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By Patrick Meitin |
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The Nock's role in Accuracy
It seems to escape
many bowmen that the nock, such an outwardly insignificant part of the big archery
picture, can have such a direct effect on arrow accuracy and bowhunting
success. Variations at the tail-end of an arrow always affect accuracy more dramatically
than those at the front, making nock alignment even more important to accuracy and
repeatable impact than arrow straightness. Those of us old enough to remember
glue-on nocks – and 11-degree tapers applied to cedar arrows with
“pencil-sharpener” cutting tools, or swaged nock cones as a decades-long aluminum-arrow
standard -- likely have more insight in this area. A crookedly-cut wood-arrow taper,
a sloppy nock glue-up job on swaged-end aluminums, resulted in “flyers” that refused
to group with other arrows in the quiver, more importantly, made reliable broadhead
tuning all but impossible.
Very
few bowhunters outside the hard-core traditional set use glue-on nocks today,
but this doesn’t make nock alignment, and overall quality, any less important.
It may seem obvious with just a moment’s reflection, but the nock, after all,
is the very last contact point between you, your bow and a released arrow. To
promote top-notch accuracy, whether target shooting or bowhunting with broadheads,
bowstring-to-nock interface during the violent transfer of energy initiating
launch, and bowstring separation, must remain 100 percent consistent. Any
small deviation occurring during this all-important phase of every bow shot
results in slight differences in arrow impact at short ranges, those gaps
widening exponentially as ranges stretch -- or when fixed-blade broadheads are
part of the equation, no matter the range. Hold that thought.
The
Importance Of Nock Fit
A big part of
nit-pick accuracy has always included using the same nock brand and model on
every single arrow in your quiver. Too, precise serving diameter is also
important in the overall formula. Too tight and nock separation will occur
much later in the launch, negatively affecting accuracy. Too loose and a
sloppily interface between string and nock results in slight variations in
arrow attitude during each launch, in addition to proving annoying, arrows slipping
up and down the serving or falling off completely at inopportune times. The
nock should snap onto the serving firmly, just tight enough so you can lightly
tap the serving without dislodging the arrow, but loose enough that the nock can
still be slid up and down the bowstring serving by applying light side pressure
to the arrow nock. After discovering an ideal serving diameter make notes,
using a micrometer if necessary, so you can recreate identical serving diameter
should serving become worn after prolonged shooting and require replacement, or
should an older bow require complete string and buss-cable replacement. It
should also go without saying accuracy consistency also depends on using only
nocks manufactured to stringent specifications by proven makers.
Now
hold that thought.
A different approach to Nocks
One company, Carbon Express,
has made nock choice easier in 2013 -- at least for those demanding only the
best, most accurate hunting-arrow nocks in the industry. The all-new Carbon
Express LaunchPad Precision Arrow Nock is engineered to provide a precision
launch base from today’s modern compound bows, for maximum transfer of energy
and truest flight and downrange accuracy. LaunchPad Precision Arrow Nocks were
engineered after significant input from professional shooters, controlled
testing and advanced high-speed camera analysis. Designers also took the time
to test all the nocks available on the market today and studied trends in
current compound-bow string technology to help determine the perfect fit and requirements
to create the ideal nock. Applying this new-found knowledge, Carbon Express
engineers had to then formulate special manufacturing processes that
consistently replicated the most desired characteristics into each and every
nock that came off the line.
In archery
everything depends on the nock, as it is the last component to contact the bow
after every release. Carbon Express’ LaunchPad Precision Nocks offer a more
accurate option for bowhunters seeking the ultimate in accuracy
LaunchPad
Precision Arrow Nocks include precision bowstring contact points in the nock
valley and at the throat opening to provide better control and a more
consistent transfer of energy for added launch consistency. The
precision-aligned nock stem is perfectly symmetrical, providing a balanced base
to promote truer rotation and flight. Finally, the concentric design ensures
the nock centers itself in the arrow perfectly for more consistent accuracy. The
overall design also assures .001-inch, four-axis straightness (specs less than
a third of the thickness of a sheet of office paper) on all LaunchPad Precision
Nocks.
What about Lighted Nocks?
Better yet,
Carbon Express has taken this spectacular nock design and wrapped it around a ruggedly-dependable
lighted hunting nock. The Carbon Express LaunchPad Precision Lighted Arrow
Nock Series takes LaunchPad’s ultra-precise .001-inch straightness specs and
combines it with highly-visible LED and long-lasting power providing bowhunters
the benefits of other lighted nock brands, but with vastly increased precision
and accuracy potential. If you have avoided lighted nocks in the past for fear
of negatively affecting accuracy, your worries are over. You can have a
lighted nock and accuracy too. If you’ve remained a big lighted-nock fan, you
can now enjoy tighter arrow groups than ever.
