Long Distance Spec.

[Bald Eagle]

Totally agree with rgsphoto, A lot of archers ask me if the should go to ACC's after shooting alloys and I try to explain to them that an ACC equivalent of their alloy shaft is nearly the same weight!! ACEs are the best all round arrow for outdoors, even above X10's. Fat Boys and other large diameter shafts are ok indoors, but they are hell in windy conditions and if you shoot on a shared sports field, like me, you can't find them with a detector(if you miss). Remember, your arrows are the most important piece of kit you'll buy. A bad bow will shoot a good arrow but a good bow won't shoot a bad arrow!!

[Murray]

Originally Posted by JohnK

I think Murray was still shooting in the low-to-mid-30s when he shot his first 1200 FITA (care to enlighten us, Murray?).

Yep, 32# with 720 ACEs. Winact limbs. Fastflight string. A&F tab...

Originally Posted by JohnK

While a quick set of limbs may help (Border, WinEX, etc.), they may also require that you shoot a stiffer arrow, which could lose you a sight mark click or two.

Except when you go from 720s to 680s - they're actually lighter

I had to shorten some of my long rods in the early days to get the stabiliser effect without the pretty picture of the weights in my sightring! I've heard of people having problems with seeing the clicker/clicker screw as well with low poundages but personally I've never experienced that.

[tel]

I've heard of people having problems with seeing the clicker/clicker screw as well with low poundages but personally I've never experienced that.

When I first put a clicker on my bow as an experiment (outside) it obscured half of the ring - I've yet to reinstate one!

[SLOWHAND]

Very interesting question,it is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string but I can quite understand asking it. In my fisrt outdoor season I shot a W&W striker bow with 32lb limbs.Using ACC arrows I manged to score over 1100 in FITA'S. One thing I am certain of is that it is far better to shoot a weight that you are comfortable and relaxed with, you will probably get just as many points at the longer distances (90m, 70m) but you will undoubtably score much higher at the shorter distances (50m, 30m).

I was shooting in a 70m tournament in Norfolk last summer (brilliant venue and great people). In the third round head to head I was up against a young lad of 13 by the name of Tom Barber. What a great kid he was, he renewed my faith in the youth of today, very polite,very keen and a very very good archer. I managed to beat him by six points I think, but that was only because he had a misshap with one arrow and missed the boss entirely. The point is that it was a tricky wind and he was only drawing about 30lbs or so. It really made me think !!

[tel]

I would just like to point out that I wasn't looking for a definite answer - I fully appreciate there isn't one!

Originally Posted by SLOWHAND

Very interesting question,it is a bit like asking how long is a piece of string but I can quite understand asking it. In my fisrt outdoor season I shot a W&W striker bow with 32lb limbs.Using ACC arrows I manged to score over 1100 in FITA'S. One thing I am certain of is that it is far better to shoot a weight that you are comfortable and relaxed with, you will probably get just as many points at the longer distances (90m, 70m) but you will undoubtably score much higher at the shorter distances (50m, 30m).

I was shooting in a 70m tournament in Norfolk last summer (brilliant venue and great people). In the third round head to head I was up against a young lad of 13 by the name of Tom Barber. What a great kid he was, he renewed my faith in the youth of today, very polite,very keen and a very very good archer. I managed to beat him by six points I think, but that was only because he had a misshap with one arrow and missed the boss entirely. The point is that it was a tricky wind and he was only drawing about 30lbs or so. It really made me think !!

Wow! Just goes to show..If I could shoot a 32lb bow in a fita I would go back to recurve like a shot. If it is possible to shoot such high scores with light bows, why do people use heavy bows at all? I shot tonight with my recurve mate, he has been shooting 32lb limbs over the winter, his PB has jumped 20 points. He has now gone back to his heavier 36lb limbs and his form has gone down the toilet. The problem is he thinks he is cheating with the 32lb limbs? Go figure? I don't! He needs a bit more convincing I think. Mr Slowhand your e-mail may do the world of good. Thanks.

[Little Miss Purple]

It has been my feeling that I wouldn't continue to increase my bow weight just because I could - I would stop at a weight I was comfortable with and that I could see the 80 yard target no problem!!

[joetapley]

If it is possible to shoot such high scores with light bows, why do people use heavy bows at all?

Because the scores can be even higher
There are advantages to a higher arrow speed.
Increasing poundage allows you to increase point weight keeping the same sight marks.
The crunch point is if you have to change shafts. Going to a heavier shaft is a step backwards so decision on increasing poundage (assuming you can) comes down to comparing performance of alternative shafts.

[Murray]

Originally Posted by rgsphoto

he has been shooting 32lb limbs over the winter, his PB has jumped 20 points. He has now gone back to his heavier 36lb limbs and his form has gone down the toilet.

I'm sure it'll come back with plenty of practice. The key is to shoot the highest poundage you can *control*. If you can't control it, you'll never be competitive.

[Cakemeister]

This is an excellent thread. Thanks to everyone for all their contributions.
I moved to ACCs last summer from aluminium in an attempt to increase my capacity to shoot longer distances. It worked, but only up to a point. At the time I was shooting 34# limbs & I could quite comfortably hit 70 yards but that was about it. The ACCs got me another ten yards but still nowhere near the magic
'100'. As I draw 27" I was actually only shooting with about 32" on the fingers, but at the time I didn't realise this.

After that I had my limbs wound up to 38#, giving me 36# on the fingers. I also shortened the arros a little to compensate for increasing weakness. I also changed my string so instead of brass nocking points I had two bits of serving- this increased string speed. What I also realised was that I have a short face, which I believe limits the amount of elevation I can get- in fact I found I ran out of room on my sight, as to set it any lower would impede the arrow. I was also borderline on getting the end of the longrod in the way. So at the end of all that I was getting 90 yards, which is a little frustrating!

Last year's solution was to turn the sights inside out, which enabled me to actually get the distance. However, this felt odd & I'd rather have the sights the right way round. Because of my face shape I think the only real solution for me is to go for heavier poundage limbs, maybe 40# giving me 38# on the fingers but with the option to wind them up more if necessary- or go for ACEs which, like new limbs, ain't cheap.