Need some wood shafts!

[Apex Predator]

I've shot carbon and aluminum since I started shooting trad 10 years ago. I have had two different batches of woodies in the past, which was before I knew about tuning. I have two longbows that just feel like they were meant to shoot wood arrows. The first is a straight profile boo backed ipe that I made with a small shelf cut in. It draws 49@27. The second is a Hill that draws 52@27. They both are about 3/16-1/4" from center shot. I want a 29" finished arrow. I would love to have a 600+ grain shaft. I have a bunch of 125-135 grain broadheads. What do you experts suggest I start with. Where to buy. All I need are raw shafts. Thanks.

[snag]

To get to the 600+gr mark with 125-135gr tips you will need to go with some other wood than POC or Sitka Spruce. My shafts are running around 425-440gr. in POC. So with 160gr tips I can get 585-600gr arrows. But that is with heavy spined arrows. They are in the 70#-74# and 80#-84# spine range. I am shooting a cut to center recurve 55#@28" though. So I can shoot a heavier spine weight than you can with a longbow. You could look at Douglas Fir or some of the harder woods or footed shafts.

[Bowman0202]

Raven Arrows, 993 Grays Creek Road, Indian Valley, Idaho 83632 - Telephone: 208-256-4341. IMHO they have the best POC shafts anywhere, been getting mine there for years.  Their feathers are 1st class also AND Tom and wife are finest people to deal with. Give them a call.  Their unfinished shafts come as if polished. Never found a bad on in the bunch.

[PV]

Wood arrows of the same spine can vary greatly in weight. I shoot 65-70# with a 145 tip POC 29".The finished arrow weights go from 425 -605 gr.

[Bjorn]

Apex, tell your supplier what weight shafting you want, and consider moving up in spine so you can take a heavier point weight, and you will get more FOC which is the latest-right?
You can also increase the shaft weight by dipping and soaking shafts in oil etc.
I am getting 600 grain cedars with a 145 gr tip and could get more, but I am only drawing about 47#.

[Ted Fry]

I agree with what Bjorn says , your supplier should be able to help you out with the weight group of the spine you need . Shafts of one spine can have over 100 grains difference so get the heavier end of the weight range of the spine you need.
Also like he said go to the 160 and up the spine just a tinch, you will love the flight of a heavier FOC arrow

[Apex Predator]

I'm used to very high FOC carbons.  I just want to try wood again.  Most of you folks are telling me 50-55 spine, and when I called Three Rivers they are telling me to go 10 pounds higher for a Hill bow.  I'm confused.  I guess the 60-65s will allow me to shoot a heavier head and higher weight finished shaft.  Maybe that's what I should order?

[Bjorn]

Apex if you discuss your requirements with someone like Ted Fry, post above, he can advise you on the weight, length, spine, point weight, string type, bow type and all the rest, and save you time and money to boot. I know, he has done it for me numerous times.
No doubt 3Rivers can too-just never really tried them.
Ted is at raptorarchery.com

[CJ Pearson]

Marty, I second talking to Ted and getting them from him if he has them. He has helped me more than once when building a selfbow or ordering items.

[Fletcher]

Bob Burton at Whispering Wind Arrows (TG Sponsor) has very good hex pine shafting which generally runs heavier than POC.  Bob is very good at figuring spine and is also a Hill bow shooter.  The Surewood fir shafting is also very good and heavier than POC and is available thru a couple of the TG sponsors.  Good luck!

[dino]

I don't see the confusion with the Hill bow. Look at Kelly's spine chart.  Essentially the bow is 55 + @28.  Thus a 55 spined arrow, +1" add 5 lbs. =60.  60-65 seems the right ball park and exactly what I would suggest and exactly what I shoot out of my 55# longbow with a 29" arrow.  What Ted said is right on: shafts of one spine group can vary 100 grains easily.

I wouldn't expect that the same spine would shoot out of the self bow.  Tend to take a little weaker spine.  Some test shafts would go a long way there. dino

[Paul Mattson]

I sell my Ash shafts +/- 20grns, Douglas Fir and POC are +/-10.  The Ash are one tough arrow the wts are around 520/540. They are harder to straighten than POC but worth the effort.