Newbie Arrow Question
Question:
After about 2 decades since I last shot a bow, I’m finally getting into target archery. For Christmas I received a take-down recurve bow and the attendant equipment. I read Doug McKay’s post asking for some help (thanks for reading my mind, Doug). I also have a reasonable book on archery which is answering most of my questions. I have one question, though, that isn’t answered. When I got my bow, the store where I got it gave me a set of Easten aluminum arrows numbered 2219. What does this number mean exactly? I understand that indicates "spine" (which I think means the degree of flex in the arrow) and weight, and perhaps even length. Is this number a manufacturer specific number or is there a way of "decoding" it to figure out spine, weight and length? I guess as I get further into the hobby that I will be trying different arrows of differing weight, length and spine. Is there anything I should look out for when I’m trying arrows? One last, perhaps sensitive, question. How much of a difference is there between rec.sport.archery and alt.archery. In general I find the alt groups to be "noisier" and prone to flame wars (hence the reason I posted here first). Is this the case with alt.archery? I appreciate any comments anyone might have. I’m really looking forward to getting my bow out to the local archery range. "Unlike serial killer profiling, writing is a lonely and depressing profession." – Jose Chung, Millenium
Response:
>After about 2 decades since I last shot a bow, I’m finally getting >into target archery. For Christmas I received a take-down recurve bow >and the attendant equipment. I read Doug McKay’s post asking for some >help (thanks for reading my mind, Doug). I also have a reasonable book >on archery which is answering most of my questions. Welcome back. >I have one question, though, that isn’t answered. When I got my bow, >the store where I got it gave me a set of Easten aluminum arrows >numbered 2219. What does this number mean exactly?
It is an Easton number and means 22/32 diameter and .019 wall thickness. >I understand that indicates "spine" (which I think means the degree of >flex in the arrow) and weight, and perhaps even length. Is this number >a manufacturer specific number or is there a way of "decoding" it to >figure out spine, weight and length?
Spine is how stiff an arrow is and is determined by how much it will flex when a certain amount of weight is applyed at a specific point on the arrow. You need the spine that shoots best in your bow. Start with the Easton chart and experiment from there. >I guess as I get further into the hobby that I will be trying >different arrows of differing weight, length and spine. Is there >anything I should look out for when I’m trying arrows?
Arrow selection is very personal. Some like light arrows to give more speed and a flatter trajectory. Others like me, prefer slow heavy arrows because we believe they have better penetration in hunting situations. You can shoot aluminum, graphite, or wood. I shoot recurves and long bows and having tried all three now use fir arrows made by Double Eagle in Montana. Very tough, good penetration and I have never had one warp. >One last, perhaps sensitive, question. How much of a difference is >there between rec.sport.archery and alt.archery. In general I find the >alt groups to be "noisier" and prone to flame wars (hence the reason I >posted here first). Is this the case with alt.archery?
Alt.archery is a little noisier but used to be used by more hunters and traditional shooters. Today I don’t find much difference. I read them both. My news reader has a filter to cut down on the noise and I select the articles I want to read by the header. I gave my compound away years ago and don’t get into those type of tackle questions. Also, paper shooting is boring to me. I stump shoot in the off seasons and hunt when I can. >I appreciate any comments anyone might have. I’m really looking >forward to getting my bow out to the local archery range. >"Unlike serial killer profiling, writing is a lonely and >depressing profession." – Jose Chung, Millenium
Good shooting, David Stites KD7ACU Moses Lake, WA
Response:
> After about 2 decades since I last shot a bow, I’m finally getting > into target archery. For Christmas I received a take-down recurve bow > and the attendant equipment. I read Doug McKay’s post asking for some > help (thanks for reading my mind, Doug). I also have a reasonable book > on archery which is answering most of my questions.
welcome back, If you can find a local club with a good coach I would advise joining, a coach is a lot more use than a book and will stop you getting bad habits > I have one question, though, that isn’t answered. When I got my bow, > the store where I got it gave me a set of Easten aluminum arrows > numbered 2219. What does this number mean exactly?
