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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: fountain on January 25, 2009, 09:53:00 AM

Title: penetration troubles
Post by: fountain on January 25, 2009, 09:53:00 AM
i am having a penetration problem for some reason.  i am shooting full length 55/75 gold tips with 100gr. inserts and 160gr landsharks--total about 577 grains out of a 55 lb longow.
most of my shots are pretty close--usually 15 or less.  here is what i am thinking--the arrow is too heavy and does not have enough momentum behind it at that short range.  i think that a shoter, lighter arrow my penetrate better because it will have more speed in the short range.  true that the heavier will hit harder at say 25 yards ans out, but i usually try to stay under 20.  do you think my reasoning will work or am i missing something?
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: robtattoo on January 25, 2009, 09:56:00 AM
Jeez, what're you trying to shoot through, Hippo?

You'll have no trouble with that setup whatsoever. You've got plenty of penetration power there.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Guru on January 25, 2009, 10:01:00 AM
What do you consider a "penetration problem"? Please explain.....

I think you might be thinking into this way too much....I don't think you can go wrong with a heavy arrow.

Maybe your arrows aren't tuned as well as you might think. That's a big penetration deterrent at close range.....
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: kennym on January 25, 2009, 10:02:00 AM
If your setup tuned really well? Something I noticed on deer before I learned to tune was my arrows penetrated better on 20-25 yd shots than my usual 10 yd'ers. I finally decided it must be because the arra had time to get straightened out at longer distance and wasn't hitting while still noodlin. Don't know if any of this is right,just my thoughts.

It sounds like your setup should have plenty of punch.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: **DONOTDELETE** on January 25, 2009, 10:03:00 AM
You say you have a penetration problem....have you hit animals and had poor penetration, or are you basing it on targets?

That arrow isn't crazy heavy....it seems about right. I shoot 650 grains out of a 57# bow.

If you ARE experiencing bad penetration, I would look to tuning....a wobbly arrow penetrates poorly.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Jerry Jeffer on January 25, 2009, 10:11:00 AM
I don't think your arrow is too heavy. Are you sure you are getting a full draw? I had a similar problem and found that I really needed to get that back tension. You would be surprised how much difference it makes in the power you get from your bow.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: fountain on January 25, 2009, 10:21:00 AM
i am shooting hogs,not real big ones, maybe 150 at the most.  i have shot 4 in the last week ans none got penetration like i thik i shiould have.  i will post pics later on of the arrow that got broke yesterday compared to a regular one when i get bak home later on today.  i am fixing to experiment with a few different shafts to see if i can "tune" it out better.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: James Wrenn on January 25, 2009, 10:25:00 AM
My guess is bad tuneing.

The arrow has to be flying straight or all the other stuff like weight matters little.The only thing I have seen hamper penitration on any animal we normally hunt is bad arrow flight or bad shot selection.Those two will get you no matter the setup.jmo
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: elknut1 on January 25, 2009, 10:39:00 AM
A full length G/T is about 31" long, way too long in my opinion! Cut it down to 28" or so & stiffen it up a bit, you should still spine out just fine with 260 grain heads up front? Your total arrow weight isn't the issue, I would guess your arrows are a bit weakly spined & it really shows up on impact!
  I shoot a similar longbow & would not use a G/T that long with that kind of head wt.

  ElkNut1
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Pat B on January 25, 2009, 10:42:00 AM
What penetration are you getting and what penetration are you expecting? Are you killing the hogs?   If you are not getting the penetration with a wide blade like a Landshark then maybe try a narrower profile like a Grizzly or WW head.   Pat
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Buckeye Trad Hunter on January 25, 2009, 10:43:00 AM
Your arrow weight is fine as you are in the "magic" 9-11 grains of weight per pound of draw weight that most bowyers recommend.  Your set up is just over 10 gpp. Has to be a tuning issue.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Pat B. on January 25, 2009, 10:44:00 AM
Tuning will help you out.. Where are you hitting those pigs?  A little more tuning, grin... Get that arrow flying straight!  I'm with Kennym, I sure like those 10 yard shots, makes life a little easier but your arrow needs to be tuned and flying straight to achieve maximum penetration. Are you're broadheads SHARP ?
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: trapperDave on January 25, 2009, 10:49:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by elknut1:
A full length G/T is about 31" long, way too long in my opinion! Cut it down to 28" or so & stiffen it up a bit, you should still spine out just fine with 260 grain heads up front? Your total arrow weight isn't the issue, I would guess your arrows are a bit weakly spined & it really shows up on impact!
  I shoot a similar longbow & would not use a G/T that long with that kind of head wt.

