Elk Hunting Arrow

[elksnout]

Shooting Axis 340 arrows. 125 gr. heads. 30'' draw length. Weighing in @ 410 grains. This too light for elk? Should I be more like 435 to 450 grains? FOC is reasonable. Bow set @ 57 lbs for this old dude. Arrows fly great with broadheads. Not really wanting to buy new/different arrows. Add brass inserts? Stop worrying and go hunting? I'm pretty comfortable with my current set up but I made the mistake of researching arrow set ups. Damn internet!!

Elksnout

[92xj]

You are missing about 35 grains on components in your weight. You are closer to 450 instead of 410. If you're shooting good, don't change a thing and go hunt

[blackveltbowhunter]

    that seems a bit light for that arrow BH combo. Is that scale weight finished?

[elksnout]

   that seems a bit light for that arrow BH combo. Is that scale weight finished?

No. Just going by specs for arrows and adding 125 gr tips. Haven't weighed on a scale.

You are missing about 35 grains on components in your weight. You are closer to 450 instead of 410. If you're shooting good, don't change a thing and go hunt

Were am  I missing weight? Is 450 good to go?

Elksnout

[cougforester]

   that seems a bit light for that arrow BH combo. Is that scale weight finished?

No. Just going by specs for arrows and adding 125 gr tips. Haven't weighed on a scale.

You are missing about 35 grains on components in your weight. You are closer to 450 instead of 410. If you're shooting good, don't change a thing and go hunt

Were am  I missing weight? Is 450 good to go?

Elksnout

Are you adding vanes and nock?

[92xj]

   that seems a bit light for that arrow BH combo. Is that scale weight finished?

No. Just going by specs for arrows and adding 125 gr tips. Haven't weighed on a scale.

You are missing about 35 grains on components in your weight. You are closer to 450 instead of 410. If you're shooting good, don't change a thing and go hunt

Were am  I missing weight? Is 450 good to go?

Elksnout

Axis 340s are 9.5 gr an inch.

9.5x30=285
285+125=410
410+nock*insert+vanes+potential wrap =final weight.

450 is fine for elk, hit them in the correct spot.

I'm running 560 grain arrows with 72 pounds this year.

Last year I killed elk at 498gr.
Year before was around 460gr

[Milkman]

Shooting 503gr total weight arrow.  Maybe use 150gr bh?

[elksnout]

I'll need to weigh my arrows instead of assuming total weight. Like I said I like my setup and it shoots well. Thanks all for putting me to task.

Elksnout

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

The internet has ruined archery as a hunting sport.

If you can get a SHARP broadhead into the lungs/heart area consistently, you will kill it.
.
When I first started bowhunting you bought a matched set of cedar arrows and practiced.
You put a good solid broadhead on it and made sure it was razor sharp.
Then all you had to worry about was accuracy.
Now it seems you need a computer program to figure out what to use...
I am a fan of the K.I.S.S. philosophy, keep it simple, stupid.
The animals have not gotten any harder to kill, they still bleed and need to breathe.
As long as you can put it in the right spot, it will do what its supposed to do.

[KFhunter]

I'm using Easton FMJ's 300's cut at 30"

50gr brass insert

100gr broadheads

532.4 GN arrow weight ready to shoot, weighed on a certified scale


FOC is 12.6%

[Jimmy33]

I use Easton FMJ 300 cut at 30” also, but I tip it with a 125 grain fixed blade. 536 grains...works like a charm.


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[KFhunter]

I use Easton FMJ 300 cut at 30” also, but I tip it with a 125 grain fixed blade. 536 grains...works like a charm.


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you got some extra weight somewhere, lighted nocks?

[Crunchy]

The internet has ruined archery as a hunting sport.

If you can get a SHARP broadhead into the lungs/heart area consistently, you will kill it.
.
When I first started bowhunting you bought a matched set of cedar arrows and practiced.
You put a good solid broadhead on it and made sure it was razor sharp.
Then all you had to worry about was accuracy.
Now it seems you need a computer program to figure out what to use...
I am a fan of the K.I.S.S. philosophy, keep it simple, stupid.
The animals have not gotten any harder to kill, they still bleed and need to breathe.
As long as you can put it in the right spot, it will do what its supposed to do.

