Carbon question

[Brad Arnett]

I've been doing some reading and searching the past couple days but still have some questions. I've always shot cedars and have never tried carbons in my bows. I'm shooting a WW Mentor that scales 57# at my draw of 27".  

I picked up a dozen GT 55/75 Traditionals and A couple are fletched at 30.5" and I have bare shafts also at 30.5". I'm not really sure which way to go  as far as components. I don't have anything on hand other than the glue on points and b'heads I've always ran on my cedars, which are all 125gr.

When it comes to tuning is there any significant difference with just running steel adapters w/glue on heads over say running the brass inserts to add weight. I have to order components so I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible. I am thinking that the most simple way would be to run steel adapters. I'd like to run about 250gr up front if that is possible. I also found that excel based dynamic spine calculator online but having no experience with it I don't know exactly how reliable it can be. Just going by that, it's showing a weak spine with that head combination even with the arrows cut down to 28"....so I'm not real sure. Thanks for any help and direction you guys can give me on this. Brad.

[Hookeye]

Should work, depending on how much centershot your bow has.

I ran GT55/75's at 30.5", with 50gr added up front, 125gr tip, from 55 and 57# @28" Blackwidows. Shot great.

But they're cut 3/16 past center IIRC, so with velcro rest they weren't too far pushed out of center.

250 up front might work, if your bow isn't cut to or past center. Ya just never know until you try (make one test arrow!).

Some people get by with setups others can't.

The more in line you are, the more spine you'll need.

[Brad Arnett]

Hi Hookeye, my bow is cut 3/16" past as well, I'm also running velcro for a rest and sideplate on mine so they aren't pushed very far out.

[Hookeye]

250 gr might be too much at 30.5" (weak).

Never tried any weights for the back to stiffen  any up.

Dunno until you make a test bullet  

[Brad Arnett]

I can as short as 28" to stiffen things up. I just have to order field points/inserts/adapters.....and was hoping to get some choices narrowed down a little to avoid confusion and to try and make things simpler.

[Brad Arnett]

Well, since I have some leeway as far as cutting them down I went ahead and ordered some 100gr brass inserts and I'll go from there. I'm sure I can find a length combined with a 100-150gr head that will get me where I need to be. Thanks for the help, and thanks also to the guys who PM'd me with help!!!

[Brad Arnett]

Well that was easy enough, I hadn't tried tuning carbons before but it was painless. I ended up with the 55/75's at 29". I fletched them up with FLo Yellow wraps and 3-Flo Yellow 5" shields, with 100gr brass inserts and 150gr heads the finished arrows come in at 555gr and fly like darts. It's kind of hard to give up the cedars but I think these carbons will be riding in the quiver tomorrow evening....well, maybe I'll leave just one of my cedars in there(grin). Thanks again for all the help!!!

[Smallwood]

[Airborne]

You will really like the carbons--I think they are more consistent than wood and tougher too.  Good luck with your new arrows!

[Bald Spot]

Try gluing some up with hot melt and give it a try.  I shoot 30" 35/55 GT's out of 50#-57# longbows and recurves all the time and get terrific flight.  Even with El Grande broadheads.  I've found Ed Ashbeys report that extreme FOC really overcomes weak spine as it causes the fletching to have much stronger steering control.  I use 4" feathers exclusively.  My 2c

BS