Long Range Archery Groups

[Dave W]

Who shoots further than they would take a hunting shot? Me and the son shoot back to a 100yds, he has launched a couple out to 200yds. Post up some long range groups, stick, compound , xbow, doesn't matter.

Only one I still have on my phone and my best at 100, yeah it is a fluke.



Few my son shot recently at 60yds with his new rig getting it dialed in.






Couple from 80yds.

[edge]

I used to practice with judo points out to about 100 before I started with the crossbow.
I would toss a soda/beer can on the ground then walk a ways and shoot at unknown distances, over mid range obstacles and such.
Lots of fun... a lot more with the compound than with the crossbow

edge.

[7mmfreak]

It doesn't take too much to push me beyond my hunting range with my longbow. I try to keep it at 25yds or less but my yard is 40 yds deep so I shoot it that far because half that distance is a snap afterwards. I don't think I've ever took a pic of a group shot with a bow though.

[Dave W]

I have only shot one deer over 30yds in all the years I have bowhunted. Best case scenario, our stands are set for 15-25yd shots. Practicing long just breaks the monotony and builds confidence.

[eml9]

I practice at 40-80 yards everytime i shoot .. as stated it just makes hunting distances a breeze . Alteast it works pretty good for me . I personaly limit my hunting shots to 40 yards max . Too much can happen any distance farther than that. I wont even take a 40 yard shot if the deer is even slightly weiry.

[edge]

I have always thought the 20-30 yard range was the worst for sound and movement.

Closer and they can't move much anyway, and further and the sound gets lost in the woods.

One year I shot a doe right at about 25 yards. I took my usual low heart shot as she moved from my right to my left.
At the shot she whirled around, ran full steam for 15 yards and feel dead as a rock...and I was sure I had missed her!
The arrow took out both kidneys but the arrow hit her after she had made a 180 degree turn and hit as she moved from my left to my right.
She either saw or heard me and if she continued straight she would have avoided the arrow completely...sometimes it is just better to be lucky than to be good

edge.

[sw]

I've never had a deer react to bow or arrow noise when 35+ yards from the bow/Xbow. At 60 yards, if the hear the bow/Xbow , they always freeze until the arrow passes thru. At least, this is my experience.
I try to keep my arrows as quiet as possible. Fluttering thin vanes or noisy feathers or a whistling vented broadhead are the main culprits, IMO . Deer duck noisy arrows more than bow sounds.

[edge]

Strange, I can hear even the quietest recurve bow being let go at many yards so it is hard to think a deer can't

edge.

[1coyotemaster]

Mar 16, 2017 15:15:13 GMT -5 edge said:

Strange, I can hear even the quietest recurve bow being let go at many yards so it is hard to think a deer can't

edge.

 


I agree Edge I  think they can always hear it but the way they react is different at close range vs. longer range. I have had the same experience as Steve and I have shot quite a few with a Compound and relatively fewer with the xbow. Chuck Adams was a firm believer that over 30 yds the deer would stand and take the arrow better than at 20. There's a point somewhere that they can't move quick enough if the bow is not terrible noisy. Maybe 15yds. and under.
  Coyotes are a different deal, I've shot at Coyotes when they were broadside and had the arrow hit them in the front of the chest--they are that quick even close/ 20-25 yds.

[Dave W]

Don't know how many I have taken with a bow, lot less than my younger years when it was a quantity vs quality mentality. Only had one jump the string on me and it was with a LOUD Oneida Eagle at close range, couldn't get rid of it quick enough after that fiasco.

I don't stop deer like they do in the shows and videos, IMO that puts the deer on alert. I either take a slow walking shot, if the deer is close, or wait for them to stop on their own.

[cfalck]

Awesome shooting Dave! tell me about your set up

[Dave W]

May 18, 2017 22:04:45 GMT -5 cfalck said:

Awesome shooting Dave! tell me about your set up

The groups the boy shot were with a Prime STX 36. Shrewd Onyx stabs, DS Advantage sight and blade rest, not sure which scope and peep/clarifier he is running. He has 3 hunting bows-right now. Bowtech BTX 31 and a Destroyer 350 with Barnsdale 75# limbs, and a 83# Prime Centergy, Centergy will be the go to this fall.

I just got a Prime Centergy Hybrid, Black Gold sight, Shrewd Onyx front stab and a Doinker back bar.

[1coyotemaster]

Mar 2, 2017 11:50:39 GMT -5 edge said:

I have always thought the 20-30 yard range was the worst for sound and movement.

Closer and they can't move much anyway, and further and the sound gets lost in the woods.

One year I shot a doe right at about 25 yards. I took my usual low heart shot as she moved from my right to my left.
At the shot she whirled around, ran full steam for 15 yards and feel dead as a rock...and I was sure I had missed her!
The arrow took out both kidneys but the arrow hit her after she had made a 180 degree turn and hit as she moved from my left to my right.
She either saw or heard me and if she continued straight she would have avoided the arrow completely...sometimes it is just better to be lucky than to be good

edge.

  Sometimes?? ....... Hell I rely on it!

[Dave W]

Couple by me the last few evenings.
70yds




80yds





Quit after those two 80 yd groups, figured it was time to go buy a lottery ticket.

[smokepolehall]

I shoot crossbows since 96, my yardage is practice out to 75 yds

[sw]

I do a lot of arrow design and testing for a few arrow makers and for myself. Different crossbows place different stresses on arrows and shoot ar various speeds. Arrows that shoot well from the highest stressing xbows (Excaliburs with 18” arrows or greater and have 260-290# holding are the greatest stressors) usually shoot well from any ‘railed’ xbow.
The following group of 6 arrows were made by Jerry Radcliffe of Southshore Archery. 20” Spynal Tapps, 92g Double tapp Insert, flat plastic nocks, offset SK300s, 100g match field point, shot out of a BD400/Optimizer - 2-8 Zeiss Duralyt, 1.5# TT trigger, 80 yards, off a Hart front rest, #13 rear bag.



My Scorpyd Aculeus 180 is a little more accurate, has same optics, prefers 22-24” arrows. It routinely gets 1” 100 yd groups using benchrest set ups.
It’s all in the arrow. Most well set up crossbows can attain similar results but good triggers, good benchrest technic, proper conditions , etc need to exist. Just like firearms, it’s primarily the projectile that is the prime determinate. My emphasis is on obtaining the ultimate balance, especially getting just enough foc for extreme accuracy and maximized trajectory, and having only enough vane control to stabilize flight but no more. Spine indexing and spine matching help immensely in obtaining maximum accuracy. For expandible broadheads, rarely are helical vane orientations needed. They just cause more drag and necessitate a higher foc. Offset is normally highly adequate. Arrow weight: normally 400g minimum for 18-20” and 425g for 22”, 440-450 g for 23-24”. I always shoot the longest arrow practical.

It’s very hard to get a more accurate arrow than a well set up 2216 or 2219. But they’re heavy. My bear hunting arrows are 23 1/2” 2219s, Offset SK300s, Qnocks, 60g Insert, 100g Slick Trick. 515g total. Will get 1 1/2” , 6 arrow , 100 yd groups . Once again, benchrest conditions.

It’s all in the arrow!

[jims]

Wow!

[redspinner3]

SW what % foc works the best for you?

Geo.

[sw]

Aug 7, 2018 21:22:39 GMT -5 redspinner3 said:

SW what % foc works the best for you?

Geo.

I’ll get back with you. Recent personal testing has me totally confused! Somewhat.

Tell me your xbow, arrow planned to be used absolute maximum range considered and anticipated broadhead. I think I can help then.