Broken Bolts

[novacam]

I'm having tough luck with my bolts over the last few days. I broke one bolt with a tight grouping, which I understand breaking. However, I broke one last night at 40 yards into a foam target, it snapped right in half. I check my bolts over before I shoot, didn't notice anything out of the ordinary but it snapped. This happen to anyone else? I'm guessing it was a damaged bolt?

[vixenmaster]

I haven't broke any target shooting but have broke several into after shooting animals

[georgiaboy]

What brand are you using? I'm using the excal firebolts...have lost a few inserts ( barely any glue ) but no broken arrows!!

[novacam]

Firebolts are the ones I've broken. Lost a few inserts too, had to glue them back in. I buy my bolts from my local shop now, I've had better luck with them.

[georgiaboy]

Doesn't make any sense to me!
Even if your shooting one of the 225lb "beast" you shouldn't have an arrow break...especially in a foam target!! If one of your inserts that pulled out was still in the target and you bulls eyed it I would think your arrow would just drive it out the other side!! Maybe split shaft...but not break.
Check your shafts out very carefully!!! Hopefully just a bad shaft...new one on me!
Good luck!

[j.krug]

It is possible that it was damaged by being hit by another arrow in the tight grouping you mentioned.
Possibly weakened it enuff to cause it to break while being removed from the target.
Can't say for sure but possible?

[sumner4991]

It is possible that it was damaged by being hit by another arrow in the tight grouping you mentioned.
Possibly weakened it enuff to cause it to break while being removed from the target.
Can't say for sure but possible?

I've done that trick before.

A firebolt isn't going to break easily, they are made very well. If you think an arrow might be weakened, then do a flex test. You can see the hair line fractors and you can hear it crackle. Just take each end in your hands and flex the arrow back and forth. If it's damaged, then you will see it. If it's ok, then nothing will happen . . .well, unless you are really strong and get carried away. Just a slight flex is all it takes.

This only works for carbon arrows. My disclaimer.

[VixChix]

We've had carbons break while pulling from a target - they'd been weakened by previous removal attempts. It's important to pull straight back, never at an angle. Also take care with twisting it. Pull with your hand or puller as close to the target as possible.

[HW]

Hitting an insert and fieldpoint lost in the target may cause damage.

[novacam]

Well, I thought it was in good shape but I guess not. Could have hit a list field point, it is an old target with many shots into it over the years. All I know is I have half a bolt and I'll be on my way to get more this weekend.

[secret]

Did they happen to break right where they sit in your quiver? My friend had some break right where the rubber holds shaft !

[novacam]

Did they happen to break right where they sit in your quiver? My friend had some break right where the rubber holds shaft !

It broke right in the middle, think a bit higher than where it's held in the quiver? It blew up on impact,

[VixChix]

Sure sounds to me like it was stressed from being pulled from a target before - either twisted too much in the pulling or pulled at an angle.

[mchurch]

I have only had 2 firebolts ever break. One was from wounding a wild boar which we found 1 week later and shot 2 more time with guns. I think the pig must have rolled with part of the firebolt sticking out and snapped it in half. The other was more recently. I hit arrow on arrow during traget practice but the arrow looked more or less ok. The flat nock had a good dent in it. I flexed the arrow and it snapped in half in the middle of the shaft.

[vixenmaster]

2nd post, none broke in or pulling from targets. Yr for last i shot a tick toter & it broke off about 6/7" on vane end & i am sure was caused by its leg before the pass-through was complete. This past season had 2 do the same thing & lost another when i shot the Yote. It hit a rock passing through & between the deflection & Yote twisting broke into! I din't find any small or big carbon peices inside or around the wound area. I would always ck in yer game if'en it broke off to make sure.