  ElkNut1
ditto
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: flyfish1 on January 25, 2009, 10:49:00 AM
What Guru and kenny are saying is what I would investigate. Tuning is critical. An arrow entering straight as possible will penetrate fine. Again I go back to R. Rotharr and his setup. He uses 4 fletch to straighten out the big snuffers and gets all the penetration he needs. The extra fletch stabilizes the arrow quickly, resulting in max penetration at close ranges. A carbon arrow actually flexes less than wood also, but you should be able to tune your way to shoot through most any game with your setup and a sharp head.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: flyfish1 on January 25, 2009, 10:51:00 AM
Look into bare shaft testing if you havent already also.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: longbowben on January 25, 2009, 10:52:00 AM
I think you need more weight up front 5575 require a lot of weight up front .Try adding 100 gr brass inserts.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: DELTA on January 25, 2009, 11:26:00 AM
I think tunning,comming to full draw 28 inches,and broadhead selection.Those should help you.Good luck.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: JoeM on January 25, 2009, 11:37:00 AM
566 grain arrow CX150 100 grain brass insert with 125 BH. Back of point to Knock is 28" Shooting 53# @25".  Five deer this year 2 complete pass throughs.  1 The tip just poked throught the hide on the opposite side.  1 hit far side leg which stopped it from being a complete pass through. 1 Hit offside shoulder.  Deer shot at 4yds, 7yds, 12yds, 10yds, and 29yds.  I have a pretty short draw and penetration was not a problem.  Joe
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: O.L. Adcock on January 25, 2009, 12:27:00 PM
Yep, Tuning and a better broadhead.....O.L.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Bjorn on January 25, 2009, 12:45:00 PM
C'mon back fountain! LOL!! We need you to pull the fletching off one of your arrows and bareshaft tune as outlined at bowmaker.net. And like OL said look into a better broadhead. I like the STOS heads-really good hog head.
Your arrow weight is right on, no idea what kind of longbow you are shooting-that would be good to know too.
First culprit to penetration on hogs is shot placement; second is tuning for proper arrow flight. Broadhead shape and sharpness are equally important.
Let's hear from you and we'll get you fixed up.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: wingnut on January 25, 2009, 12:59:00 PM
Go with a Grizzly head and you will see a big difference.  The LandShark design does not promote good penetration.

Mike
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: 30coupe on January 25, 2009, 01:17:00 PM
My experience with carbons is that you need to drop down in spine, especially with a longbow, to get them to tune. With GT 3555's, I still have to load the front pretty heavy to get them to tune with my 50-55 pound longbows. Mine are cut to center. If yours is not, that stiff arrow will be coming out sideways. With a high FOC, the length of the shaft will make little or no difference to penetration.

I agree with the others on the broadhead choice. The cut nice big holes, but don't penetrate well. A grizzly or woodsman would zip right through with that arrow weight.

BTW: a lighter arrow will NOT penetrate as well as a heavy one. Just watch the wheelie guys on TV and see all the shafts sticking out on the fletch side.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: SteveB on January 25, 2009, 01:30:00 PM
I've shot 5 animals with the same 55/75 GT without the insert, 125 gr Stingers - 420gr total - 53Lb recurve. Blew thru 2 deer, broke offside leg of one, and lodged in the offside shoulder of another deer and a cow elk.

You should have plenty - check tuning as others have said.

Steve
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Mike Bolin on January 25, 2009, 02:03:00 PM
I have to agree with tuning as well. I shot a similar setup except I had to cut my arrow to 29" to get good arrow flight. Trim them down a little at a time. Mike
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: RC on January 25, 2009, 04:23:00 PM
I have killed hogs and deer with the very same bow you are shooting with 2018 shafts with landsharks.
  Your carbons are too stiff and I`m willing to bet your shooting your hogs to high.
  On a bet I once threw a 2018 with a Zwicky delta on it through the ribs and into the lungs of a pig I had already killed. He was laying on his side before I field quartered him.The head stopped on a rib on the other side . He was about 70 lbs.

