Wood arrows for Schulz longbow?

[Rossco7002]

Gents,

I'm looking to venture into the world of wood arrows and need some set up advice. They are for a string follow Schulz Granpa (all bamboo) drawing 68@27 (I pull it to about 26.25) which is cut 1/4 from centre (+ strike plate).

Looking for an arrow about 27 inches long and weighing 550 - 575.

What would be your recommendations for spine and point weight?

Thanks,
Ross

[Kelly]

60-64's or 65-69's with 160 grain points.

[Rossco7002]

Is that from your experience Kelly or an arrow chart. I'm kinda wary of those as they have steered me wrong in the past with carbons....

[Kelly]

Yes, that is from my experience and my arrow chart. Was in business(Arrows by Kelly) for 35+ years and used to make lots of customs arrows for John Schulz's customers back in the 1980's.

[swampthing]

You might not get a full 580g with cedar but you will be close enough. Look for shafts in the 420-440g range, full length of course.  60-64's for your blunts, 65-69's for your 160g broad heads. If they are too stiff you can always put a taper in them.

My glassed Schulz bows are a couple of pounds lighter than that, but my draw and arrows are the same as stated above. Those are the spines that I use out of my Schulz Legend. To get to that weight, I ordered arrows extra heavy for the spine from Rogue River, now Wapiti Archery. Once when getting lectured a bit by John's wife for shooting too stiff an arrow, John interrupted and took the phone. He explained that she thought that I was shooting an all bamboo bow and when he realized that it was me, he knew that I was shooting a very fast glassed backed bow. I got the impression that he thought that the all bamboo bow required a lighter spine when cut to minimum lengths than the glassed models. Leaving them with much extra length is just too much of an un-Schulz thing to do. I would not be at all surprised if you not find a 55-60 with a 160 broadhead to be a more accurate arrow from that bow at 27" bop and more in the mid 50s if you go with a lighter head. As far the weight, maybe give Wapiti a call to see what they have in a heavy shaft for the spine on hand.  I would still go with what flew the best over starting out with a targeted weight.

[swampthing]

The  "Non-Glass" bows are not cut, "as" close, to center compared to the glass bows.  Pavan makes a good point, though your 65# bow with a 27"arrow and a 160g head shot from fingers from a Dacron string, man I'm thinking 60-64# for b-heads.

[Kelly]

There are other shaft materials that will get you to your desired grain weight like Douglas Fir.

He asked for spine recommendations for a 27" arrow. Guess I should have been more clearer in how I arrived at those specific spines. Yesw, spines are measured at 26" yet the scale reads them for a 28" arrow. By making the arrow shorter as in this case it stiffens the shaft by approx 5# per inch. Also, his 68# @ 27" bow is decreased approx 2# by his 3/4" less of a draw making it around 66#. Furthermore he specified a grain weight range so that is why I said 160 grains to help in acheiving that desired grain weight. 160 grain points also weaken a shaft 5# spine so in effect nullifying the 5# gained with the shorter arrow.

So the effective spine with a 27" arrow and 160 grain points is the same as what it was originally measured. I.E. 60-64# shafts at 28" shortened to 27"increase in spine by approx 5# thus making them 65-69# but when using 160 grain points it decreases the spine back to 60-64# which is 2-6# under the bow weight.

Now with broadheads the arrows need to be longer in order for clearance of back of broadhead. This is where BOP measurement comes into play and I am assuming his desired 27" arrow which really is actually 28" long including the taper inside the broadhead. So in this case the 65-69# spine shaft with 160 grain points is really 60-64# spine at a 27" BOP broadhead arrow.

I own a Schulz all bamboo string follow longbow and a David Miller all bamboo string follow longbow(David was taught by John Schulz) and I can tell you that neither takes a back seat to a glass bamboo lb. In fact, the best flying arrows from either bow are 5# spined heavier than the marked bow weight. I find stiffer arrows to shoot more accurately than weaker spined ones!

[Nate Steen .]

Kelly...stiffer spined arrows have always flown better out of my longbows...

[swampthing]

I notice that you include the inch or so of taper, even though it is stiffened by the ferule you still include it? I would have guessed the finger release would have required the extra spine. Thanks guys.

[Rossco7002]

I spoke with Dave Miller about this, he was generous with his time as always. He figures for an arrow that's 26.5 - 27 inches I may want something as light as a 50-55 or 55-60.

I've been tinkering with arrows I already have on hand and a 2016 at 28.25 with 175gr head seems to fly pretty good. What would this translate to in a 27 inch wood arrow with 160gr point do you think?

Also, thanks for the input so far.

[Kelly]

A 2016 is 63# spine.

[lefty4]

Kelly has forgotten more about arrows and matching them to a bow and broadhead than most of us know, or even think we know.
I'd be listening to his guidance. It has ALWAYS worked for me in the past.

He got me started on wood shafts in 1989 when I took a brand new Custom Bighorn to his shop in Athens, WI. The "custom" arrows I was sold with the bow were not shooting worth a hoot. When I left Kelly's shop, I could no longer blame my arrows for my shooting. That was a bummer!
I trust his advice.

Doug