How many of us actually do???
 

A post in the technical forum prompted this question.

How many of us actually inspect our carbon arrows before we shoot them?

I'll be the first to raise my hand and say " NOT ME!" In fact, I got rather lucky here a couple months ago, before I changed back to aluminum. I had a flyer, high/right, everytime, and couldn't figure out why. So, thinking it may be a clearance issue, I rotated the nock, just slightly. Impact point moved, but still a flyer. Interesting, I thought. So I turned the nock some more. Impact point moved again, but still a flyer.

Ok, something's going on here. Upon white glove inspection, I found a 1/2" crack in the arrow. I had shot that arrow at least 12 times, cracked the entire time. Got my attention, but even though I inspected the rest of them right then and there.....I didn't again.

So let's here it, how many of you, honestly, inspect your carbon each time you shoot it?

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

same here i dont check them at all and i have actually had a carbon arrow like explode on me when i shot it

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Guilty..I don't check them every shot. Just a couple times each time out I guess. My friends brother had one explode as he shot it....scary stuff.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I check them almost after every shot when I am shooting 3d or with other people, because Mo Bowhnter had one blow up on him after having a crack near the fletching and shooting it. He didnt know it was there because it was hidden. So now I check pretty regularly.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

i dont check them that often, just a couple times a year

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Only if I hit something that could potentially damage it. If its just into foam, I don't check.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

You mean they are making arrows out of carbon now...Who would have ever thought that....

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Oh man Don that could have been bad [:o]good thing you caught it. Im guilty as charged for not checking them, but i shoot at individual spots most of the time instead of groups, where shaft damage is higher %%. As of right now, i have one i know is damaged, its the one Bols tried to blow up last june [:@][8D]I dont shoot it any more.:D

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

If I am just shooting into a target I usually don't shoot the same spot so they don't get damaged by my other arrows soI don't check after every shot. If I am shooting with other people I do try to remember to check them each time.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Yea ... I allwaysinspect my arrows before I shoot them and every time I hit something real hard ( like a rock ) :Dbut I don't check them every time I shoot.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I don't unless it's been awhile since I've shot, or I hit something other than just the target ..... [&o]

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Son in law used a set of my carbons saturday when we went to the indoor range, I checked them befor he used them, and checked them againwhen he gotdonebecause he was shooting a single dot target.

I check mine constantly while I shoot. Old habit.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Usually only if it got slapped in the target or hit something solid.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

No I do not check often enough.Thanks to this post I will check tomorrow.If your arrow has say a Buff Tuff coating on it from CXit is real hard to find cracks.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I'll admit it... I don't inspect them probably as much as I should. I do however check them out after every shot on a 3D where people are slappin' arrows together.:eek:

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

if im shooting alone and dont hit anything other than my targets and arent shooting groups, i dont check. usually give them the ole flex test before and after shooting...

if i smack shafts or am close to it, i will check both arrows...same with 3d shoots..i check every shot there...

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I look at them and give them a little twist, but not too hard, from time to time. If by chance one goes awry for some reason, like I hit the release or some stupid thing(it doesn't happen more than once a year) I check it real close.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I need to do this more as well...

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I don't check them every shot... But I do try and check them often - maybe every 10 - 15 shots...

I've seen some pics of a local guy that had once break and go into his wrist... Did all types of nasty damage... [:'(] Kinda scared me...

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Might be a dumb question but is it even possible for FMJs to do this being as they have an aluminum exterior and carbon interior? I would think not, but could be badly mistaken here.

I too, am or was, guilty of hardly ever checking my arrows. I always shoot individual spots and havent even entered my first 3d shoot yet.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Inspect em? for what? a new arrow? manufacturing error I'm checking for?

or are you suggesting if you miss the target and hit wood or some other tough wall etc...?

If I ever missed the target I'd inspect my arrow, I think maybe twice I missed and my arrow once went through the fence....the other time 2 sheets of 3/8 ply, after those incidents sure i inspected them.

but are you suggesting just after shooting into your target after awhile?

