KE for Elk

[Chesapeake]

So I got out the chrono and some arrows to play with last evening.

My recurve was throwing a 505 grain arrow 180 fps. 5 feet off the riser. That figures up to about 36 foot pounds of kenetic energy.

With my bow 505 grains is right at 9 grains per pound.

I intended to try some heavier arrows to compare the loss in velocity but ran out of light for the chrono.

Is 180fps decent for a 55 pound bow?

How much KE do I need to effectively kill elk?

I understand there is no solid answer, I'm just looking for opinions.

[Santiam]

Rick,

 Welcome to tradgang...

 I think you are A-OK...I am shooting 60 lbs and 188 fps with 540 gr arrows and have no problem with penetration...Zip,right through... 35 gr and 8 fps the elk will not know the difference...

 Concentrate on getting perfect arrow flight and go hunting...

[[email protected]]

Rick,

I really don't know anything about KE.

So FWIW

I have taken a number of elk with 58 lbs and a 565 arrow, Dacron string.  Most of them pass thrus with a WW head.

You would probably be better off around 550 or so.

Its hard to have too heavy an arrow.

Bob

[Chesapeake]

I was thinking it would work fine I just have no personal experience in the archery field with elk or traditional gear.

I would like to have 550 grains or so but with the carbon shafts I chose to start with I'm not sure how to get it.

Where I'm at now shooting a GT 3555 (222 grn) with 100 grn insert and 125 grn tip the arrow is already realy tip heavy.

I'de like to add 40 grains or so but I'm not sure how. I looked on the net and saw they have tubes to go in the arrow and also nock inserts but havent decided what to try.

I tried putting a full length piece of weedwacker line in the arrow but it seemed to make the arrow fly as if it was realy weak spined. Not sure how that worked, probably something with shifting load durring flight, or dampening the archers paradox. The idea seemed hoaky to me but someone suggested it and I could find no harm in trying.

[vermonster13]

It is much more important to have true flight than to gain 50grns. Choose a sharp tough broadhead and get accurate with your set-up. learn your limits and stay within them and you should be just fine.

[Shawn Leonard]

Yup, what was said above. WW is a great Elk head, get perfect flight and shoot quartering away or broadside Elk and they will not go far. Shawn

[Longbowz]

Your setup should work just fine.  Use a good broadhead like a WW (mentioned) or a Magnus or Zwickey or the like.

Arrow flight is more important then weight.  500 grains will work great.  

[Chuck Mullaley]

"I understand there is no solid answer,..."

From my experience, the only 'solid' answer comes from hitting that big shoulder bone.  :mad:  

Sounds like your setup will work fine!

[[email protected]]

Rick,

As you can see even my good friend (Santiam) and I have minor differences of opinion.

So for sure you need, good clean arrow flight, a reasonable weight arrow and it really, really helps if you shoot them low.  

If you can have the mental presence when a bull charges in...aim for the top of his heart.  A hit a little low is still great, too low and a clean miss, high and you are still ok.

They can cover a huge amount of real estate in a heartbeat and a good bloodtrail only helps your cause.

Good luck!

Bob