That time of year is definitely upon us and we are all wanting to head out into the field with the best possible set-up. Part of this involves tuning your bow for broadheads. Broadhead tuning first requires a bow that is set to factory specs (Axle to axle, brace height, cam timing, idler string feed etc.) and properly tuned for field points in order to achieve accurate and consistent arrow flight. This can be best achieved by first paper tuning and then walk-back tuning. Fletching/vane contact issues with the bow, cables and/or rest are also overlooked by many shooters in the tuning process but can cause serious problems with arrow and broadhead flight. Fletching contact (even with feathers) can act like an incorrect center shot or nock point adjustment and cause serious frustration during the tuning process. In some cases, the frustration may be so great that the shooter wants to forget tuning the bow. A weak arrow shaft spine can also show center shot problems for and nocking point problems for release shooters.

Now once your bow is paper and walk-back tuned and set to specs, it is time to open up that pack of broadheads. Broadheads MUST be perfectly aligned to the arrow shaft. Broadheads should be assembled according to the manufacturer’s recommendation, tightened with a broadhead wrench and spun like a top, on a hard flat surface or arrow spinner (available commercially) to check for straightness. The desired outcome here is no wobble present during the spinning process. If you get a wobble, try a different shaft until you see a perfect spin and no wobble.

If you broadhead does wobble and it is assembled correctly, the inserts or outserts may need to be rotated in order for the broadhead to spin properly. 2-part epoxy is good for this purpose as its slow cure time allows the archer to check the arrows as the epoxy begins to harden. Broadheads should be turned on the arrow as the epoxy thickens until the arrow spins true. Then stand the arrow up straight for the glue to cure.

Hot melt adhesive is also useful(especially for aluminum arrows). But working time is very short and occasionally must be reheated to achieve a true spin. All of these problems must be addressed prior to an archer tuning broadheads. If all of these problems are corrected broadhead tuning can be a snap

Broadhead groups that consistently deviate high and low can be fixed with either a rest elevation or minor nock adjustments. Conversely, groups that show a horizontal deviation can benefit from minor center shot adjustments. In both situations adjustments should be made minutely in 1/16" increments or less, in either direction until groups close and become more consistent.

Broadheads react to the direction in which they are launched much more that target tipped arrows. If broadheads group to the left of field points then the arrow rest should be moved to the right. If broadheads group above field points, the nocking point should be raised or rest should be lowered. This adjustment can be reversed for opposite conditions, but remember to make adjustments in very small amounts and to pay attention to broadhead groups begin to suffer.

These adjustments will obviously change the point of impact of your field tips as well. You can make sight adjustments at any time during this process, but the overall goal is to get the field points and broadheads to group together. Once this is achieved a final sight adjustment can be made.

We owe the time this takes to the animals we hunt and ourselves. The overall goal is to go into the woods with the best possible set-up to quickly and efficiently kill the pursued game.

Observe the chart below. Good shooting and happy hunting to all!

*Story compliments of "Doc"