Bare shafting Carbon Express Heritage 350

[Wudstix]

I recently acquired some CX Heritage 350 shafts.  They are 30 3/4" BOP to nock groove.  Shooting right hand.  Shafts have 7" wrap on the rear, brass insert that by reverse engineering are probably 75 grains, 200 grain point.  Shafts are fishtailing radically left and nock is couple inches left in the target.  Shafts are hitting pretty good on the vertical.  Shooting bare shaft.  Advice?

[McDave]

Your bare shaft indicates weak. The first thing to determine is whether it is a true weak, or being caused by external factors.  Find the lightest point you have, 100 grains or less, and see what happens.  If it is a true weak, you should see less nock left, or maybe even nock right.  Not that you want to shoot a 100 grain point, just that it is nice to have bare shaft results on both sides of weak/stiff, so you know your tuned shaft lies somewhere in the middle.  After you find that out, you can start trimming the shaft back so that it will tune with the heavier points you would probably rather be shooting.

[Wudstix]

Decreased point weight 50 grains, this brought the shafts to hitting about same point, but with nock a couple inches high.  Adding feathers will add @60 grains don't know if this would help.

[McDave]

When you decreased point weight, did you notice less nock left, or about the same?  60 grains is a lot of weight for feathers.  Mine tend to run 10-15 grains.

[Wudstix]

The decreased weight showed nock high.  And I shoot 5" feathers Traditional cut, or 4x4" going from memory.  May be closer to 30 grains, it's been a long time since I worried about a few grains.

[McDave]

If the decreased weight showed nock high only, with no nock left, then I would say you have solved your spine problem.  Now you need to adjust the nock high to whatever level you're comfortable with, by adjusting your nock point.  Then, if you want to use a heavier point, you can start cutting your bare shaft, 1/4" at a time, until you arrive at a length that will fly true with whatever point weight you want to use.  If you run out of length before you arrive at a length that flies true, then you need to use a stiffer shaft.

[Wudstix]

That will be the plan.  I have almost two inches to trim, if needed.  I'll take it to the range and have it trimmed, 1/4' at a time.  Then trim all to that length.  Then fletch.  Should be done tomorrow.  Thanks.

[Wudstix]

Dave,
You'll be proud to know that your advice was right on.  Just got back from the archery shop/range.  Javier was able to heat out the brass inserts without too much damage to the end of the shafts.  We trimmed 3/8" off and put the 50 grain insert back in with hot melt.  200 grain point was in the center on 6" white dot at 13, 17 and 20 yards, with just a touch of nock high.  615.6 grains without 4"x 4 fletching.  So I'm guessing @650-60 grains finished.  I'm in line to have him do the fletching, I never had much luck fletching skinny arrows.  Got home and was getting into more of a hunting stance and high nock all but disappeared.  200 grain screw in point worked well.  Once the arrows come back fletched I'll get them really dialed in.

[Wudstix]

I was wondering (dangerous) if trimming 3/8" increased shootable point weight by 50 grains, would that be a consistent value.  Would trimming another 3/8" increase point weight another 50 grains?

[Wudstix]

Going to try trimming a bit and using 290 and 317 grain points plus the 50 grain insert.  That would give me a hog hammer!!!  Gonna shot them today as is and see what's up prior to trim.

[Wudstix]

I'm done.  Trimmed another 3/8" off and have a 300+ grain point flying well.  It's a bit more work than woodies, but they sure do fly fast.  Decent set of hog hammers.  Tomorrow afternoon should have them back fletched.  Tapered woodies for deer and most other game.

[Wudstix]

They are home.

[McDave]

Good job! 🥳

[Wudstix]

I'm not a carbon fan, but these shafts are kicking out like lasers.  At 670 grains from my Big River recurve @66# they move out pretty well.  There is not much drop at least out to 20 yards, and I'm sure they'll fly well, at a longer distance than that.  Hog Hammers I call them.