Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Flight Bows => Topic started by: DC on October 28, 2020, 06:14:42 pm

Title: Targets
Post by: DC on October 28, 2020, 06:14:42 pm
Do you flight archers ever shoot flight arrows at targets as part of the testing?
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: avcase on October 29, 2020, 08:24:35 pm
Are you talking about one of those targets hung high above the floor so that you are shooting up at a proper angle?
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: DC on October 30, 2020, 09:32:17 am
I'd never heard of that, so no :) I was thinking more just 15-20 yards away to see if the spine was close. Also I wanted to see if anyone said no because they kept breaking arrows.
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: Del the cat on October 30, 2020, 10:51:53 am
I've had some trouble breaking arrows, but I've got a good arrow catcher behind the chrono now.
I have a wire rope with an arrow stop net and I have an old duvet rolled and jammed into a plastic bac with a couple of clips on the top edge that I clip onto the wire, that catches 'em nicely.
i think they should be flying straight ASAP, so it's only the very short range that should snap 'em.
I made the mistake of trying one bare shaft... big mistake, with the balance only just front of centre it nose dived and smashed on the floor.  >:(
Del
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: DC on October 30, 2020, 11:14:34 am
I would dearly like to be out in a field testing arrows but first I have to find one and the middle of a pandemic is not the time to go knocking on farmers doors.
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: Yooper Bowyer on October 30, 2020, 12:19:41 pm
I'm not shure where you live, but in a few months lakes will be frozen solid and are a flat as a table.  That's the only chance I have for distance shooting.
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: Del the cat on October 30, 2020, 12:31:13 pm
I'm not shure where you live, but in a few months lakes will be frozen solid and are a flat as a table.  That's the only chance I have for distance shooting.
Don't the points snap off hitting ice?  :o
Del
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: willie on October 30, 2020, 12:44:07 pm
Quote
I have a wire rope with an arrow stop net

Can you describe your arrow stop net in more detail? is it designed to catch arrows with out damaging them or a safety for the garage door if you miss the primary target.

I have been hoping to put together a net type affair that captures arrows with out damage. My thought is multiple layers of a wispy lightweight backing spaced apart might give the arrow a way to decelerate slower than hitting something more dense and massive. Any suggestions or ideas would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: Yooper Bowyer on October 30, 2020, 12:46:13 pm
If there is snow on top of the ice the arrows are usually fine.  I have had some wooden tips get damaged, but most arrows just stick upright in the snow.  There are only a few days a year when the conditions are perfect, (for example 12" ice, 3" snow, and 55 degrees and sunny) but it is worth the wait.
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: DC on October 30, 2020, 02:23:21 pm
About once every 20 years the lakes freeze enough to skate on.

I'm interested in the arrow net too. The only time I saw it you had to buy too much and it became very pricey.
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: simk on October 30, 2020, 03:15:10 pm
DC, you can buy the  very special arrow-stop-nets for bow shooting, ...still they're quite/too expensive.
what works well and is cheap are a non woven mats of fibres, like gardeners or waymakers use to prevent weeds from growing. its something like synthetic felt. for strong bows maybe two layers are required.

...i know they stop normal arrows well. never saw one break. but never tried a flight arrow from closer distance  8)
 
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: bownarra on October 31, 2020, 12:50:55 am
You can use loads of different materials for a 'net' backstop. The key is having loads of folds - like an open curtain hanging on a rail. If it is too tight it won't stop anything.
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: willie on October 31, 2020, 10:58:13 pm
You can use loads of different materials for a 'net' backstop. The key is having loads of folds - like an open curtain hanging on a rail. If it is too tight it won't stop anything.
"loads of folds" seems like a good tip. what kind of fabric have you found to work well?
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: Badger on November 11, 2020, 12:30:52 pm
  I wonder how many loosely hanging piles of news paper it would take to stop a light flight arrow traveling about 300 fps.
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: sleek on November 11, 2020, 12:48:37 pm
If there is snow on top of the ice the arrows are usually fine.  I have had some wooden tips get damaged, but most arrows just stick upright in the snow.  There are only a few days a year when the conditions are perfect, (for example 12" ice, 3" snow, and 55 degrees and sunny) but it is worth the wait.

So, being from a warm climate, I know absolutely jack about ice and snow. But.... I remember being taught in school that snow on top of ice is dangerous because it acts like a blanket and let's the ice melt under it. Any truth to this?
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: willie on November 11, 2020, 05:15:31 pm
snow on top of ice is dangerous because it acts like a blanket and let's the ice melt under it. Any truth to this?

yes, late in the winter and especially if there is current under the ice
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: Yooper Bowyer on November 11, 2020, 07:12:42 pm
It's a problem in late winter, the ice 'rots' in a manner of speaking, but for about a month and a half at least the ice is rock solid.  The ice near the shore gets broken up and refrozen as the lake's level changes, but there is really no current where I am.  A lot of wet snow on thin ice over extended warm periods isn't good, but a few inches of dry or crusty snow after a hard freeze is great, especially on the first warm day in weeks ;D
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: DC on November 13, 2020, 10:58:40 am
  I wonder how many loosely hanging piles of news paper it would take to stop a light flight arrow traveling about 300 fps.

300? ;D ;D
Title: Re: Targets
Post by: Yooper Bowyer on November 13, 2020, 11:23:09 am
Good question.  I've shoot regular arrows into packed paper and they pernitrated less than an inch or so.  About 20 layers of cardboard is also adequate.  The simplest target I've made was made by packing collapsed cardboard boxes into another box.