An offer to help

[7mag.]

Hey Todd, I wonder if you could help me out. I am pretty new to bow hunting and I don't really know much about setting up my bow. I have an '09 Matthews Reezen 6.5 at 65 lbs., 29" draw length, with a D loop. I am shooting Beeman ICS Hunter 400, 9.1 gpi., with 100 grain muzzy 4 blades. I am changing broadheads to 3 blades, but I'm not sure witch ones yet, either G5 Montec's or Shuttle T locks. I am wondering if I'm shooting the right arrows and the right weight broadheads. Thanks.

[Todd_ID]

Hey Todd, I wonder if you could help me out. I am pretty new to bow hunting and I don't really know much about setting up my bow. I have an '09 Matthews Reezen 6.5 at 65 lbs., 29" draw length, with a D loop. I am shooting Beeman ICS Hunter 400, 9.1 gpi., with 100 grain muzzy 4 blades. I am changing broadheads to 3 blades, but I'm not sure witch ones yet, either G5 Montec's or Shuttle T locks. I am wondering if I'm shooting the right arrows and the right weight broadheads. Thanks.

I can do that.  At 9.1 gpi, then you must have the Camo Hunter, so that's what I'll use.  Also, you didn't have an arrow length, so I'll use the same 29" as your draw length (this is the length of the carbon part of the arrow only for the purposes of this program, most arrow length references in archery are from the end of the insert to the bottom of the V of the nock).  And I'll assume that you have them fletched with 3 2" Blazers.  If one of these is a little off, then it's not a major problem.

It shows a recommended spine with your setup and my guesses to be .330", so your .400's are pretty weak.  If you've got any flight problems at all, then that's a very likely candidate, and switching to .340's would likely help.  Also, with that weak of a spine, make certain to regularly flex-and-roll the arrows listening for creaks and cracks, and never shoot one that your hear cracking because that is a broken arrow to be thrown out (just a little safety tip!).  The numbers for your setup: 300 fps, 11.4% FOC, 84.5 ft-lbs KE, and 421 grain total arrow weight.  If you do switch to the 340's, then the numbers would be: 295 fps, 10.8% FOC, 86.6 ft-lbs KE, 447 grain arrow.

Arrow Drop 20-50, KE at 50
400's: 25", 71.5 ft-lbs 
340's: 26", 73.3 ft-lbs

[Hornseeker]

OK, I dont want to be a Todd Hog here, but this fascinates me..

Lets say I only use this bow for Antelope..and I want a lightweight, FLAT and fast shooting setup... What arrow and broadhead combo can I use to get near 350 grains? Is that too much to ask/too little info?

And...how about a good middle of the road FOC here... How about the 400, cut to 26 inches (this is the 9.8 gpi 400) with a 175 grain head... (3 fletch)...

If you tire of amusing me here....I understand!!

[LittleJohn]

Hey Todd. I just ordered a Destroyer 340. It will be here in a couple weeks. I am going to shoot it at
29.5" draw
67 lbs
I plan on shooting a 340 Easton FMJ with a wrap and 3 blazer veins. 28" arrow with a 125 grain tip. Total arrow weight is 490 grains.
Do u need any more info than this??? I am wondering what my FPS and Kenetic energy will be. THANKS ALLOT  JOHN

[7mag.]

Thanks a lot Todd. Your guesses were real good, except my arrows are a half inch longer. I really appreciate your help, I have been wondering about what spine arrows I should be shooting, I just didn't know how to find out. I think with the right arrows and a 3 blade broadhead, I should be looking pretty good. Thanks again.

[colockumelk]

Hey Todd this is awsome.  Thanks for all the help.  I have multiple questions.  But first here is my dope.

2009 Hoyt Alpha Max 32
28" Draw Length
70# Pull
Easton Epic Black 340's (9.5 GPI)
Cut Length 27.5"
2" Blazers.
3 Fletches
125 Grain BH
3 Blades
Peep Sight (without the bungee chord)
D-Loop
QAD Ultra Rest

Question #1.  What is my Arrow Weight, Arrow Speed, Kinetic Energy, and FOC for this setup
Question #2.
I am debating between four different Arrow/Broad Head Combos.  Could you help me see which one would be the best setup for me. FOC and KE is the most important.  Here are the four combos I am looking at.

#1Easton Epic Black 340's (9.5) w/100g BH. #2Easton Epic Black 340's (9.5) w/125g BH

#3Easton Axis Camo 340s (10.3) w/100g BH  #4Easton Axis Camo 340s (10.3) w/125g BH

Question #3.  Is a 27.5" arrow the best cut length for a 28" draw?

[Todd_ID]

OK, I dont want to be a Todd Hog here, but this fascinates me..

