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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: truck24hr on November 29, 2015, 03:10:00 PM

Title: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: truck24hr on November 29, 2015, 03:10:00 PM
I've seen a few posts that are making me rethink my setup.  I'm currently shooting a 56lb HH Wesley Special.  I'm shooting CE Heritage 250's full length, 3gpi tubes, 100gr inserts and 150gr broadheads. I think finished weight is around 670 grains. I mainly hunt whitetails.  

I see lots of folks shooting in the 450-500 grain weight. Am I way overweight? Bow shoots well and is extremely quiet, and I'm sure pretty slow.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Cory Mattson on November 29, 2015, 03:21:00 PM
I shoot 650 grains

"bow shoots well and is extremely quiet" - DONE

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Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: KSdan on November 29, 2015, 03:30:00 PM
665
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Mike Bolin on November 29, 2015, 03:32:00 PM
625
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: 23feetupandhappy on November 29, 2015, 03:33:00 PM
With that setup I think you could hunt anything smaller than an elephant....  :

What would you want to accomplish by going lighter?
Do you know what your FPS is?

Unless your having issues with your setup I wouldnt change a thing!!!

You'll get all sorts of different oppinions here but I think you could drop 100 grains without suffering much penetration issues and will pick up some speed which will help you shoot a little flatter.....
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: akaboomer on November 29, 2015, 03:40:00 PM
Mine are 565 grain. Launched from my 56# @ my draw recurve. This setup has been working for me for years. I get pass through shots on almost all critters. I have even lost an arrow that kept on sailing through a 243# Texas boar. My thoughts are that if what your doing is working don't change it. I tried a heavy arrow with added weight at the inserts, they made my bow behave like a stranger. The feel was so foreign that I couldn't maintain focus long enough to get used to it.

Whichever way you choose, enjoy the journey.

Chris
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: truck24hr on November 29, 2015, 03:41:00 PM
Thanks guys.

I've just seen so many lately shooting much lighter.

23,
Not really looking to go lighter, just curious.
I have no idea how fast it's shooting.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: on November 29, 2015, 03:42:00 PM
Quote
Bow shoots well and is extremely quiet, and I'm sure pretty slow. [/QB]
It's all relative! If you shoot it well and it is well tuned, then it is just fine. If you want faster, then go lighter and see how it does for you. Your arrow is right at 12gpp. You could drop 100gr and still have a plenty heavy enough arrow to hunt with, if you wanted. You would have to be careful how you dropped the weight though, so you did not mess up your tune.

My setup is 570gr off of a 50# at my DL r/d longbow.

Bisch
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: David Mitchell on November 29, 2015, 03:45:00 PM
Around 525 grains for a 45# bow.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Sam McMichael on November 29, 2015, 03:52:00 PM
I shoot cedar on my HHA Cheetah 56@28". They tend to weigh 495 - 520. I never have paid much attention to arrow weight (I went to my quiver and weighed my arrows when I saw this thread). In my opinion, any arrow that tunes well on a suitable weight hunting bow will be sufficiently heavy to ensure adequate penetration and quick kills on a deer. Admittedly, this theory may not always hold up when dealing with bigger and tougher animals. However, if you are getting good performance from your current arrows, don't change a thing.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: 23feetupandhappy on November 29, 2015, 03:58:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by truck24hr:
Thanks guys.

I've just seen so many lately shooting much lighter.

23,
Not really looking to go lighter, just curious.
I have no idea how fast it's shooting.
10 gr per pound is a base hunting weight, so your 110 gr over that....

I shoot 47#s and my arrow setup weighs 503 gr., 10.7 gr per pound...
I have another arrow setup that is 583 but I find the extra 83 gr to really slow my arrow down, I really notice it out at 20 yards.

