Main Discussion Area > English Warbow

I was wrong

(1/5) > >>

adb:
I admit it. I was wrong. Spine for war arrows does matter. I didn't think so, but practical experience tells me otherwise.

I've been doing a fair bit of warbow shooting this summer. 12 shoots so far. Mostly practice, but 1 officially scored competition.

I've been using birch, ash and oak shafted arrows, and have been paying no attention to spine values. I am unable to come up with an accurate way to measure spine on a 1/2" arrow shaft. I've only been concerned with the weight of the finished arrow, to fall within the guidelines of CWBS and EWBS rules.

Long story short... the stiffer spined birch and ash shafts will consistently fall up to 20 yards short of the softer spined oak shafts for arrows of the same size/weight. The stiffer shafts are also not flying as well, with major fishtailing on loose. I am only judging spine by flexing the finished arrows, and the oak shafts are noticeably softer.

Anyone else with experience in this regard? Of course with target arrows, I'm following the general practical guidelines for arrow spine. 

Dag:
I wholeheartedly agree with you adb.  For the longest time I've read that spine on heavy war arrows does not matter.  I could never bring myself to believe that.  However, I've never had an opportunity to test it. 

I used to shoot red oak war arrows, 1/2" tapered to 3/8", that felt like trying to launch a telephone pole.  Then I received some 3/8" diam Hickory arrows that left the bow like lasers.
 
Although it was a very small sampling, and albeit with different wood types.  It still seemed clear to me that spine does play a role.

So, perhaps more proper tests can be done.  I feel like most of us warbow archers have taken this bit for granted and never REALLY looked into it.

As a student of science I am more than willing to change my ideas given the proper evidence.  I am intrigued on the findings of this topic.

unkieford:
Disclaimer!!   I don't have a war bow (yet!) to work with, so I'm just guessing here, but I suspect that the heavier your bow is, the wider range of spine might work, but it will still matter.
My gut instinct is that spine variance should fall within a certain percentage of draw weight, but darned if i know where. 
For example, a 50# bow might seem OK with a spine variance of about 5#, or about 10% of draw weight. If that relationship stays linear, then a 100 lb bow would work OK with about 10# variance.

but that might all be completely dished by an actual scientific test.  :laugh:

As for measuring spine on shafts that thick, I wouldn't even try to match 'em to a chart anywhere. I'd measure deflection (with a dial gauge or something) on your best arrow, and just try to get others as close as possible. You might need something heavier than a 2# weight to really see any bend.

---Ford---

Joec123able:
It seems like most of the guys who shoot warbows shoot for distance more then any thing so maybe when there shooting 200+ yards spine isn't an issue when laser accuracy isn't important I don't know just my thoughts as a person whose never shot a warbow

WillS:
The more movement a projectile has in the air, the less efficient that projectile is.  Crucial energy is being wasted on vertical and horizontal movement, so the arrow just doesn't go as far which for distance is important!

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page