I shot compound for probably 10 years, I know a bit of compound archery because my dad is friends with a professional archer.

I never did recurve though and I’m looking at getting into it because it looks more challenging. I have most of the parts I want spec’d out and I see a lot of people recommend getting a Beiter button.

I looked into it and I didn’t really get a direct answer on what does, based off of appearances it looks like it just pushes the arrow where you want it to keep it centered but I’m not 100% sure.

  • 4z01235@lemmy.world
    5·
    11 months ago

    Plungers have basically two functions.

    1. Center the arrow. The plunger’s length is adjusted to achieve this. Basically, you want the limbs to be lined up with each other so that the string naturally wants to move in a nice straight plane down the middle of the bow - you adjust your riser for this and it’s similar to shimming your compound cams or shifting the limbs sideways or whatever mechanism your bow has. And then, you want your arrow to also be in line with this plane, so that the force of the limbs (via the string) is applied basically straight down the arrow, rather than pushing it both forward and sideways. This adjustment is called “centershot” and is similar to moving your compound arrow rest left/right and is the primary thing a plunger does.

    2. Smooth out inconsistencies in your release. Unlike compound that is normally shot with a mechanical release aid, recurves are normally shot with the fingers directly on the string. This is inherently much less consistent. Variations in how exactly your fingers come off the string can make a big difference in how the string delivers the stored energy of the limbs to the arrow, and this can have a large effect on the arrow flight and therefore on where it lands. The tip of the plunger is spring loaded or magnetically repelled so that it compresses as the arrow flexes while leaving the bow, helping to absorb some of the sideways energy from the arrow and make it more consistent. The spring or magnet tension is also adjustable. The closest compound comparison here would be if you shoot with a blade/launcher style rest, you adjust the blade angle or change blade thickness to make sure the blade supports the arrow enough without also springing back and striking the arrow during launch.

    The Beiter plunger in particular is so popular because it is very well machined, comes with plenty of spare parts and more spares are available everywhere, it locks down securely and you’ll never have it move unless you intentionally adjust it, the tension adjustment has nice clicks as you turn it, and both adjustments have an engraved scale so you can always return the adjustment to the same position it was previously at if you make a change for the worse (or if you want to set up a second identical bow).