Discussion:
poor grouping
(too old to reply)
Mick Kelly
2008-07-06 10:24:04 UTC
Permalink
Hi

I have a problem with my arrows grouping to the right.I am a right handed
archer.I have moved my sight over to the right as far as i can with no
difference to the group position.

Cheers Mick
Miss Elaine Eos
2008-07-06 17:11:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mick Kelly
I have a problem with my arrows grouping to the right.I am a right handed
archer.I have moved my sight over to the right as far as i can with no
difference to the group position.
More info is needed. See my reply in rec.sport.archery.
--
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I will not, no matter how "good" the deal, patronise any business which sends
unsolicited commercial e-mail or that advertises in discussion newsgroups.
Frans
2008-07-06 17:35:06 UTC
Permalink
Compound or recurve
Post by Mick Kelly
Hi
I have a problem with my arrows grouping to the right.I am a right handed
archer.I have moved my sight over to the right as far as i can with no
difference to the group position.
Cheers Mick
Roger Cansdale
2010-06-23 20:10:33 UTC
Permalink
Sounds as if you are moving your head too far round. What does the string
line up with on the bow when you are at full draw. If it is way over to the
left, turn you head a bit to the right until it comes back in line with the
centre line of the bow.

Or it might be something else entirely, like arrows that are not stiff
enough.
Post by Mick Kelly
Hi
I have a problem with my arrows grouping to the right.I am a right handed
archer.I have moved my sight over to the right as far as i can with no
difference to the group position.
Cheers Mick
Stuart O'Donnell
2010-06-27 18:06:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by Roger Cansdale
Sounds as if you are moving your head too far round. What
does the
Post by Roger Cansdale
string
line up with on the bow when you are at full draw. If it
is way over
Post by Roger Cansdale
to the left, turn you head a bit to the right until it
comes back in
Post by Roger Cansdale
line with the centre line of the bow.
Or it might be something else entirely, like arrows that
are not stiff
Post by Roger Cansdale
enough.
Post by Mick Kelly
Hi
I have a problem with my arrows grouping to the right.I am
a right
Post by Roger Cansdale
Post by Mick Kelly
handed archer.I have moved my sight over to the right as
far as i can
Post by Roger Cansdale
Post by Mick Kelly
with no difference to the group position.
Mick,

is the centre shot set correctly? If you haven't come across
it before then you should read the Reference guide for
Recurve archers
<http://www.archersreference.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/archref_05.pdf>

Extra long sight pins are also available.

Crossposted to uk.rec.shooting.target
Rusty Hinge
2010-06-27 18:34:05 UTC
Permalink
Post by Roger Cansdale
Post by Roger Cansdale
Sounds as if you are moving your head too far round. What
does the
Post by Roger Cansdale
string
line up with on the bow when you are at full draw. If it
is way over
Post by Roger Cansdale
to the left, turn you head a bit to the right until it
comes back in
Post by Roger Cansdale
line with the centre line of the bow.
Or it might be something else entirely, like arrows that
are not stiff
Post by Roger Cansdale
enough.
Post by Mick Kelly
Hi
I have a problem with my arrows grouping to the right.I am
a right
Post by Roger Cansdale
Post by Mick Kelly
handed archer.I have moved my sight over to the right as
far as i can
Post by Roger Cansdale
Post by Mick Kelly
with no difference to the group position.
Mick,
is the centre shot set correctly? If you haven't come across
it before then you should read the Reference guide for
Recurve archers
<http://www.archersreference.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/archref_05.pdf>
Extra long sight pins are also available.
Crossposted to uk.rec.shooting.target
Poor grouping is generally a result of:
a) not holding the gun/bow steadily
b) snatching*
3) poor quality bullets/arrows
4) inconsistencies in density, mean centre of gravity, diameter, shape,
weight, straightness and smoothness of bullets/arrows
5) concentrating on the gun/bow rather than the target when releasing a shot
6) lack of belief in your own ability
7) and probably more points I can't think of off the cuff.

* I was at an air show today and at a fairground-type target attraction
I was moved to explain to a boy that he was pulling the trigger of his
crossbow, not squeezing it until the bolt was despatched.

While longbows don't tend to have triggers, in my experience, the
principle is the same - release the bowstring gradually and above all,
consistently.

