Arrow weight

[Commando]

What arrow weight iseveryone shooting? I’m sitting right about 470 but thinking I might try adding a brass insert to add weight and test it out. Listening to a few podcasts and it sounds like a 500 grain plus arrow would be a good idea for elk

[Stein]

444 for me, from my research and trusting people who have a ton more experience killing elk, I am very confident at that arrow weight pulling about 65 pounds.  I am pretty limited with a 31" draw at 65 pounds, you run out of spine pretty quick at 125 grains up front.

[Crunchy]

I believe the 6 grains per pound of draw weight is a perfect start.  Going any heavier is a personal choice.  I prefer a flatter shooting arrow.  When you guess 35 yd shot but the elk is 45 shooting a 500 grain arrow is going to make a huge difference on impact point or even hit and miss.  Rarely do I ever get a chance to pull out the range finder to get exact yardage.  that being said I shoot 425 grains at 66lbs

[Come Get Some]

I shoot 550 grains for both deer and elk. I have been blessed with a long draw length. 31" and 70 lbs , 550 grain stiff arrow . MMMMMMMMM!!!!The kinetic energy my set up produces is deadly on EVERYTHING and flatter down range than a light arrow. Remember kinetic energy and speed are measured at the bow or close to it. Heaver arrows carry kinetic energy to longer distances and penetrate much better. A light arrow placed in the right spot will kill an elk, but with all of the variables involved why take the chance. My arrows go clear thru no matter what the angle or distance.

[theleo]

Currently I'm at 452 grains but I'm going to see how some 150 grain points fly which would bump me up to 477. It's only to test my curiosity though, as 420 grain arrows did just fine with my older (slower) bow and Shuttle T's. Personally I think if you have a modern bow set at 70lb and at least a somewhat average draw length, you'll have plenty of arrow weight if you're shooting anywhere from 260-290 fps. I go for that speed range more than arrow weight because it's nice and forgiving for broad head accuracy.

[Come Get Some]

Good point, Not everyone chooses a good broad head. Some spend 1200 on a bow and put a $20.00 rest on it and wonder why they are not consistent. A good very sharp broad is close to the most important part of your set up. No matter how fast or hard the arrow gets there the broad head must be able to do the job. I also shoot Shuttle T broaheads. Haven't found any situation where it has not gone clear thru since they were first on the market. I did alot of product testing for The original manufacturer, Butch Sommers. The only problem now is since Dan Evans sold the right to a company down south the availability is not as good. They fly great and do not fail or fold up like some others.

[Crunchy]

Although I agree the heavier arrow carries more kinetic energy, I do not understand how it could be flatter shooting down range.  If that were true, take your set up and shoot an arrow that is 100 grains lighter and see the impact point difference at 50 yards.  I would guess the lighter arrow will impact a foot or so higher than the heavier arrow.  Find that balance of kinetic energy and flatter shooting.

[highside74]

Are you shooting traditional or compound? I shoot compound 65# 291fps with a 408gr arrow getting 76# of kinetic energy. I've killed deer, moose and elk. There is a point of diminishing returns with to much arrow weight.

The only wa I would consider an arrow over 420 or so grains is if I were shoot a lightweight compound or a traditional bow that wasn't going to create enough speed to hold the kinetic energy.

A 450 grain arrow going 275 fps is only carrying 75# of kinetc energy and it doesn't shoot as flat as mine. It only goes down from there with more weight equals less speed negligible returns if any on kinetic energy and a more arcing arrow flight. Which means the chancestors of more contact with branches or other items during hunting situations.

[demontang]

State min is more then enough with modern bows. I'm running 420grns-538 my wife runs 370grn arrow. I prefer to keep a flatter trajectory my self. I run a longer draw also so even my heavy arrows are pretty flat shooting. A good head up front of the arrow is truly the key. Guys will tell you that a 500+ is min for whitetail and they are crazy.

[Milkman]

Shooting 472 gr

[Commando]

Thanks for the replies guys. Looks like I am just gonna leave my set up as is and not mess with it. Sounds like I’ve got plenty of arrow. I’m shooting a hoyt carbon defiant at 68 lbs and 29 inch draw Easton fmj 340 arrows and up a slick trick up front.

