Two Arrows @ Once? Yerps.

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Two Arrows At Once Experiment

Introduction

We've seen it in the movies where an archer shoots two arrows at once, usually with dramatic results. A question was asked about whether this may be the case. The tendency of many is to go to the Internet and find out what others have done. Nah. So I'm all, “'m a gonna try it.”

Keeping in mind a recent unfortunate incident concerning Tannerite and a gun and a lawnmower, I decided to perform the experiment safely.

Problem Statement

When drawing one arrow in a 48 pound recurve by the fingers, the fingers compress against the shaft and help to keep the arrow aligned, and the fingers also deliver torque to the string when released, pushing the arrow against the bow. Stacking two arrows exposes two problems, both affected by torques of various natures.

One problem is adjacent feathers interfere with mounting of the arrow one atop the other, and both against the bow.

The second problem arises from the design of the nocks, which are not cylinders, but tapered at the archer end. This drives the archer ends of the arrows together, spreading the tips apart.

Objectives

Really, I wanted to see what happens when I shoot two aluminum arrows at once from a 48 pound recurve drawn to 32 inches.

Methodology

Here is the experimental apparatus, including the three finger glove, strap around some arrows there peeking out. Needs-replacing bleach jug.

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I tried to nock two unmolested arrows at once. Nah. The fletchings get in the way. I had some totally scuffed arrows, so I picked two matching ones and stripped the fletch from one. When I nocked them both below the brass bead. Nah. One below and one above the glass bead, with a tad clearance in the top one—that's the ticket.

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Below, the arrow on the right is missing the fletch, between the blue and red vanes. The arrow on the left--repaired with a shorter vane, as I am a budget archer. I do have a fletching jig, so I repair my arrows.

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It felt quite awkward to draw them. I had no idea where they were going to go, so I stood about five yards from the bag and drew them half way just to see. I shot. They bumped off the bag. They appeared to fly together. So I reloaded them the same way and began to draw full. Tough at first to keep them aligned due to the compression of my fingers.

If I put one arrow below and touching the brass bead, and the other arrow (with only two feathers) right on the bead, the arrow tips were driven apart due to the pressure of my fingers and the design of the nocks. But if I placed the upper arrow about one millimeter above the brass bead, no such point spread appeared.

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Next, I stepped back five yards. I drew full to the tips and shot. Awkward to hold, some slipping, some adjustments. One arrow in the jug and one in the bag, but not deeply a few inches apart. Hmm.

Evaluation

Two arrows may be shot from a single bow at full draw at one time, if one of the arrows has the proper feather removed, and if appropriate nocking techniques are used. I am not optimistic about accuracy over a longer distance. More study is needed.

I originally wrote this over at Quora, where seven folks will read it. Seven more here. Winning! :coffee:

CDFingers
Crazy cat peekin' through a lace bandana
like a one-eyed Cheshire, like a diamond-eyed Jack

Re: Two Arrows @ Once? Yerps.

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Chinese repeating crossbow

The weapon was extremely easy to manufacture and use, and, in the hands of a trained soldier, could easily launch ten bolts in fifteen seconds.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repeating_crossbow
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— Mikhail Bakunin

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