Note: I gained my Marksman (Armed Services) in 1956, and still shoot.
Yes, I have a longbow too.
--
Rusty
Stuart O'Donnell
2010-06-28 21:46:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rusty Hinge
Post by Mick Kelly
Post by Mick Kelly
Hi
I have a problem with my arrows grouping to the right.I am
a right
Post by Mick Kelly
handed archer.I have moved my sight over to the right as
far as i can
Post by Mick Kelly
with no difference to the group position.
is the centre shot set correctly? If you haven't come across
it before then you should read the Reference guide for
Recurve archers
<http://www.archersreference.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/archref_05.pdf>
Extra long sight pins are also available.
Crossposted to uk.rec.shooting.target
a) not holding the gun/bow steadily
b) snatching*
3) poor quality bullets/arrows
4) inconsistencies in density, mean centre of gravity, diameter,
shape, weight, straightness and smoothness of bullets/arrows
5) concentrating on the gun/bow rather than the target when releasing
a shot 6) lack of belief in your own ability
7) and probably more points I can't think of off the cuff.
I read the problem as the arrows were grouping but the sight couldn't be
adjusted enough to centre the group. But your list is still true. For
a) the bow needs to still be held steady after the loose, a lot of
beginners drop the bow arm when they release the string.

6 is important. If I am convinced I'm going to shoot gold it often is.

Another good tip is don't try to fix a shot that feels wrong. Come down
and start from the beginning.
Post by Rusty Hinge
* I was at an air show today and at a fairground-type target
attraction I was moved to explain to a boy that he was pulling the
trigger of his crossbow, not squeezing it until the bolt was
despatched.
And that is probably the only training in shooting he has had.
Post by Rusty Hinge
While longbows don't tend to have triggers, in my experience, the
principle is the same - release the bowstring gradually and above all,
consistently.
Consistency is important but I don't think the release can be gradual.
Once the fingers relax the string will move them out of its way.
Post by Rusty Hinge
Note: I gained my Marksman (Armed Services) in 1956, and still shoot.
Yes, I have a longbow too.
Longbows look fun and much faster to get ready and put away than a
recurve. But I'll keep to a recurve and probably hit the target more
often.
Rusty Hinge
2010-06-29 09:01:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
Post by Rusty Hinge
Post by Mick Kelly
Post by Mick Kelly
Hi
I have a problem with my arrows grouping to the right.I am
a right
Post by Mick Kelly
handed archer.I have moved my sight over to the right as
far as i can
Post by Mick Kelly
with no difference to the group position.
is the centre shot set correctly? If you haven't come across
it before then you should read the Reference guide for
Recurve archers
<http://www.archersreference.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/archref_05.pdf>
Extra long sight pins are also available.
Crossposted to uk.rec.shooting.target
a) not holding the gun/bow steadily
b) snatching*
3) poor quality bullets/arrows
4) inconsistencies in density, mean centre of gravity, diameter,
shape, weight, straightness and smoothness of bullets/arrows
5) concentrating on the gun/bow rather than the target when releasing
a shot 6) lack of belief in your own ability
7) and probably more points I can't think of off the cuff.
I read the problem as the arrows were grouping but the sight couldn't be
adjusted enough to centre the group. But your list is still true. For
a) the bow needs to still be held steady after the loose, a lot of
beginners drop the bow arm when they release the string.
6 is important. If I am convinced I'm going to shoot gold it often is.
Another good tip is don't try to fix a shot that feels wrong. Come down
and start from the beginning.
That's something I thought of after I'd posted - and is probably one of
the most important points - it applis equally to rifle and pistol shooting.
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
Post by Rusty Hinge
* I was at an air show today and at a fairground-type target
attraction I was moved to explain to a boy that he was pulling the
trigger of his crossbow, not squeezing it until the bolt was
despatched.
And that is probably the only training in shooting he has had.
Probably - but he could only have been thirteen at the most. Mind you,
at thirteen I'd made a crossbow (utter failure, as I used a leaf from an
Austin Seven suspension spring as the bow...) and modified it with four
very strong coil strings in tension.

That was something else - with that I shot a wood pigeon. The bolt
passed clean through it and stuck into the tree behind it, from which I
could never rtrieve it, it was embedded so deeply.

The pigeon flew off, and halfway across the lawn, dropped like a stone.
Made a better casserole than a stone thobut.

I was fortunate in having a mentor who knew about the mechanics of these
things, and was a keen and knowledgeable shot.

