recurve penetration question..

[hillbilli]

Ok, so kind of new to the traditional thing.. 55lb recurve, 430gr total arrow weight, magnus 2 blade,  my question is how far out can i get decent penetration ... for deer? for elk? dont want to take a 40 yard shot if I wont get enough penetration. anyone have experience with this? I've always used a compound, but would like to actually kill something with the recurve.. 

[high country]

Penetration will be fine if you stay out of bones at 40, the killer is the noise of the feathers. 40 yards takes a week and a day to get there making a string jump all too possible.....IME

[NWWABOWHNTR]

It depends on the speed of the recurve, which combined with arrow weight gives you kinetik energy.  It really depends on your skill level and the tuning of the bow also, a good arrow flight will give you better penetration also.  I myself would not take a 40 yard shot with a recurve unless everything was perfect.  M<ost recurve/longbows are less than 200 FPS with a 400+ gr arrow,   let your concience be your guide.  Most trad hunters try to limit their shots to 30 yards or less.  I can tell you it can be done, but like I said a lot of variables....

[Stilly bay]

your arrow is way too light. kick it up to 600+ grains with a sharp two blade broad head and a pass through on an elk under 30 yards is entirely possible.

I used to shoot 800 grain hickory arrows out of my 55lb black widow. the arrows were a lot slower but I felt penetration was increased by a wide margin over my 500 grain carbons. I had one cow elk that was a complete pass through at 20 yards. I shot another cow at 15 yards and the arrow went through the ribs, lungs and shatter the shoulder on the opposite side.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

The more weight the slower the arrow... you need to find the correct balance of the two. 

K=1/2MV(squared)   

So as I understand it, lets say you have a 600 gr arrow at 170FPS   
mass (m)  =  600   grain   =  0.03887934599994   kilogram 
velocity (v)  =  170   foot/second   =  51.816   meter/second 
kinetic energy (K)  =  52.19353635896

However with a 450 gr arrow at 200 FPS

mass (m)  =  450   grain   =  0.029159509499955   kilogram 
velocity (v)  =  200   foot/second   =  60.96   meter/second 
kinetic energy (K)  =  54.180141549093 

Therefor the 450- Gr arrow has more killing power (kinetic energy) at 200 fps.

A well placed shot with a sharp cut on contact broadhead is the most important thing.  Keep your shots realistic, 20-30 yards. 

[dreamunelk]

Are you pulling 55#'s?   Your draw length will affect.   Read the Ashby reports.  Basically yes an arrow at 40 yards will get good penetration if arrow is properly matched to the bow and assuming you do not hit a rib dead on or if moving slightly away bounce off.   However, if cannot consistently group at 40 than you should not shoot.  I have a 55# black widow shooting a appx 635 grain spruce arrow.  No way would I shoot 40 yards.  I know I can hit it.  But, way to many things that could affect the shot.  I prefer 30 or less.  15-20 is perfect.

[hillbilli]

Thanks for the input. i am not changing arrows, so while appreciate what you are saying about heavier arrows, at least for a while the arrows I have are what I'm slinging. my bows are marked 55 at 28, so yes at my draw length its closer to 60.. i'll try to limit my shots to 30, and we'll see what happens..