Minimum arrow weight for whitetail

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I'm curious what you all consider minimum arrow eeigjt for white tail? I made up some mahogany arrows that all finished come out between 400-450gr with a 160gr 2 blade head. They fly awesome out of my self bows thatre  pulling about 50# at 26.5". I feel like they would do the job done if out where they need to, but want someone opinions. I've got some ahafts that turned out about 100gr heavier and about 15# heavier spine that I need to finish and try. But is no guarantee they will fly as well.

Thanks,
Kyle

[texbow2]

If they are flying straight 400-450 is plenty. Sharp head and good tuning are just as important to penetration as arrow weight

[oldbohntr]

Agreed.   Whitetail are not hard to penetrate, so long as you hit them in the right place.  While I like pretty heavy arrows, I shoot at a lot of bigger animals.  I'm committed to lighter weight bows now, and I like 9-10+ gpp out of the low 40s for deer and antelope.  There are a lot of guys who do very well with 9 or less gpp.  

That said, I encourage you to test to see if the heavier spine will work well with a bit heavier head. But, if they don't, accuracy and a razor sharp broadhead is more important than mass.

[dbd870]

About where you are is fine.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

Thanks guys. Now o won't be worried about using then is the heavier arrows don't shoot well. The heavier weighed about 600-625gr. So if they fly well il use them. If not, then I'll make a heavier bow to use them with. I did finally break my first mahogany shaft by driving it j to a tree at 35 yards. It snapped it in two spots. But held up until then.

Kyle

[Michael Arnette]

I'd say the minimum is right around 400 grains in my book. An efficient broadhead, shot from a legal draw weight, and good shot placement would have 100% chance of adaquate penetration on a broadside whitetail of any size.
...anything much less would be a toss-up and toss ups are not satisfactory in my book.

[Sam McMichael]

Good to go.

[NY Yankee]

400 or more is good. A lighter arrow that is flying straight is much better than a heavier one not flying straight. Good flight and proper shot placement are paramount.

[BOHO]

Around 8 gpp from 30# and up

[hitman]

That is plenty for whitetail or bear. They both are easy to shoot through in the boiler room.

[JohnV]

If your arrow does not hit right in the 12 ring, you will wish you had some extra weight.  (Like busting through a scapula blade.)

[meathead]

A little light for me. I still like the 10 grains per lb.of draw weight.

[Hoosierarcher88]

If i remember correctly the lighter of my 2 setups is 696 grains out of a 55# bow. Ive messed with lighter down to 475 grains and i did like the trajectory and still had good penetration i did not care for my bow being louder.just personal preference for heavier here but the lighter ones will still do just fine for deer

[Etter]

Im in the heavier is better crowd. I like to tune all my bows to throw 300 or more grains up front and I like 550 or more total. I hunt deer, bear, and pigs. Bears have extremely heavy bones and pigs can be very tough to penetrate well so Id rather have some insurance. Thats just me though. I dont shoot at game past 20 yds so trajectory doesnt matter much

[Mo_coon-catcher]

I'm with you guys on the heavier is better, especially since 15 yards is my happy zone. So trajectory doesn't make a big differemce there yet. I'd prefer around 600gr. But these arrows shot so well that if like to use them if they will get addequate penetration. I've got my 600-650gr artows finished up, but I havmt shot them yet to see how they fly. They are 200gr heavier with a 15-20# heavier apine, though they are also 2" longer. My guess is that I'll still need a heavier or more center shy bow to fling those arrows well. But I have a couple on te way if the walnut and Cherry ELBs hold up.


Kyle