   Here you go..I found a pic . Can`t hardly see the pig but it was about 150. The bow you have now...2018 arrow WELL TUNED and a Landshark.Broadhead came out the other side.
  It ain`t the broadhead.RC

 (http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/bigredpig.jpg)
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: RC on January 25, 2009, 04:28:00 PM
One more about 70 pounds .Arrow stopped in the off side shoulder blade. Your Bow again.
  That bow is not cut to center. So it will use a weaker arrow than some.RC

  (http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w39/rcswampbucket/ossabawpiginfunnel.jpg)
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: James Wrenn on January 25, 2009, 04:33:00 PM
I agree with RC about the broadhead.Never used the landshark but have shot the bigger treeshark through them with a lot less bow weight than you are shooting.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: fountain on January 25, 2009, 04:50:00 PM
i am betting on arrow set up--and yes robert i am aiming high on them ans tight to the shoulders because they are almost under me!  this also may be a prob., but not as much as the arrow set up.  i have 260 up front with the help of the brass inserts.  i will try a 2020 and a 35/55 this week.  i tried a 35/55 full length with and without the brass inserts and 175gr. points and still get nock left.  what do i do to get the nock left out?
with the bow not bieng cut to center, what does that mean?  what will it mean as far as my arrow selection is concerned?
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: RC on January 25, 2009, 05:01:00 PM
Try playing with nock position. A 2020 will probably be too stiff as well.
  If I remember I shot that bow with a lot of "heel" in it and had no problems. John would shoot it high wrist and the arrows flew crazy.
  Its the bow I`ll give you 125 bucks for it...RC
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Overspined on January 25, 2009, 05:08:00 PM
agree with tuning and a better broadhead. the sharks are liked by some, but they were shown to be poor penetrators by Ashby. If tuning is good, change broadheads and make sure they are razor sharp, those landsharks are difficult to really get razor sharp, I have tried and no longer use them. JMO good luck

Nock left is weak. That much weight up front needs a stiffer arrow in many cases. you really dont need that much up front, but it doesn't hurt if you can shoot it.
the bow cut wherever really has no bearing on anything other than you just need to tune your arrow in. Cut to center bows generally take a stiffer arrow, and can shoot more ranges of spines. If they are not cut to center, the arrow must bend more to get around the bow, so a weaker arrow spine is necessary. really, with a ton of weight up front, you need to start looking at arrows one spine range higher just to start, and may need more depending on the length of arrow.  spend time learning and trying now so that when the summer is almost over you are ready to go.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Shinken on January 25, 2009, 05:22:00 PM
Like Wingnut said - go with a razor sharp Grizzly once your arrow is tuned like Overspined and others have recommended....
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Apex Predator on January 25, 2009, 06:27:00 PM
I'm thinking those arrows you are shooting are too stiff as well.  The nock left is not a good indicator.  How do your bare shafts group compared to fletched ones?
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: RC on January 25, 2009, 06:36:00 PM
Anybody have any landsharks they don`t want send them to me.RC
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: fountain on January 25, 2009, 06:45:00 PM
robert, cant get rid of her---we've come a long way! you know i shot compounds a long time and have the " compound grip", so i think i shoot a lot of high wrist

i am still learning all this stuff guys, i have not been in it as long as most of you and that is why i am on here-- to learn and hopefully better myself.  i still have a lot to learn and want to get my form and release down.  i still dont think i am getting a good release.  i cant quite figure out how to either.  i watched tim welch and cant figure out how he does it.  i dont know how to do back tension with a longbow and 3 under.  

i forgot to mention, that i bare shafted some 35/55 the other day and they nocked left with and without the brass inserts and used 175 gr. points both times. i will do a lot more bare shafting this week with a lot of different arrows to see what the bow likes best.  the only thing i dont have is a 2018, and i am sure i can get one somewhere to play with.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: O.L. Adcock on January 25, 2009, 09:43:00 PM
fountain, " forgot to mention, that i bare shafted some 35/55 the other day and they nocked left with and without the brass inserts and used 175 gr. points both times."

This is another good example that the "kick" bare shaft method doesn't work. Use the planing method and see how that works for you...O.L.

 http://www.bowmaker.net/tuning.htm
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Overspined on January 26, 2009, 09:55:00 PM
Fountain: you might consider reading Instinctive Shooting II by G.Fred Asbell. If you feel like you need some form resolution, that is a great place to start. You don't need to shoot instincitvely if you prefer not to (as the title implies), but the form aspects in holding a bow properly depending on grip styles, drawing, release, etc are all covered in detail. Once you learn more about the bow you have chosen, you can often begin to fix the errors and move to a higher level of functioning. This book is a very good primer for the begining archer, as well as those who have shot for some time. Worth the $20 or so.
Title: Re: penetration troubles
Post by: Hattrick on January 26, 2009, 11:07:00 PM
Try getting to full draw, some people panic on game an never they do it(its  called a dirty word im not saying)