Wings on the Front by Toby Ragsdale

With this sweltering heat it is hard to believe that hunting season is only a couple months away!  It’s time to get the “huntin’ rig” set-up and sighted in.   One of the most frequent questions I get from fellow bowhunters has to do with why their broadheads don’t hit in the same place their field points did.  There are several possible answers.

1. Number 1 and most importantly…they may weigh the same but THEY ARE DIFFERENT.  The question should really be “why would you expect them to hit in the same place?”  If you were shooting your 30-06 at 200 yards with a 180gr SoftPoint and drilling Xs you wouldn’t freak out if you shot a 180gr boat-tail hollow point and it grouped a couple inches off the mark. Would you?  Nope… Because the bullets are different.  You would simply decide which you were going to use and zero for that bullet.
2. There could be some set up issues.  Now that you essentially have wings on the front AND back of your arrow, any misalignment in your center shot or nocking point will be magnified.  Simply put- with both ends trying to steer, they better be heading in the same direction. Any right/left kick (fishtail) or up/down kick (porpoising) will not straighten out as quickly as an arrow with drag only in the rear.  The best way to check this is to “shoot for groups.”  If you can shoot the same size group with your broadheads as you do with your field points, your set-up is probably fine.  Move your sight so that your broadheads are dead on and go hunt.
3. Weak arrow spine.  This usually happens when someone goes a little overboard in their quest for speed.  Though definitely not recommended you can sometimes get away with an under-spined arrow with a target point but when you put “wings” on the front of that over-stressed wet noodle coming out at 350fps you will be shooting curves that would make a Major League pitcher jealous. Very inaccurate and not safe. A generally bad idea.   Shoot the recommend arrow for your draw length and draw weight.
4. The broadhead is not “true” to the arrow.  Perfect alignment is crucial.  Most of today’s good broadheads will screw on perfectly straight without much trouble.  If you have one that doesn’t spin true, try it on another arrow before trying to “true it up.”  Sometimes that’s all it takes.  Again…..wings on the front.   There are several devices on the market to assist you and I’ve seen several techniques.   I have to say, spinning it in the palm of your hand is a bad idea……BE CAREFUL.
5. The nut on the handle.   Even though I’m sure I am violating some ancient Bowhunter Vow of Silence, it may be the shooter.  Any imperfections in your shooting form or technique, though hard to admit, will have more of an effect on the broadhead arrow.  Last month we discussed “lock time” and how you can effect a shot even after releasing the string.  Now your lock time is even more important because…… one last time…. Wings on the front!