After doing some research and listening to my local pro-shop I decided to purchase a Firenock S1. It was really awesome and for 20$ for 1 I guess I had my expectations set a little high. 1st deer was a clean pass-thru and Firenock worked flawless, super bright and ignites every time. Deer #2 the arrow did not make a clean pass-thru and about 6" of arrow lodged in deer and the arrow was found 15 yards from the point of entry with the Firenock unlit. It worked perfect until it hit the animal and then never saw a glow again. After retreiving the deer and further investigation of the Firenock I realized it was full of blood and Im guessing shorted out. I took it apart and cleaned it with electronic contact cleaner and It will not work at all. I called my pro-shop and they pretty much told me it's not under warranty for "liquid damage" and tough luck. For a single (1) lighted nock costing almost double that of what the others cost I cant help but question it's worth. Especially after failing at the very thing it was designed to do, HUNT. I dont mean to bash the product by any means because it's technology is far more advanced than any other lighted nock. I just think that for it's price, it should be a little more durable. What do you guys think? What's a good alternative?
I too used a nockturnal on my last hunt. Full pass through - covered in blood and the thing was lit later that evening - a few hours later. (I forgot to turn it off).
I've used the same firenock repeatedly and they usually perform quite well. I did let one that was all bloody get corroded and the circuit failed... but I also used it through three deer before that happened and then left it sit all summer. There's some very fine circuitry involved so it's really not surprising that being covered in blood would short it out. I know people who bowfish with firenocks and they put string wax on it to seal it from the elements with good luck. Anyhow, contact Dorge at Firenock. He may be able to help you out and get your nock fixed or replaced. Maybe you just need a new battery.
I shot the firenocks for a couple of years. Wasted alot of money. One of our local archery shops yanked them off the shelves due to the problems. This year I tried "Nockturnals". They are the best I have used so far. I have not had one fail yet. I have a couple that I shoot for practice and have turned them off numerous times and they always come back on. shot 3 deer with the same one and it still works. Had horrible luck with lumenocks also.....Junk!
Nockturnal fan here, too. Though I will say we got a bunch of the Nockturnal G (g-nock version) in the shop and they have been nothing but trouble. Batteries come unglued, nocks fit WAY too tightly, plastic too weak. I'd steer clear of them. But the standard Nockturnals have been virtually flawless for us!
Good news! After letting the Firenock sit in a bag of rice for 48 hours I went out tonight and gave it a try. I have shot it and turned it off a total of 15 times shooting at my target and it seems to be fine. Still think i will buy some nockturnals because they seem to be much more durable and a whole lot cheaper. Firenock is a little too precise and delicate for me. But hey at least it works again.
Obviously a lot of that will depend on your setup, but the nocturnal weighs in around 20 gns I believe, so your net gain is about 11-12 grains. if your shooting 280 fps, I would think that it would only make a 2-3 fps difference. I can't imagine that it would yield any noticeable difference under 30 yards, and a negligible impact within most hunting situations. Extreme sticklers may consider the impact on spine and FOC, but again, I think the change will be minimal and unnoticeable for most of us.
It won't yield any noticeable differences out beyond 30 yards either, not a shooter exists that can shoot the difference between 2-3 fps, 10 fps for that matter. Video of Tracer Nock, 280 fps before the Tracer Nock, 465 grain arrow (before the Tracer Nock) zero difference with it and a standard S nock... http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v499/Poorguy/?action=view¤t=TracerNocksquick.mp4
I'm shooting right at 300fps on a 335 grain arrow... at 20grains... that's pretty light, I thought they were way heavier than that... May have to check them out. Thanks for the info... And Rob... IF my memory serves me well... I believe I outshot you in a Game of B.U.C.K back in the day.. I might say I can shoot the difference....:D J/K
I have not tried fire nocks, I have tried Tracers and nocturnals. tracers where great until i missed and when it his a root in the dirt the force broke the lead from the battery, I suspect you could get the same results hitting the shoulder, don't know for sure. my nocturnals I love. shot a doe a couple weeks ago and it worked great, unfortunately it broke when the arrow worked its way thru a running deer. It did however stay lit so I saw it disappeared in her and reappeared when it fell out the other side.
