Hoyt AX-3 29 Setup & Tuning Guide: From Setup to Bullet Hole

In this setup and tuning guide, we're working through a Hoyt AX-3 29 from the initial accessory setup all the way through paper tuning, checking specs, measuring actual draw length, and installing the peep.

This isn't meant to be a polished step-by-step tutorial. It's a look at the actual process we use in the shop when setting up a bow — where we start, what the bow gives us through paper, what adjustments we make, and what we check before calling the setup complete.

Watch the Full Hoyt AX-3 29 Setup & Tune

Hoyt AX-3 29 Setup Specs

The goal was to set the AX-3 29 up the same way we prepare bows for our comparison testing so we could start from a consistent baseline before making any tuning adjustments.

Initial Setup: Leveling, Centershot & D-Loop

After mounting the sight and rest, the first goal was to establish a repeatable starting point before sending an arrow through paper.

The bow was leveled and the arrow was positioned level through the center of the berger hole. Centershot was then set at 13/16" from the riser. That is the starting position we've had good results with on these Hoyt bows.

Once that position was established, the nock sets and D-loop were tied. A small amount of space was left around the nock to help prevent nock pinch at full draw.

Setting Up the Limb-Driven Rest

The Hamskea Everest used in this setup is a limb-driven drop-away rest. The activation cable was attached toward the bottom limb, roughly 1.5" from the axle, with the rebound dampener positioned close to the limb.

Enough tension was placed on the activation cable to keep the launcher down and the system secure before moving on to the paper tune.

First Paper Tune: Slight Nock-Right Tear

With centershot established and the rest locked down, the AX-3 29 was shot through paper from approximately 12 feet.

The first shot produced a very slight nock-right tear of roughly 1/4". Because the bow was already close, there was no need to immediately move the rest or make a larger shim adjustment.

Tuning the AX-3 29 With Hoyt's XTS System

To correct the nock-right tear, the bow was positioned facing forward so the XTS adjustments could be made consistently from side to side.

The right side was stiffened with one full clockwise turn while the left side received the opposite adjustment. The same change was made on both the top and bottom.

The bow was then shot through paper again.

An important part of making these adjustments is keeping the changes balanced. If one side is stiffened, the opposite side receives the corresponding adjustment. That helps make the lateral correction without unnecessarily changing the bow's draw weight.

The set screws also need to be loosened before making the XTS adjustment and tightened again afterward without over-tightening the hardware.

Final Specs & Measurements

Once the bow was shooting clean through paper, the next step was to verify that the bow was still in spec and measure what it was actually doing rather than assuming everything was correct.

The AX-3 29 Measured Slightly Long

One of the more interesting findings from this setup came when the actual draw length was measured.

The bow was set at 28.5", but the measurement came out to approximately 28.75". The axle-to-axle measurement, brace height, timing, and other specs were all where they should be, so this particular setup measured roughly 1/4" longer than the module setting.

Installing & Setting the Peep

The final step in this initial setup was installing the peep. Only enough pressure was taken off the string to split it and position the peep.

The starting peep height for this setup was roughly 5" to 5.5". Because this bow was being prepared for testing, the peep was not permanently served in. It was secured enough to verify position and alignment while allowing additional adjustment after more shooting.

What We Learned From This AX-3 29 Setup

Hoyt AX-3 29 Setup & Tuning FAQs

What centershot did you use on the Hoyt AX-3 29?

This setup used a starting centershot of 13/16" from the riser with the arrow running level through the center of the berger hole.

Did you move the rest to fix the paper tear?

No. The rest stayed at the established centershot position. The approximately 1/4" nock-right tear was corrected through the XTS tuning system.

Did the AX-3 29 need to be shimmed?

Not in this setup. The initial tear was small enough that the XTS system was used for the correction instead of making a larger shim adjustment.

How many shots did it take to get a bullet hole?

Two paper shots. The first showed the slight nock-right tear, and the second shot after the XTS adjustment was essentially a bullet hole.

Did the 28.5" AX-3 29 measure exactly 28.5"?

No. Using the measurement shown in the video, this bow measured approximately 28.75" even though it was set on the 28.5" module position.

What arrow was used for the tune?

The bow was tuned using an Easton FMJ MAX 300 spine cut to 29" with the stock 16 grain insert and 100 grain field point, in total weighing approximately 446 grains.

Bottom Line

This AX-3 29 setup was a good example of why starting with a consistent baseline matters. The rest was set at 13/16", the arrow was leveled through the berger hole, and the bow was already very close on the first shot through paper.

From there, Hoyt's XTS system handled the fine correction without moving the rest. One adjustment took the bow from a roughly 1/4" nock-right tear to essentially a bullet hole on the second shot. The final checks also confirmed timing, axle-to-axle, brace height, and draw weight were where they needed to be, with the only notable measurement being the draw length coming in roughly 1/4" long.