Average Grouping / Experience Level

[HonkeyMcGee88]

Hey guys, as someone just getting into archery I sometimes see groups people are posting and get a touch discouraged until I step back and remind myself I've only been at it for a couple months.

What I'd like to get from this thread is an idea of peoples every day shooting abilities. Not the one or two best groups of the day, but on a day to day basis what your average abilities are. For example the cleanest Robin hooded arrow I have had was at 40 yards on a day I was shooting terribly, nothing but luck. It was cool(tip went all the way to the end of the other arrow wrap), but not a good representation of my shooting every day.

The following information would be great and I think could help some other new shooters have something to look forward to/strive for:

-How long have you been shooting
-How often/long do you practice
-Average set to set group size at 20-60 yards(pics welcome)
-Maybe what type of release you use and a brief explanation why.
-Any other info that may be pertinent to the idea of the thread.

I'd like to keep this geared more toward the setup you use to hunt.

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[307]

People lie

 

[307]

Or are completely delusional

 

[Zspires94]

Been bowhunting since 2007
I try to shoot at least 3-4 times a week and around 30 shots at the minimum (time dependent)
At 20 and 30 I can’t shoot at the same dot because I usually bust arrows or cut fletchings. Past 40 I strive for 1 inch per 10 yard groups. So 40=4”, 50=5”, etc. I typically shoot smaller than that but that’s what I think is acceptable.


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[HonkeyMcGee88]

Or are completely delusional

Lol I know I know. Hoping maybe some people will be truthful or just not post.

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[307]

Lol I know I know. Hoping maybe some people will be truthful or just not post.

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You're delusional x2.

 

[big44a4]

I think 1” per 10 yards is a great place to strive for. That used to be a good group at 50 for me when I started.

Biggest change in accuracy for me happened when I switched to a thumb release and started pulling through shot instead of squeezing trigger. Huge leap in accuracy in 1-2 months getting used to it. Another thing is to practice as far as you can. I will shoot out to 150 yards when I can. It’s a lot of fun and makes closer shots feel like butter.

Last thing is to get your bow truly dialed in you have to be aware of what’s going on. Soon as the shot breaks you should have an idea where it’s going (left,right, up, down etc). Notice tendencies and adjust bars/weights etc until you no longer fight those tendencies. Example: when I used to shot longer shots I’d have to apply a lot of heel pressure so shot didn’t drop 1-4” low. Put 2 more ounces on my back bar and no longer have to fight that.

Some days are always better than others.


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[BigWoods]

The cold bow challenge thread from last year is a pretty good chronicling of this very thing;
https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/2018-cold-bow-challenge.94301/page-1

I'm looking forward to doing it this year.

 

[HonkeyMcGee88]

The cold bow challenge thread from last year is a pretty good chronicling of this very thing;
https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/2018-cold-bow-challenge.94301/page-1

I'm looking forward to doing it this year.

Thanks I will check this out.

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[Billy Goat]

If your just getting started just be focused on improving. Keep in mind if you are tired you are probably better off to stop. Bad habits come from shooting when you are forcing yourself.

I used to shoot all the time. Couple of us would get together at least 4 times a week. Life caught up. We don't spend the time shooting we use to. Try to focus on your form and being consistent. Distance shooting is great but if you aren't ready for it you will get target panic from punching the shot when your pin comes across the target.

Just enjoy it. Work on muscle memory. Accuracy will come with practice. In my mind you are better served by a few shoots every day or as often as possible then to shoot dozens not very often.

 

[Redarrow]

I have been bowhunting for 6 years, shooting a bow for twice that. I started out with a trigger release but switched to a hinge 3 years ago due to target panic. That was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! My shooting is WAY better. I agree with the 1” per 10 Yds rule as being acceptable, but think most people can improve on that. I practice year round although during the fall and winter it might just be once or twice a week then i step it up to almost every day during the summer. As far as shooting time, DON’T focus on quantity! Quality of the shot is what matters.

 

[RosinBag]

The groups I see people post about I think most people saw it in a dream or just want to be part of the conversation. They also say they are using their hunting bow which is inherently not as accurate as a target set up. If they were that good they should quit their jobs and make a living at tournament archery.

My suggestion is shoot the best arrow you can each and every arrow. If you do that you will improve and your accuracy will improve to a point. The most accurate archers shoot tournaments as that is how you tell if your shot process holds up under pressure. Tournament archery will also help with buck fever, as it is every bit as pressurized as hunting.

Archery is like most individual sports, we can all win Olympic gold medals, the Masters golf tournament, etc. when we are practicing by ourselves.