Your at 11.9 gr per pound which is a pretty solid hunting weight    :thumbsup:  
If you like playing around with this kind of stuff then I would say Play!!!  
Make up an arrow that's 10 gr per pound and see how ya like it then let us know your findings    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: cacciatore on November 29, 2015, 04:12:00 PM
You already have a winner there,so if you want try something different wait till the end of the season and experience new stuff,you can just gain knowledge.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Jayrod on November 29, 2015, 04:19:00 PM
9-11gpp is always been good for anything in North America and a sharp broadhead
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Gehrke145 on November 29, 2015, 04:47:00 PM
I just bumped mine up to, 500 with a 50 or 55 lbs recurve
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Duncan on November 29, 2015, 04:58:00 PM
I think 450-500 is OK if your shooting 45-50#. That's what mine are set up for.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: BigErn on November 29, 2015, 05:00:00 PM
510gr-47lbs Kodiak Mag!Shoots pretty straight
out to 18yds.
                                  Ernie
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Friend on November 29, 2015, 05:21:00 PM
Are you way over weight? Absolutely Not>>>

Could you lighten up 100 grains and maintain an effective lethal setup? Absolutely Yes>>>
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: ChuckC on November 29, 2015, 05:23:00 PM
There are suggestions, but there are no rules.

The only thing you really need is to make sure the arrow flies well for you.  There are a ton of ways to go about that and none of them are right(er) or wrong(er) than the other, only different.
ChuckC
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: frassettor on November 29, 2015, 06:40:00 PM
785 gr for 58/61# bows
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Warden609 on November 29, 2015, 06:52:00 PM
This year 612 grains 55# silvertip. Awesome setup for me. Have fun and enjoy.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Thumper Dunker on November 29, 2015, 06:54:00 PM
About 600grn for my 55-60lb bows.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Arctic Hunter on November 29, 2015, 07:46:00 PM
593-597 grains.  Bow is 59-60#.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: dbd870 on November 29, 2015, 07:57:00 PM
487 for my 45# and 524 for my 50#
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: awbowman on November 29, 2015, 07:59:00 PM
I'm pulling 47#s.  I have one setup at 530 grains and one at 603 grains
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: PaulDeadringer29 on November 29, 2015, 08:07:00 PM
I like heavy arrows. I actually have some that are 13 gpp from a 49# recurve that fly great, dead on at 30 yds, and make for a super quiet shot.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: drewsbow on November 29, 2015, 08:12:00 PM
625-725 from the bows below
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: on November 29, 2015, 08:49:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by frassettor:
785 gr for 58/61# bows
I'll bet there is not much out there that can stop that arrow!!!

Bisch
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Paul Cousineau on November 29, 2015, 09:08:00 PM
550
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Stumpkiller on November 29, 2015, 10:56:00 PM
620 grains (Douglas fir w/125 gr head)
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Scott Barr on November 30, 2015, 01:13:00 AM
460 grains with 45# bow. 195 fps.   Antelope, deer, boar,  usually pass throughs.  So I am one of those that prefers to save my shoulder and shoot lighter equipment.  It works for me.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Michael Arnette on November 30, 2015, 05:08:00 AM
In my humble opinion your setup for arrow weight is overkill for whitetail. Since I've dropped draw weight the sweet 60ish # mark I've been shooting between 500 and 540 grains...I've had two holes or pass throughs in the dirt on over 13 deer with two three and four blade heads.
If you're like me you can shoot heavy arrows perfectly inside 20 yards but right about 20 yards is where those same wonderfully heavy arrows start to drop like a bird out of the sky.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: halfseminole on December 01, 2015, 05:15:00 PM
700+gr, in previous years when the draw weight was higher I shot 2000+ grain arrows 38" long though, some was just arrow weight.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Bowwild on December 01, 2015, 09:06:00 PM
442-480 out of 46-49# @ 26" draw - recurves for me.

I've hunted and killed deer with 414-550 out of same bows.

Sometimes I pick the shaft I want to use and match the broadhead/insert to tune. Other times I settle on a broadhead and then match the shaft. The brand broadhead is always the same though, just different weights.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: K.S.TRAPPER on December 01, 2015, 09:46:00 PM
If ain't broke don't fix it and shoot what you want to shoot and what works for you. Sounds like you have it figured out anyway heavy is good unless you like to take long shots like some guys.

My average whitetail shots are 15yds or less, 56#, Dougfir 200g up front 670g total been killing animals for years with it. I've shot thru two big bucks and a doe in the last two years with the same arrow and broadhead.
Overkill nope! IMO

Tracy
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Stump73 on December 01, 2015, 09:55:00 PM
44lbs at my draw
arrow weight is 538
12.2 gpp
28% foc
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: RC on December 01, 2015, 10:32:00 PM
45 lbs and 525 grains. RC
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Friend on December 01, 2015, 10:48:00 PM
Rules of thumb. IMO,  such as 9 to 11 gpp for deer are convenient yet do not appear applicable for the various rages of commonly utilized setups.

