Total Arrow Weight

[mobigbucks]

What is everyone's total arrow weight and why did you settle on that number. I have noticed a trend on this site where everyone is opting for lighter and faster arrows. I m actually going from a seventy pound bow to a 60 pound bow and was thinking about reducing my arow weight to compensate for the decrease in my poundage. I have been shooting 425 to 450. If I stay around this weight I will have KE in the mid 80's; if I drop to 360-380 I gain 15-20 fps but KE also drops. Just curious where everyone else is setting up there arrows. Thanks

[SPIKER]

My Victory arrows come out to 318- 320 gr. and at 63# that comes out to 5gpp, and generates 66# of KE at 306 fps.

That's way more than needed for a Whitetail, and it extends my flatflight to around 32 yds. Meaning one pin from 10 to 32.

I'll take a fast arrow over a heavier arrow any day of the week. JMHO.

[omegabuck]

With one exception ... mainly from personal experience. If you've got a seriously mad 350lb and up Hog ... go with the heavier arrow. I found this out already ... luckily I can climb trees fast enough to get away. It still got me bad enough to need staples to repair the damage.

While the Hog did EVENTUALLY die, even with a solid hit ... it didn't realize it was hit bad. I think a heavier arrow would have had more "shock" value to it.

I learned one thing about Hog hunting with a bow ... be sure to carry a sidearm! I won't ever go without my .40 again.

That being said, I think you're correct Spiker when coming to Whitetail.

[mobigbucks]

Yeah, no hogs for me yet... Just whitetails I would have to opt for those grizzly sticks if I was gonna hunt some of those big hogs

[Doegirl]

Feb 21, 2010 13:07:21 GMT -5 mobigbucks said:

Yeah, no hogs for me yet... Just whitetails I would have to opt for those grizzly sticks if I was gonna hunt some of those big hogs

No need... My Russian from the '08 team hunt(200lbs), 295grain arrows from a 48lb bow, both shots on the boar were complete passthrus. BT's arrows hover around IBO when he's using the compound. I'd be more concerned with flat flight and correct broadhead selection based on your setups KE.

[BT]

300 grains for me...for over 14 years now
I pass through anything out past 50 yards when I hit where I am aiming.
I shot a 800# Buffalo through both shoulder blades at 32 yards with a 300 grain arrow and it passed through, with only the nock tip holding it fast until the animal turned and then the arrow dropped out.

It's all about the broadhead and speed...little to do with the arrow weight or bow weight when talking about the compound.

[mobigbucks]

Feb 22, 2010 8:39:56 GMT -5 BT said:

300 grains for me...for over 14 years now
I pass through anything out past 50 yards when I hit where I am aiming.
I shot a 800# Buffalo through both shoulder blades at 32 yards with a 300 grain arrow and it passed through, with only the nock tip holding it fast until the animal turned and then the arrow dropped out.

It's all about the broadhead and speed...little to do with the arrow weight or bow weight when talking about the compound.

Thanks a lot BT!! I will try the lighter arrow and pick up 30 fps!

[madoktor1]

My 2219's go 574 gr. and my 2413's gp 475 gr. total weight. My KE for both runs in the lower to mid 70#. There is about a 20 fps. difference between the two so more flat flight out of the lighter ones. I use the heavier ones for hogs and the lighter ones for everything else. I can go lighter or switch to carbons and get more fps but I'm happy with what I have and they fit the tune of my bow well. I have a single pin adjustable sight that maxes at 85 yds and my 2413's hit very well at that distance. I shoot one pin out to 30 with both setups just hold over for the 2219's. I like older longer ATA bows so my fps is lower than more modern new bows so I lean more towards KE when building and choosing arrows.

Like my bowtech said, "for most deer hunting situations, it's 6 of one and a half dozen of the other about speed and weight but for a long shot I prefer the heavier arrow to have more KE on impact."

[smj]

My current arrow, a 7595 Goldtip XT, 30 inch length, a 30 grain insert screwed in to the back of the stock insert (epoxy in place), 100 grain tips. Three fletch, standard Bohning with a very slight offset, right wing mount. Totals out at ~443 grains glued up and ready to go. This gives me a solid FOC that flies reasonable when the wind is howling in the mountains. I am not a "fair weather" hunter, so big wind is a consideration for me. I get ~12.6% FOC with this rig. I used to shoot with 4 four inch fletching, but since I added the mass up front I find that I get good flight without the extra fletching. The Bowtech 101st is set to a 31 inch draw length, 70 pound draw, and gives me somewhere right around 300 fps. Reasonable energy, fairly fast and flat flight, not to much noise. I have thought about going to a lighter arrow for antelope hunting - but to go much lighter shaft wise would have me worrying over spine issues.

Traditional wise - 550 grain, 145 grain tips, full length 5575 shafts. Four fletch, right wing, they fly well and hit hard out of the new longbow.

[smj]

To be honest, picking the right tip will no doubt do a lot more for penetration than changing a few grains of arrow mass. If you want your bow to shoot more flat - then drop the over-all mass of the arrow... My finding is that when you drop the over-all mass of the arrow, you gain speed but can give up a lot in arrow durability. When I shot Big Game 100+, nothing seemed to break those arrows. I went very light, from around 500 grains to under 400 grains, and those arrows snapped like twigs. I am sure that there are better arrows out there today - put some time and effort in the arrow selection and pick a shaft that you will be happy with, one that won't snap if bounce it off a branch. I am sure folks here have some great suggestions as to which shafts to consider for lighter weights! The ones I've tried all broke to easy.