Two types of arrow guide

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 1:32 pm

The picture shows two types of arrow guide. The one at the left is hollowed out and rounded at the end so that it fits the hand comfortably. The one on the right is made from bamboo and the end is cut off diagonally like a reed pen (qalam).

The small dart on the right is the shortest one I shoot. It is 13.3 cm long and balanced at the rear of the point. I shot some ones like this at Fort Dodge.

MJuingong · Post by **MJuingong** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 1:17 am

Bede:

Good looking.

What's the range and penetration capability of dart, and is there any info on accuracy?

OT: Are you at the Lotus Flower Festival in Washington D.C. on July 16, 2005? I know they're having an archery display.

Thomas Duvernay · Post by **Thomas Duvernay** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:24 am

Bede,

I'll bet that l'il guy is a real missile!

T

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 12:05 am

Unfortunately, I won't be at the Washington festival. I hope it goes well.

I have not shot the darts for distance for some time now. Dr Grayson and I were going to try at the Flight Championships in Utah last year, but the guide arrived too late.

The last chronograph tests I did showed about a 25% increase in velocity for the medium length darts over normal length arrows. The smallest dart is very fast, but it did not have the range of the other darts when shot for distance.

However, I feel that my flight shooting skill has improved after being coached by Dr Grayson in Utah so I am looking forward to trying again.

I have been using the darts for target shooting recently and they are as accurate as long arrows. From a military point of view, I am sure that the difficulty of following them in flight when using a heavy bow added to their effectiveness.

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:08 am

I've fixed this thread and got rid of the posts about not being able to see the picture. Sorry for the bother, guys.

Bede · Post by **Bede** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:37 am

Thanks Stephen.

I have resubmitted the image into the original post.

Here is another one showing the cross sections of the two guides.

Since several people have shown interest is shooting with this type of equipment, let me repeat the warnings Thomas and I have given elsewhere.

Guide arrows are hard to follow in flight. Make sure you are shooting somewhere with an adequate area for the darts to land if they miss the target.
Don't have people standing next to you or in front of you when you shoot. The dart can leave the guide and bounce of the belly of the bow at an unpredictable angle.
Make sure the dart is full in the guide and no part of your bow hand is in the way of its flight. You can shoot yourself with a guide, which is a rare feat in any other form of archery.

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:08 pm

Thank you very much for the images... I am definitely interested in trying my hand with the majra...

Stephen Selby · Post by **Stephen Selby** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 1:42 am

People, please note Bede's warnings here. This is really dangerous equipment. There are few aspects of archery that scare me; but use of the majra is one of them.