Arrow Question

[ElkBOW79]

I was wondering if I could get some help on some arrow questions.  I just recently got back into bow hunting and I'm looking to purchase new arrows.  I currently have gold tips that are probably 10 years old.  I'm looking for an arrow that I can shoot out to 60yds (I hunt sage lands so longer shots won't be uncommon) and that shoot straight consistently.  How should I go about picking an arrow?  What gpi should I be looking for to shoot longer distances?  Any and all help would be appreciated!

[D-Rock425]

Gold tips are fine arrows.  Used them for years.

[Broken Arrow]

Take your set up to a pro shop. They can get you back up to speed.

[coachcw]

at 70 lbs I shoot 7595 gold tip pro hunters with a ten grain insert and a 100 tlock three fletch max hunter vanes . They fly like darts and are right at legal weight.

[D-Rock425]

The only problem with goldtips is  making legal wait and having properly spined arrow.

[et1702]

Need to know more info.  Bow type, draw length, BH type and weight, etc.

One thing to keep in mind is that WDFW requires 6gr per lb of draw weight with 300 gr arrow min. weight.  So, for instance, if you shoot 70lb draw weight, you need 420gr arrows (total weight; including nock, arrow, inserts, BH and fletching).

ET

[ElkBOW79]

@ET1702..my draw is 70lb..I shoot an older Hoyt cam & 1/2, draw length is 28 (I'm guessing since my arrows are 28.75).  Not sure what BH type is and not sure where the weight is.  I've been looking at the carbon express maxima hunter, I've heard good reviews..they are 350 grams..I've been shooting a 125 gram muzzy broad head, lumenok nocks (I believe they are around 22 grams) and older gold tip arrows..

[coachcw]

maxima hunter 350,s with a lumina nock and 125 bhs should be legal .they are good arrows .

[Come Get Some]

Seems like the general opinion is just legal weight arrows. Heavy arrows carrry more kenetic energy,penetrate better and are tougher. There is always a middle of the road. If you can afford them ACC's are Tough and very consistant for grain weight and straightness. Alot of guys will say they are not any better,That usually means they have never shot them. Hopefully you only have to shoot 1 or 2 arrows a year at animals. In that case buy the best arrrow you can afford. Tip them with Shuttle T Broadheads and it will be a deadly combination.

[et1702]

@ET1702..my draw is 70lb..I shoot an older Hoyt cam & 1/2, draw length is 28 (I'm guessing since my arrows are 28.75).  Not sure what BH type is and not sure where the weight is.  I've been looking at the carbon express maxima hunter, I've heard good reviews..they are 350 grams..I've been shooting a 125 gram muzzy broad head, lumenok nocks (I believe they are around 22 grams) and older gold tip arrows..

I have almost the same bow; mine is a Hoyt Trykon XL.  The Maxima 350's should shoot very well, as I've used them before with almost the same setup.  Since you are using a Luminok (i.e., extra weight in the back of arrow) I would stay with the 125gr BH's (i.e., don't go lighter than 125gr).  If you go with a lighter BH, you may not have enough FOC (i.e., you want the arrow to have more weight "forward of center" for proper flight).  The maxima 350's are 8.9gr per inch.  So, shaft is 249gr + 125gr BH =374gr, +22gr Luminok =396gr.  If you add approx 12 gr for BH insert and 10 to 15 gr for fletches, you are just barely at legal hunting weight of 420gr.  So, if you want to stay with a light arrow, make sure it is apporx. 9gr per inch (gpi) and at least .340 spine and it should shoot ok and barely make legal hunting weight.

As other's have mentioned, I personally like a heavier shaft (i.e., approx 10+ gpi).  I also shoot a heavier BH (150gr) and currently my total arrow weight is approx 525gr.  A heavier projectile will retain more downrange velocity and momentum vs a lighter projectile.  So, its not going to drop as much as you might think at your 60yrd max.  KE is off the charts with this setup, but momentum and FOC are more
important for penetration and exceptional arrow flight. 

