Split rope

[PaulSpain]

Yesterday, practicing target shooting I gave myself a good scare...
I have drawn my own novice conclusions, but I would like to share it with you to see what expert eyes with years of experience say.





Nock problem? From the arrow maybe? It's clear from the fool of me, for buying regular quality material...
Reading in this forum and thanks to you I have learned that there is no need to skimp on that aspect.

I have the consolation that it was not a total dry fire, so praying that the extremities have not suffered.

I have ordered a couple of strings from the supplier and by the way a dozen proflight arrows so that it doesn't happen to me again...

[robertyb]

I would say that you did not check your arrow before loading and firing it and it had a stress crack at the nock end that then split open and broke your string. If that was not the cause I would then say that you did not completely seat the arrow and a partial dry fire occurred which can do the same thing. It would help if you had said what bow you were shooting.

[janesy]

On a side note, are those Moon style Luminocks?

[AJ01]

On a side note, are those Moon style Luminocks?

By the picture, I'd say yes.

If that is the case, therein lies the root of the problem, or at least I would presume?

Otherwise, the flat nock took one heck of a beating!!

[Boo]

Semi dryfires will cause cracks in the arrow shaft at the rear nock. Semi-dryfires are extremely common and often go unnoticed by the shooter. The smaller ones slowly nudge hardware to their demise and the bigger ones can bring immediate damage. You are on a short but steep learning curve!

[janesy]

On a side note, are those Moon style Luminocks?

By the picture, I'd say yes.

If that is the case, therein lies the root of the problem, or at least I would presume?

Otherwise, the flat nock took one heck of a beating!!

Not necessarily, altho the chances of a dry fire are certainly increased, just by the ability to mount the arrow incorrectly, where as it's not possible with flat nock

I was just curious. I ran a bunch of arrows over a Chrony for Don a couple years back to try them. The theory behind the design was that it may increase some speed. But all I noticed was a slight decrease in accuracy over flat.
I did however kill a bear with a moon nock equipt arrow after those tests.

[Boo]

A moon nock indexed improperly does not split the arrow but does damage the limbs and string. Don’t ask me how I know

[xcaliber]

A moon nock indexed improperly does not split the arrow but does damage the limbs and string. Don’t ask me how I know

It's story time Don.

[PaulSpain]

Thank you all for the answers.

I would say that you did not check your arrow before loading and firing it and it had a stress crack at the nock end that then split open and broke your string. If that was not the cause I would then say that you did not completely seat the arrow and a partial dry fire occurred which can do the same thing. It would help if you had said what bow you were shooting.

An Assassin 400 TD
I didn't check the arrow, right, I had already shot it in the same round of shots and I was relaxed.
The arrow was well seated, I always do and check.

On a side note, are those Moon style Luminocks?

Yes they are.

You are on a short but steep learning curve!

I am already seeing it.

. But all I noticed was a slight decrease in accuracy over flat.

Take note.

A moon nock indexed improperly does not split the arrow but does damage the limbs and string. Don’t ask me how I know

It's story time Don.

Me too!!

[Boo]

When the Scorpyds first came out they used moon nocks. They were the first compound crossbows I bought. I screwed up twice. Both times a good loud crack! I could hear the string or cable whipping around in front of my face and one cam spinning like a top and both cams were ripped up. No clue what I had done at first. The arrow was laying 20 feet in front of me and in quite good shape. It took me 2 screw ups to learn!
I was shooting a Swat and one of the nocks were lose (they are supposed to be glued in). I didn’t pay much attention and did not check the others. When I shot the other arrow with a lose nock, the string drove the nock up through the shaft and of course the string was cut in the middle, damaging the limbs and cams. The cams are very harsh and when the arrow launched, the nocks wanted to stay behind somewhat like a big semi dryfire.
At one of the Boofests, I had a 405 which had just come to the market. A couple of visitors asked if they could shoot it some. I let them have it with 12 arrows. The bow came back and I later discovered that most of the nocks were mushroomed and several shafts had good sized cracks starting at the nock. One of the limbs had a big honking splinter. They were obviously not seating the arrows. They also disappeared shortly after.

[PaulSpain]

I really like these stories, they are life experiences that are priceless.
Thanks for sharing.

[AJ01]

A moon nock indexed improperly does not split the arrow but does damage the limbs and string. Don’t ask me how I know

It's story time Don.

Thanks for sharing your "story".

[xcaliber]

A moon nock indexed improperly does not split the arrow but does damage the limbs and string. Don’t ask me how I know

It's story time Don.

Thanks for sharing your "story".

Thanks!

[PaulSpain]

I was shooting a Swat and one of the nocks were lose (they are supposed to be glued in).

Looking back, I think that may be the main error. I didn't glue the nocks, simply, since they fit well under pressure, I settled for leaving them like that... Why settle them if I always do it correctly, or so I think at least...

Another theory... Could it be that by not fully tightening the nock to the string for fear of turning on the led, that tiny space left between the string and nock (0.5-1 mm) causes semi-dry fire?

[AJ01]

I was shooting a Swat and one of the nocks were lose (they are supposed to be glued in).

Looking back, I think that may be the main error. I didn't glue the nocks, simply, since they fit well under pressure, I settled for leaving them like that... Why settle them if I always do it correctly, or so I think at least...

Another theory... Could it be that by not fully tightening the nock to the string for fear of turning on the led, that tiny space left between the string and nock (0.5-1 mm) causes semi-dry fire?

Yes Paul... the nock needs to be "fully seated" against the string. If not, in my opinion it can cause a semi dry fire if not a full blown one.
I take it those LED nocks are Lumenoks? Don't fret seating the arrow. You would have to shove that arrow pretty hard against the string to make the nock turn on.
As long as the nock is resting against the string in the correct position, you'll be fine. There should be no gap whatsoever between nock and string.