I rub my arrows, usually to get foam/target debri off of them, if I were to feel something id take a further /closer look, and I mean i glance at my arrows all the time when shooting/removing from the target, I notice details though so if something were wrong I think I'd notice it, but cmon dont miss the target guys, \

I laughed when my bowshop guy said you need a dozen arrows, and I said why? whats wrong with half dozen? he's like ever lose an arrow? I replied, NO.

I guess most guys lose lots of arrows?

After I shoot a few deer, I'll get another 6.....then I'll have like 10, I dunno.

If I can't hit the block im shooting at, I'm not going to be shooting further and miss it.

If you can't hit the block at 30 or 40yds dont move it back to 60 and fling one out there.

This fall I was at the range, and guys, with quality hunting arrows/bows were shooting arrows that hit the ground etc......and the targets are 4feet wide!

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Ever since that post went out a last year and I switched to Carbon I check them.
One exploded and went into someone's hand.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I DO! Maybe not after everyshot, but before and after each shooting session I do. Also I check them when I zing one of a rock, tree,or dirt patch. Better safe than sorry IMO. Have one blow up on you and that may be the last shot you ever take with a bow and arrow. Just food for thought.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Every time for me! After I pull them from the target, I check each one on my walk back to my bow. It only takes a second to flex them and inspect closely. I also take the time to check to make sure my field tip/broad head is on tight too.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I used to not check them very often (and even shot one that had minor scrapes on them when I was new to bow shooting) but last year my brother in law picked one of my arrows up out of my case and had it blow up on him. Bent the hell out of his cams on his Allegiance and scared the crap out of both of us. (btw this was one that I didn't know had a crack in it). I don't check after every shot now, but I definitely check more often.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I usually test them as I pull them out of the target.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I'm guilty too....I buy 6-12 new arrows before every season.I usually don't start shooting until July. Six get added to my practice arrows and I save6 for the season.I have plenty of arrows to practice with throughout the year. I guess I better check them to make sure they are safe. Thanks for the tip.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I actually check mine, though not a thorough "Twist, flex, feel," I do check mine with each shot. I generally gently wipe of any excess foam, and as I nock the arrow, I always tap the arrow on the riser, checking to make sure I don't have an odd vibration. I've caught 2 bad arrows this way over the years. Pretty simple to just tap the arrow on the riser, if it sounds like the tip is loose but it ain't, you've got a problem!!!

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I check before each session with the tap method

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

x2

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Every Shot! I had a couple near misses about the same time that one dude had one blow up through his hand last year. Check'em every time!

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Ok I went and checked mine....one had a split in it, at the rear by the nock....kinda scary actually. Needless to say its in the garbage now.Im glad you posted this.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Just looking out for my fellow man. It's what I do. ;)

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

Never. I shoot every day.....and unless I hear it hit something it shouldn't.......Never.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

After having an old (French) Beman explode I ran to the nearest shop and dropped the cash on some A/C/C's and haven't shot anything else since.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

A few extra bucks is worth avoiding this: (luckily I was wearing a Gore-Tex jacket when mine went off)

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I check them before every shot. Too many horror stories. However, my new arrows should be waiting at home for me when I get there Friday:)

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

I still don't do it everytime even though I know I should.........My fat 3D arrows are thin walled enough to be scary to think about.
I had a close call at a 3D shoot last year, one of my arrows exploded at release but didn't get my hand. The back fletched section stayed attached to the front 2/3 as it left the bow by a small ribbon of carbon. The thing did cartwheels off the bow and scared every living creature within a 5 mile radius. [:-]
Probably 20 guys at various points all yelled at the same time "What the hell was that!?"

I was lucky. Really lucky.

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

That might be enough to make you need to check your drawers, huh???

RE: How many of us actually do???
 

If you don't you should. I was shooting with a buddy that had one blow up after he shot and it split and went right thru his had. Most of it anyway. It was NASTY!!! He went into shock and I had to carry him out of the woods. Check your arrows before you shoot them and if you hit somthing hard check before you shoot that arrow again!!! ITS NOT A PRETTY SITE when one sticks in you hand!!!


Hatchet Jack