Whitetail arrow weight
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
11-Jul-21
Before we know it the season will be here, what’s everyone shooting TAW and what broadhead are you using this year?
From: Bowboy
11-Jul-21
Easton 340 Axis cut to 26.5 with a 125 grain Magnus Buzzcut. Total arrow weight 435 grains. Shooting a Hoyt Helix at 27" draw and 63lbs draw weight.
From: WVFarrier
11-Jul-21
IronWill Wide 100s 200 grain insert 28" Black Eagle Carnivore Total Weight 538 (ish)
Obsession FXL 55# @ 30"
From: JW
11-Jul-21
Easton Hexx 330 with 50grain brass insert with 100 grain Wasp Jackhammers. 435 grains out of a PSE Evoke 35, #70 - 29 1/2” draw @ 298fps
From: t-roy
11-Jul-21
CX Maxima Reds, VPA 100gr 3 blades, approximately 410 grains, TAW.
Also might use up some of the 100gr Rage Trypans, left over from my grizzly hunt….
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
11-Jul-21
Those rage leave a big hole in em T-Roy!
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
11-Jul-21
I myself will be using a 125 head, 100 insert total weight 560 from a Blackout epic by cabelas (it’s the bear divergent basically). 28.5” draw shooting 71.5# on a 55-70 limb bow. Arrows traveling 265 FPS at 18 yards
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
11-Jul-21
Not sure which head… leaning exodus swept blade
From: Jack Whitmrie jr
12-Jul-21
Easton Aftermath 340 , 75 grain brass insert with 125 grain VPA 3 blade for a total of 502 grains. Shot from a 57# Vertix or VXR.
From: carcus
12-Jul-21
I've been shooting 400 spine fmjs but they are a little under spined out of my 65pound pse evo nxt so I got some 340 easton axis pro's, I think they are around 430 gr if I remember correctly they shoot 275fps which is perfect IMO
From: 12yards
12-Jul-21
GT XT Hunter 340 with Blazers, 4" wrap, cut to 28", standard insert and nock, and either a 125 grain 4 Blade Magnus Stinger or 125 grain NAP Hellrazor, or 125 grain VPA 3 blade, or 125 grain Rocket Steelhead. 421 grain TAW out of a Synergy, either 56# or 52#.
From: Ermine
12-Jul-21
I’m not hunting whitetails. But have Mule deer and Pronghorn tag. I’ll be shooting a 484 grain arrow with Iron Will broadheads I like arrows to weigh 450 minimum. Heavy arrows just hit harder and make bows quieter
From: Will
12-Jul-21
Easton Axis 340 with a 125gr Spitfire. Carry both the Spitfire and Slick Trick Magnum. Both hit the same spot at 60 yds.
From: Will
12-Jul-21
Easton FMJ 300, 100grn rage extreme 2bld, blazers offset and a short wrap with Nocktournals... I was shooting 340 Axis and changed last year just to try something new after years of the same. low 500's grn wise now and works well.
Though it seems no better than the 410-415grn set ups I was using prior.
(The Will above is the PA one, I'm the MA one... just always cracks me up we have the same "handle")
From: bowhunter55
12-Jul-21
Easton FMJ 400, 28 1/4", with 55gr. Titanium half out up front and Ignitor nocks at the rear and Silent Knight 3" vanes with right helical. Topped of with Slick Trick Wicked Tricks. Total arrow weight is around 490gr. Very hard hitting and super accurate.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
13-Jul-21
Good info guys. Thanks for the responses.
From: TREESTANDWOLF
13-Jul-21
Iron Will 125 wides, VAP SS with 75 grains up front, WT wraps and AAE Max Hunters at 525 grns. Pretty Heavy for WT but this is also my moose arrow if I can ever get to BC! Good luck all!
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
13-Jul-21
Never to heavy tho Rich! My whitetail and bear arrow is 560! My buddy shoots 654 (Ashby minimum) that’s a tree limb!
From: Thisismyhandle
13-Jul-21
Easton axis 300 spine, 50 grain brass insert, aae max stealth vanes and wasp havalon 100 grain broadheads. 480 grain total weight out of a 72 lb Hoyt rx1. 27.5” draw length.
From: Scooby-doo
13-Jul-21
It is nice to see that a lot of folks have not bought into the Fairy's bunk!! A moderate heavy arrow with any quality head will kill most anything we all hunt!! Shawn
From: Scooby-doo
13-Jul-21
I should of said nothing wrong with what the Fairy is saying, it does work!! Its just he makes it sound like it is necessary and I believe that is a big disservice ecsp to new bowhunters! Shawn
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
13-Jul-21
I’d agree scooby. I went heavy this year and only 560 so not crazy heavy. Just to do it and have fun building a new arrow and retune the bow. And why not see what the heavy arrow will do to a whitetail and maybe a bear
From: t-roy
13-Jul-21
I’m not a podcast guy, so no idea what the fairy (I’m assuming the ranch fairy) is espousing, Scooby. What’s his take that you disagree with?
