Arrow weight for Africa

[iawoody2]

I am going to Africa late May for plains game. Nothing problably bigger than wildebes. I shoot a 50lb recurve and 28in draw. My current arrows are Beaman Classics 29in with 125 points and weigh 405 grains. What is the best setup to get around 500 grains, and get good flight??? I don't know much about weight tubes and heavy inserts. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Bob

[lpcjon2]

Look at some of these threads in the dark continent forum from the main page.
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum;f=27

I shoot 50# at my draw length(29.5"). I use 30.5" Gold Tip 55/75 (.400 spine) arrows with 100gr brass inserts and a 150gr broadhead/fieldpoint (I shoot GK SilverFlame broadheads). This results in a 516gr total weight arrow which is just over 10gpp. I used this set-up on my 2009 Africa trip and took 2 warthogs, 1 impala, a Kudu (almost 700#), and a guinnea fowl. I also shot a wildebeest and an nyala that I lost but both were due to terible high shots and not lack of umpff in my set-up. Both animals were hit way high and survived the shot; this was confirmed by my PH. I plan on using this same set-up this summer on my return trip to SA.

Good luck on your safari. It is a total blast!

Bisch

[jonsimoneau]

Hey bud.  I've hunted over there three times. I'm broke now...but man it was worth it!  You are in for the treat of your life!
    The heaviest bow I ever used was a 55lb. recurve.  I had no problem with penetration on any of the animals.  On my first two trips...I used arrows in the 650 grain range with a shaving sharp eclipse broadhead.  Worked great...even on a huge bull eland that only went 40 yards after the shot.  On the last trip...I used a 53lb. Habu recurve and I believe my arrows were only about 560 grains.  On this trip, I was going after animals that I had never taken...mostly smaller stuff.  I did however kill a gemsbok on the last trip and got excellent penetration.  Overall...I would try to use something at least in the 600 grain area. These setups worked for me on 2 kudu bulls, one kudu cow..a red heartebeast, 5 warthogs, an Eland, a gemsbok, an impala, a bushbuck, and a mountain reedbuck.  Good luck!

[jonsimoneau]

Make sure you study shot placement on African Animals.  A book called "The perfect shot" is pretty good.  Also, Barry Wensel wrote an article years ago about African Animal shot placement years ago.  "The Double Helix" by Don Thomas is an excellent read on modern day plains game hunting in Africa.  You MUST shoot them straight up the leg..with the exception of Kudu.  I know if feels like you are going to hit the shoulder bone, but if you shoot them behind the shoulder on a broadside shot like you would a whitetail...it will be a gutshot.  Believe me...it was hard to aim at the meaty portion of the front leg on an animal the size of an Eland with only a 55lb. recurve..but the results spoke for themselves.  Wildebeast and Gemsbok are extremely tough animals.  If you shoot them a few inches behind the shoulder...they will go miles.  Straight up the leg!
  Also...do not underestimate the ability of the smaller animals to "jump the string"  Trust me...they will make a Texas whitetail seem cumbersome!  This includes warthogs.  Warthogs are alot different than our wild pigs. I have all five of the warthogs I killed on film and every single one of them reacted to the sound of the bow going off BEFORE the arrow got to them.  The best way to avoid string jumping is to wait until the animal is actually drinking (if you are hunting over a waterhole) before you shoot.  If you are hunting away from waterholes...the animals will typically be more relaxed. I'm envious of you!  Have a blast!

[tradtusker]

If you are going to be hunting blinds or tree stands your shots are going to be close 20yards and less so a flat shooting arrow is not going to help you.
I would strongly suggest you get your arrows up around 550 to 600grs.
you could add 100grs up front by using brass inserts and/or increase the weight of your broadheads.
i would also suggest adding the weight to the front of your arrows rather than a weight tube, but if you need the extra weight then add the weight tubes also.
 
you may have to go to a stiffer spine arrow to get them to tune, i know it may mean buying more arrows, but if your going to go all the way out to Africa, its worth getting it right.

Hit that Wildebeest good, i see more wildebeest get wounded every year then any other animal, they are tough!

P>S. extra tip if you know your going to be hunting out of a blind, go get a 4x8' piece of OSb and cut out a 8"x 20" shooting hole practice shooting through it to get your depth perception used to it before you go.

good luck

[iawoody2]

Thanks for all the tips. I will work on getting to that 550+ mark. Thanks Andy for the advise on the shooting board.
Bob

[Friend]

1st I have no experience in hunting African big game. I can only offer a couple of possible set-ups that work well for me.

An easy way to achieve what you may want is to use Victory HV shafts.

My 51 @ 28 (28" is my actual) Habu likes:

HV 350 at 28.5" w/100 gn inserts and a 300 gn head for a total wt of 608 gns and 32.4% Ultra-EFOC

and

HV 350 at 29.5" w/50 gn insert and a 300 gn head for a total wt of 565 gns and 30% Ultra-EFOC.

Note: The 350 HV's weigh 6.7 gpi

[calgarychef]

My PH was very specific about wildebeast saying "they are tough and can go further on one lung than on two."  Sadly they were too smart for me but next time I've got a score to settle.

have fun on your trip

[Boesman]

I shoot a 50lb recurve and my drawlength is 28" give or take a few millimetres. I shoot .300 spine Easton Carbons - full length - tipped with 200gr Muzzy's. It gives me an arrow of around 550gr. This arrow does 166fps average from my bow.
Its good for anything in Africa except the thick-skinned stuff and if you are taking aim at warthogs and Impala, make sure they are calm and peacefull when you let that arrow fly. If they seem just a little nervous at the waterhole, you'll miss them by a country mile.