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Help with long range fishtailing

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Old 06-20-2007 | 08:08 AM
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Spike
 
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From: Bremen, Ga. USA
Default Help with long range fishtailing

First, here's my setup:

2006 Parker Pheonix 34-- 30" draw, 58.5#
Whisker biscuit QSrest
Sting loop and release
29" Carbon Express Maxima 250 Arrows w/ strait 2" blazers & 100 grain broadheads.

So here's the problem:

The bow has been well tuned at my proshop....it shoots bullets through paper (maybe and occasional 1/4 - 1/2" tear, which is probably form),but as the arrowreaches about 15-20 yards it starts to fishtail (iactually videoed it to make sure my eyes were deceiving me). I will group pretty well atinside a3" circle at20 yards, but by30....it won't group inside an 8" circle, and I havent even tried40 yards.

In working with the local pro.....he's made a couple of suggestions....I wanted to run them by you guys to make sure that he's not forgetting anything. Obviously....i've listed these in the most cost effective order.

1) Increase feild point wieght to 125 grains
2) Switch to offset blazer vanes
3) Increase arrow wieght
4) Buy a drop away rest
5) Buy a new bow

I'm pretty frustrated and could use any suggestions.
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Old 06-20-2007 | 08:40 AM
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Giant Nontypical
 
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Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

I've never, ever been a big fan of straight fletching because it doesn't do much of anything to stabilize. Since your arrow instability is so painfully obvious, first thing I'd suggest is going offset. That should take care of it.
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Old 06-20-2007 | 08:53 AM
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Giant Nontypical
 
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From: Nekoosa Wi USA
Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

Heardof problems with offsets through the WB......but you can try it.
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Old 06-20-2007 | 09:15 AM
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Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

Did you spin testthe arrows you are using to make sure they are straight? When the bow was paper tuned was astraightarrow with a good, consistantspine used? I would definitely offset the blazers but I'm not sure how the other stuff would solve the problem. Offsets through a WB should getthe arrowspinning sooner but I can't see howthey would be a problem.
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Old 06-20-2007 | 10:46 AM
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Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

Mine also fishtail a bit down range. I attribute that to my straight fletchings which are basically useless come hunting season. (no broadhead stability)

I just bought a Bitz Jig w/ Right Helical.
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Old 06-20-2007 | 10:50 AM
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Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

ORIGINAL: wis_bow_huntr

Heardof problems with offsets through the WB......but you can try it.
Not with Blazers......

I agree, try either offset or helical and see if that doens't solve it.....Out of curiosity, what's your FOC %?
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Old 06-20-2007 | 10:59 AM
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Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

ORIGINAL: mobowhuntr

what's your FOC %?
With just a nock and no bushing/pin OT2 has him at about 11.3%
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Old 06-20-2007 | 12:09 PM
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From: Kodiak, AK
Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

ORIGINAL: GaHunter19

So here's the problem:

The bow has been well tuned at my proshop....it shoots bullets through paper (maybe and occasional 1/4 - 1/2" tear, which is probably form),but as the arrowreaches about 15-20 yards it starts to fishtail

I'm pretty frustrated and could use any suggestions.
So, if this is the problem, what makes you think the bow is properly tuned? This problem indicates that it is not. Paper tuning is a rough guideline to get you started and you should be doing it at multiple, increasing yardages. You've still got some fine tuning to do or some form issues (hand torque) to work out. It sounds like you need to do some walk back tuning and/or broadhead tuning next but first thing I would do is get some helicle or offset on those fletchings. You'll need it come hunting season anyway.
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Old 06-20-2007 | 12:50 PM
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From: WEST PALM FLORIDA
Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

Offsets will not be a problem , many shoot with offset blazers through the wb rest , outside in the wind you will allways have this problem .
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Old 06-20-2007 | 12:52 PM
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Giant Nontypical
 
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Default RE: Help with long range fishtailing

An arrow from an out of tune bow will be flying all whompyjawed from the time it leaves the bow, start stabilizing by the time it's gone 15-20 yards, then begin to fly straight. If the arrow is launching straight off the bow, flying well until it gets 15-20 yards downrange and then starts going crazy, it's not bow tune.

This is classic arrow instability. Apparently the FOC is fine, so... They're knuckleballing downrange and need some spin to keep them going straight and true.
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