Arrow Choice for Africa?

[Tilzbow]

I've got to different arrow/broadhead combinations I'm considering for a hunt in 5 weeks. Both fly great out of the same bow and the differences are detailed below.

Number one is a Axis 300 @ 11.5 gr/in with a    1 1/2" Magnus I w/75 grain steel insert. Total arrow weight is 620 grains, speed is 180 FPS, kenetic energy is 44.5, momemtum is .49 slug feet/second.

Number two is a Beman Max 340, 11.2 gr/in with a 1 1/4" 125 grain 4 blade Magnus Stinger. Total arrow weight is 525 grains, speed is 195 FPS, kenetic energy is 44.3, momemtum is .45 slug feet/second.

If given these two choices which would you shoot in Africa and why?

[John3]

The heavy arrow ONLY.. Funny, I am setting up "heavy" arrows tonight (675grn) for my Africa trip next summer. Everyone tells me that you must shoot an heavy arrow. The game over there is big and tough from eons of being preyed upon by scary things. People who know have told me and I believe them. Most hunting is close so speed shouldn't matter. A quiet bow shooting an heavy well placed arrow is what matters.

[Don Thomas]

Flip a coin and put either one in the right spot. African game is challenging in many ways but with proper shot placement penetration from any reasonable set up should not be a problem. No point worrying about the numbers. Unless you are hunting buffalo sized animals or larger, accuracy is all that counts. Don

[8th Dwarf]

It's rare when I disagree with Don, but this time I do.

GO WITH THE HEAVIEST ARROW THAT SHOOTS WELL FROM YOUR BOW!!!!!  I would not attempt to take African game with an arrow weighing under 600 grains.  I pay NO attention to Connecticut energy or Slug Bugs!  If you can't figure that out, it means it's all technology and we don't need technology to figure out that a heavy arrow penetrates better than a light arrow.

Take two white balls that are the same physical size and throw them as hard as you can in to a snow drift.  One is a ping pong ball the other is a golf ball.  Which one penetrates better?  I rest my case.

I'm leaving tomorrow for my 15th bowhunt in Africa, so I have the experience to make the recommendation.

Too Short

[Dalebow]

Laminated Birch 700grains:-)  Have fun

[Don Thomas]

I rarely disagree with Paul either and I'm not sure we are disagreeing this time. My standard Africa arrows probably weigh right at 600 gr (or a little under)and they have whistled right through every plains game animals they have hit. The problems I have seen in Africa (and just about everywhere else for that matter) do not come from arrow weight, draw weight or anything of the kind. They come from poor shot placement. So shoot the heaviest tackle you can shoot accurately, but don't sacrifice accuracy for some magic number. We're leaving for our 12th trip... let's hope we all pick the right spot. Don

[Tilzbow]

For what it's worth my mind was made up shortly after I posted this. I'm going with the heavy arrows for two reasons:

1) My bow is quieter shooting them.

2) I've been shooting this particular set-up for 9 months and I'm confident with it.

The only reason I posted it is because I was playing around with with the lighter arrow for 3D shoots and found it shot real well so it got me thinking about making a switch. 15 FPS isn't enough, in my opinion, to make a difference for string jumping and at 15 to 20 yards there's only an inch or two difference in trajectory so accuracy isn't a factor.

This is my first trip and I can only hope to make it to 12 to 15 trips before I die. Paul and Don; you guys are blessed!

Don,
 
Where are you headed and can we expect the trip to be written about???

Scott

[Ham]

I'm not going to add anything to Don's and Paul's advice on arrow selection.  I just thought it was apropriate to emphasize shot placement.  My experence is limited to kudu and gemsbok so you need to seek furtar advise.  None the less, I would urge you to wait for a quatering away shot.  Pick that tuff of hair about 1/3 up that will allow your arrow to pass through an imaginary point mid way between the legs.  A shot there with either arrow will yield a short and happy trailing job.  One other small point, if the animal is facing left to right, you would have a little extra margin for error.  If you place your shot where you would normally shoot a North American animal at that quartering away angle, you may miss the near side lung; however the liver is on the right side, and your sharp broadhead will put that animal down.  Just give that animal an extra hour or so before taking up the trail.  With the help of a good tracker, you will be smiling.  I'm sure you will have a great time!

[Don Thomas]

Scott -- I'm sure your arrow choice is just fine. My only real point was that it's a mistake to sacrifice accuracy for whump (measured any way you want to.) Sometimes you have too... when you're hunting buff for example. Then you just get closer. But shot placement really is the key on planis game. Ham has given some good advice, particularly for gemsbok. Wait for a slight quartering away. Same applies to eland. We will be investigating several new potential destinations in RSA, in the eastern Cape and Karoo. Should be some wild, untested country and I'll give you a full report when we return end of July. Don

[8th Dwarf]

I kind of figured that Don and I actually agreed, or close to it.  As far as Don's comments about shot placement, he is RIGHT ON THE MONEY!  Over bowing yourself is a really bad problem.  You must be able to control your arrow and make it go exactly where you want it to go.

A great wee book, "The Perfect Shot" shows all the anatomy of African animals and really helps with WHERE you hit the animal.

Many bowhunters will shoot, for example, a Kudu or a Gemsbok, by going up to the elbow, then going directly up about 6 inches to pick their spot.  Some even go up and BACK a couple of inches.  Both shots are NOT the optimum shot, especially if you go BACK.  Go up to the elbow, go from there about 6 inches up, AND THEN GO FORWARD ABOUT 4 INCHES!!!!!  This is in the "V" where the leg bone leaves the elbow and goes forward to the shoulder.  From there it goes up and back to the shoulder blade.  I call it the magic triangle.

Remember, African animals are far tougher than our critters in North America and bleed less in most cases.

I'm heading to Namibia for Leopard and plains game in 6 days and I have been studying Leopard anatomy constantly and shooting at least 100 arrows a day.  I'm just hoping that I can figure out which spot to pick when that Leopard shows up!

Too Short

[J from Denmark]

The leopard is one of the few african animals that actually have their vitals further BACK towards the stomach, right ?

Hope you succeed Paul.

A dont forget the pics and stories to all us everyday working people    

Jacob

[8th Dwarf]

According to the book, "Yes", the Leopard has lungs that are further behind the "magic triangle".

I'll be hunting with the Bushmen.  Instead of baiting Leopard, they go out and follow tracks of a big male. When they find a kill, they set up a Double Bull blind about 15-18 yards from the kill.  Since they have been doing this, the Leopards have been coming in during broad daylight.  This hunt, by-the-way, is at Ha Nore.

I'm JACKED!  I'll be coming back to Montana on the 26th of July and if I can figure out how to post photos, I'll let you see what I harvested.

Cheers!

[J from Denmark]

Thats going to be a great experience

Looking forward to your pictures

J

[Biggie Hoffman]

I hardly ever disagree with Uncle Don but never mmmmmmmmiss a chance to disagree with the Short One. Since they both have the same opinion here basically, I'm left out of the discussion :-(
Plus, they've been probably 40 times to my one

:-)