I've been shooting trad for about 10 years now. I hunt, shoot 3d have shot indoors but never really shot and scored a 300 round. Well I have the pleasure to shot a few 300 rounds this weekend with 3D Archery on You Tube - Greg Richards. Great guy with a great archery you tube channel. A wealth of information. I went in thinking I could shoot 180-210 to start.I shot 228, 211, 209. Mental and physical fatigue really set in. I shot with my hunting rig, basically my only rig. A Predator Hunter, 45@28, 2016 legacys at 29.5. I shot 3 under, split vision. Now I'm thinking if I really stick with it I could possibly improve to average 245+, maybe.

A couple things really struck me. The paper does not lie. It tells you exactly where you are at. It also requires a very different level of concentration. I could feel every change in form, every misstep in release, etc. I could even feel the difference of my fingers on the string. It was an interesting and humbling experience.

So,for you guys that shot 300 rounds what's been your experience?

I shot them back in the 60's and 70's. A few after that but the last I shot was probably the late 1980's. Back in the early 70's I had a 260'ish average and a high of 272 shooting 35 pound target bows. It's funny as some nights you just click right along, and maybe the next week you struggle. Lots of fun and great accuracy builder.

I suck at 300 rounds! I hate that target!

I enjoy the 300 round. It gets me in good form for summer 3d. If you have any form issues the 300 game will let you know. I use my hunting weight bows and arrows too. You can score higher if you drop in weight and get a heavier arrow that let's you gap shoot but I am a hunter so that's why I use my hunting gear.

My goal is to get in the 240 plus range. Right now I am getting about 232 to 236 in practice. I shot around 228 on league night when I joined the compound guys one night. Shooting during leagues is a nice way to up the competitive juuces.

Enjoy, the 240s will come, you are doing well. Bill

Use to enjoy the 300 round, have made the 40's a couple of times. But upper 20's to low 30's was a average. Some years shoot the highest score for the season the first night, or last. Shooting was done with my hunting bow.

Last year I really improved and averaged 250 on the 300 round at league. I'm averaging 350 on the 450 round FITA target so far this winter.

Does anyone shoot under 200 on the leatherwall?

Pete -

Your assessments are correct. Just remember, before compounds, most archery clubs shot 300s or variations on a regular basis and 240 was considered average (B class) at best.

For the record, most people used start off around 200 (+/-), and progressed from there. My how we've progressed.

Viper out.

Back in the 60s & 70s I shot indoor 300 leagues and tournaments on a regular basis. Man, that was fun. I learned how to shoot a bow! Not that I was really any good, but I was very active for many years. Started out with wood arrows and a 45# Bear Kodiak Magnum bow, no sight, finger tab,...I think my first recorded score was in the 150 - 175 range. Eventually I went full bore into competitive shooting,...sight, bow sling, stabilizer, Easton X-7 arrows, Kant pinch finger tab, Hoyt Pro-Medalist bow, 33#, 68" in length,...yeah, the whole works! I won a few local tournaments and did well in leagues, but never was much of a shooter beyond the local level. Sure had fun, met and shot with some great people, some that were hot-shot shooters on a national level. Without a doubt most were very fine people and willing to teach & give advice to others to improve. Those days were fifty years ago, remember them well. They were important to me, gone now but still meaningful to this old archer. To this day I still bowhunt, completed my 62nd season last fall. Still do it but the hills are higher and the days longer. I hope all you youngsters out there appreciate your younger age and what that allows, it is precious and never to be taken for granted. Wish you all the best.

Thanks for the history lesson, Tony! I haven’t attempted an honest 300 round ever before, but it’s really great to have a sense of what Grade A, Grade B, etc actually look like on a scorecard!

It's really for tournament archers vs. bowhunters. You need 60 arrows to separate out the top tournament archers in a large competition. As I stated in my 300 round thread, it doesn't make as much sense for the pure bowhunter who would be shooting a bow that is actually used in bowhunting. Every serious competitor would deviate toward a tournament bow type of setup. E.g., longer bow and reduced poundage.

