Bow sight in

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Robinsons Rebel
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Bow sight in

Post by Robinsons Rebel »

I have a friend who has a crossbow, not sure what brand but I know it's not an Excalibur. When he sighted it in with field points they group good. When he used broadheads they fly very erratic. One will be eight inches to the left, the next will be four feet to the right. He has lost most of his arrows trying to sight it in. He says everything weighs the same. I haven't gone over there to shoot it myself. Any thoughts on what the problem is so that I can check out when I make the trip? Thanks.
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Re: Bow sight in

Post by xcaliber »

Sounds like he needs more weight up front to start with, and maybe he got some bad arrows period!
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robertyb
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Re: Bow sight in

Post by robertyb »

I would say he either has some loose screws on the trigger or scope mount or maybe a bad scope except you are saying he shoots field points well. Have him shoot a group using field points then mechanical broadheads if he has them. They should hit dang close to each other and group about the same.
I have seen fixed broadheads that would not group the same as field points but they also wouldn't fly all over the targets. I doubt that it is the arrows if they group well with field points and the broadheads are the same weight.
Could also be the Indian! You shoot a group using the broadheads to see if that is the case.
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Boo
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Re: Bow sight in

Post by Boo »

It doesn't sound like he's done any diagnostics. He should number each arrow because he could be looking at arrow shafts not being straight and broadheads really misaligned. A full 100% nut and bolt check is certainly in order. Is he cocking the bow really poorly or is he using a mechanical cocker?
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Robinsons Rebel
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Re: Bow sight in

Post by Robinsons Rebel »

As far as I know, he is using a rope to cock it with. Could be all in his mind too. I have a friend who has a deer target. He doesn't use a sight for his compound bow but would get a kill shot every time he shot at his deer target. I would go out and put antlers on it and he couldn't hit it to save his life! I'll have to go shoot his crossbow when he gets more arrows.
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DuckHunt
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Re: Bow sight in

Post by DuckHunt »

You didn't mention whether he was shooting mechanical or fixed heads. Assuming he shooting fixed heads, he may not be shooting with enough weight up front. Your local Walmart should have a basic selection of crossbow arrows. The cheapest in the bunch will have an aluminum insert up front. The more expensive ones will have a brass insert up front. This will be one of those cases of getting what you pay for. Opt for the ones with a brass insert up front and that may solve his issue. There's only a $1-2 difference in price, but the added weight up front will make a world of difference.

If he is shooting mechanical heads, the problem mentioned above could still apply if they are opening on launch. In that case they becomes nothing but a large fixed blade which can fly very erratic since they aren't designed to fly in the open state.
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