Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: The-Talon on October 14, 2013, 12:03:00 PM

Title: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: The-Talon on October 14, 2013, 12:03:00 PM
Hey everyone been browsing for awhile decided to finally make my first post. It's a question really.. In my area Outskirts of Toronto Canada.. There are no places that cater to Traditional archery or anything besides crossbows, compound bows or guns. I have tried a few different spines of arrows and from various materials.. Carbon, wood, Aluminum.. I really like the durability of carbon but I love the look and feel of wood arrows with my longbow.

I am shooting a fred bear montana longbow at 50# at 28 inches I believe. Anyway my question is about spine and grains of the arrowhead tip. Since I will be ordering online I wanna be absolutely sure about what I'm ordering.. I believe that 400 spine is the correct spine for me and I have been shooting 100 grain field tips and also 100 grain broadheads.. Do you guys have any idea if this sounds correct to you or is there any information you can give me to help me get my specs dead on with limited resources.

I have been shooting traditional for about 4 years  and have tried sooo many different arrows I just wanna know for sure what my specs should be.. At the moment I'm shooting 400 carbons with 100 grain  arrowheads. Sorry for the longwinded post but thanks in advance for any info. Great website and good community!! Looking forward to posting more.

-Talon
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: arrowslinger22 on October 14, 2013, 12:13:00 PM
.400 is going to be too stiff @50# and 28".  I would be looking at something in the .500 to .600 range.  Depends on your actual draw length with that bow, if it's less than 28", I'd lean toward the .600 side.  I would also suggest heavier points.  Total arrow weight should be around 500 grains.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: The-Talon on October 14, 2013, 12:43:00 PM
Ah okay i was wondering cause it seems sometimes they release a bit funny.. and seem to porpuss(sp?) a bit.. The only thing is you say in the 500-600 range.. it's hard when I can only really find them online and I get 100 dollars worth of arrows and they are wrong yet again..  :(  I guess I should figure out what my draw length is once and for all..
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: Bud B. on October 14, 2013, 12:49:00 PM
Gold Tip 35/55s should do well from your bow.

Cut'em to 30" depending on your draw and tune with different tips.

What is your draw length?
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: Bladepeek on October 14, 2013, 01:19:00 PM
I'll second the 3555s. They seem to be useful for me on any of my bows from 43# to 50#. I would be tempted to leave them a hair longer; 30.5"(?) to start with, especially if you want to use lighter points.

Mine tune up very nicely on a couple of bows just under 50# @ 28" and I draw a bit more so I'm shooting just about 49# - 51# depending on which bow. I use 160 gr broadheads and have some of them set up with an extra 20gr insert for 145 gr field points. They shoot dead on for me.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: The-Talon on October 14, 2013, 01:46:00 PM
So the heavier tip seems to be better eh? Do you guys think 125 would be heavy enough?? Or should I move all the way up to 150.. I also shoot Flu-Flu arrows for small game like rabbits and squirrels so I'd like to find small game heads in those sizes as well.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: The-Talon on October 14, 2013, 01:52:00 PM
Will the arrowhead weight change when shooting flu flus? And will the 3555 be the same as well if I'm shooting Flu flu's.. Sorry I'm getting kind of excited.. Nice to have some help it's so rare around here lol had to learn alot myself, and as you can see I haven't learned much about the technical aspects.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: The-Talon on October 14, 2013, 02:02:00 PM
Also.. what would 3555 be in relations to spine for a carbon arrow?
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: Bud B. on October 14, 2013, 03:52:00 PM
3555 is 500

1535 is 600

As for flu-flus, the point weight is not as significant as the large feathers help make up for too heavy a spine. Or too light.

If you're pulling your bow to 27" and it's 50@28 then you're around 47lbs. I shoot 3555s out of my 50# recurve using 175gr points and full length (30.5") shafts.

You want a finished arrow that's around 470gr if you want 10gpp. You can also go as light as 8gpp but use caution going light. The bow will likely react better to a heavier arrow. Less noise that way. Try to stay above 400gr.