Personally, I'd recommend the Maxima 450's which have a .300 spine and a 150gr BH (I shoot Strickland Archery's Helix two blade BH).  The 450's are only 9.7 gpi and your total setup w/125gr BH should be about 450 to 460gr.  If you want to keep your BH's but increase FOC, use a brass insert for the BH and you will still be less than 480gr.  But, your arrows will fly like a dart!

Hope this helps.

ET

[lokidog]

@ET1702..my draw is 70lb..I shoot an older Hoyt cam & 1/2, draw length is 28 (I'm guessing since my arrows are 28.75).  Not sure what BH type is and not sure where the weight is.  I've been looking at the carbon express maxima hunter, I've heard good reviews..they are 350 grams..I've been shooting a 125 gram muzzy broad head, lumenok nocks (I believe they are around 22 grams) and older gold tip arrows..

Just a note ElkBow, the "gr" stands for grains not grams (g).   1 g = 15.43 gr

[et1702]

@ET1702..my draw is 70lb..I shoot an older Hoyt cam & 1/2, draw length is 28 (I'm guessing since my arrows are 28.75).  Not sure what BH type is and not sure where the weight is.  I've been looking at the carbon express maxima hunter, I've heard good reviews..they are 350 grams..I've been shooting a 125 gram muzzy broad head, lumenok nocks (I believe they are around 22 grams) and older gold tip arrows..

Just a note ElkBow, the "gr" stands for grains not grams (g).   1 g = 15.43 gr

Also, the "350" designation for Carbon Express (CE) arrows doesn't mean that they weigh 350gr.  CE's 350 designation is more closely aligned with the arrows "Spine" or stiffness.  That being said, CE's numbering system is backwards from what most other arrow manufactures.  For instance, CE's .300 spine arrow is a Maxima 450.  Most other manufacturers would call this a 300 series arrow.  CE's .400 spine shafts have a 250 designation.  Note, the lower the Spine number the stiffer the arrow.

If you are shooting a bow with two "hard" cams (like the hoyt Cam & 1/2 system), I found the maxima 350 is right on the edge of not being stiff enough for 125gr BH's and 70lbs draw weight.  Before I switched to my heavier arrow setup a few years ago, I just cranked the draw weight down to 67lbs and they shot awesome. 

ET

[troyspinetar]

Following

[ElkBOW79]

Thanks ET1702 and everyone for your help!  I really appreciate it!  I definitely learned a lot!  I think I'm going to take your advice and buy the maxima 450's..I will experiment with the BH's and see which one my bow shoots better. 

[D-Rock425]

Seems like the general opinion is just legal weight arrows. Heavy arrows carrry more kenetic energy,penetrate better and are tougher. There is always a middle of the road. If you can afford them ACC's are Tough and very consistant for grain weight and straightness. Alot of guys will say they are not any better,That usually means they have never shot them. Hopefully you only have to shoot 1 or 2 arrows a year at animals. In that case buy the best arrrow you can afford. Tip them with Shuttle T Broadheads and it will be a deadly combination.

I've shot them and others didn't think they were worth the extra money. 

[Come Get Some]

Seems like the general opinion is just legal weight arrows. Heavy arrows carrry more kenetic energy,penetrate better and are tougher. There is always a middle of the road. If you can afford them ACC's are Tough and very consistant for grain weight and straightness. Alot of guys will say they are not any better,That usually means they have never shot them. Hopefully you only have to shoot 1 or 2 arrows a year at animals. In that case buy the best arrrow you can afford. Tip them with Shuttle T Broadheads and it will be a deadly combination.

I've shot them and others didn't think they were worth the extra money.

 Like I said it depends on your expectations and ability. They do shoot more accurately if you are capable And are stiffer and tougher

[D-Rock425]

Most guys on here wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them and a standard goldtip. 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Thunderhead 125 and gold tip. Very reasonable price and deadly......................................

[wrongway]

I have shot the ACCs for ten years now hunting and would not think twice about changing. Tipped with a shuttle T is the best combination i have ever shot.

[xXLojackXx]

I've been shooting the Easton FMJ's for years now. Bullet proof shafts and the hit animals like a Mack truck. Pass throughs at 55+ yards with 29" draw @ 70lbs.

