arrow spining

[KYboy555]

I don't know if this is the proper forum for this question but, I have just recently recieved my first trad bow.  It is a 50#@28" hickory self bow with no shelf.  I was wondering how to pick the proper spined arrow to shoot from it.  I would like to begin with some Gold Tip carbons w/about a 5" feather and 2 blade hunting point.  I have looked at some arrow charts but, I have heard that factory charts are not even close to the proper spine for trad bows.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  

[KYboy555]

sorry I didn't mention it also has a Dacron string if that makes a difference.

[Steve B.]

God help you if you are starting out trad with a selfbow.  But to answer your question:

You could get a lot of feedback on this issue, to the point that you end up confused and frustrated.  If you have the time and inclination to try everything that you will be told then, great, you may just get the best deal doing that.  Otherwise, I would pick an arrow who's overall weight compliments the bow, take off the feathers, and group them at 20 yds.  

If they group well and basically hit where you are aiming then put some feathers on them and shoot them again.  At this point you can adjust your aim to hit where you want or you can change the spine of your arrows by changing point weight and/or shaft length and possibly shift your groups to where you want.

[McDave]

If you like Gold Tips, you will most likely end up shooting 3555's.  The best way to tune the GT's is to get a tuning kit, which contains a bare shaft, various weights, nock and tip adapters, and a nock.  Black Widow sells these for $8 (best $8 you'll ever spend), and there may be other places you can get them as well.  You will also need a point, probably 125 grain.  Once the arrow is tuned, it should match up with any of the popular 125 grain hunting broadheads.

The tuning shaft contains instructions for tuning.  I find that a dab of the same hot melt used for aluminum arrows helps keep the thing together when I'm shooting the tuning shaft.  When I want to change weights, I just hold the end of the tuning shaft in boiling water for 10-15 seconds and pull out the insert with pliers.

You'll probably end up with a 125 grain point, another 20-50 grains of weight up front, and no additional weight in the back.