Bladepeek is probably right. Shoot 30.5" arrows and buy a test kit of field points and go from there. I can't see you shooting more than 225 up front. My bet is 175 or 200gr points will be where you find the best arrow flight, if nock height and brace are correct.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: Killdeer on October 14, 2013, 04:22:00 PM
Squirrels outrun flu-flus.    :readit:
I use both 500 and 600 spine arrows, and 175 grain points with bows in your weight range, and I draw 26.5  to 27".
Killdeer
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: mahantango on October 14, 2013, 04:48:00 PM
Yeah, .500 spine, no stiffer, around 175 - 225gr. points. Start full-length and tune from there. Carbons react much more to changes in length than point weight. Cut no more than 1/4" at a time, bareshafting as you go.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: mahantango on October 14, 2013, 04:51:00 PM
And yes, a squirrel will duck a flu-flu like you wouldn't believe.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: Bladepeek on October 14, 2013, 05:08:00 PM
I swear some of those tree rats can duck a .22LR (or did I maybe just miss?)
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: Rustic on October 14, 2013, 06:37:00 PM
I'd go with full length GT3555s and trim them 1/4" at a time...jmho
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: 58WINTERS on October 14, 2013, 06:43:00 PM
What's been said good advice. My set up: 50# a 28 HH Wesley Special. 35/55 29 BOP 200 grains up front. Same bow but 55# same arrow 200-250 up front. 5-1/2" 3 fletch.
58
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: rick7 on October 14, 2013, 07:35:00 PM
gold tips 35/55 is what i shot when i had a montana with 125 grain points. i draw 28 inch and my arrows were 29 inch.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: Fanto on October 14, 2013, 07:43:00 PM
for sure 3555. 30" at least and I'd suggest 125 points.
I use 100gr brass inserts, I reccomend these. much stronger, you get more weight so a quieter shot and more penetration on larger game. you can get just about any point blunt and broadhead in 120-125 grain, which Is why I use heavy inserts. if you use 225 broadheads you then have to try to find the blunts and points to match which is possible but harder
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: damascusdave on October 14, 2013, 07:43:00 PM
Have you talked to the guys at Archer's Nook in London?

DDave
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: Bud B. on October 14, 2013, 09:01:00 PM
Just remember, if you buy full length carbons you'll need a way to cleanly cut them and squarely cut them. Might be easier to decide on a reasonable length, have'em cut and inserts installed, and tune with point weight.


Big Jim is a good place to start. Ask him and he can fix you up.
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: HARL on October 14, 2013, 09:51:00 PM
PM sent !
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: The-Talon on October 15, 2013, 09:07:00 AM
Thanks guys this is a ton of great information I take it big Jim is an employee at archers nook I will check them out and I will try to do some poking around . Hard to get out to London during the work week but I am going to try
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: The-Talon on October 15, 2013, 09:09:00 AM
Also fletched my own arrow last night with a turkey harvested in the spring haha that was ... Interesting I definitely need to get a hold of a jig . I also don't have much trouble with squirrels with flu flus gotta get em close enough  ;)
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: BeNoIt on October 15, 2013, 09:17:00 AM
Quote
Originally posted by The-Talon:
Hey everyone been browsing for awhile decided to finally make my first post. It's a question really.. In my area Outskirts of Toronto Canada.. There are no places that cater to Traditional archery or anything besides crossbows, compound bows or guns. I have tried a few different spines of arrows and from various materials.. Carbon, wood, Aluminum.. I really like the durability of carbon but I love the look and feel of wood arrows with my longbow.
If you feel up to it, you could take a trip to the other side of the lake and visit with us for an evening. There is a group of us that go to a local archery shop on Fridays that caters to both types of archery equipment. Fridays seems to be taken over by the traditional guys for the most part. Anyway, we have a bunch of different arrows that you could try and if you let me know you are coming I can bring along several wood spines for you to shoot to see what works best for you.

I will say that finding the perfect arrow, spine, length, weight, is a long process and one that shouldn't be taken too lightly. Enjoy the process.  :)
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: The-Talon on October 15, 2013, 09:35:00 AM
Where is "across" the lake haha I'm guessing New York ? Niagara side judging from your location . If that's the case I would have to get my passport together lol
Title: Re: Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question
Post by: damascusdave on October 15, 2013, 11:25:00 AM
Those of us who spend way too much time on here forget not everyone knows who everyone else is...Big Jim owns a bow company and knows about as much about what works as anyone on the planet...when I say talk to the guys at Archer's Nook I simply mean to phone them initially...they are not all trad savvy there...they have guys who are...and both Big Jim and Archer's Nook will mail you anything you can think of at reasonable to exceptional prices...check out their websites and while you are at it take a look at git-r-done archery.com as well...I buy a lot of my stuff from Dennis as do people all over Canada...and you may have noticed you are now feeling a lot less alone with your search...that is what the tradgang is all about

DDave