What arrow weight do you guys use?
Mule Deer
I got into a discussion with a guy who shoots a compound the other day about arrows and arrow weight. With my Stick bows, I shoot 500-650 gr. of arrow because I believe they give me better penetration.
He was saying that he shoots about half that, 380 gr., to get the speed.
Now I know that this argument can go around the big tree a few times, and I'm not looking for that kind of answer. Just a simple statement about what kind of arrow weight you use for mulies.
Thanks,
TBB
I shoot about 380-400gr carbon express maxima reds, 100gr slick tricks, blazer vanes, and whatever wraps I can find cheap to save shafts if I trash vanes. This is the set up I use for everything. Havent gotten to put one through a mulie yet, but they go straight through elk. Except maybe a straight shoulder shot. 60# PSE drive lt 28" draw
I shoot 9gpp of draw weight out of my recurves. Most are 54-56#s so right around 500 grains. I get great penetration at that 9gpp. even when shooting my lighter recurves of 42#s. and shoot right around 380 grains. I shoot 175 grain VPA's out of both my compound and my recurves. I also shoot right around a 500 grain arrow out of my compounds and they are set at 67#s. Shawn
I've gradually upped my arrow weight over the decades in my compound. There are many advantages to the heavier arrow- not just increased penetration. Right now I'm right at 500gr.
450 grains with my stickbows for muleys, whitetails, elk, bears, caribou, red deer, etc.., with 125 grains up-front. I pretty much only hunt on the ground. This combination gives me plenty of penetration and great trajectory out to just under 40 yards, which is my effective range on open country muleys.
My current favorite stickbow is a 53# Kelley with bamboo limbs and a carbon center lam. My others are all 56-58#.
I shoot a compound and have shot muleys with arrows ranging from 360-420 grains. Most have been around 380. No penetration problems and many short blood trails. They're mule deer, not elephants.
I shoot 60# Compound & 50# Longbow. My arrows for hunting are all over 500 grns.
I know you said mulies but i'll chime in for whitetails. I shoot a 400 grain arrow because in my opinion i have plenty of Kinetic energy with a cut on contact head that i shouldn't need more weight. It also takes alot of guesswork out of ranging an animal since nearly everything in my effective range is the same pin. Again, treestand whitetails and not mulies.
505 grain arrow form a 72# compound bow
Was shooting a 385 grain arrow X Weave 200 went to the 300 with the skull works wrap arrow is at 435 now.
Well, I never bowhunted mulies, but I imagine a 200 pound hog would be a stand in. I shoot arrows in the neighborhood of 420/425. I haven't weighed them that's just adding up the components.
471 grain from a 70 lb compound.
420gr arrow for whatever I decide to shoot. Dead animals havent complained about the arrow weight :)
usually 7-8 grains per pound pulled.
405gr, 100gr slick trick standard, 63lb compound. deer, elk, sheep, pronghorn pass-through never a problem.
460 grains, trees, ground, cold, hot, no problems. 70lb compound.
My arrow right now weighs 435
I usually shoot 500 grain arrows. But I switched to a different arrows.
Heavy arrows help make a bow quieter plus they hit hard.
My arrow right now weighs 435
I usually shoot 500 grain arrows. But I switched to a different arrows.
Heavy arrows help make a bow quieter plus they hit hard.
This thread has gone on too long without an argument breaking out...
Somebody? Anybody?
This thread has gone on too long without an argument breaking out... Somebody? Anybody?
^^^ you dont know what your talking about
I prefer an arrow pushing 500 grains. My new arrows are coming in at 480.
Trial, I've been on the Bowsite since it began. If somebody doesn't start an argument, it will be the first arrow weight thread in the history of Bowsite that doesn't degenerate into one.
And please look up the phrase "tongue-in-cheek"... Also, it's "you're", not "your". One is a contraction, the other is possessive.
My arrows weigh 420 grains unintentionally.
I blame Coloradans like Lou Phillippe.
Idyllwild, interesting you mention 420 grains. I unintentionally shot a muley last year with my compound at 60# and a 420 grain package. The shot was quartering-to, and the arrow went all the way through, out the back and shattered the femur.
Seemed like enough penetration.
Lou- you should no by now you cant joke around on here anymore without upsetting the peanut gallery. I think your going out of you're way to be a huge jerk and make ripples in the pond! ;)
Lou,
if you'd have had an Ashby head and a 3700 grain arrow, you'd have gotten a complete pass through the planet and killed a tiger in India and you know, that's not cool cause they're endangered and all. You wouldn't want to end up the next Minnesota dentist trophy hunter.
Good thing you limit yourself.
"Trial, I've been on the Bowsite since it began. If somebody doesn't start an argument, it will be the first arrow weight thread in the history of Bowsite that doesn't degenerate into one. And please look up the phrase "tongue-in-cheek"... Also, it's "you're", not "your". One is a contraction, the other is possessive."
and the arguement begins...