Ex…42#@27… 9 gpp…equates to a 378 grain arrow…likely teetering on the brink of wounding a deer.

Ex…60#@28…11 gpp…equates to a 660 grain arrow…likely far more than required

Your own proper evaluations will build the self confidence that is often so integral to the harvest equation.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: 30coupe on December 01, 2015, 10:55:00 PM
My bow is 48# @ 28", but I draw about 27 1/2" so probably closer to 46-47# and a 503 grain arrow...10.43 gpp @ 48#, 21.1 % FOC.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Brock on December 01, 2015, 11:31:00 PM
I am around 654gr...or 11.9 gpp for my Wolfer.  

If you shoot it accurately...get good arrow flight....and is atleast 10gpp you are golden.

Dont over analyze it if it is working...
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: RedStag5728 on December 02, 2015, 12:42:00 AM
I am shooting 565 grain carbon arrows out of my Red stag longbow.

I'm just a touch over 10 gpp at my draw of 27". My redstag slings these arrows at 175 fps which I am getting 38 ft pounds of kinetic energy, more than enough to take deer sized game.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Steelhead on December 02, 2015, 02:20:00 AM
I shoot around 550 gr.

I don't take long shots when hunting.My trajectory is just fine out to 20 yards.

My bows are around 45-50 pounds at 29 inches draw.

I like how stable my arrows are and the momentum they have.They hit hard and break bone.

The bow shoots real nice and sweet with less vibration and noise.

I have tied lighter arrows.For me I like this moderately heavy arrow setup for what I do.I have a lot of confidence in it.

My hunting arrow is a Heritage CX 250 cut to 31".Fifty or 100 grain brass insert and 150-175 grain head

I shoot 3-D with a lighter CX Heritage 150 aluminum insert and 125 grain head cut a bit shorter.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Jmatt1957 on December 02, 2015, 04:38:00 AM
54@28 shooting 550gr arrow.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Mint on December 02, 2015, 08:58:00 AM
I shoot 525gr out of my 47ib Palmer.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Orion on December 02, 2015, 11:41:00 AM
You certainly have plenty of arrow weight and could probably go down 100 grains or so without loosing much by way of penetration on deer.  Still likely to shoot right through them.  

I like fairly heavy arrows, and generally shoot about 11-12 gpp out of my bows, which equates to about 550 to 625 grains.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: two4hooking on December 02, 2015, 01:27:00 PM
55 pound Sunset Hill shooting POC cedar with a 125 gr BH for about 525 grains.  

I don't like a heavy "loggy" arrow that drops too much past 20 yards...
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Pointer on December 02, 2015, 09:06:00 PM
520grains  out of a recurve that's 54lbs at my draw
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: T Sunstone on December 03, 2015, 12:08:00 AM
780 grains 513 long bow.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Jerry Jeffer on December 03, 2015, 03:24:00 AM
765gr Ad hammerheads, Abowyer brown bear BH
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: damascusdave on December 03, 2015, 09:05:00 AM
This year I hunted deer with arrows that weigh about 900 grains that I have chronographed at over 150 fps...I am a short range deer hunter so why would I need a flat trajectory

DDave
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Car54 on December 03, 2015, 10:09:00 AM
60# longbow, 600+ grain arrow, 31"draw,  don't know how fast the arrows going.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: PASCO on December 03, 2015, 10:52:00 AM
50# Tall Tines recurve @ 28, but my DL is 29.5, so I think it calculates to 52#.  In any case, my total arrow weight is 642gr.  The combo is an absolute hammer!
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Gray Buffalo on December 03, 2015, 11:38:00 AM
598 grains out of a 52# St. Joe River, long bow with a  29" draw
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: last arrow on December 03, 2015, 12:25:00 PM
About 580 grains out of 47 lb recurve.  I like that they are quiet, accurate to point on distance of about 25 yards, forgiving, and two holes every time. The farthest I have ever shot an animal is 22 yards, so I am good with the slow arrow that I can shoot well at a short distance.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Bowhunter4life on December 03, 2015, 12:30:00 PM
The bow I'm hunting with now is 74# and shooting a 700 grain arrow...  

