Arrow weight for whitetail

[BHTGdogs]

I hunt with a 55# bear super mag. Is there any advantage to using a 700gr. finished arrow? If not what is an arrow weight I should try for?

[vermonster13]

Whatever flies best from your set-up is what you should use.

[Tim Fishell]

If your strictly hunting whitetails an arrow that heavy is not needed.  For me I shoot for 10 grains of arrow weight per pound of bow.  So I would shoot for an arrow weighing around 500-550 grains for your setup.

[Mechslasher]

i killed a 155# boar last june using a 50# super mag.  i hit him under the jaw and got 22" of penetration using a 700gr. cane arrow.  a lighter arrow would not have given me this much penetration.  i don't hunt with anything less than 600gr.  why do i like a heavy arrow, it's hard to stop a train once it starts moving.

[Richie Nell]

Exactelioso...Mechslasher

It IS really that simple.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

There isn't a deer in Illinois that requires a 700-grain arrow to kill.    

Personally, with a 55# recurve, I'd opt for an arrow around 500 grains. But if you can shoot well with a 700-grain arrow out of a 55# recurve, then that's probably what you should use.

[Scott J. Williams]

I have to agree with the the statement of the 500-550 grain arrow.  What most of us are seeking is a balance between good penatration and speed.

I am not speaking of "compound" speed, but a reasonable speed that will allow you to put that arrow in the right spot at reasonable hunting distances.  

I would consider the 700 grain arrow if I were shooting 70 pounds again.  While I shoot a little heavier, a good rule of thumb is ten grains per pound of draw weight.  So at fifty pounds, you should be in the 500 grain area, fifty grains more will be fine if it makes you feel better.  

I am sure there are some who will take issue with these statements, but they have been around longer than I have, and used by some great bowhunters of whom I am not worthy to carry their quivers.

[Pat B.]

I think my advice would be to simply,
"Avoid Extremes"........

[Bowmania]

Trains have tracks to run on.

Bowmania

[longbawl]

I shot 2 whitetail one with a tiger shark 2 blade. 450gr arrow only the head went through. Shot one with a 600gr arrow 4 blade land shark the hole arrow went through an went 10 more feet an stuck in a maple tree.I am shooting 50@28 thats about 12gr per pound. Your around 12.7. 1st deer was at 12yds i was in a tree. 2nd was 15yds on the ground.Both double lunged.

[Chris Surtees]

There is nothing wrong with shooting a 700gr arrow out of your bow. There is also nothing wrong with shooting a 500gr. As long as the arrow is tuned to your bow and you have confidence in it.

Like Dave said shoot what works best out of your bow. Have fun and do some experimenting.

Just remember no matter how light or heavy your arrow nothing can replace good shot placement and a razor sharp broadhead.

[Molson]

Originally posted by Jason R. Wesbrock:
There isn't a deer in Illinois that requires a 700-grain arrow to kill.      
 

Maybe not, but I'll bet there is a carp!  :D

[huntnut]

As said no a 700gr arrows is not need for deer. That said I'm useing a 880+gr finished arrow this year. No I'm not after that much weight, but I was after a very tough wood arrow and that is a hickory shaft which are very heavy. I figuer that the weight is just a bonus of a strong shaft. I like the arrow I picked, out to 20 yards a can keep my bare shaft, field point and broadhead all grouped up, so that there is the main thing. Yes I can probable do that with a POC or carbon around 500gr, but I don't want to.

Keep them heads sharp!

[Apex Predator]

My main bow lately is 48@27 and I shoot a 700 grain carbon arrow.  I like a dead quiet bow, and that weight arrow is quieter and penetrates much better than any 480 grain arrow would.  I'll probably never shoot at game past 20 yards.  My last three big game kills were 12, 7, and 10 yards!  I can live with the 7" trajectory arch out to 20 yards!

[Rico]

I tend to agree with Scott there is a balance between speed and weight for trad bows its been determined at least that is what I have read that a 10 gpp gives you the optimum balance between speed and weight.
   Having said that you could probably kill a deer anywhere from 250 grain on up with a 50# provided you're not concerned with damage to your bow.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Originally posted by Molson:
 

Originally posted by Jason R. Wesbrock:
There isn't a deer in Illinois that requires a 700-grain arrow to kill.        
 

Maybe not, but I'll bet there is a carp!   :D  [/b]

I run around 1,500 grains for carp. Dang ribs are tough on those critters.    

[Hattrick]

If you hit them right, 35 lb. bow, 350 grain arrow will shoot straight through them and stick in the ground, it's the not so good hits when you need the extra smack. This past year, 54 pound horn takedown 475 grain arrow, which i think is light, first 3 deer i shot were pass throughs, but the fourth one i crowded the shoulder to much. i just wondered if a 700 grain arrow would have done the job. That will haunt me for a long time cuz' that was a damn nice buck. No deer has ever not died because of 2 much penatrationo but a lot of deer didnt die because it wasnt enough.

[Scott J. Williams]

Thank Rico,

     I thinks some people take a suggestion as an absolute.  There are very few absolutes in shooting a bow.  If a person perfers super heavy arrows, I would opt for a too heavy arrow over an arrow being underweight.

     However, as I just stated on the Widow Wall, there are other factors that will determine how much penatration you will get on game, and arrow weight is not the only one.  

      Longbrawl stated that he prefers a super heavy arrows, and presented support for his choice based on deer he shot.

       My fiancee' shot through a hog, generally known to be a little more dense than a whitetail with 45 pound bow shooting 450 grain arrow.  Now if I were to accept that, I might be incline to support light arrows.  However I donot support light weight arrows, I just think that a balance between reasonable weight(proven over the years by great bowhunters)and reasonable speed will be best for most.

     Having said that, if I were to limit all of my hunting to ranges of twenty yards or less, then I might be likely to adopt a much  heavier arrow.