Your OP might do well to have an experienced tutor watch his action.
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
Post by Rusty Hinge
While longbows don't tend to have triggers, in my experience, the
principle is the same - release the bowstring gradually and above all,
consistently.
Consistency is important but I don't think the release can be gradual.
Once the fingers relax the string will move them out of its way.
Yes, what I meant was, don't concentrate on finger 'action'.
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
Post by Rusty Hinge
Note: I gained my Marksman (Armed Services) in 1956, and still shoot.
Yes, I have a longbow too.
Longbows look fun and much faster to get ready and put away than a
recurve. But I'll keep to a recurve and probably hit the target more
often.
Probably. Well, certainly if pitted against me - I haven't used it for
years. I've always had the intention of making a better one. I've had
mine since I was at prep school.
--
Rusty
Stuart O'Donnell
2010-06-30 23:14:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rusty Hinge
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
Post by Rusty Hinge
* I was at an air show today and at a fairground-type target
attraction I was moved to explain to a boy that he was pulling the
trigger of his crossbow, not squeezing it until the bolt was
despatched.
And that is probably the only training in shooting he has had.
Probably - but he could only have been thirteen at the most. Mind you,
at thirteen I'd made a crossbow (utter failure, as I used a leaf from
an Austin Seven suspension spring as the bow...) and modified it with
four very strong coil strings in tension.
That was something else - with that I shot a wood pigeon. The bolt
passed clean through it and stuck into the tree behind it, from which
I could never rtrieve it, it was embedded so deeply.
The pigeon flew off, and halfway across the lawn, dropped like a
stone. Made a better casserole than a stone thobut.
That doesn't sound like a failure. But not legal now, bowhunters have
to go abroad to hunt. I've never tried it but there are field archery
clubs around the country where the archer works round a field shooting
at targets, either at a known or unknown distance.
Post by Rusty Hinge
I was fortunate in having a mentor who knew about the mechanics of
these things, and was a keen and knowledgeable shot.
That is very important. There is a lot of energy in a bow and it has to
go somewhere. The air-rifle limit of 12 ft lbs would be about what a
light training bow takes to draw.
Post by Rusty Hinge
Probably. Well, certainly if pitted against me - I haven't used it for
years. I've always had the intention of making a better one. I've had
mine since I was at prep school.
You probably know that you have to be careful if you haven't used the
bow for a long time. It can become brittle and break when it is put
under stress. I think the advice is to start off by pulling it a short
distance then come down and work up to full draw. But it might be
better to go for a new bow and hang the old one on a wall instead.
Rusty Hinge
2010-07-01 20:35:41 UTC
Permalink
Stuart O'Donnell wrote:

/longbow/
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
You probably know that you have to be careful if you haven't used the
bow for a long time. It can become brittle and break when it is put
under stress.
Oh yes - I'm well acquainted with Mr. Stress - I've been into 'adapting'
motorcycle frames since the early 1960s.

The bow though, has been linseed oiled from time to time.
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
I think the advice is to start off by pulling it a short
distance then come down and work up to full draw. But it might be
better to go for a new bow and hang the old one on a wall instead.
Finding a suitable piece of properly seasoned wood is the problem.
Making it isn't - I know someone who makes them for re-enactments, and I
can probably bribe him to show me, with promises of ashpoles and hazel.

And a collection of old wrought iron pieces...
--
Rusty
Stuart O'Donnell
2010-07-01 23:23:35 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rusty Hinge
/longbow/
Finding a suitable piece of properly seasoned wood is the problem.
Making it isn't - I know someone who makes them for re-enactments, and
I can probably bribe him to show me, with promises of ashpoles and
hazel.
And a collection of old wrought iron pieces...
There are longbow kits available, e.g.
<http://www.quicksarchery.co.uk/superbasket/product.php?product=141>

Quicks links page <http://www.quicks.com/linkfram.htm> has links to a
couple of longbow making courses, both in West Sussex though.
Rusty Hinge
2010-07-02 17:23:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
Post by Rusty Hinge
/longbow/
Finding a suitable piece of properly seasoned wood is the problem.
Making it isn't - I know someone who makes them for re-enactments, and
I can probably bribe him to show me, with promises of ashpoles and
hazel.
And a collection of old wrought iron pieces...
There are longbow kits available, e.g.
<http://www.quicksarchery.co.uk/superbasket/product.php?product=141>
Quicks links page <http://www.quicks.com/linkfram.htm> has links to a
couple of longbow making courses, both in West Sussex though.
Hum - I used to teach on the borders of East/West Sussex, where I taught
craft and mechanics - building a bow should present no technical
problems, though a lot of tips on the best materials would be helpful.

I note that there isn't a lot of activity in Norfolk...
--
Rusty
Rusty Hinge
2010-06-29 09:18:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by Stuart O'Donnell
Longbows look fun and much faster to get ready and put away than a
recurve. But I'll keep to a recurve and probably hit the target more
often.
I've a partial write-up of the making of the crossbow - I presume your
(nospam) emu doesn't work?

Mine does, if you remove 'foobar'.
--
Rusty
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