I've been shooting compounds for years and I'm giving recurves a try. I'm going to order a Chekmate hunter II from recurves.com, but in the meantime I've purchased a 62" 45lb Pearson cougar to help me with the learning curve before I get frustrated with my nice new custom. I want to shoot off the shelf, but I need some advice on tuning. Everything I can find is for using a pressure button. I understand how to figure out a good brace height and nock placement but how do I stop left to right paper tears with carbon arrows. Also Shield cut or parabolic feathers and why. Any input would be appreciated.

http://www.angelfire.com/clone/archery/articles/paper.html I found this to be usefull , I hope it helps .

Welcome NM--for starters,whatsize arrow are you shooting,point weight?Shooting the proper spined arrow is critical to perfect arrow flight

I haven't fired a single arrow yet. I have a dozen CX Heritage 250s on the way from keystonercountrystore.com. I ordered shafts so I could build them myself. I was thinking 125 gr points.

The 250's will be too stiff for that 45 lb'er.I'd suggest you call Keystone and change your order to 150's.I doubt if you'll get the 250's to fly too good

Until you get your form established, don't worry about paper tuning--you will just get frustrated. The reason being is you will be changing things for a while until you get settled in and comfortable. Get arrows as closely matched as you can, but don't expect perfect tears from the start. Most likely your draw length will change some, and your anchor point, and your release should improve with practice.

Either feather cut works fine. Parabolic is generally a little quieter, but I shoot sheild because I like they way they look.

When you get settled in, adjustments can be made to the nock point, brace height, point weight, arrow length, silencer placement, etc. to get it properly tuned.

Chad

Check out the bow tuning section at O.L. Adcock's site. Good stuff.

http://www.bowmaker.net/index2.htm

Does anyone happen to know the recommended factory brace height for my Pearson cougar? I understand how to find my optimal brace height, but I don't really have a staring point yet.

try a starting point between 7.25 and 7.5 and go up from ther.

NMFlower, just a suggeston, pick up a copy of The Traditional Bowhunters Handbook, by T.J. Conrads. You won't be sorry. Good Luck