Del's Dilemma

[Del the cat]

I've finally booked up for a flight shoot in May giving me plenty of prep time.   
They are only running a  few classes of bows but have said they can fit my Osage flight bow (80#? at 28") into the shoot somewhere  (I had been pushing for a self bow class)
I'll also make a 50# ELB which will have to use wooden arrows.
My dilemma is:- If I shoot the Osage in the Target Recurve class I could use carbon arrows which might get me further than I've shot before (Yeah I know I've used the "C" word, but I figured this is the most appropriate forum).
I'd rather use wooden arrows but this a chance for a PB... so how much further will a well tuned carbon (say 3-4mm diameter) go compared to a well tuned wooden flight arrow? (assuming same weight)
Yes I know it's a bit of an unaswerable question, but has anyone got a ball park idea or some experience?
Del

[Marc St Louis]

Actually Del I bought a small diameter C arrow many years ago and set it up for flight shooting, shortened, small fletch, lightened point.  I tested it along with some wood arrows I had and it could not quite match them in distance

[Del the cat]

Actually Del I bought a small diameter C arrow many years ago and set it up for flight shooting, shortened, small fletch, lightened point.  I tested it along with some wood arrows I had and it could not quite match them in distance

Cheers Marc, rather than buying enough to make the full 6 arrows, maybe I'll just get a couple of pieces for comparison.
I'm thinking 3mm solid rod and maybe 4mm tube might be worth a try... I don't want to end up with a workshop full of glass n carbon tho' (spits on floor)   
Del

[DC]

Has anyone tried sections of carbon fishing rod? I begged a bunch of broken ones from the local repair shop back when I was using that kind of stuff for my model sailboats. They come in various tapers and stiffness and you can pick your diameter by moving up and down the rod. I haven't tried them because of the carbon stigma but maybe I should.

[Badger]

  I would also install an elevated rest. Too bad they won't make some extra classes for primitive.

[Del the cat]

  I would also install an elevated rest. Too bad they won't make some extra classes for primitive.

Cheers,
I bought some off-cuts of hide with hair on,(haven't looked at it yet) hopefully there will be some that'll make a good rest
I have somewhere I can flight shoot for testing these days . Field 1/4 mile long with a hedge at the end and then another field 1/4 mile long .
Funny game flight shooting, no good taking distances and comparing week to week, have to shoot head to head on the same day to get meaningful results. We get some weird winds, just walking across the field it can be flat calm and then 50 yards along it's blowing a gale... dunno what it's doing 100 feet up!
Del

[Marc St Louis]

I forgot to mention that the fletching I used was natural not the plastic it came with.  The shaft diameter was 1/4"

[Del the cat]

I forgot to mention that the fletching I used was natural not the plastic it came with.  The shaft diameter was 1/4"

Cheers, more good info.
Yeah, I'm assuming plastic fletchings are better... but the one thing flight arrow making teaches, it's you can't make assumptions 
Del

[Marc St Louis]

The fletching I used was essentially the same as what I used on the wood arrows.  The difference in distance between the 2 was small but there were some of the wood arrows that consistently went farther than the C arrow.  Both the wood and C arrow weighed about the same (275~300 grains).  The distance I got, using bows around 50#, was around 320 ~ 330 yards

[Del the cat]

The fletching I used was essentially the same as what I used on the wood arrows.  The difference in distance between the 2 was small but there were some of the wood arrows that consistently went farther than the C arrow.  Both the wood and C arrow weighed about the same (275~300 grains).  The distance I got, using bows around 50#, was around 320 ~ 330 yards

Cheers that gives me something to aim for
Del

[JNystrom]

Actually Del I bought a small diameter C arrow many years ago and set it up for flight shooting, shortened, small fletch, lightened point.  I tested it along with some wood arrows I had and it could not quite match them in distance

Surely you tested that the spine was correct? It might be so, that these fiber arrows somehow oscillate differently, maybe faster? Would need some comprehensive testing.

Wood arrows are good and the ottomans were best. Maybe a turkish pishrev arrow with small rawhide fletches as close to the nock as originals and then using some release aid? At least goat hide fletches with a 8mm thick honest pine shaft would give them something to look at! Heh...