Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Hey guys I need some advice!!! I am going to Africa in May and all advice says I need to use fixed BH's. I have used 80 gr mechanicals for 3 years and had great success with them on deer. I just switched to Wasp 125 gr 3 blades fixed BH's. The problem is that I can't get the BH's to group at all. I re-sighted my bow with 125 gr field points and had no issues at all....very nice tight groups. When I switched over to the BH's I was lucky to get 18 inch groups from 20 yds!!! I had arrows flying all over the place.

This is my first experience with fixed BH's and I'm absolutely at a loss....Any advice??

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

What's the size of your fletching?

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Everyone is going to want to know a lot about your equipment !

List everything you can think of about your equipment ! Bow , release, poundage,arrows, arrow length, fletchings, rest , etc. !

How much do you know about bow tuning ? Do you paper tune, group tune, etc. ? Have you spun any of your arrows with your braodheads attatched to see if they spin true ?

List as much as you can and someone on here will tell you exactly what you need to do ! I just got 130 grain Muzzy's to hit with my fieldpoints at 282 fps with help from these guys ........so I know it can be done !!

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

The reason everyone is going to want to know about your full setup is so that they can make further recommendations as to how to adjust it so that you can get better accuracy from your fixed blade heads. A helical fletching, proper FOC balance, etc.. are all very critical when addressing this type of issue.

My bet without further info is that it is either an insert/broadhead/shaft alignment issue or a tuning problem.

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Yes your fletching length could be an issue but make sure your broadhead's also line up with your fletching's so that your not getting a counter reaction in the air like "plaining".

nubo

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

You need to go back to step A. Your setup is way off somewhere if you are getting those types of groups. The mech heads were a bandaid for an improperly tuned setup.

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

What would he or one do if shooting 4 blade heads with 3 fletch?

As long as the shaft quality is exceptable, spine is good, broadheads spin true and adequate fletch is used, doing the above is more for aesthetics than function, in my opinion...

Kman, what kind of game do you plan to hunt? Depending on this and your set up and arrow weight, you may be better served going with a 2 blade cut on contact like the Magnum Stinger...

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

I'd suspect arrow spine deficiency, but without knowing the details on your setup, there's no way to say for sure.

Have you contacted the outfitter to get the regs? You need to make sure the setup you wind up with is going to be legal to hunt with. It'd be the pits to get over there with 400 gn arrows and find out they've got a 500 gn minimum arrow weight.

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

In my opinion, WV Hunter and Arthur P have possibly identified the problem.

The spine of your shafts may be incorrect or too near the "redline" and the mech heads allowed you to get by.

If you are shooting carbons; regardless of the range of spine carbons allow …which I personally do not agree with…. and believe the manufacturer's hype has sold the goods, you may have been too close to need in more or less spine. If you are shooting aluminum shafts, a jump to 125 from 80 is too much unless you drop your draw-weight…a lot.

A misconception by many shooters is that if the spine of a shaft is correct for field tips so will it be for broadheads. In some cases it (spine) will be ok, in a lot of cases it won't be. Not only can the flight of a broadhead mounted shaft be affected by wind planing, the forces that are being put upon the "winged" broadhead can cause a spine issue.

Arthur P is also correct about checking with the outfitter. Many have strict rules about what equipment and setup is allowed/required. One well-known outfitter for Africa hunts not only does not allow mechs, he also does not allow Muzzy's.

PS: Alignment of fletch with blades does nothing but make the shooter feel better about his/her setup.

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Does NOT allow MUZZY'S:D:DI'd type more if i could stop laughing so hard!

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Here is what I know about my set up (please keep in mind that I have never been a tech guy...just set it up and shoot)

Martin Magnum 64 lbs. Arrow speed is unknown
Draw length is 28 inches
My arrows are the Bass Pro shop Red Head line 350's 4 inch fletch carbon arrows..They are cheapies. The 3 fletches are not straight they kind of have a twist to them. They are 28.5 inches without the BH's
I am shooting with a release
My rest is a standard "pronghorn" rest that came with my bow.
My arrow weight with the BH on is about 550 grains

I have some 125 gr 2 blades BH's I was so frustrated last night I did not even think to try those. Is it possible that the added length of the BH's is causing so much trouble? It seems strange to me that an arrow weighing the same with a field point and a broad head flies so different....I probably should have paid better attention in school.

BTW I am hunting the bigger plains game...kudu, gemsbok, wart hog

Thanks for all the help!!

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

your about 150 grns off[&:]

There is no magic answer to this, this is a fact of shooting broadheads well.

You NEED to learn how to tune the bow and yourself to shoot fixed heads. There are no shortcuts or fairy dust.

Download Eastons tuning guide - and start from there - read it learn it - do it.