I shot it a few times last summer and scored in the 180s, so yes some us do score below 200.

Found a local archery shop with a 20 yd. range. The trad league shoots every Tuesday night so I decided to give it a try.

We average between 8 to 10 shooters on any given night. The bows used range from low end recurves and longbows to my SF forged riser and SF Ult Pro limbs. Our ages are mostly in the "older" category.

I have no competition and I don't mean to brag on that, as my goal is to improve my shooting, but for me, what I really enjoy, is the camaraderie (sic) in the group. I really look forward to Tuesday nights with a great bunch of guys, and one really nice lady. I actually hate to see the evening end.

If my score should ever get in the way of the fun, then I'm out of archery altogether.

David -

You're absolutely right - not. I remember shooting those matches at my local club. My target bow was a Bear Mag "B" riser with long limbs; 64" and 62# at 29". It did have a 6" stab on it. Probably not a hunting bow, right? Most club members were actually bow hunters for two months out of the year, some had dedicated target and hunting rigs and some used the same for both.

The whole "tournament archers vs. bowhunters" thing is something neo-trads created and didn't exist back then. It's one reason why a 240 was considered average. And there's no way being a better shot will equate to not being a good bow hunter.

To put it more bluntly, if you can't handle 60 controlled arrows in about 90 minutes, you're either over bowed or just plain suck.

Viper out.

The thing I like about archery is there is a game for everyone. NFAA 300 round, Fita 450 or 3d's. Heck some like archery golf.

I am a bowhunter but I like to shoot spot targets. I watched the Barebow competition that Lancaster had on YouTube and I did not think "wow, target shooters". I was impressed with their archery abilities, so for me there is no separation.

Lately I am shooting my 53# Border Black Douglass with a 477gr arrow. Our league shoots fast and when I am practicing alone, I don't take enough pauses between ends, so that last end is tough when I am tired. I always feel it is helping my form when under duress.

I think anything that makes me a better archer makes me a better bowhunter. I have a blast with the 300 round. I know my limitations and that not all recurve/longbow guys enjoy what I do. That is ok because there are many other games to play!

Bill

To each his own Viper.

I shot in a club in MN for about 10 years. We had 300 round but also a 2d animal league. Nearly all of the serious 300 round traditional shooters were shooting tricked out, light weight, long arrowed rigs. Regular bowhunting bows pretty much stayed in the animal league.

Viper, I sorta' agree because back in the 1960s I do recall more pure hunter bows on the line. Today with more publicity for the tournaments and various competitions like the Lancaster barebow challenge you're just not going to see someone with a 52"/55# hunting bow show up with a serious mindset of trying to win against the best.

I would welcome a mano a mano challenge from any of the top names, esp. shooting broad heads with short hunting bows, but I guess it would be viewed as all talk and no hat unless it actually took place.

I think it would be a relevant and interesting event. There are a few all broadhead competitions; maybe something like this will catch on. I'll be visiting Lancaster Archery and will certainly bring it up.

Using broadheads might be a bit too freaky, so ok, field points probably more realistic...

Back in the day there were several differant tournament rounds. There was target, field, hunter and PAA just off the top of my head. I think archers that just hunt would get a kick out of shooting some of those old rounds of archery.

I also think something like the Lancaster Barebow Challenge ring rule could be used where a ring of a certain diameter (something like 4" as I recall) has to able to pass over the bow...if you have a sight method that would do this or a short stabilizer then great. Let's see how accurate a simple hunting bow can be.

I will throw a wrench in the engine and say 300 rounds are great for an objective personal evaluation, but if you really want to be competitive in target archery you need to learn to shoot in a very small personal space / bubble. This is not true for "alone" shooting.

The above comment is about Indoor shooting - the space where 300 round takes place.

How many inches across is the 10 ring?