 

[huntnfmly]

To the OP your arrow weight is fine go out and hunt with them when it's time

[dilleytech]

The internet has ruined archery as a hunting sport.

If you can get a SHARP broadhead into the lungs/heart area consistently, you will kill it.
.
When I first started bowhunting you bought a matched set of cedar arrows and practiced.
You put a good solid broadhead on it and made sure it was razor sharp.
Then all you had to worry about was accuracy.
Now it seems you need a computer program to figure out what to use...
I am a fan of the K.I.S.S. philosophy, keep it simple, stupid.
The animals have not gotten any harder to kill, they still bleed and need to breathe.
As long as you can put it in the right spot, it will do what its supposed to do.

This is mostly true but arrow weight, Foc, stiffness of shaft goes a long way in accuracy. The heavier you go with an arrow the more likely you get the penetration you need to get to the heart lungs or whatever spot your hoping to get to. Specially for the guys who like running big expandables.

I think the OP’s 450g arrow should be fine on a good broadside shot for the speeds it will be going from a 56# bow with a good fixed blade broadhead.

 Girls kill elk with 40# bows and 350g arrows all the time.

[jstone]

My arrows are 430gr. 125gr. Montecs. Lights out on deer and elk. @ 70 pound draw

[Jimmy33]

I use Easton FMJ 300 cut at 30” also, but I tip it with a 125 grain fixed blade. 536 grains...works like a charm.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

you got some extra weight somewhere, lighted nocks?

Not sure...probably just the scale


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[spudder1982]

I have been doing a lot of studying to maximize my own setup for me. That said, I still am learning.   My max kinetic energy  is if I shoot a 430 grains arrow and increases my momentum over what I shot last year.  This year will be at 427 grains, pulling 62 lbs at 28 inch draw length.  Last year my arrow was 385 and did not have the dollars to put into different arrows and had those dialed in.  Got a pass through on my elk.  Good placement wins but the extra arrow weight helps when it does go perfect.  For me I like to be a bit faster for a flatter trajectory so to help in accuracy if my distance is off a bit. 
Confidence goes a long ways and if you are comfortable with your setup keep it.  You have plenty of weight to get the job done.
There are a bunch of ke and momentum calculators online if you want to play with numbers to see the best weights for ke and momentum.

[bowhunterty]

I've been  shooting around 420 grains at 70 lbs., 100 gr broadhead for quite a few years now. Killed 5 bulls with this set up. Farthest went 75 yards.

[elksnout]

Bow shop scale today registered my arrow with tip installed @ 462.8 grains. Feel much better. Thanks everyone.

Elksnout

[northwesthunter84]

That’s pleanty for that set up all day everyday. Well since everyone is adding theirs.

Day Six 250HD’s 28.75 carbon to carbon for a 29.75” throat to outsert finished length.
50gr outsert, Rival 125’s and Easton G knocks. With fletching, epoxy, knock installed my finish weight is 579 gr + or - .4 gr. I’m shooting 75#’s at 30”. FOC is 15.4%

[highside74]

My arrows are 408gr finished weight. I've killed 3 bull elk and a bull moose plus multiple deer with these arrows out to 70 yards and as close as 8. I'm not sure why guys like Born and Raised started shooting 700gr arrows but with modern bows I dont think it is necessary. Traditional bows are a different story. They need the extra weight to carry kinetic energy at such slow speeds. Any modern setup should be just great shouting an arrow in the 400-500 range.

[northwesthunter84]

I shoot a heavier arrow because I’ve seen what happens when you don’t get good penetration with lighter arrows. My first shot at an animal after switching to carbon 16 yrs ago, buddy killed that same buck 2 weeks later during gun season and we lost a bull 3 years ago because angled shot deflected off a rib on a standard quartering shot because the arrow was pushing 6gr/# min back then. Stuff happens chasing elk, I’d rather have some margin.