Also have a 62# bow I carry on colder days that is shooting 600 grain arrows...  

Seems like I tend to gravitate to about 9 1/2 GPP +/- with whatever bow I'm shooting...
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: beaunaro on December 05, 2015, 12:51:00 PM
I shoot exactly the same as Bisch...570grn.

Works well for me...hogs and deer.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Mo0se on December 05, 2015, 01:29:00 PM
300 gr. 7.14 gpp, deer are not that tough, especially with a well placed shot. Velocity also contributes to KE, some people forget that. I'd worry more about proficiency than anything else.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Leinsg91 on December 05, 2015, 01:55:00 PM
My 2 cents is if it shoots good stick with it, With the exception of overly light arrows (<8 gpp). will you get enough penatration on a perfectly placed shot, probably. But every person here knows you WILL make a bad shot, it happens. And when it does we owe it to the animal to get good penatration and do our best to kill and not wound.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: 1flyfish on December 05, 2015, 03:23:00 PM
I am shooting between 480 and 500 grain Sitka spruce out my 51 lb JD BERRY LONGBOW with Zwickey Eskimos and have shot right threw the shoulders of both of my deer this year.Lou
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: BWallace10327 on December 05, 2015, 03:47:00 PM
I'm currently using 30.5" Carbon Express Heritage 250 with a 200 grain Wensel Woodsman and 5" 3-fletch.  The total arrow weight is 570 grains.  I would use this arrow on anything I hunt with a bow, but maybe a 2 blade broadhead for tougher game than a doe deer.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: KyStickbow on December 05, 2015, 04:32:00 PM
I shoot 440 grains out of a 40# longbow. Works great for me on whitetails!
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: J-dog on December 05, 2015, 06:03:00 PM
Honestly have no idea? Axis 400, 28.5" long, 5"feathers, and rough 260 grains up front.

Flies good, makes things dead if I do my part.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: J-dog on December 05, 2015, 06:06:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by truck24hr:
I've seen a few posts that are making me rethink my setup.  I'm currently shooting a 56lb HH Wesley Special.  I'm shooting CE Heritage 250's full length, 3gpi tubes, 100gr inserts and 150gr broadheads. I think finished weight is around 670 grains. I mainly hunt whitetails.  

I see lots of folks shooting in the 450-500 grain weight. Am I way overweight? Bow shoots well and is extremely quiet, and I'm sure pretty slow.
I tried the tubes once when I was on an Doc Ashby kick. I got some really funky flight out those arrows - I tried glueing in place and all. Think I saw an arrow swap ends once enroute to target.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Chris Pharr on December 06, 2015, 12:29:00 PM
710grs (+/- a few grains). .300 3 rivers trad only, 285 gr point, 100 gr insert. Fly good out to 40yds, IMO the trajectory drop is irrelevant, your brain will compensate for the larger curve. Wouldn't take a shot at 40 on game but practice there regularly. They make the bow nice and quiet also
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Flatshooter on December 07, 2015, 10:36:00 AM
640 out of my 50# recurve and longbow
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Sam McMichael on December 07, 2015, 10:46:00 AM
truck24hr, don't worry that your arrows are overweight as long as they are performing well. Heavy is not bad. Remember, there is no such thing as overkill when bowhunting a whitetail.
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Knawbone on December 07, 2015, 08:20:00 PM
I hunt deer with the weight arrows i shoot all year. All my wood arrows ( wood is all i shoot )weigh between 460 and 480 gn for any and all shooting, target, competition, stump, and hunting. Shooting 45 to 5o lb bows iv never lost a deer. A well tuned arrow with a razor sharp broadhead placed in the kill zone will never fail you!
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: HARL on December 07, 2015, 08:24:00 PM
750 grs. out of my Zippers I draw to 29"
Title: Re: What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?
Post by: Biathlonman on December 07, 2015, 08:42:00 PM
I draw a shade over 29", all bows marked at 28.  #51 Toelke Chinook is shooting 625 grain Douglas Fir.  #53 Toelke Lynx recurve shooting 680 grain Douglas fir.  I like low 600 out of bows in the low 50s.