deer. He hunts with me. Well learned my lesson.
http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z243/Sportsfann/?action=view¤t=Jackbuckdoe135.jpg

RE: Check your arrows
 

last year i nicked one ever so slightly with a broadhead. after that shot i happened to check..most times i wont lie...im lazy and dont unless i know i hit something hard or hit 2 togheter hard. that happened to be one of the blue moons i checked...i wouldnt seen it if i didnt check...no question it would have blown up..took a nice chunk out...but it wasnt noticable..wierd.

btw...now i check pretttty frequently. cant say its EVERY shot for EVERY arrow...but its more often...and always when i know i shafted them or hit something harder than my bag....rather be safe then sorry...only takes a second to flex them...

early in, i watched my buddies alumanum blow up the other day. i wouldnt believed it if i didnt see it with my own 2 eyes. hes new to shooting...arrow is REALLY close to being perfectly spined, if its not perfect. he didnt shaft any...didnt pull them out and bend the...they were new and in good shape. i was watching his form and the target...i was luckily behind him. he drew...i watched form..coached a little..he was getting ready to fire so i started watching toward the target for POI. he released...i watched the fletchings go about 10 foot and then go wildly to the top of my apple tree thats above my target, which was 20yds away. it fell back down....but it was just the fletching half..split and cracked with a chunk of apple tree in it. never did find the other half. im guessing its IN the tree...i cant see it..tall tree. didnt hit the fence or road or anything behind the backstop and target...and i was watching him..i know he wasnt aiming up there...

what happened?? my only guess that sounds plausable is it fell through the rest...he fired and the arrow flexed and blew up...he was shooting an old golden key rest with a prong on the right and bottom left of the arrow...they flex easy and i can see the arrow falling through....so it CAN happen to alumanums...dad said he seen it once before with alumanums back in his day....

RE: Check your arrows
 

That's crazy isn't it? I was kind of referring to an aluminum arrow exploding under the normal stress of a typical release situation.

RE: Check your arrows
 

Good post and great reminder! A really good dude on Colorado Waterfowl had a carbon arrow blow apart into his hand this year. He has been dealing with it for a while now! I sure hope he gets to hunt this year and I'm glad he keeps reminding us to check our arrows!