Vortex Bolt speed?

[WTBJR]

Finally, after three years of LOVING my Vortex, building my Bolts and harvesting eight, real nice whitetails with nothing, but GREAT results, I got the chance to Chrono my set-up.

My bow has about 100 shots on the limbs and maybe five dry fire (first four shooting sessions three years ago). i wanted to post the numbers and ask the Experts here, how they are in comparison to other "set-ups".

My "Set-up" is;

Excalibur fast flight string with 50 shots, brace height, 3/16" above line (closest to shooter) on rail. My bolts weight 404 gr. The shafts are Firebolts with 2'blazers fletched with the Arizona E-Z fletch helical. !24 gr field tips with 25 gr Aftershock BH Boosters.

Yesterday I had access to a "top-of-the-line" Chronograph.The weather was mild 55f, moderate x wind and partly cloudy.

I shot maybe 13 times and all 13 were 313 fps. The chrono was six feet in-front. I had not been able to shoot my bow past 40 yards and with my site in at 20 and the speed ring set on, a little above the 325 mark. At this set-up I was expecting to have to adjust the speed ring to 313fps for my poi to be spot on at the 50 yard chevron on the varizone .

I moved my target to 50 yard and two shots (313fps were spot on. I then moved out to 60 yards and the "bolt fell from the sky". 50 yard chevron and poi was 10-12" low. At 50 yards i was stacking the shots and at 60 ALL OVER THE BAG.

My question to the "Much more experienced than I", Are these results normal for my set-up? What should I expect from these bolts weights? What kind of accuracy and range can I obtain with this bow, and what bolt weight should I use for "long range target shooting"? I like the 404 gr set up I have with heavy FOC for hunting. If I go with the Executioners my bolts will weight about 414 gr

Thanks for any and all help in advance

Bill

[nchunterkw]

Sounds in the ballpark to me. I too shoot the Vortex and own a chrony. I have found the "5:1" rule to be accurate with your setup (FFF string). By that I mean you lose 1fps for every 5gr of arrow weight. Excal advertises 330fps with the FFF string and a 350gr arrow. Taking your bolt weight(404) minus the advertised 350 = 54 grains. Divided by 5 = 10.8fps. 330-10.8 = 319.2. So you r are right there. My guess is the "high" brace height you have accounts for the 6fps difference in your measurements and the advertised speed. I have not really shot past 50 yds so I can't help you too much there.

[WTBJR]

Sounds like you don't have the S5 on the bow by what you said about the brace height. I would set your brace height to 1", and give it another go! My next step would be to check the fletching on the bolts. I switched to blazer vanes just for the improved longer range accuracy, make sure that you have them set perfectly in line, they do tend to move in the jig slots a little. Post back after trying these please.

Good luck,
Dan

Dan, I have the stx dampener system. Not sure if i was clear on my brace height. I have it set where the string is just inside the line as the video says.
From where do i measure the 1" from?

My other question is, that since I chronoed all shots at 313 and my scope speed ring was set on 325+ andm my 50 shot was spot on. Do i need to adjust the speed ring to 313 and re-site the scope in??


I thought that the instructions said to adjust the 50yard pin with the speed ring, but the 50 yard shot was spot on, set at 325??

Thanks

Bill

[awshucks]

I don't understand 3/16" above 'line closest to the shooter". I use 1 1/8" bheight [serving just touching the inside of the 'high' mark].

As has been explained, speed ring grads are for reference only.

W/ 8 kills you are among the 'experts' on here!

[nchunterkw]

Sounds in the ballpark to me. I too shoot the Vortex and own a chrony. I have found the "5:1" rule to be accurate with your setup (FFF string). By that I mean you lose 1fps for every 5gr of arrow weight. Excal advertises 330fps with the FFF string and a 350gr arrow. Taking your bolt weight(404) minus the advertised 350 = 54 grains. Divided by 5 = 10.8fps. 330-10.8 = 319.2. So you r are right there. My guess is the "high" brace height you have accounts for the 6fps difference in your measurements and the advertised speed. I have not really shot past 50 yds so I can't help you too much there.

[WTBJR]

I don't understand 3/16" above 'line closest to the shooter". I use 1 1/8" bheight [serving just touching the inside of the 'high' mark].

As has been explained, speed ring grads are for reference only.

W/ 8 kills you are among the 'experts' on here!

I was having a hard time writing where my BH was. It is, as you say, the serving is just short of touching the "high" line