arrow opinions

[Muss03]

Hello all, this is my first post on here so please bear with me. After doing a search I have found that opinions vary a great deal on the subject of arrows. I made the switch last April so I am relatively new to trad archery. I started with a 45# Bear Grizzly but I am now shooting a 58# BW recurve with a 28" draw. I made the switch to trad, in part, for the simplicity of it and now I find myself obsessed with it. I have quite literally shot nearly every day, rain or shine,  sense last April. The thing is, as some guys love to tinker endlessly with their gear, I dont. I like to find what works and stick with it. I have been shooting Aluminum 2117s with a 125 gr head for some time now and have found they fly really, really, well. It took alot of tinkering to figure that out. They are also very affordable. They do however bend when you miss alot. I also have the issue of penetration if I choose to hunt with this setup, next season. Some seem to think penetration would not be a problem with that combination and others strongly disagree. (to say the least) I have considered trying carbon arrows but am still undecided. Do any of you use a similar setup and if so, how does it work out for you? Thanks for the help.

[sticksnstones]

Welcome to the gang! I shoot a very similar setup and I rarely bend a shaft. I have a nice soft 4' x 4' target behind the targets I shoot and the 2117s last a long time for me.

xx17 is a pretty thick walled shaft, I would think it should hold up pretty good for you unless they are hitting hard lumber or rocks. What is your target, and when you miss, what are the arrows hitting?

As for stabilizing, this was a revelation I had a while back ago myself. Since I'm more likely to shoot under 20 yards than over, I changed to 4 fletch 5.5" parabolic feathers with a pretty good helical. I also moved my nock point up just a touch on one of my strings to prevent the kick. Most helpful thing I had during this tuning was a guy standing behind me telling me what he saw the arrow doing. It took some time but now I have that thing coming off my bow pretty darn flat.

I hope some of this is helpful for you, and that someone else comes along with something even better so I can learn from it too.
Thom

[Orion]

Can't believe someone would question the penetration potential of your set up.  Except for elephant, rhino and hippo, it will go through just about anything else alive.

[sticksnstones]

I know Jerry, a 58# recurve with a 550 grain 2117 can make meat!

I hit a few close range 3D targets last year with a 3 fletch arrow and a slightly low nock point. A few times the arrow was far from stabilized and my penetration at 6-11 yards was hit and miss. Since I tuned my arrows for closer range I have no problems. Heck Friday night I thought I might knock over the 3D antelope buck at 10 yards I hit it so hard!

Remember that thread a while back where the professional "guide" suggested a trad bow couldn't kill a feral pig? There are some terribly misinformed people out there!

Personally I'm more interested in the portion of the post about bending shafts, that hasn't been my experience with 2117s in similar poundage.
Thom

[Bowwild]

The 2117 has been a very popular bowhunting shaft for a long time.  Other than the 2016 (for lighter weights or longer draws) the 2117 is probably the most popular aluminum shaft.

I would have no concerns with the 2117.  For the moment I prefer carbon shafts because I find them more durable -- Easton Beman MFX Classics to be exact.  

I shot some 2016's (2117's would be too stiff for my set-up at 26")this weekend as I was selling about 200 shafts. I found I liked them pretty good -- as I almost sold my very last one!

Not only is the grass tend to be greener on the other side, but also when it is almost gone?

[Bishop]

Once upon a time I shot 58# Widow and 2117s were the shaft of choice. A good sharp broadhead and you won't have penetration issues.

[Sam McMichael]

I had a 58# Bamboo Longhunter that shot 2117's like a laser. Since you have found an arrow that shoots well off your particular bow, then you have found the simple solution to arrow selection, no matter what other options may be out there. It does not matter much beyond that. 2117's will put meat on the table, plain and simple. Consequently, your problem is essentially solved.

However, you will still, no doubt, want to dabble with other arrows as all archers are apt to do. That is fine - just remember that you don't need to get up tight trying to get the absolute most perfect performance in the universe.  If you find something that outperforms your 2117's, fine, make the changeover. The point is the dabbling should be fun experimentation, not a vision quest. After all, you have found an excellent set up already.

The solution to bent arrows comes with experience. As you get better you will miss less frequently, and will destroy fewer arrows.  When I got my first longbow from Dan Quillian, he advised me never to get too attached to my arrows, because they will not be around for very long. He was right.

[Crash]

I wouldn't worry about penetration unless you are hunting tanks.  If that combo is flying straight and true, expect two holes in everything you hunt in Ohio.

[Muss03]

Thanks for the advise fellas. I think I will be sticking with the 2117s for a little while after all.

[rolltidehunter]

I have said this several times and it will take u killing a deer with that arrow to prove to your self it is more than enough to kill a deer! I started my trad journey a little over 4 years ago. And I had to prove to my self that my arrow could kill something. my deer hunting arrows are anywhere from 475 grains to 575 grains depending  on what bow I'm shooting. I have gotten pass throughs with all these arrows. If you shoot them in the right place it will bring them down.this past sep I went elk hunting I shot a big 6x6 bull with a 53 lb bow and 575 grain arrow! Feel confident in your arrow and get confidence in your shooting and you can do it.

[JLeMieux]

I got my first trad deer this past season and was using a setup very similar to yours. My Martin draws about 56# at 29". I shot a 120# doe quartering away at 24 yds. The arrow went through both lungs and lodged in the offside shoulder. When I recovered her the arrow was still lodged in the deer to the point I had to put a foot on her and pull hard with both hands until it came free. This was with a Gamegetter 400, which is a 2117 if I'm not mistaken, and a 125 gr Muzzy Phantom with bleeder blades left in.

[Muss03]

Rolltide, you are probably right. I will attempt a turkey this spring but I didn't hunt with it this last season, as I did not feel confident in my shooting. My shooting has gotten much better sense and I feel ready to go this year. @Jlemieux, thats awesome! I thought about trying the Muzzy Phantom myself as I have read alot of good things about them. My bow seems to prefer the 2117 with 5" shield cut helical feathers. I have tried other fletching combinations and these seem to fly just beautifully. Again, thanks for the help.

[Bjorn]

Your friends are nuts. A well tuned 2117 outta' that 58# BW will have no problems with penetration if placed half way decently.

[Night Wing]

Since the bow can handle a 2117, if you want to pick up a more arrow speed and have a moderately heavy arrow, the bow should be able to hand a 2215.

The 2117 weighs 12.0 GPI (grains per inch) and the 2215 weighs 10.7 GPI (grains per inch).

Just something to think about.