A question for Barry Wenzel or anyone who knows...

[30coupe]

In Masters of the Barebow II, Barry talks about using "skinny carbons." What arrows are they?

Also what weight are they and how are they weighted?

[Barry Wensel]

I've shot the skinny carbons since about '94. Over the years I've shot Beman's, Easton's and AFCs. And frankly never saw much difference in any of them. For the last ten? years I've shot Cabela's SST 230s. When I found out they were discontinuing them, I went ahead and bought a gross, so I should be okay for awhile. I don't add weight to them at all. I usually blast through everything I hunt, so I've never seen any need to add weight. They fly great and penetrate well.... works for me. bw

[jrchambers]

might be the old bemans or even cabelas, my dad used them and boy they are skinny.

[wtpops]

Just about any of the name brand carbon makers have a line of the "skinny carbons". They are light in weight but there are many ways to weight them down. you can go with a heavy spine and then a steal or brass incert and a heavy head. Or they make weight tubes to install inside the shaft or both if needed.

There are a couple out there that are a mix, carbon wraped aluminum, they have some weight to them and are very strong.

Hello there Mr Wenzel, I am going to make one of your Pig Gigs one of these years, hopefuly 2010. I have tried for the past 3 years but somthing always comes up, guess I got to get my priorities stright  :D

[30coupe]

Originally posted by Barry Wensel:
 For the last ten? years I've shot Cabela's SST 230s. When I found out they were discontinuing them, I went ahead and bought a gross, so I should be okay for awhile.  bw

You must lose a lot of arrows Barry!

Thanks for the reply. I am just starting to fiddle with carbons. I have some Easton Epic St's and some Gold tips that seem to fly okay, but I have to weight the heck out of the front end because they are so stiff. I think the 230's would be too for my 46-55 pound bows.

I'll have to do some snooping to see what I can find.

Thanks again!

Russ

[Chimaster]

I've used the Beaman classics and now I'am shooting the FMJ's that my friend Steve O turned me on to. Both have performed really well. I think all carbons will fly well, but you need to bare shaft tune them for the best results. Steve made a believer out of me when he helped me bare shaft tune my arrows.

[CBH]

Barry, just curious, what draw weight are you shooting? I only shoot 50# and with the Beman 400 tipped with the old Bear Razorheads, I usually zip right through a whitetail. When I was much younger, my brothers and I hunted with good success shooting 4 fletched wooden arrows and 45# Bear Kodiaks. That seems too light and slow to me now!

[deermaster1]

beman team realtree and classic mfx or easton axis mfx in 500 will get you what you want.  500 for the 46 lbs, or even 400 for the higher 55 lbs with a decent weight tip.

[30coupe]

I think Barry is "down" to a 60 pound bow now   :eek:  

Thanks for the help guys.

[Barry Wensel]

After my arm injury I dropped my bow weights between 56 and 60 lbs. But this season I shot one of Paul Schafer's own personal "light" bows I inherited that's 70 lbs. I cut the carbons to 29 1/2" for the lighter bows and 28" for Schaf's bow. Shot three bucks with it so it worked fine.

[flatlander37]

30coupe, I shoot the Epic ST 400 shafts out of a 54# longbow with 250 grains up front.  They are cut to 30 inches, and were the easiest to bareshaft tune ever, although I think I just got lucky and guessed the right length the first time.  My overall weight is 565 grains.  I believe I could even cut some of them down to 28" if I ever try the 300 xtreem heads.  I think these are easier to get EFOC, if that was ever a concern.  My .02 cents.  Mark

[30coupe]

flatlander,

I have some of the Epic ST 400's too. I had to put more weight up front and leave them full length, but they do fly well.  They don't seem all that picky about the weight on the front. Mine are 605 grains with 145 grain field points. My 51# Kanati really likes them.

Barry, you amaze me! My elbows just can't take the heavier bows anymore. I can shoot them, but I pay for it for a few days afterwards. Five pounds either side of 50 and I am fine, much more and I keep the ibuprofen companies afloat.

[flatlander37]

Anyone else had to lower their nocking point after going to these?  I shoot three under and went from 1/2" above center to 3/8" above center.  Just wondering.

[Whitetail Chaser]

wow! I get to post on a thread with Barry Wensel!

I agree 100% with the Cabela's 230 SST's.  I bought a dozen as they were discontinuing them. So far I have killed 3 deer with them, and I still have 11 left!

I really wish Easton or Beman would offer a 16/64 carbon shaft.  They penetrate like MAD!

Brett

[wapitimike1]

My knock point went down, but I think it's just the size of the knock itself. I like the lighter skinny carbons. I wish I had used them all last season. They zip right along and drive deep.