Carbon to Wood arrow switch. Help needed.

[riverrat 2]

Well...I shoot,and enjoy carbon arrows. I have been romancing the idea of shooting wood arrows. I just think it sounds fun,traditional,and it looks as if it can be affordable when comparing an arrow to arrow cost versus carbon. I have just a few questions..

1 Do I need to worry over GPI for my bows as I do with carbons? or just follow the 50-55,or 60-65 ratings woods use.

2 Does anybody shoot woods out of bows straight,far,and accurate from Hybrid style longbows,or in general,high FPS trad. bows?

3 What would you experienced wood shooter's reccomend as far as shaft wood variety goes.
(cedar-spruce-fir-etc.)


Just thinking on it for now bretheren. I would love to shoot the same arrow out of ALL my bows.
They range from 47-51 lbs. Sure sounds like fun to just shoot at whatever you want,and not lose a $10 dollar arrow for it. Like varmits,crows,etc
even have more fun at the range taking "risky arrow damage" shots. rat'

[bigbadjon]

You won't be able to calculate gpi from a wood arrow because every shaft will vary. Most of my shafts hit the 10gpp mark with a 125 gr to 145 gr broadhead.

I shoot wood arrows out of my ACS just as well as carbons or aluminums. The only difference in the wood shafts is that you will need to check the shafts for starightness and correct them if necassary.

I still shoot cedar because they are commonly available in matched sets, rather than 6# groups, and are the only shaft that will maintain its straightness.

[Flying Dutchman]

I own two Caribows Peregrines, hybrid longbows who belong to the fastest longbows out there.
I own a Whippenstick Phoenix 3-pce recurve, which is even a tad faster and goes easily over the 200 fps.

I all shoot them with wood. I always use Sitka Spruce. I has proven to be very strong and consistant in weight.

My bows are between the 45 and 52 lbs. However, now I start to experiment with carbon.

[Bjorn]

I shoot ACS bows and only shoot wood-either Fir or Cedar-they shoot great and I don't worry about crooked shafts with either material. Sitka Spruce is a fine material as well-don't skimp on arrows; buy the best shafting you can find.
My bows are all right around 50# and my arrows are 10-12 gps total weight. I don't think there is much of a cost difference between the various materials............but I don't really know the prices of aluminum or carbon.

[gringol]

You may need a higher spine rating if you're shooting a fast hybrid that is cut to center.  I shoot 95-100# spine with 160 grn heads out of a 56# Raptor Signature longbow.  Do yourself a favor and get a test pack with various spine ratings and do a little bareshafting to get yourself close.

I've tried a bunch of shaft materials, but I think I've settled on doug fir.  It's tough, stays straight, and has enough mass to do the job.  Spruce and cedor also stay straight, but they are quite a bit lighter than fir and don't seem as tough to me.

[riverrat 2]

Bjorn,I am thinking that I may be able to score a bulk of arrow shafts,say..100. Then just do a real simple fletch/seal/swag job to keep the cost low. Some of the arrows that guys do are just to good looking to shoot almost. But,just a plain,stained,fletched,type arrow is what I am after. All the same,for all my bows. I have seen some good deals at a few shoots I attended this year,and that planted the seed. Winter is almost here,and this could be a cool project. Thanks all,rat'

[riverrat 2]

Thanks gringol,that just makes good sense right there.  

[Beanbag]

I set up my bow with carbons first, then I went to woodies for when I feel like shooting wood. I find the carbon shoot a little faster with a lighter gpi.The woodies hit a bit harder and shoot a little lower. I have to practice with the wood a bit more because the point of impact is lower and it  changes my sight/ hold picture. You will find that a heavier gpi is easily more obtainable with wood for the most part, thus better penetration. I find that I get a little better range with carbon because of the lighter weight, I find it harder to get the hold for longer rangers with woodies . I found that once I got each tuned to the bow it was just a little bit of practice to switch between them. I have been using tapered POC from 3 Rivers and like them. You can do wood for bit less if you shop a bit. Good wood is a bit more but more consistent.

[BCWV]

I shoot wood mostly out of all of my bows. I do shoot carbon from time to time out of a couple but enjoy making and shooting wood more.
 My bows are from the mid 40s to 53# so I have shafts from 40 to 75# spine and use 125 to 170 grain heads.
 The bows are RD longbows, Shrews and Lost Creeks, from a 65 Kodiak to a Morrison wood ILF with carbon limbs which includes a Widow PCH and a Dalaa in recurves and a couple hickory self bows. Wood arrows work great in all of em.
 Like Bjorn, I shoot 11 to 12 gpp. I like Douglas Fir but have been using poplar more lately and it's fast becoming my favorite shaft material for it's value. They don't have the nice grain and look as nice as fir but give nothing up in performance in my opinion.
 Wood's good!

[darin putman]

Surewood shafts hard to beat even after shooting into stumps, logs and grass piles hardly ever need straightening!!! 60-65 spine with 135 up front outa my crooked stick gets me around 10 gpp!!! I would go with a test kit to get spine right as I beleive will save you time and money in long run..

[ripforce56]

I shoot both out of my Bama Expi R/D 47@28, my carbons are 3555 Gt Trads w 145pts, my woods are 60/65 POC and German Pine cut to 30 w 145pts both shoot great out of my Hybrid! As to speed I chronoed my bow this summer! The carbon 168FPS, POCs 157/158FPS about 10FPS less! I have 3 other bows around 50@28 they all shoot the same arrow!