Need Arrow Shaft Advice and Help

[Caleb the bow breaker]

Gang,

This is a good news bad news sort of deal.  

The good news is that I received my new Arroyo this week and it is sweet!  The bad news is that its now time to figure out a new arrow set up and hunting season is right around the corner.

Really quick here are the bow stats.  53#s at 29.5 inches with fast flight string.  

Going through my stash of arrows it seems to shoot these the best. tapered wooden shafts 11/32, 70-75 spine, 535gr including 125gr tip 4 fletch, 30.75" BOP.  Those come pretty close to the magic 10gpp. They shoot good and match up on the Dynamic Spine program.  The bad news is that I cant seem to find anybody that has shafts in that range consistently which is pretty frustrating to have to go through this song and dance every time I need to make a new dozen.  I have tried the Doug fir shafting and love it but dont really love a finished arrow that weighs 635-650 gr (12 gpp)as I hunt deer and small game and prefer the flatter trajectory over the increased mass.  I have messed with carbon and they are definitely less trouble but I guess maybe I love trouble    :mad: .  

So what I am looking for are ideas for a wooden shaft that fits the specs above and is readily available.  Any ideas on materials or suppliers?

C

[cbCrow]

I would call Hildebrand at 1 866 586 0232 and talk to Neil. A buddy uses heavy spine shafts and likes them to be in the 9.5-10gr range, this is where he gets them.

[Orion]

Any wood will vary in weight for a given spine.  If you haven't already, I suggest you contact Surewood shafts to see if they can provide Doug fir in the physical weight you want.  If not, you might try Sitka spruce offered by Hillenbrand.  Sitka spruce tends to run a little lighter than POC, but again, they should be able to provide shafts that are the same weight as those you're using now.  All that being said, I haven't had trouble finding 70-75# spines in 11/32 cedars. I do my own tapering though.  If that's a shaft that really works for you, you might consider stocking up when you do find them.  Good luck.

[moebow]

Check out Sitka Spruce.  I think you will find what you are looking for.  It's lighter per unit volume than DF, nearly as strong as DF (much tougher than POC) and shafts in your spine range should be readily available.

Arne

[cedar]

Your finished arrow is similar to mine.  I try to stay between 525 and 575 gr with a 125 gr point.  When shopping for shafts, I add 150 grains for nock, feathers, cresting, and 125 gr point.  I have found shafts in DF, SS, and POC that will work.  I tell them I need shafts between 380 and 400 grains.  They can all do it.