[demontang]

Your good and slick trick is one of the sharpest heads out there. I play with weight and etc just cause I can lol

[Greg Mullins]

550

[biggfish]

About 480 with a 100 grain broadhead.

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[Piscatory_5]

Although I agree the heavier arrow carries more kinetic energy, I do not understand how it could be flatter shooting down range.  If that were true, take your set up and shoot an arrow that is 100 grains lighter and see the impact point difference at 50 yards.  I would guess the lighter arrow will impact a foot or so higher than the heavier arrow.  Find that balance of kinetic energy and flatter shooting.

The trajectory benefits come farther down range, much farther.

[demontang]

A heavy arrow will never shoot flatter from the same bow. Arrows are not the same as bullets the only gain is momentum.

[Wetwoodshunter]

My setup is 340 spline Easton FMJ's 3 blazer vanes, and a 125gr. Shuttle T broadhead.

My arrow setup sits right at 497 grains. My draw is only 27" so I shoot a rainbow but man do they blow through animals.

[Dhoey07]

My finished arrows with head run about 410 grains.  I use them for both deer and elk.

[Mudman]

Shoot the heaviest arrow front loaded while maintaining around 280fps.  Perfect combo for most any bow imop.

[Rubenation1981]

My arrow is at 462. Haven't shot on a chrono yet but I'm pulling 70lb back 28in and it's hitting hard. Slicktrick Vipertricks up front.

[thinkingman]

I shoot 550 grains for both deer and elk. I have been blessed with a long draw length. 31" and 70 lbs , 550 grain stiff arrow . MMMMMMMMM!!!!The kinetic energy my set up produces is deadly on EVERYTHING and flatter down range than a light arrow. Remember kinetic energy and speed are measured at the bow or close to it. Heaver arrows carry kinetic energy to longer distances and penetrate much better. A light arrow placed in the right spot will kill an elk, but with all of the variables involved why take the chance. My arrows go clear thru no matter what the angle or distance.

Heavier and slower means flatter down range?
This defies every law of physics.
I’m going with a 50gr HIT insert and 100gr Slick Trick this year.
Haven’t built the arrows yet but it seems like a good idea for elk.

[shallowforks]

  Flatter trajectory down range definitely not. But what is true is that the heavy arrow carries its momentum (momentum is much more important in terms of penetration than KE) much further down range and all other things being equal (FOC, arrow diameter, fletch style) the heavy arrow is also much less affected by wind. Everyone must shoot what they feel is right for them, I side with the heavy arrow 7 days a week and twice on sundays. I shoot a finished arrow weight of 609 grains. Black eagle rampage 300's tipped with the SS insert and a SteelForce Traditional series 300 grn two blade single bevel broadhead. Archers advantage software puts it at 265ish FPS with my setup. Definitely not the flattest trajectory but its a stone cold killer and I feel absolutely confident with it. If your confident with your setup you will be more successful so that's the most important thing.

[92xj]

 Shooting 490 grs at 270fps
28.5 draw
71.25lbs
60gr insert
150gr broadhead
8.8 gpi shaft
27" carbon to carbon
4 Fletch stealth vane

[rtspring]

Some of you need longer arms!!  31 1/2 draw, 70 lb draw and letter rip!!!

[theleo]

Although I agree the heavier arrow carries more kinetic energy, I do not understand how it could be flatter shooting down range.  If that were true, take your set up and shoot an arrow that is 100 grains lighter and see the impact point difference at 50 yards.  I would guess the lighter arrow will impact a foot or so higher than the heavier arrow.  Find that balance of kinetic energy and flatter shooting.

The trajectory benefits come farther down range, much farther.

I've shot my setup with 100gr and 125gr field points on the same arrows. The 125's grouped about 8" lower than the 100's. If you need to go "way further" than that you are talking ranges nobody is shooting game at.

[Rubenation1981]

Some of you need longer arms!!  31 1/2 draw, 70 lb draw and letter rip!!!

I wish, Gorilla Arms.  With your draw length my anchor point would be behind my head!!! LOL

[SGTDuffman]

650gr out of the compound. 666gr (what luck) out of the longbow.

[Shoofly09]

450 grains for deer and elk