10 ring? It means you are on FITA target. 10 ring is 4cm diameter = 1.57" . 9 ring (whole yelow) is 8cm diameter = 3.18"

yellow*

I shot the blue face target. White is 1.75” and 5 points.

PeteA,

First and foremost, excellent shooting! You're starting off a lot better than most. If you're starting off cracking 220, then 240 isn't far away.

"The paper does not lie."

No, it doesn't. It's all too easy to forget our bad shots when stump shooting and such. But when we have to objectively record each and every one it can often paint a very different picture of our abilities.

""David - You're absolutely right - not. I remember shooting those matches at my local club. My target bow was a Bear Mag "B" riser with long limbs; 64" and 62# at 29". It did have a 6" stab on it. Probably not a hunting bow, right? Most club members were actually bow hunters for two months out of the year, some had dedicated target and hunting rigs and some used the same for both.

The whole "tournament archers vs. bowhunters" thing is something neo-trads created and didn't exist back then. It's one reason why a 240 was considered average. And there's no way being a better shot will equate to not being a good bow hunter. To put it more bluntly, if you can't handle 60 controlled arrows in about 90 minutes, you're either over bowed or just plain suck. Viper out.""

That's better stated then I could have done, especially paragraph number two.

Back in the fifties we shot an Indoor round called the Flint round. We used two or three different size black & white target faces and, depending on the face used, we shot from various positions. Seems to me the longest shot was about 45 or 50 feet. Does anybody else remember the Flint Round?

and Guys -

Regarding the above post, no we didn't just shoot the blue 300 target. In addition to the PAA, Freeman and Flint, there were mini-field, hunter and even indoor "animal" rounds.

case -

The Flint was actually a 30 yard and under course, while the mini-field/hunter was 20' to 20 yards (since most indoor ranges didn't have more than 20 yards). The animal rounds were more open ended and targets could be from 5' to 25 yards, at least in my club.

Pete -

The "white" (5) is approx 3.25" in diameter.

Draven -

Yeah, shooting in that "bubble" seems to be a discipline in itself these days. To those of us who grew up (relatively speaking) with it, it just seemed natural and did promote a lot of range etiquette.

Viper out.

IMHO the 300 round is a great tool that aids the trad hunter used in moderation. Moderation I say because if you take this round to seriously it can lead to unwanted problems. Shoot-it but have fun doing it!!!

We must deal with facts, and that's where I agree shooting paper and keeping score is very helpful. The problem remains (in my opinion), most bowhunters violate what I call "the accuracy formula"...it will be very hard for most to ever shoot above 250 on the 300 round and that's the level of accuracy I hope to help other achieve with actual hunting bows. It's NOT about talent, but about a paradigm that until recently has been almost unquestioningly accepted as the end all.

Very good column in current issue of Traditional Bowhunter, "Detachment From Reality" by Jason Wesbrock"...check it out.

The NFAA (blue face target) round has some things built into it which contribute to its uniqueness. So it's not shooting alone in your back yard.

1. You're shooting indoor with sometimes not so perfect artificial lighting. 2. There are people all across the line shooting at once and each person next to you is about 15" from you. 3. You shoot 5 arrows in an end with no going up and down to retrieve until everyone shoots their 5 arrows. Shooting 5 arrows can generate a lot of pressure. Hitting 3 -5s and then try to hit those last two arrows will drive you nuts. Or blowing your first arrow and try to hold it together for the last 4. 4. You shoot 12 ends, not 6 and multiply times 2 so stamina is involved. 5. You are shooting for a score.

It's not for everyone and maybe not for the bowhunter only types.

Viper, that bubble I talked about is having 1’ between shooters on the line in competition. It is something that changes everything, from the way you put the arrow on the string to the way you lift the bow up to full draw. It may be not the norm, but it is something to take in consideration these days. Ettiquete is an euphemism IMO since no matter what when you are between compound shooters you can’t respect it. You maybe talk about big crowds with a line of trad or barebow shooters, but when there is not the number of stick and string shooters you have to adjust to ad-hoc rules.

