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April 7th, 2020, 08:16 PM
#1
Crossbow aim
My son and I are just starting to use a crossbow. We have been practicing and sighting it in. Just when we think it's good( 2"grouping at 30yrds) the arrows start to go 6-8 inches right for both of us.
The kicker is my daughter can shoot the same 3 arrows and never miss.
Is it something we're doing?
Any ideas?
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April 7th, 2020 08:16 PM
# ADS
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April 7th, 2020, 08:20 PM
#2
Are you using a cocking aid for the bow? Not having the string come into the catch perfectly centered can toss the arrows around a bit.
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April 7th, 2020, 09:07 PM
#3
Originally Posted by
oaknut
Are you using a cocking aid for the bow? Not having the string come into the catch perfectly centered can toss the arrows around a bit.
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This was common with older crossbows for sure.
One also has to remember that the same shooting mistakes made shooting a rifle will happen with a crossbow and usually compounded. For example the trigger pull is usually considerably more that the average rifle.
You'll need to break it down and eliminate any variables. Eg, shorten distance, start with a bench rest, etc., to see where it's coming from. Likely shooting error is my guess.
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April 7th, 2020, 10:04 PM
#4
Just been pulling it back and cocking it by hand.
It's about a year old.
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April 8th, 2020, 08:50 AM
#5
Originally Posted by
Wake
Just been pulling it back and cocking it by hand.
It's about a year old.
I will place my bet, that is where your issue is coming from.
With a black sharpie, nail polish or something else that will stick, mark where the string meets the rail on both sides. When you the bow be sure that those two marks are the same distance from the rail on each side.
Or get a cocking aid, they are cheap and offer repeatable accuracy.
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How is it one careless cigarette can cause a forest fire, but it takes a whole box of matches to light a campfire?
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April 8th, 2020, 08:56 AM
#6
What type of bow?
If you have a scope what type is it?
Silly question but was there a crosswind?
Getting a rope cocker is a great suggestion!
Common issues to check:
Cam timing, when cocked is the string and cables in the same place on the both sides.
Broken scope, crossbows vibrations are hard on scopes and the reticle can come loose and start to float.
Different arrows or arrow heads will impact different places.
Changing your grip. Crossbows are different from rifles and should be gripped firmly so the inertia does not move it during firing. If you are shooting a bench for example you may see different points of impact when you hold the bow with 2 hands versus 1 and loosely versus tight.
Rifle scope vs crossbow scope. If you are using a rifle scope the parallax may be sufficient at 30 yards to throw the arrows off if your cheek and eye are not in exactly the same place twice.
It should not have much impact at 30 yards but make sure the bow is level.
Hope this helps.
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April 8th, 2020, 10:15 AM
#7
You should be using a cocking aid and not by hand. If you have an Excalibur and use the cocking aid that comes with the bow, you should have no problem
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April 8th, 2020, 01:43 PM
#8
Pay attention to the arrows - see if there is a pattern which could indicate if one of the arrows is behaving differently than the others.
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April 8th, 2020, 02:40 PM
#9
Has too much time on their hands
Originally Posted by
oaknut
I will place my bet, that is where your issue is coming from.
With a black sharpie, nail polish or something else that will stick, mark where the string meets the rail on both sides. When you the bow be sure that those two marks are the same distance from the rail on each side.
Or get a cocking aid, they are cheap and offer repeatable accuracy.
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I agree with this assessment. By the time you figure you're good and sighted in, and then you start to lose your groups, your arms have tired some and your strong arm is pulling more on the string. This causes your shots to go wide.
In addition to the suggestions above, liquid paper on the string works to make sure you're pulling back consistently as well. A rope cocking aid is by far your best bet.
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April 8th, 2020, 02:53 PM
#10
Has too much time on their hands
My son had the same issue and it ended up being shooter error. About 75% of the time he was lifting his head to see the impact too soon. Because he was doing it in a roughly consistent manner the error was roughly consistent. It is sort of like not keeping your eye on the ball golfing. Lift you head too soon to see where the ball is going and you end up slicing.
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