Weight Tubes...Homemade, purchase, or not at all?

[Altiman94]

Hi-Currently shooting beaman ICS 400 arrows.  With 100 gr heads I'm guessing I'm around 400 grains.  I'd like to be around 550 with my set up.  To achieve, I was thinking of weight tubes since my arrows are already done up.  

Will this affect my arrow flight?
Worth looking into?

Anyone make their own?  If so, what do you use?

[Ragnarok Forge]

I would add the weight up front.  Go to a heavier head and shorten the arrows to get the spine right.

[durp]

if the above doesn't work u can always add some weed eater line...cheep and it works well

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I prefer not at all. I really don't see the point in them unless you are shooting such a heavy centre-cut recurve that requires extra arrow weight that cannot be attained by adding weight to the front because it'd make the dynamic spine to weak. I used them in that instance, and they were a real hassle, constantly blowing super-glued nocks out despite a snug fit and crimping. For your typical draw weight recurve, I believe you can get a better, stronger, higher FOC arrow that won't fall apart, simply with brass weights and / or steel adaptors up-front.

[PEARL DRUMS]

I shoot a 32" CE Heritage 250 w/ 145 grs upfront and a 3 gr per inch tube inside. That puts me around 623-625 total. My arrows fly great with or wothout the tubes, but I will tell you that those tubes quiet my bow down considerably and when they hit the target from the same distance as unweighted arrows they have twice the "whack" going on. I will use tubes from here out. Plus I have to say my trajectory seems to be flatter with heavy arrows, seems I read a report about that somewhere? For a few bucks the least you can do is try out the tubes. I stuff a pencil eraser in the shaft to hold the tube in place, no issues yet.

[Steve O]

I have fixed enough tuning/arrow flight problems for guys by removing the weight tubes to know I will never put them in my arrows.  If you want heavier arrows, increase your spine and add it up front IMO.

[Bob Morrison]

Tubes or weed eater are shock absorbers. Weight up front.

[wasapt]

Tubes will cause you to pop off your nocks upon impact. Weedeater line will rattle and is noisy. More weight up front will cause you to bE weaker in your shaft spine and you will need to retune your arrows and maybe change shafts....400 gr is a really light hunting arrow so I would try a few things.... Can you increase broad head weight at all and still be tuned? Use a thin nylon rope/cord inside your shaft. You can probably gain 100 gr With a long piece of it. It won't affect your spine and it won't pop off your nocks. 500gr is plenty of arrow Weight to hunt most game with. Good luck!

[ScottinPA]

I've used tubes for years without a problem.  Yes, you can lose nocks if you're stumpin' and hit a hard one.  Heavier spined shafts with more weight up front hasn't worked for me.  Maybe I haven't found  the right combo yet.

[Auzoutdoor]

I prefer the weight added up front too but if out of options I have used the foam like tubig used for flyscreens here in Australia and it adds 90 grains and will make a carbon arrow quieter in the back quiver but also soften spine a little.
Cheers KIM

[STEVE R.]

I wish the carbon arrow people would listen up. MAKE HEAVIER ARROWS.Then we won't have all of this mess.

[NJWoodsman]

I tried nylon paracord, it works but rattles. Better solution is I weigh out 100 grains of llama fiber (my neighbor has a herd) and pack it in. It's quiet, and compresses itself into the front of the arrow.

[KentuckyTJ]

Yep, not for me. Add to the front with stiffer arrow.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Been using weight tubes for a couple years now.  If you don't have enough spine to add weight up front, they are a very good solution.  Either glue your nocks in or carry a few spares.  I glue mine in and have never, ever lost one from weight tube bounce.

[3212bend]

I too believe the weight tubes have thier drawbacks,(losing nocks,noise).Hope the carbon arrow people do come out with something we Traditional Archers dont have to put who knows what in our arrows just to get them to fly right.But the soft nylon cord souds like something new to try!

[PEARL DRUMS]

I mentioned it already, but a pencil eraser stuffed in behind the tube will keep it from moving and throwing nocks, its works great. My nocks dont move and my arrows are not loud or rattling at all. They are more quiet with a tube in them than without. To each there own, but adding a bizillion grains to the front just doesnt sound right to me. Just my own findings.