From: Matte
14-Jul-21
615 grain death stix here
From: Nocturnal II
14-Jul-21
Jeez.. So a new bowhunter who watches Ranch Fairy learns that a heavier arrow, tipped with a quality BH is of disservice to them? How? Too many new bowhunters are trying to think about how they can probably save money on arrows and broadheads. These light setups with junk BH's are okay on great shots but RF is explaining that often times there are situations a heavier arrow tipped with a quality sharpened BH can save a hunter when an animal does something unexpected or when we are less than perfect on our shot. Which more times than not happens more with new hunters who are not experienced under pressure. Ranch Fairy is helping the community.
From: DRR324
14-Jul-21
Nocturnal, I agree 100%. My set up, Gold Tip Hunter XT XTRA 300, 75 grain brass insert, 150 Cutthroat single bevels and lighted nocks. 625 total. The buck I shot last year at 18 yards, pass through both lungs, jumped and ran 25 yards, stopped- turned around for a few seconds trying to figure out what the noise was, then walked off another 25 yards- got wobbly legs and fell over dead. I'm a firm believer in the set up from a less bow noise and less "impact" reaction scenario. Been shooting this type of set up for 20 years (first 15 with recurve) and know that it works. Ranch Fairy is a goofy dude, but the knowledge and ability to show how it works is a good thing for bowhunters.
From: Nocturnal II
14-Jul-21
DRR- those sort of setups just blow right threw animals and I too shoot cutthroat 150's. Im just a hair under you at 570 total but I see the same behavior after the hit as you do. Also, you're right on about him being a goofy dude. It can be hard to get past the goofy side but you can tell this is what he is passionate about.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
14-Jul-21
Nocturnal you and DRR324 hit it right on the head. It’s not that a heavy guy wants to take a marginal shot. It’s if the shot becomes marginal your better off than with a 350 grain laser and crappy expandable blades
From: Scooby-doo
14-Jul-21
Its the fact that the guy makes it sound like it is absolutely neccesary!! His facts are correct and nobody has to tell me about heavy arrows and high FOC, been shooting them from my recurves long before the Ranch fairy came along. I also have been shooting 175 to 225 grain heads from my compounds for the last 15 years. My point is to hunt whitetails and a lot of other game they are not needed, just look at the post. A lot of guys who I know kill a lot of critters are not using a "heavy arrow" with high FOC.. That was my point, if ya look I said it no doubt works and no doubt helps on those shots that are less than perfect. Classic example is me, I am shooting only 53#s with a 27.5" draw. I shoot a .400 spine cut to 26.5"s and 175 grain head. Total arrow weight with lighted nock , insert and vanes is 450 grains. I shot through both shoulders of a big Nebraska buck last year and through the shoulder of my Iowa buck and broke his of leg without an issue. Niether of those bucks went over 60 yards. Shawn
From: Nocturnal II
14-Jul-21
I dont think anyone disagrees with a light setup but your statement on disservice to new bowhunters who watch him is just a flat out disservice on your end for anyone who thinks your words are credible.
What he has done, is performed many studies for his viewers to take for their own gain. Whether they choose to shoot a heavy arrow is their choice but I will say that without a doubt he does not come off as my way only, but he does preach to stop shooting poor quality broadheads. Which if I am a betting man. You are shooting a good solid BH based on your light poundage, small draw, and light arrows.
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
14-Jul-21
Definitely not his way only. The hunting public had a couple good episodes with him the last couple weeks
From: fran
14-Jul-21
Iron Will SB 125, Vap ss with 50 gr. inserts ,White reflective wraps and blazers. Coming in at 462grns.
From: rattling_junkie
14-Jul-21
I tried the heavy arrow thing. You better be spot on with yardage. I keep my arrows between 400-450gr. Works good from deer to moose and I have a puny 27" draw. Deer + bear = mechs. Elk + moose = fixed (though I might try Sevr 1.5 for moose this fall). I think a flatter shooting bow and a bigger cut is much better if a Bowhunter pulls a shot. So, I'll be using what's worked for me and let the ''heavy" guys use what works for them.
From: Nocturnal II
14-Jul-21
Rattling junkie- based on your impressive harvest pictures. You should just stick with what works! Lol! Its working for you!
You are right. Thats a serious downfall to heavy arrows. You have to be spot on with yardage.