22/64 inch diameter and 15 thou wall thickness. > I understand that indicates "spine" (which I think means the degree of > flex in the arrow) and weight, and perhaps even length. Is this number > a manufacturer specific number or is there a way of "decoding" it to > figure out spine, weight and length?
Spine is stiffness and so is governed by the arrows dimensions. > I guess as I get further into the hobby that I will be trying > different arrows of differing weight, length and spine. Is there > anything I should look out for when I’m trying arrows?
Basically your pro shop will have given you arrows with the correct spine for your bow weight, hopefully. What you will change as you progress is the bow weight and arrows will change to give matching spine. As you get better you might want to move to carbon or carbon/aluminium arrows but they will still need to match the bow draw weight/type. > One last, perhaps sensitive, question. How much of a difference is > there between rec.sport.archery and alt.archery. In general I find the > alt groups to be "noisier" and prone to flame wars (hence the reason I > posted here first). Is this the case with alt.archery?
a lot of messages get posted to both, and a lot of us read both, other than that no comment 
have fun danny www http://euler.ntu.ac.uk/dk/dk.html
Response:
Thanks for the information, David. It’s much appreciated. > I stump shoot in the off seasons >and hunt when I can.
I’ve seen references to "stump shooting" and I’ve even seen particular arrow points designed for stump shooting. What IS "stump shooting?" "Unlike serial killer profiling, writing is a lonely and depressing profession." – Jose Chung, Millenium
Response:
>welcome back, If you can find a local club with a good coach I would >advise joining, a coach is a lot more use than a book and will stop you >getting bad habits
Good advice, Danny. I’m going to look into joining a club. Funny enough, since I got my bow more than half a dozen friends have expressed an interest in trying archery, with at least two of them very serious about it. This should prove very interesting… "Unlike serial killer profiling, writing is a lonely and depressing profession." – Jose Chung, Millenium
Response:
>>I have one question, though, that isn’t answered. When I got my bow, >the store where I got it gave me a set of Easten aluminum arrows >numbered 2219. What does this number mean exactly? >It is an Easton number and means 22/32 diameter and .019 wall >thickness.
That should be 22/64 diameter David Stites KD7ACU Moses Lake, WA
Response:
> One last, perhaps sensitive, question. How much of a difference is > there between rec.sport.archery and alt.archery. In general I find the > alt groups to be "noisier" and prone to flame wars (hence the reason I > posted here first). Is this the case with alt.archery?
Allan, It looks as if you’ve got good answers to most of your questions, so I won’t repeat what the other folks said on that. But I can’t resist commenting on the two newsgroups. I think you’ll find that many of the people on either group also read the other. I’ve been on both regularly for about 4-5 months, and seen many names both places. From what I’ve seen so far, alt.archery has had more heated debates (some of which I’ve been a part of). It seems to me that more of the controversial stuff goes to alt.archery, but who knows why. Don’t let the heat bother you on alt.archery. You can always skip the threads you don’t like. Personally, I’ve found that the debates usually make me stop and think about whatever is being debated, which is usually good; very thought provoking. Good shooting, and happy newsgrouping, Andy C. – Andrew Chouinard – – Ph.D. Student / NASA fellow - – Applied Science Department – – Univ. of Arkansas at Little Rock - – – – "If it shoots, burns, blows up, – – or lases; I’ll play with it!" –
Response:
>Thanks for the information, David. It’s much appreciated. > I stump shoot in the off seasons >and hunt when I can. >I’ve seen references to "stump shooting" and I’ve even seen particular >arrow points designed for stump shooting. What IS "stump shooting?"
"Stump shooting" refers to wandering an area where it is legal to shoot and taking shots at various targets (rotten stumps, clumps of grass, dirt banks, etc.) at unknown distances. This closely imitates the type of shooting done in many hunting situations and helps you practice your distance estimation skills. Points designed for stump shooting, like the Judo, are often designed with arms that will "kick" the arrow straight up when it enters grass or dirt. This keeps it from burrowing into the grass or ground and allows you to find the arrow more easily. It also inhibits penetration making your arrow easier to recover from objects. Ric
