Why tune your bow?

[Buzzard Breath]

Why would anyone tune their bow when you can just buy broadheads that fly the same as field points?

When your bow is properly tuned, not only do your broadheads hit the same spot as your field points, but you have increased penetration. I have read on here where more and more shooters are turning to an expandable broadhead that is reported to shoot the same as field points. That same broadhead is reported to have poor penetration (I've never used it, so I have no first hand experieance with it).

A properly tuned bow has the nock entering the same hole that the tip created. There is minimal friction/drag due to the shaft passing through the wound channel created by the broadhead. That same arrow shot through a bow that is out of tune will have less penetration due to the arrow not flying on a true line. The nock is not in plane with the tip and that creates friction/drag when it enters the animal.

For a real world demonstration, take a screw driver and hold it perpendicular to your broadhead target (this is an arrow shot out of a tuned bow). Thrust it into the target. You should be able to easily drive it into the target to the hilt. Now take that same screwdriver and hold it at a slight angle but drive your hand straight at the target like you did with the tip straight. Lots harder, isn't it?

By shooting an arrow out of an untuned bow, your forcing an arrow into an animal in an unefficient way. Now, tune those bows.

http://www.eastonarchery.com/pdf/tuning_guide.pdf

page 11 for broadhead tuning

 

[TN.Frank]

I also agree. You need to tune your bow so it'll shoot properly. However, if you can fine a broadhead(mechanical normally)that shoots the same as a field point AND your bow is tuned for field points then it should be tuned for those broadheads as well.
If you're shooting something that shoots different then a field point then you'll need to tweak your bow for that broadhead and come to a compromise between your field points and that broadhead. That's why there's a never ending search for a broadhead that will truly shoot just like your field points do.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

That's why there's a never ending search for a broadhead that will truly shoot just like your field points do.

Actually, it's not never ending, it's about a 15 minute quest. That's all the longer it takes to tune your bow to shoot broadheads the same as field points. That is if you have properly spined arrows and are not getting any contact anywhere.

I shoot Stingers and they shoot the same as field points. All broadhead manufacturers are going to claim their broadheads shoot the same as field points. It would be a marketing nightmare if they didn't.

 

[TN.Frank]

Ahh, but how many broadheads will shoot correctly with your Field Point Tune? That's what we're all looking for. Sure, you can re-tune to get any broadhead shooting good but what about those that tune with their field points then shoot a broadhead same point of aim? That's what I'm looking for. I think Grim Reapers are close as are ABC Sonics and I've read that Stingers hit the same too.

 

[TheAirMan]

Ahh, but how many broadheads will shoot correctly with your Field Point Tune? That's what we're all looking for. Sure, you can re-tune to get any broadhead shooting good but what about those that tune with their field points then shoot a broadhead same point of aim? That's what I'm looking for. I think Grim Reapers are close as are ABC Sonics and I've read that Stingers hit the same too.

The blades of a broadhead act kinda like wings which amplify tuning problems or incorrect setup that won't show up with field points. So if they don't fly like your field points before you broadhead tune, its not really the broadheads fault. The field point tune, as you say, is not the last step. It is to get you close. You need to broadhead tune next. If you have the right spine arrows, that are cut sqaure, and spin true with the broadhead on them, and you broadhead tune correcly, they will hit the same point of impact.

 

[TN.Frank]

So basically a broadhead tune will let field points hit well but a field point tune may or may not let broadheads hit well. Makes sense.

 

[muddyboots]

I do it for confidence.