Lets say I only use this bow for Antelope..and I want a lightweight, FLAT and fast shooting setup... What arrow and broadhead combo can I use to get near 350 grains? Is that too much to ask/too little info?

And...how about a good middle of the road FOC here... How about the 400, cut to 26 inches (this is the 9.8 gpi 400) with a 175 grain head... (3 fletch)...

If you tire of amusing me here....I understand!!

Sorry for the delay...internet service on a boat comes and goes sometimes.  Here's what I found for you:
The Axis 400's you have at 26" with an 85 grain Slick Trick heads would be a 381 grain arrow, 274 fps, 11.04% FOC, 63.6 ft-lbs KE, recommended spine is .421, so you'd be fine there.  Arrow drop 20-50: 31", KE at 50: 54.6, Momentum @ 40: .4364, 7" hit window (meaning the yardages you would hit a 7" target ('lope kill) by putting your 40 yard pin in the center) with 40 yard pin: 36-43 yards.

Another option to get right to the 350 grains would be using Gold TIp XT Hunters (black not camo) in 5575 at 27" with 85 grain Slick Tricks to get a 350 grain arrow, 280.7 fps, 11.4% FOC, 61.1 ft-lbs KE, recommended spine is .408, 20-50 drop: 29.5%, KE at 50: 52.0, momentum at 40: .4083, 7" hit window with 40 yard pin 36-43 yards.

I don't see any reason to change to the Gold Tips unless you just need to spend some money for a tax break.....

The numbers for an Axis 400 @ 26" with 175 grain heads: 470 grain arrow, 256 fps, 18.8% FOC, 68.3 ft-lbs KE, recommended spine is .366, so they may be a little weak, but would probably work, 20-50 drop: 36.6", KE @ 50: 58.7, momentum at 40: .5022, 12" hit window (elk) for different pins: 30 pin: 0-36 yds, 40 pin: 33-45, 50 pin: 46-53, 60 pin: 57-63.

[Todd_ID]

Question #1.  What is my Arrow Weight, Arrow Speed, Kinetic Energy, and FOC for this setup
Question #2.
I am debating between four different Arrow/Broad Head Combos.  Could you help me see which one would be the best setup for me. FOC and KE is the most important.  Here are the four combos I am looking at.

#1Easton Epic Black 340's (9.5) w/100g BH. #2Easton Epic Black 340's (9.5) w/125g BH

#3Easton Axis Camo 340s (10.3) w/100g BH  #4Easton Axis Camo 340s (10.3) w/125g BH

Question #3.  Is a 27.5" arrow the best cut length for a 28" draw?

OK, for your setup: 428 grain arrow, 280 fps, 14.9% FOC, 74.3 ft-lbs KE, recommended spine is .319, so you're a bit weak and may or may not explain flight problems. 20-50 drop: 29.8", KE @ 50: 63.2

Go to a 100 grain broadhead, and you get: 403 grain arrow, 284.8 fps, 12.7% FOC, 72.6 ft-lbs KE, 20-50 drop: 28.5", KE @ 50: 61.7 ft-lbs, recommended spine of .330, so that's quite a bit better.

Switch to ST Axis Camo 340's at 27.5" and 100 grain heads: .330 recommended spine, 423 grain arrow, 280 fps, 11.9% FOC, 74 ft-lbs, Drop 20-50: 29.4", KE at 50: 63.3 ft-lbs.  Go with those arrows with 125 grain heads and you get: recommended spine of .320, 448 grain arrow, 275 fps, 14.05% FOC, 75.5 ft-lbs KE, drop 20-50: 30.8", KE at 50: 64.6 ft-lbs.

To answer the last question, it depends on how you like the arrow and broadhead in relation to your fingers on the bow at full draw.  Less than draw length arrows are generally considered short, and draw length +1" is generally considered safer.  With the recommended spines that you see above for your setup, then I'd say stick to as short as you can go because you are borderline spine-weak, and cutting them longer would only make them weaker.  You could turn your bow down two turns (around 5#) and probably get away with longer arrows, but that's up to you.

[Todd_ID]

Hey Todd. I just ordered a Destroyer 340. It will be here in a couple weeks. I am going to shoot it at
29.5" draw
67 lbs
I plan on shooting a 340 Easton FMJ with a wrap and 3 blazer veins. 28" arrow with a 125 grain tip. Total arrow weight is 490 grains.
Do u need any more info than this??? I am wondering what my FPS and Kenetic energy will be. THANKS ALLOT  JOHN

Looks like you'll be at 288.3 fps, 12.6% FOC, 89.3 ft-lbs KE

[Hornseeker]

OK, I"ve got a question... how come the rates speed for the bow is like 317 or something like that... but even with a 350 grain arrow I'm only at 278? Duhhh...thats at 30 inches isn't it.... Dam....

