Where Do You Draw The Line On Hunting Arrow Weight?

[mcgroundstalker]

Most if not all of my deer hunting is from the ground in heavy cover...Shots will be close, under 20 yds...Just the way I like it...My bow can handle the following three well, although I am leaning toward the "heavy" direction for hunting use...What Do YOU Say???

Shooting a Black Widow TFV Ironwood...#51 @ 26"

27.5" 2016 w/125gr Magnus Stinger...........475gr

28" Carbon Express w/100gr brass insert.....550gr

28" Carbon Express w/100gr brass insert,
125 Woodsman w/125gr steel adapter..........675gr

Thank You

... mike ...

[ishiwannabe]

From what I can see either of them would be ok. I mean I am new at this, and math has never been my strongest point...LOL. I am looking forward to following this post though...
If I am thinking straight(and please fix me if I am wrong here)...you are over 9 gpp with each set up....what does BW suggest for gpp?
Which of em leaves the quietest and flies the best???

[Dave Rice]

I like 11-13 gpp--that puts me at the 550gr or 675gr. I'd expect that trajectories to 20 yds for either would be so similar that you wouldn't need to adjust--it's at about 25 yards that I do see a difference.

If the heavier arrow is quieter I'd use it, otherwise, there's probably no difference for deer.

[mbbushman]

The middle of road weight looks about perfect to me. 675 gr is a tad much for my liking if you only have 51 lbs. I like to stay around 10-11 grs per pound personally.

[Dave2old]

For deer 500 and over is plenty for close shots, assuming you're meeting all the other requirements -- strong two-blade head, long and narrow (the only bad one I've experienced is the Wolverine 125, which has only a single layer of steel at the tip and tends to break on impact with bone); shaft no larger in diameter than ferrule; and as much weight forward as you can handle accurately. I've gone to 145 heads to achieve that. Good luck.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Keep the 2016s w/ 125gr. field points for target practice and the other two setups for hunting. If it were me I would select the 550gr. setup for hunting. That will do just fine for deer and elk.

[Chris Wilson]

If they're flying well and are quiet enough for your liking, then any of those arrows will be more than enough for whitetail.  The 2016 is a good shaft.  I've used them in the past out of draw weights in the 45-50# range with great results.

[Bowspirit]

I think the real question is: is there a noticable difference in accuracy between shafts? If so, I'd shoot the most accurate. If not, why not give in to a little extra weight?

[Golden Hawk]

I'd go with the 550 grain setup myself. i like a hefty arrow in the 10-11 gpp range.

[Shawn Leonard]

Talk to Chad Jones about this one. He shoots some mighty big deer and I know the last few were with a 50# bow and 400 grain arrows for 8gpp. Blows thru them like butter. I would say deer or black bear ya do not need to much as long as you are shooting sharp broadheads, even on shoulder hits on deer and skinny carbons 8-9 gpp will get it done. Ya got to remember on certain hits 12-15 gpp. will not get it done. That said, I shoot between 9-10 gpp. Shawn

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

The largest whitetail I ever killed was a Wisconsin 10-pointer that field dressed around 200#. The arrow completely severed a rib near the spine going in, took out the lungs and heart, and cut another rib off the sternum going out. It finally stopped when it burried a few inches in the dirt. That was with a 475-grain carbon out of a 53# recurve.

Tuned correctly, I'd say any of your options will get the job done on whitetails without a problem.

[Curveman]

2016 45gr

[James Wrenn]

I find that arrows in the 450 to 550 range work very well for the game I hunt.I don't care that much how it stacks up to bow weight.A 500gn arrow will kill well from a 40lb bow or a 70lb bow.I would go with which of the first two choices shoots the best and never look back.I have never had a reason to shoot anything as heavy as your 3rd choice for anything I will be hunting. jmo

[jeff / sc]

I'm using CX 150's with the 50 gr brass insert rather than the 100 gr plus the woodsman and 125 gr steel adapter for a total wt of a little over 600 gr from my 50 # longbows.  Also hunting on the ground. You might try the 50 gr brass inserts and split the difference in wt on the CX arrows you mentioned. Should note that I also shoot 2016's using the woodsmans with the 125 steel adapter, nothing wrong with that either and weight in around 550 (if I remember right).

[bjk]

For what you are planning to shoot, Mikey, it doesn't make a shred of difference to the animal.  Couple things to consider...which does your eye like shooting and which does the bow handle the best.  My guess is the bow is quiet with all, and accurate with all...but with a bunch of shooting you might notice one out performs another and you might also find your eye likes the arrow traveling slower (or faster).

In the end, it is what you feel confident with.

[mark land]

For me I prefer shooting arrows in the 500-600gr range, over 600 and I really have to think about arrow drop at ranges over 20-25yds. anything lighter and I feel like I loose a little penetration on more angled shots.  Mark

[mcgroundstalker]

Thank You Everyone!!!... ...Looks like I'll be sticking with a 550gr hunting arrow...Kinda works all around for me...

Gotta LOVE this site!!!... :D ...

... mike ...

[southpawshooter]

I agree with both James Wrenn and bjk.  An arrow of 500 grains +\\- is plenty good for whitetail.  You don't necessarily need more arrow weight to get the job done.  It's more about what shoots accurately out of your bow.  With all the different weighting options available now, getting your preferred BH on an arrow of your determined weight is not a major hurdle.

[pointy sticks]

I shoot wood and use somewhere between 12-14 grn / 54# bow(650-730grn finished)I use these for target and hunting so I'm accustomed to the weight. That being said I do find the heavier arrows do make the bow quieter. I would venture to say that any arrow which gives you good flight, and is at least 9-10 grn/# should do the job just fine.

[wtpops]

10 to 12 gpp