Giving up on lighted nocks (for now)

[ND1612]

I just put the AAE IP5 nocks back into my hunting and practice arrows, and I think that's what's staying in there until after the season. My hunting arrows have reflective wraps, so that'll hopefully be good enough to find one in the dark. Lighted nocks sure would be nice and I wish there were better options, but it be what it'll be. I've tried Nockturnal, DeepPower, Keaup and CosiComu, and none fly as well as the regular IP nocks. At shorter distances it was less noticeable, but shooting fixed blades at 50-70yd it really showed the inconsistencies with how the arrow was leaving the string. Sometimes they were great and field points were landing right on top of my broadheads at 60yd. Sometimes they would randomly be some other direction, but never the same twice.

I think the way these nocks are made is a large part of the problem. There is one "click" to snap onto the string, and then another "click" that the string has to go past to turn the nock on when you fire the arrow. That first spot where the arrow sits at rest on the string is just fine, nock fit is perfect. But once it gets to that 2nd detent to turn the nock on, it's tighter than tight and really hangs onto the string. The picture below shows the difference in diameter for those two spots.

I know I can reserve my string to fit that smaller diameter spot, but I'm not going to do that just to run a chinese lighted nock when everything else works perfect.

 

[brancher147]

I quit using them years ago. Just have bright orange wraps now. Reflective wraps are a good idea though. Went through too much time and energy and money trying to get lighted knocks to work out

 

[butcherboy]

I played with lighted nocks many years ago. That’s as far as I got. Never used them for hunting as I found they are just too much of a hassle. I use a fluorescent green nock and can see those little suckers fly great.

 

[LongWayAround]

I had them pop off my string at full draw on two animals last year.

A six point bull at about 25yd and a nice antelope at 60yd.

The antelope happened first. I drew on him three times and the knock popped off every time. I finally got a shot off and of course blew it by that time. It's possible that the knock wasn't seated the first time, but it was definitely seated the other times.

I never had that issue at the range prior and have shot them at animals previously without issue.

 

[Bamf_Pa]

Agree I spent so much time fidgeting with the then buy 12 new ones and find the best 6 before season. Now yellow or white wraps and the matching vanes

 

[Billy Goat]

In my take Firenock is the only good one, but you then have to use Easton nocks and I haven't always been the biggest fan of those either.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Firenock is the only lighted nock I would trust, but they’re expensive at around $20 each.

 

[bowhuntercoop]

Keaup has been flawless for andn friends for years now. I reserve my stickbows and compounds for proper nock fit though. Easy 10 min fix and the problem is solved imo.

 

[ND1612]

Keaup has been flawless for andn friends for years now. I reserve my stickbows and compounds for proper nock fit though. Easy 10 min fix and the problem is solved imo.

I've reserved most of my strings, some several times, but with the difference in the two spots on these nocks it seems like if I serve it small enough to fit the tighter location where the button is, then it'll be way too loose when it's sitting on the string in the normal "at rest" position. I'd be worried about the arrow popping off of the string when I draw like someone else mentioned. Just not worth the hassle right now, 3 weeks from when I want to be chasing elk.