Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Archery Gear => Topic started by: aorams on January 26, 2016, 05:04:27 PM

Title: Please help me choose a hunting arrow
Post by: aorams on January 26, 2016, 05:04:27 PM: Hi Forum,

I'm in the midst of getting ready for a 2016 elk hunt in Idaho and am looking for input on evaluating different arrows. I have yet to shoot them past 10 yards but have gathered some data as a starting point. I'm shooting a Mathews No Cam at 27" and 70 lbs.

The arrow data follows below (these are chronographed speeds) ...

1. Black Eagle Rampage 300 @ 445 grains with an FOC of about 18% traveling about 245 fps with a KE of 61 and momentum of .50
2. Easton FMJ Deep Six 330 @ 459 grains with an FOC of about 13% traveling about 245 fps with KE of 61 and Momentum of .50
3. Easton FMJ 300 @ 561 grains with an FOC of about 14% traveling about 230 fps with KE of 63 and Momentum of .55
4. Grizzly Stik UFOC 330 @ 654 grains with an FOC of about 25% traveling about 211 fps with a KE of 64 and Momentum of .61
5. Grizzly Stik UFOC 250 @ 660 grains with an FOC of about 24% traveling about 210 fps with a KE of 65 and Momentum of .62

Any standouts that you see here? Is this a good starting point for evaluating arrows? I plan to add a trajectory evaluation and also observe arrow flight and will add that to this thread as I get the info.

Thanks for your time!
Title: Re: Please help me choose a hunting arrow
Post by: JBar on January 26, 2016, 05:37:08 PM: I could be wrong but those arrows seem a little stiff for such a mild cam and short draw. What weight BH are you putting on? I'm guessing 125?
Title: Re: Please help me choose a hunting arrow
Post by: aorams on January 26, 2016, 05:56:56 PM: Yes, 125. The chosen arrow spines were selected after speaking to the arrow builders and consulting with Mathews on the phone. Not to say that they're correct, just to explain how I arrived at them.
Title: Re: Please help me choose a hunting arrow
Post by: theleo on January 27, 2016, 07:31:35 AM: For what it's worth, my Idaho bulls have died with 340 spine Trophy ridge arrows with 100 grain Shuttle T's going around 260 fps. With wrap and 4 fletch they come in at 427 grains. Any of your arrows will work just go shoot them and see what groups well for you. My opinion would be the 600 grainers may be a bit excessive, as I like my arrow to get there a little bit faster but they'd sure make your bow quite. You could run into some problems shooting BH's with your stiff spines but that can always be dealt with by tweaking your bow.

Any of them will kill an elk so long as the indian shooting the arrow does his part.
Title: Re: Please help me choose a hunting arrow
Post by: aorams on January 28, 2016, 08:01:26 AM: Thank you theleo! I may add some softer spined arrows to the testing...
Title: Re: Please help me choose a hunting arrow
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on January 28, 2016, 08:21:25 AM: All of them will work. IMO your are overspined and overweighted for my ideal setup for elk. I have had more range estimation errors on elk than any other animal. This is due primarily to my preferred method of hunting which is calling, and results in more ranging of objects where I expect the elk to come in and not the animal itself. Those arrows will leave little room for error on shots past 30 yards. Again all in your expected situation. Of the ones you mentioned I would go the Rampage. If I was going to tweak I would probably try a 350 rampage, with a similar front weight.

Just for comparison sake and looking at spine... My current rig is 28 in draw, a more aggressive cam, and 80 limbs. With a 70 grain brass upfront I finish out at 490 I will possibly be looking at a heavier options to play with, but for your shorter arrow and less poundage, you should be safe with a softer spine.