Carbon Express also accomplishes this
while keeping weight to an absolute minimum, the LaunchPad Precision Lighted
Arrow Nock weighing only 18.5 grains (or about 8 grains more than the average standard,
non-lighted nock). This also makes the LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nock the
lightest lighted nock on the market today. This helps maintain F.O.C. percentages
within accepted thresholds (more than 10 percent) for flatter trajectory and added
arrow stability while shooting broadheads; unlike heavier models which can
cause unstable flight due to excessive rear-end weight. The minimal weight
difference also means minimal impact variations between standard LaunchPad
Precision Nocks that now come standard on your Carbon express arrows and their
lighted counterparts, allowing seamless transitions between the practice range
and the hunting field.
Carbon Express’
LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nocks are a great tuning tool, the smallest
deviation from laser-straight flight quickly traced through the bright LED
light in dim shooting conditions.
The
Carbon Express LaunchPad Precision Lighted Arrow Nock – offered in green, blue,
red and pink -- includes the precision manufacturing specs already touted, battery
life up to 50 hours -- or more than 600 shots -- (in green and blue models,
less in red and pink), automatic launch-activated trigger mechanism and
high-visibility LED light held in an integrated housing protecting all parts
during high-speed flight and especially following hard impacts. In fact, Carbon
Express engineers subjected LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nocks to rigorous endurance
testing, the mechanisms withstanding hundreds of shots into high-density foam at
close range without a single failure. The design also makes the mechanism more
reliable following side impacts, say, after rattling an arrow through thick
brush. The self-contained, launch-activated LED system requires no magnets or
similar add-on parts, the .244-inch plug-in diameter making it compatible with
any standard-diameter carbon arrow shaft on the market today.
The LaunchPad Precision Lighted Arrow
Nock allows you to simply draw, shoot and enjoy guess-free arrow tracking. All
parts are perfectly centered and balanced to accentuate LaunchPad Precision
Nock accuracy, making this the most accurate lighted-nock system bowhunting has
yet seen, a design that helps you Shoot Better.
The
LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nock is also available in a Crossbow model, this
one including precision milled-aluminum body construction with a precise,
screw-in plastic sleeve that allows just two nock sizes to fit and securely
lock into any standard-diameter crossbow bolt currently on the marketplace.
The Crossbow LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nock also includes .001-inch
tolerances with a simple but precise design that’s incredibly durable. It
includes “half-moon” rear and an O-ring feature assuring the nocks do not turn
on inadvertently.
The
Lighted Advantage
Lighted nocks
have become highly popular mostly because they’re just flat-out fun to shoot,
whether simply target shooting late in the evening, or bowhunting. From a
strictly practical standpoint lighted nocks also serve several important
functions. Firstly -- even in states where lighted nocks are not legal for
bowhunting (carefully check regulations in your state) – the Carbon Express
LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nock can prove an invaluable bow-tuning aid. Shooting
a lit nock just before dark quickly reveals the smallest tuning flaws or
fletching-contact problems in the form of slight arrow kicks or porpoising –
giving you instant feedback after every shot and allowing you to make
appropriate adjustments. Seeing an arrow with lit nock installed fly perfectly
true gives you visual confirmation your arrows are tuned to perfection,
affirmation providing confidence during that season-making shot at a trophy
buck. Better yet, when you return to your unlighted LaunchPad Precision nocks
no difference in arrow impact results.
More
importantly, in a strictly bowhunting context knowing exactly where your arrow
has arrived after a shot at game is extremely important. With the Carbon
Express LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nock there’s no more guessing, no more
worrying if what you think you saw is what actually occurred. This gives you
cock-sure insight into how to precede after a shot at game; if you can begin
trailing right away, or how long you should hold off before beginning tracking.
And, no more foraging around in bushes, grass and leaves after a missed shot,
leaving tell-tale human scent behind near a favorite stand site while looking
for an expensive arrow. The Carbon Express LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nock’s
high-visibility LED light leads you straight to your shaft for quick recovery
and minimal disturbance.
Carbon
Express was founded on a vision of continuous product growth and innovation
based on the hunting heritage and a passion of the leadership to build on that
heritage with flagship brands that offer world-class products based on
understanding the wants and needs of retail partners and end users. The Carbon
Express LaunchPad Precision Lighted Nock is yet another step in that direction,
while helping shooters of all experience levels ultimately Shoot Better.
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