“etiquette” not ”ettiquete”

He shot 30 arrows at ten points each for 300 points. How big is the circle that he kept all his arrows inside of in inches? Pardon my ignorance on this subject But I never shot for score like this. Thanks.

D -

Yes, I agree and that's what I'm talking about. "Range etiquette" includes everything you mentioned. Simply being able to nock an arrow and raise/draw a bow when you only have 2' of space on the line seems to be a lost art.

Viper out.

Nomad. 300 round is 3 ends of 20 arrows each end, total 60 arrows. Center is wht with smaller x which scores 5 points and x is used as tie breaker. Rest of target is blue 4-3-2-1 rings. X=1 1/2” 5=3” 4=61/4” 3=91/4” 2=121/2” 1=151/2” all these are approx. I make my own target with a scape pc of wood use as a compass with holes drilled in it.

Northener, thank you.

But the Vegas 300 round is 30 arrows, 10 rounds of 3 arrows I think. I'm not a tournament archer and readily admit I don't know all the rules. I do know a little about bowhunting and fortunately there aren't too many rules nor too much crowding...

That could be David A. Not real familiar with the Vegas round its been years and years, in fact i forgot about the Vegas. Yes the 300 round I am familiar with is the NFAA 300 round. Glad you brought that up.

Good job Pete ! Keep it up JeffW

NFAA 300 Round, 60 arrows, maximum score 5 points per arrow, maximum possible score 300.

Vegas 300 Round, 30 arrows, maximum 10 points per arrow, maximum total score 300.

Still have my 260 average patch from the very early 70's at Chestnut Ridge Bow and Gun Club. Other patches are from mostly defunct organizations that I had belonged to back in the older days.

Thanks for all the responses boys. I'll be back at it this weekend! There is a local tourney in March that I'm thinking about entering.

Some neat patches, George. I especially like the PA Fed. of Sportsman one.

About the "flint round" mentioned earlier. Viper referenced a 30-yard course. At my club, where we have a maximum range of 20 yards, we run a flint round a couple times a week. It is great fun!

About the "bubble" mentioned above. I only did it once . . . at the Wisconsin indoor champtionship (held each winter). Never again! I am a left-handed archer. That put me face-to-face with other competitors. That was tough for me. Imagine what it was like for the other guy who was used to shooting while facing another shooter's back, not his face. Honestly, I felt bad for the guy I was facing; I bet it messed him up terribly.

Mark

Mark -

You are probably shooting more of what we called the mini-field round. 4 arrows ends, black/white targets scored 5 and 3:

1. 17 yards 8" face

2. 20' 6" face

3. 20 yards 8" face

4. 15 yards 8" face

5. 13 yards 6" face

6. 10 yards 6" face

7. One arrow from 20, 15, 13 and 10 yards 8" face

Repeat.

We added a 15th end of 2 arrows from 20 on the 8" face and 2 arrows from 10 on the 6" face to have a 300 total.

That's from memory, so the exact number could be off a little.

Viper out.

Flint round, great fun and do a lot this side of the pond. Good to do towards the end of the indoor season in prep for Field

I shot a 300 round today, first time in almost a year. I had only only 3 arrows that worked with my Hoyt Excel and 32# SF limbs so I did 20 groups of 3 and shot a 210! 30 ponts better than last year and that included a complete miss! To many bad arrows though so I can do better.

Good job Treeman.

I’m implementing a NFAA 300 round into my shooting, once weekly, as I see it as a fantastic way to “grade” how I’m doing. I do consider my self a bowhunter, but I do not see how shooting this round, which is 20yds, cannot help me improve as a bowhunter.

My best on the 300 round was a 274.

I remember all those old shoots in the 70's:)

I average about 225. Not great, but I'm working at it. My best was a 268... unusually high for me. Just on that evening I guess.

I think it is a good measure of accuracy and precision.

I just shot my first 300 at the house and scored a 218 and a 210. Pretty happy with that for being an extreme beginner.

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