Some Crossbow newbie questions

[LeftBench]

Hi all,

Last year I purchased an Axiom and had only recently gotten a chance to practice with it. Sadly I am not too great as far as accuracy is concerned. I was wondering if some of you more experienced folks could help me out.

My father recently got his bow license here in NJ using my crossbow... he had no problems. When we practice he is accurate. I just failed my test today because I couldn't hit the vital organs 3 out of 5 shots... talk about embarrassing.

The Axiom is sighted in correctly, and I know the bolts are good. I know the problem here is me, human error. My question is... what am I doing wrong? What are common mistakes people make? I am in law enforcement and have hunted with a shotgun and rifle before, so I am comfortable with firearms and I am not a bad shot. I know how to handle a gun and can hit the target consistently. At the hunter course the instructor said that it looks like I'm doing everything right, he doesn't know what the problem is, and that it must be either the crossbow or the bolts. But I know its gotta be me because my father can shoot the same crossbow accurately.

I had my father watch me shoot and he can't see what my problem is either. I don't know what I could be doing wrong... any help is appreciated. If I shot 10 times, I'd probably hit the target 5 times and go way left 5 times. Only thing is that I'm not pulling the crossbow left, I'm keeping it completely still. I don't get what I'm doing wrong!!

Sorry for my poor writing style. I hope someone can give me some tips... off to practice... Thanks guys!

[vixenmaster]

Several things to watch fer, cantin the Excal. Jerkin the trigger flinchin & pullin yer head from stock to watch arrow prior to it gettin off the rail. Hand cockin will also cause bad accuracy

[LeftBench]

Thanks Vixen I will keep all those in mind next time I practice. Pretty sure I have all those down, maybe I'm picking my head up too fast to see the target but I don't think so.

I'll just keep at it till I get better, maybe I just need more practice, who knows. Its frustrating though I should be shooting a lot better than I am

[LeftBench]

Hey xcaliber, yes the test was 20 yards. I have been practicing from 17-25 yards at home. I will start at 10 yards and go from there. Its frustrating but I will get it. Thank you

[maine hunter]

I know I have a bad habit of pulling left. I get into the routine of watching the arrow hit the Target before I lift my head. Give it time, it will come to you. Keep us posted.

[LongCarbine]

When I started I kept on wanting to see my arrow fly. Now I make sure I watch it all the way though the scope to the target. When I let someone new shoot my bows that is what I tell them , it seems to work . Hope this helps.
Jim

[DaveShooter]

Just be patient it will all fall togeather for ya. Like said before shoot close @10 yds and work your way back to 20-yds. You know like shooting a basketball follow through on your shots another words like also said before see the arrow hit the target before taking your head off the stock or also don't drop your arm supporting the bow to see where your arrows are a going on the target. Again just relax and breath and squeeze off your shot on the trigger. Hey we all if we are honest don't always get the deer ,bear, or bullseye of the target.

[one shot scott]

Are you sure your cocking the bow evenly every time?

[bowmaker]

I am also a new Axiom shooter, just having bought one
last March. I have not had any such problems, but I might suggest a little different approach. I would try shooting from a very solid bench rest with front and rear shooting bags. This is how I got things sighted in because that way many of the variable factors can be eliminated. All you have to do is line up the cross hairs and squeeze the trigger and follow through with the shot. If you shoot this way you will know that the bow is level or very near it, that you are not weaving all over with the cross hairs, and you should easily tell if you are jerking the trigger. Use the rope cocking aid and use the 5 arrows that usually hit the target. Also always load them the same way. I use the Firebolts and always put it in so that the Firebolt decal is always up and that it is firmly back against the string. Have your Father shoot a couple shots and then you shoot a couple without changing a thing and see what happens. Make sure that the scope and cross hairs are level and tight. Make sure the string brace height is set properly because the string most likely has stretched. Other than that just make sure that you are able to hit what you want from the bench and then you can work on any off hand form issues with lots of practice.

I was lucky enough to have harvested my first deer, a nice 8 Point on October 6, and I can tell you it is just as much of a rush as using any other kind of bow, because I have used them all over the years from a compound to a recurve to a home made stick bow.

[LeftBench]

Thank you again to everyone for your posts.

bowmaker, I am going to give your idea a shot.

Thank you all, what a great community here.

[Tom]

Several things to watch fer, cantin the Excal. Jerkin the trigger flinchin & pullin yer head from stock to watch arrow prior to it gettin off the rail. Hand cockin will also cause bad accuracy

I know I have a bad habit of pulling left. I get into the routine of watching the arrow hit the Target before I lift my head. Give it time, it will come to you. Keep us posted.

I am also a new Axiom shooter, just having bought one
last March. I have not had any such problems, but I might suggest a little different approach. I would try shooting from a very solid bench rest with front and rear shooting bags. This is how I got things sighted in because that way many of the variable factors can be eliminated. All you have to do is line up the cross hairs and squeeze the trigger and follow through with the shot. If you shoot this way you will know that the bow is level or very near it, that you are not weaving all over with the cross hairs, and you should easily tell if you are jerking the trigger. Use the rope cocking aid ............

There have been many good pieces of advice for you. The above 3 seem to hit the head on the most common problems with inaccuracy.

A long time ago I watched and learned how to shoot a flint lock rifle. The first shot I watched, the trigger was squeezed, pan ignited and then the shooter started to look away and missed the target. I know that this is an extreme, but it has the same principle, the arrow takes a little lime to leave the rail after you squeeze the trigger. I always tell shooters to follow (watch) the arrow through your sight plain while holding the crossbow just like you were when sighting on target. There is a lot of time to move the crossbow after the arrow strikes the target.

Unless you are well trained and well disciplined, hand cocking can be a problem. If it is not cocked properly, centered, the bow will always shoot off.

Good luck Tom

[Galgo]

Two quick things:

1) Follow through. Try to keep the cross hair pinned to the target even after the arrow has struck.

2) I was taught to use the pad of my finger. I am a righty (are you a lefty?) and \i was pulling my shots right because i was pulling the trigger in the first joint of my finger. Make sure it is just the pad of your finger touching the trigger. You will get a better feel for the trigger. Try not to think of it as a trigger pull as much as pulling the whole bow into your shoulder until it releases.

Hope this helps.

F

[Lake shooter]

Two quick things:

1) Follow through. Try to keep the cross hair pinned to the target even after the arrow has struck.

2) I was taught to use the pad of my finger. I am a righty (are you a lefty?) and \i was pulling my shots right because i was pulling the trigger in the first joint of my finger. Make sure it is just the pad of your finger touching the trigger. You will get a better feel for the trigger. Try not to think of it as a trigger pull as much as pulling the whole bow into your shoulder until it releases.

Hope this helps.

F

Yes, and try to separate/isolate that digit from the rest of the finger and the finger from the hand. Not saying that you do or don't do any of these things mind you, it never hurts to revisit the basics.

On keeping the cross hairs on the target: I can honestly say that my 380 has enough kick to make that difficult for me, and I'm 5'11" and 205 lbs with what a friend calls a barrel chest and "Popeye" forearms!!! I do the best that I can to follow through and will certainly get better with more time, but I can't hold the cross hairs exactly on target at the shot.

[Shotnbeer]

I've seen alot of guy fail a qualification test because they had the jitters. If shooting out of a stand rest it on your knee. if off hand practice at 20 yards. you'll be ok

[Shotnbeer]

Saw one reply where it were it mentioned when cocking bow it was important. mark your sting with a sharpie so when its cocked you know its straght. had a guy cock mine while i was qualifing in a stand and I caught it. Arrows were 9 in off. i would have been farther ahead throwing a skillet.