485 gr Easton FMJ 100 gr slick trick out of 70# compound
421 GR Injexion, 100 GR ST standard (or 100 GR Gravedigger) out of a 68# compound.
Mark
445 total. 27.5" CX Mayham, 125 on the front, 62# Very pleased with this set up. You're results may vary
500 gr. arrow out of a 55# Bowtech CPXL, 29" dl. Hits hard and the trajectory is still plenty flat.
Longbow-475grn to 500grn Carbon arrows, 175-200 grains upfront.
Compound - 420grains to 430 grains.
This 26" outside spread Muley was taken with 55# 500grain 3-bladed SnufferSS 125 grain head. 32 yard shot & pass-through! My one & only with a longbow.
I've taken 25 other Muleys with the compound setup!
ElkNut1
432 grain Slick Trick tipped Easton carbon injexions at the moment. 14 pass throughs on big game this year. Should be 15, I spined one buck. Now that I think about it, the first 3 deer were shot with 455 grain deep six FMJ's.
418 grains total weight. I shoot 400 FMJs, with 100 grain Magnus Buzzcut broad-heads. I'm only pulling 66lbs. No penetration problems what's so ever.
52lb Whippenstick Phoenix recurve...2117 aluminum...Grizzly single bevel...560 grain total.
My whitetail arrows are 400 grains and I would also use them for mulies. Thinking about going from 400 spine to 340 spine for next fall which would push me up to about 430 grains. I use feather fletch and 125 grain Steelheads out of my compound.
12yards, I too used to use all feathers on my compound setups, worked great! Not sure why I eventually got away from it? (grin)
ElkNut1
420 grains acc 3-60 for me. Hunt
I just dropped down from 700 gr to 600 gr (70+#/30" compound). I have been shooting compounds about one year, before that I shot trad bows only with 700-1000 gr arrows. I have tried lighter weight arrows with my compound, but shooting something like 500 gr feels like bow is going to explode.
I like heavier gpi arrows because they are quieter and hit harder.
Finished weight for me is between 380-400 grain with a compound. I have never had an issue on a mule deer. With that said, I am probably on the light side.
Matt
I believe my Contraption shoots 7 GPP @ #50; recurves, I'm using about 430, I guess. Those are both #55s @ 28", and I draw an AMO 27.5"
The 350 is probably on the light side, but it's on par with 10 GPP out of a #35 recurve and the whitetails around here are not that big. I'm using 100 gr Hellrazors, which are a 3-blade COC with about a 45 degree ramp angle. (Figured I should describe it for the benefit of trad-shooters who don't spend a lot of time poring over the catalog descriptions....) I had started out shooting Stinger 4-blades, but switched because the Stingers are not that compatible with my quivers.. For penetration, they are probably the better bet, though...
Thing is, I don't really want much more penetration than just ensuring an exit. The only thing worse than losing a deer would be having the landowner's dog find a lost arrow with all that tasty blood on it....
It ain't about the speed.. Out of my compound I use 30" 2317s with a 125 grains steel insert mounted inside 160 grain Howard Hill heads. When I crank her up to 85 pounds 2440 arrows with 425 grain head/inserts are mounted up front. And NO untrustworthy mechanical head on any of my arrows. My recurves and longbows are 45-65 pounds. The arrows are 10-12 grains per pound. Yessiree boys and girls it's not about how fast your arrow leaves the bow.
I believe my Contraption shoots 7 GPP @ #50; recurves, I'm using about 430, I guess. Those are both #55s @ 28", and I draw an AMO 27.5"
The 350 is probably on the light side, but it's on par with 10 GPP out of a #35 recurve and the whitetails around here are not that big. I'm using 100 gr Hellrazors, which are a 3-blade COC with about a 45 degree ramp angle. (Figured I should describe it for the benefit of trad-shooters who don't spend a lot of time poring over the catalog descriptions....) I had started out shooting Stinger 4-blades, but switched because the Stingers are not that compatible with my quivers.. For penetration, they are probably the better bet, though...
Thing is, I don't really want much more penetration than just ensuring an exit. The only thing worse than losing a deer would be having the landowner's dog find a lost arrow with all that tasty blood on it....
~475gr. A 27" Carbon Tech 65/80 with 50gr insert, 100gr head, and four fletched with 3"vanes. I shoot them out of a 70# compound.
This arrow still has a great trajectory, and durability, while being less effected by the wind, and offering great penetration.
Mine are 550 grains - 8.5 gr/# draw weight.
My wife's are 421 grains - 9.4 gr/# draw weight.
420 grains from my 70# Bowtech with 100 grain broadheads. Gets full pass through, including my bighorn ram that actually split ribs on entry and exit.
I was shooting a 400gr X Weave arrow with 100gr broadheads with a 65lb Hoyt Carbon Matrix. I decided to up my FOC and added 50 gr weight tips to the front of my X weaves. I shoot this 28" arrow at approximately 270fps...if I didn't have a zillion 100gr Jak Hammers, I would shoot 125's. Arrows fly like darts and I like the feel of the shot better with heavier arrows.