[demontang]

 :sry:im using the gold tip pro hunter and love them. Im getting a total arrow weight of 470grs with a 300 spine arrow cut at 30" 3blazers 50gr insert weight and 100gr muzzy. They leave the bow with almost 95lbs of energy and at 310-315fps by the calculators. They dont fly as flat as a light arrow but penetrate way better at distance.
I go a complete pass through at 55yds on my buck and the arrow stuck in the hill behind him about 18-20".

The ce are great arrow just arnt as strong as some others, the acc or fmj have the best spine uniformity from everything ive seen, but my gold tips work great for me.

[yajsab]

I don't know if this will help, but the Deer Crossing SD hunter is cheap and good if you are looking for all carbon arrow.  If you shoot that far, I would go heavier.  I used to shoot gold tip but couldn't get pass thru.  I switched to FMJ and have been very satisfied, even at 26" DL and 60#.

[BULLBLASTER]

You don't need a super heavy arrow or high draw weight to pass through animals. I shot an elk at 74 yards with a 60 lb bow and 360 grain arrow and got a passthrough. That said I now shoot 70 lb and a 440 grain arrow.

[Come Get Some]

Anything is possible. The thing you can not count on is the animal giving you the perfect shot or moving at the last minute. A heavier arrow actually flies flatter and carries alot more down range kenetic energy than a light fast arrow. It is kind of like an insurance policy. You do not plan on having an accident but you carry insurance. Heavier arrows are also alot tougher. Most people do not think about it but a stiffer arrow deflects less on impact giving you more penetration. If you would have hit anything else other than hide you would not have gotten a pass thru. Or if the animal would have moved and your arrow wouold have impacted the shoulder It probably would have fallen out. At 74 Yds things happen fast. One step by an elk and you have a complete miss from time of release to time of impact.

[Bow Tech]

spine test those gold tips and then let me know what you think of them no you better not
knowing is very hard for the brain to over come 

[demontang]

Lol well I shot mine and they all hit the same spot but I know they arent as consistant as my target arrows by any means

[Bow Tech]

sorry just saying what i have seen no gold tip arrow worth a crap on my spine tester  didnt want to make any body mad 

[demontang]

Lol im not mad. If I wantwd a perfect spine arrow id look else where my self

[Bean Counter]

I would find the cheapest arrow out there that shoots well with your bow. I shoot Easton's that are about $5 an arrow. This is with an "old" 2006 bow. I shoot with some guys from church who shoot $10-12 arrows with their $1,000 bows and in a contest I usually outshoot most of them. Technique and practice matter far more in my book than how expensive your gear is. 

[Come Get Some]

Lol well I shot mine and they all hit the same spot but I know they arent as consistant as my target arrows by any means

 HMMMM. They all hit the same spot but ARE NOT AS CONSISTANT AS YOU TARGET ARROWS. How big is the spot. Your target arrows must not last long ,Hitting the same spot usually means a robin hood. Wouldnt you want the same consistancy with hunting arrows??? 2 points at a tournament is definately worth a lot more than filling your freezer or wounding an animal.Add a broadhead,hillside,wind,rain or snow. More factors to make a less perfect arrow fly worse or impact differently. Guarantee although my ACC 371's are very accurate they do not shoot as well as my X10 Protour's. I sight in at a 2" dot at 80 yds with my broadheads. They shoot consistant enough that you do not want to shoot more than 1 0r 2 or you will be ruining arrows. Hard to do with a cheap arrow.

[demontang]

Well considering with my gold tip prohunters when I got them and shot w few arrows one at each yardage pin I managed to robin hood my 60yd arrow with my 70. They seem to be hitting the same spot  now my taget arrows I wont shoot at the same spot with them it cost way to much

I can hold about a 3-4" group at 80yds with 5 hunting arrows. So id think thats not to bad but im not an expert just a beginner lol

[Greg Mullins]

Gold tips are great arrows,I used ACCs for 3 years and they bend a bit to easy.My local pro shop convinced me to try Easton Axis and I really like them so far.