Good Luck in Africa:)

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

I'll bet you a nickel this is your problem. The absolute WORST place to skimp on a set up is your arrows.

Spin test your arrows with the broadheads on them. They're probably all over the place. You still need to check bow tune, but this is where I'd start.

If I were in your shoes, I'd get me some new high quality shafts asap. I wouldn't want the drop in the butt load of Africa hunting trip bucket of $70-$100 for a dozen high quality shafts potentially ruin my trip...

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

That's a recipe for trouble. Do like Rack said and download the guide and learn(even if you don't end up working on it...it;s still good info to know).


I think that is off somewhat...my 2216's weigh less than that.


Sounds like you need some help. Find a REPUTABLE shop....take your bow there and spend the money to get it straightened out. You've got plenty of time...get it straightenend out the right way.

Also, like Arthur said....you'd better double check with the outfitter...many only allow cut on contact heads...and have minimum arrow weights and bow poundage requirements. Hate to see you get all the way over there then find that out.

Good luck:)

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

I agree with Range , you got crap arrows . Get you some acc 349's with 5" feathers and it'll be like magic .

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Your draw weight might be a bit on the light side too from memory they have an 80lb min

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Have you realistically considered that skill and knowledge wise, including having proper gear, you might not yet be ready for an Africa hunt? Some outfitters/guides can be
very hardcore. Their income is based on reputation and success for their paying customers.

You might get there and not pass inspection on proper gear and skill. At which time they (outfitter) keep most or all of your money and tell you that it was your responsibility to know if you were qualified for such type hunting.

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Thanks for the help guys!!!! I did forget to mention that I just had my string and cable replaced and tuned by a pro at a good archery shop. I am making an assumption that bow tune is not a major factor in my BH problem (as I mentioned before I was driving tacks with the field points). Lesson learned here is that I need to learn the basics of tuning and flight physics. I'm 100% going to invest in some real arrows. I have an appointment at the archery shop this evening to try some different arrows.

c903....Thanks for the advice on evaluating my skill and knowledge on bow hunting. I want to apply your suggestion. How would I exactly know when I am ready for a trip to Africa??

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

kman, read this most excellent post by Len if you haven't already-

http://forum.hunting.net/asppg/tm.asp?m=590669

As with the others, I urge you to find out ASAP from your outfitter what the minimum bow poundage and arrow weights are, as well as any specific broadhead type requirements BEFORE you lay out more cabbage for stuff you potentially won't be able to use.

Once you know these things, get your set up ready, and practice, practice, practice. Ask your outfitter what the likely shot yardages are to be, and practice them.

Assuming a minimum arrow weight is involved, and it's 450 grains on up, consider aluminum. XX75s will be plenty on spec to do what you want, although ACC Kinetics or Beeman Matrix may offer more durability in the long run, although at a higher price tag...

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

I would think a good outfitter would have sent info on the basics to someone booking a hunt. Shots average... but can be out to ..... minimum bow poundage by law is... I prefer my clients to have a minimum bow poundage of...... Broadheads should be ....., and total arrow weight should not be less than... outta your .....pound set up.. You should expect to walk....... carrying...... for..... amount of time.... etc. etc. While I will be with you to identify the animals. You should be able to recognize a ... from a.... from a.... from a.... you can access ....source for information on the various animals endcountered and trophy examples of each, etc. etc.
. Juniorpc.

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

And don't get too hung up on the idea that your filed points group well. Without the blades up front arrows can be grossly out of tune with the bow and still group. They can't windplane. Easton's Tunning and Maint. Guide is good advice.

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

When the shop tuned your bow, did you shoot it for them to tune, or did they just set the string/cables and off you go. It is impossible to tune a bow correctly without you shooting it.

It is also very easy to shoot good groups with field points, yet be all over the target with broadheads. You are getting close when you have good groups with both, but not at the same impact point.

also, new string/cables will settle in a bit when first put on the bow, the bow should be re-tuned after 100 shots.

Do yourself a favor, hang a piece of paper up and shoot through it, if you don't get a very small hole with 3 slices coming out of the center of the hole, then you are not tuned.

spin the arrows, its simple, put the BH on, stand it on the tip on a table and spin it fast, look for wobble in the point, the nock or in between.

--Bob

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

Bob H,

Thanks for the advice. I spent just a few minutes with the guy who strung my bow. The only thing we worked on was the sight. I'll pin him down a little harder tonight whe I'm back at the shop. I have already decided that I'll invest in some good arrows. I thought that carbon arrows were by design better than aluminium. Boy was I wrong!!!

I did download the Easton tuning guide...I think I'll have to read it a dozen times or so to get the full impact.

RE: Broadhead disaster!!!
 

did you check and make sure you werent getting a little bit of fletching contact?