[Hornseeker]

Todd, can you plug in FPS and arrow weight/length broadhead numbers and get the energy/momentum/drop #'s even if I dont give you a bow to work with? Just curious... if I was to give you numbers from my Longbow...

If so.. here...
31 inch Axis 400
260 grain head
3 @4 inch feathers
3 feet in front of bow, traveling at 186 fps

[Todd_ID]

Todd, can you plug in FPS and arrow weight/length broadhead numbers and get the energy/momentum/drop #'s even if I dont give you a bow to work with? Just curious... if I was to give you numbers from my Longbow...

If so.. here...
31 inch Axis 400
260 grain head
3 @4 inch feathers
3 feet in front of bow, traveling at 186 fps

I think so...I just dropped the IBO speed of the bow down until the calculated speed was the same as your known speed.  Launch speed and arrow configuration are all it takes to figure trajectory and drag, so they should be close.  I'll give numbers that you would need with a longbow instead of a compound...I think.

Calculated weight 598 grains, 22.3% FOC, 46.23 ft-lbs KE. 
Momentum, Speed
@ 0 yds: .4956, 186 fps,
@ 10 yds: .4819, 181 fps,
@20 yds: .4686, 176 fps,
@30 yds: .4557, 171 fps,
@40 yds: .4432, 167 fps.

Drop numbers are as if you shot the shot for the first range and the animal was actually at the second range.
Drop
10-15: 1.85"
10-20: 6.4"
10-30: 24"
10-40: 53"
20-30: 14"
20-40: 40.5"
30-40: 21.3"
10-100: 518"
40-100: 384"

[Gobble Gobble]

I'll take what info you can give.

Bow~ Martin, Magnum "Phantom" 2002 +/-
Draw~ 29"
Weight~ 55-70 set @ #63
Arrow~ Gold Tip, Pro Hunter 5575 w/ standard nock/inserts & 5" arrow wrap
Vanes~ FOB
Broadhead~ 100gr. 3 blade Slick Trick Magnum

Shoot a release w/ string loop & fall away rest. I'm shooting out to 70 yards.

[colockumelk]

Question #1.  What is my Arrow Weight, Arrow Speed, Kinetic Energy, and FOC for this setup
Question #2.
I am debating between four different Arrow/Broad Head Combos.  Could you help me see which one would be the best setup for me. FOC and KE is the most important.  Here are the four combos I am looking at.

#1Easton Epic Black 340's (9.5) w/100g BH. #2Easton Epic Black 340's (9.5) w/125g BH

#3Easton Axis Camo 340s (10.3) w/100g BH  #4Easton Axis Camo 340s (10.3) w/125g BH

Question #3.  Is a 27.5" arrow the best cut length for a 28" draw?

OK, for your setup: 428 grain arrow, 280 fps, 14.9% FOC, 74.3 ft-lbs KE, recommended spine is .319, so you're a bit weak and may or may not explain flight problems. 20-50 drop: 29.8", KE @ 50: 63.2

Go to a 100 grain broadhead, and you get: 403 grain arrow, 284.8 fps, 12.7% FOC, 72.6 ft-lbs KE, 20-50 drop: 28.5", KE @ 50: 61.7 ft-lbs, recommended spine of .330, so that's quite a bit better.

Switch to ST Axis Camo 340's at 27.5" and 100 grain heads: .330 recommended spine, 423 grain arrow, 280 fps, 11.9% FOC, 74 ft-lbs, Drop 20-50: 29.4", KE at 50: 63.3 ft-lbs.  Go with those arrows with 125 grain heads and you get: recommended spine of .320, 448 grain arrow, 275 fps, 14.05% FOC, 75.5 ft-lbs KE, drop 20-50: 30.8", KE at 50: 64.6 ft-lbs.

To answer the last question, it depends on how you like the arrow and broadhead in relation to your fingers on the bow at full draw.  Less than draw length arrows are generally considered short, and draw length +1" is generally considered safer.  With the recommended spines that you see above for your setup, then I'd say stick to as short as you can go because you are borderline spine-weak, and cutting them longer would only make them weaker.  You could turn your bow down two turns (around 5#) and probably get away with longer arrows, but that's up to you.

Okay one last question and then I'll leave you alone.  Looking at my data what would you recommend I shoot.  I really want to stay at 70# since I am very comfortable at that weight.  What spine #/BH weight/Epic or Axis/Arrow Shaft length combination would you recommend I shoot.  Again I am more concerned with proper FOC and best KE.  Again thanks for the help.  

[Machias]

10-100: 518"
40-100: 384"

No wonder I keep missing!!!!!!!!