 

[HonkeyMcGee88]

Bigwoods have they done that about the same time each year?

I'm gonna have to keep an eye out and jump in on it.

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[BigWoods]

Bigwoods have they done that about the same time each year?

I'm gonna have to keep an eye out and jump in on it.

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It looks like it was done in late April into May the past couple years. Robby Denning said on the last page of the thread that it's slated for May 4th.

 

[TravisIN]

I try my best to get a minimum 10 shots a day. It’s therapy to me. So I make time to get at least ten in. Preferably shoot an hour or more when I have time. I’m with the guys above and most people lie about there grouping and there distances. So I’ll omit that bc it doesn’t really matter to anyone what some else is doing. I use a thumb release, Carter first choice. Been shooting thumbs for years but never felt like I truly mastered it until a year ago. I basically went a year with only shooting a carter evolution (tension) or a Scott longhorn (hinge). Really spent a lot more time worrying about the my shot execution than my groups. Really learn to trust your execution and your pin float and it will make a world of distance. My long distance groups are better than ever. I used to have target panic and would punch pretty bad. But I had it for so long I had got to where I could time it pretty decent and be ok. Two years ago I really though I was a pretty good shooter. I’d always beat my buddies at 3d shoots and was “decent” at 50 yards. But I wanted to get better so I committed to the execution and not worrying about groups. Honestly I got worse before I got better. So if you do make a change stick with it for a while and don’t give up after a few shots!


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[raptor16]

I’ve been shooting since I was 12 and I’m almost 22 now. No one to teach me a thing about form so I just read (I haven’t had a true Robin Hood in 10 years of shooting BTW). I shoot at least 3x a week if not more, but I’m a full time student right now so time can be lacking. Average group size is probably 2 inches at 20 and grows an inch for every 10 yards if I’m shooting decently. Varies with the amount of shooting I’ve done lately. I switched to a Stan shootoff recently and really like it. It’s easier for me to surprise myself on the shot and I don’t think about the trigger as much.

The pictures are both 30 yard groups. Really good 30 yards groups for me minus the flier on the deer.

 

[87TT]

I found it helped me if I didn't shoot groups for while. Especially longer shots. One arrow at a time. Shoot then walk to the target and get it. If you only have one shot, you think about it and not rush it. Plus I found the other arrows were like a magnet and drew my attention and aim, mostly when they were bad.

 

[theCaptain]

I've been shooting for about 10 years, but had a long break up until a year ago because of life (aka 3 kids). Picked it back up this past summer and made lots of changes to my 11 year old bow setup. During the summer i was shooting 3-4 times per week in the afternoons and roughly 30-50 shots. I would work between 20-60 yard shots with most of my focus on 20-30 yrds because of whitetail hunting in texas with the occasional few sets at 70-80 yds just for fun. When i was shooting 4-5 arrow sets my groups would match 1"/10yrd goal with the occasional flyer mostly due to fatigue or rushing through the set. About late summer, i dropped down to only shooting 2 arrow sets and noticed i took more time during execution and tightened up my group.

I also like to pay close attention to my very first shot of the day because i feel like this more accurately represents what will happen during a hunting situation. Most of us don't go into the field after a few warm up shots. I still shoot a trigger style wrist release but looking to switch to a thumb release to see how to improve. Overall, i think routine practice is key and proved to be successful for me this year for my first season back in 7 years with both deer being double lunged and dropping in sight.

 

[Beendare]

Lots of really good shooters out there....and its worth going to actual shoots see where you rank.

You WILL learn a lot at these archery tourneys.

As to where you should be....so much of that depends on what you're goals are. I think its reasonable to expect MOA groups at 6 months. [MOA= 4"@40 yds, 5"@50yds, etc]

What you realize when trying to break through to this level of accuracy is;

1) tiny form flaws will hold you back.
2) bow tune plays a part
3) consistent accuracy is a detailed process

The same issues issues affect you if your goal is to be a deadly bowhunter....but the shot execution and mental aspects are a little different. So for example, you no longer have all the time in the world to execute a good shot. If you don't practice this urgency you won't be as good of a hunter....but at the same time that urgency will affect your pinpoint accuracy [1" out vs 3" out is not a factor on most hunting shots]

..

 

[Rob5589]

1" per 10 yds seems to be the usual number. Personally, I do not shoot groups. One, I don't find it useful; two, less risk of arrow damage. I usually shoot 3 arrows at a time and pick a different spot on the target for each arrow. If I was a target/3D archer then maybe I would do things differently. I only hunt, so to me I get one arrow to seal the deal. Works for me anyway.