what arrows to use???

[thegamejr]

Just curious as to what arrows are best for traditional archery?

[RadSav]

Depends on draw weight, draw length and how traditional you want to go.  When I think of traditional I think of wood.  Nothing more beautiful than a purple heart footed fir shaft.  Though I always prefered shooting cedar.  Something about the smell and feel of cedar that turns me into a poet and makes me dream of Ben Pearson, Babe Bitzenburger and Glen St. Charles.  Suzanne St. Charles at nwarchery.com has some of the best wood shafting available and makes some of the most perfect traditional arrows you will ever find.

If you want to go more modern or you have an extra long draw length aluminum and carbon both work well out of traditional bows.  Both are available in a wood grain finish and both retain that tradition look.  Even if they do not feel or sound like a traditional arrow.  I like the consistancy and finish of the Carbon Express Hertitage shafts.  About as close to a cedar look and feel as you will get in a non-wood arrow.

[thegamejr]

the bow would be a bear Super Kodiak at 45#, i will have to get measured for my draw length for trad bit its 31.5 for compound. . . i've been trying to do some research on the different arrow shafts but there's so much i don't even know where to start ha

[RadSav]

Is that the 60" or 64" S.Kodiak?  You must be one tall dude at 31.5" compound length.  That means you may have some trouble hitting your true anchor if you are using the 60" as you will be hitting the wall at about 29.5".  If that is a true representation of your draw length I would definitely be looking at the carbon shafts unless your heart is completely set for wood.

I would check out http://www.huntersfriend.com/draw-length-weight.htm and check your wingspan.  Also would be good to know your height.  Many archers shoot too long of draw length with compound bows.  These measurements will not change where you are drawing your recurve as that will happen naturally.  But, it will go a long way to helping you choose the correct arrow length and spine.  As well as make sure you avoid trouble with having too short of bow.

[thegamejr]

yeah im 6'5" ha. . . and it would be the 64" that was the one that bear archery recommended for my draw, i would prefer wood but if i have to use something else i will, thats why im trying to see whats out there. and thanks a lot, this info really helps

[RadSav]

I don't know the exact details of that bow's draw curve, but I would assume you will be in the neighborhood of 55# draw weight at 30.5-31".  You might want to give Suzanne a call and see if getting a cedar arrow with enough length is going to be possible.  Or you might want to just try a Beman or Carbon Express arrow to start until you figure out how the bow is fitting you and what spine deflection the bow is liking.  Nice thing about starting with the carbon is you can start with them full length and just cut 1/2" off at a time and fine tune the arrows performance to your bow.  Even in the same model each traditional bow will be a little different than the next.

Fun thing about traditional bows is you can draw a little more or a little less to shoot under or over obstructions.  So you need to take that into consideration when cutting your arrows to length.  You may not be able to do this if you can not find a cedar arrow long enough to allow for an extra bit of draw.  I think you are going to be very close.  That's why a call to someone like Suzanne would be beneficial.

Fred Bear used to say, "As an instinctive archer if I miss my first shot I will probably miss my second as well.  So to make corrections on a missed shot I have to draw longer or shorter to adjust point of impact."

Good luck. It's going to be fun!