Matrix 310 Issue

[brwndg]

I have a Matrix 310 that I bought a few years ago when I had rotator surgery and couldn’t shoot my vertical bow. I am selective and don’t shoot a lot of deer so have only fired it at deer four times with the bow. But I am not new to deer hunting w archery tackle. Been bowhunting over thirty years w over 200 kills. So, not a newbie to the sport.

The xbow is dead on at 20, 30, and 40 yds. when shooting at the range. The problem I am having is when sitting on stand for a bit and finally take a shot, the bolt nose-dives or drops prematurely before impact. The first time it happened I thought maybe I didn’t have both all the way back, but have been hyper-diligent about proper seating since.
This past season I shot at a nice buck at 18 yds quartering away. The bolt nosedived and stuck vertically into the ground next to the deer. I had three other instances where something very similar happened and resulted in poor hits or complete misses.
Like I said, it is dead on at the range and I shoot often.
My hypothesis is that sitting in the tree cocked for hours sometimes prior to shooting in the cold (20s and 30s) caused some kind of issue.
After the hunt where I missed the buck I started uncocking and recocking the bow while on stand. After each hunt I would shoot an arrow into a clump of grass 20 - 25 yds out. Everytime it was dead on.
Any ideas why it nosedives? My buddy says the bow has been infected by PETA so it won’t hit an animal

I’ve attached two pics from the morning I shot at the buck. First one is the view from my stand. In the yellow circle you can see the bolt sticking straight up



In the second pic you can see the first bolt sticking straight up and a second bolt I fired minutes later which was had perfect flight.



Bow had been hanging in tree cocked for about 3.5 hours prior to shot. Temp was 18 when I got on stand and about 25 when I shot both shots.

[robertyb]

I think the arrow is barely sliding forward and no longer touching the string causing a partial dry fire. That is the only thing I know of that would cause your arrow to drop that way at the shot. Bend your arrow retainer down to apply a little more pressure to the shaft to keep that from happening.

[longbow joe]

Send us a picture of your arrow finger gap please

[bigbowman]

Robert is exactly right! The arrow slid forward enough to cause a partial dry fire.

[brwndg]

I think the arrow is barely sliding forward and no longer touching the string causing a partial dry fire. That is the only thing I know of that would cause your arrow to drop that way at the shot. Bend your arrow retainer down to apply a little more pressure to the shaft to keep that from happening.

That’s what I thought too, but after having it happen the first time I have been religious about making sure it’s seated firmly. Even more so after the second time. I load the crossbow when in stand and it hangs by the stirrup so gravity is not a factor. The bolt retainer clip holds the bolt tightly and isn’t the issue.
I never have any problems except when the bow has been sitting cocked for a long time in stand.
I really like this bow and would hate to have to replace it, but it’s cost me two nice bucks and wound two does that were never recovered and bolts were lost

What is the arrow finger gap?

[longbow joe]

The retainer dosnt look really that bad but it's kinda high . I prefer mine with practically no clearance. You can carefully pick up the back end and bend down the front without taking it apart put like a chap stick in the middle
Is it possible your nocks are worn? The string looks kinda off on the bumpers it should be flat on both sides of the rail maby a limb issue. Also the string should not be buried in the bumpers about 1/4 inch off at rest

[Franklin]

Is it dead on at the range with your broadheads or field points?

[brwndg]

Is it dead on at the range with your broadheads or field points?

100% dead on. Perfect flight w/o any porpoising or fishtailing with BH or FP
Only time I see this erratic flight is after bow has been cocked for a prolonged period (3 hours or so on stand).

The retainer dosnt look really that bad but it's kinda high . I prefer mine with practically no clearance. You can carefully pick up the back end and bend down the front without taking it apart put like a chap stick in the middle
Is it possible your nocks are worn? The string looks kinda off on the bumpers it should be flat on both sides of the rail maby a limb issue. Also the string should not be buried in the bumpers about 1/4 inch off at rest

The retainer clip isn’t the problem. It holds bolt securely and takes some effort to slide bolt forward by hand).
Nocks are in great shape. No wear and they are the flat (not moon) style.

Only thing that is suspect to me is the string rests “heavily” on rail. How hard should it be on setting on rail? Kinda looks like it just might be just a tiny bit higher on rail then at the bow limb string groove.
How do you fix that?


String is at least 1/4” off bumpers. Bad angle on original picture.

[Bcxbow]

Just a thought but is the issue only happening when shooting mechanical broadheads? This is acting like premature opening of a mechanical head.

[brwndg]

Just a thought but is the issue only happening when shooting mechanical broadheads? This is acting like premature opening of a mechanical head.

Don’t shoot mechanicals. G5 Montec 125 gr

[Excalibur Marketing Dude]

I just saw this and my first thought is check the plastic nock, we have seen some misfires due to overly slippery plastic rear inserts. Try to scuff the insert up with some sand paper to insure good grip with the string. If the rear nock is too slippery the string can slide underneath the arrow creating a misfire.

The problem is definitely an arrow seating issue, the string is suppose to have that much down pressure so that's not it.

Peter

[janesy]

I'd be swapping out those nock in the back end with the black Eagle style. They tend to have a sharper angle on the edge of the nock. I've had those nocks before and swapped them out, in my opinion the edge was a little soft or rounded for my liking. To easy for the string to want to roll over a softer edge

Maybe I missed it, but was it the same arrow that does it everytime? In the same orientation each time?
If it's not the same arrow each time that would suggest to me that it's a common problem throughout your arrows and the common denominator is the nock.

[vixenmaster]

I can't see the nock, but you may have a bit of Tiller on right limb. Now yer usin same nock on field pt n B-head ?Next thng is have you ck'ed all yer arrows to make sure they are hitting same spot. I rotate my arrow n vanes and mark them.

[brwndg]

I just saw this and my first thought is check the plastic nock, we have seen some misfires due to overly slippery plastic rear inserts. Try to scuff the insert up with some sand paper to insure good grip with the string. If the rear nock is too slippery the string can slide underneath the arrow creating a misfire.

The problem is definitely an arrow seating issue, the string is suppose to have that much down pressure so that's not it.

Good to know about the downward string pressure on the rail. I’ll scuff up the knocks w some Emory paper.

I'd be swapping out those nock in the back end with the black Eagle style. They tend to have a sharper angle on the edge of the nock. I've had those nocks before and swapped them out, in my opinion the edge was a little soft or rounded for my liking. To easy for the string to want to roll over a softer edge

Maybe I missed it, but was it the same arrow that does it everytime? In the same orientation each time?
If it's not the same arrow each time that would suggest to me that it's a common problem throughout your arrows and the common denominator is the nock.

I am hunting with the same arrows I shoot in practice. This has actually happened with Excalibur Diablo bolts and Cabelas Carbon Hunters.
Never an issue while shooting at the range. Never a mishap; only on stand after a few hours sitting there.

I can't see the nock, but you may have a bit of Tiller on right limb. Now yer usin same nock on field pt n B-head ?Next thng is have you ck'ed all yer arrows to make sure they are hitting same spot. I rotate my arrow n vanes and mark them.

Actually, I only shoot broadheads. Have a set of three that are the same heads as my hunting heads and dedicated for practice only.
While shooting practice I am dead on at 20, 30, and 40 yds. Groups are 1”-2” at those ranges.
I have even shot my hunting heads and then resharpened them (G5 Montec CS)

[longbow joe]

Might be best to just pack it up and send it to an authorized excalibur service center and just let them check it out . Do it in the off season while you not using it.