Arrow selection - Stu's calculator

[ArrowCraCra]

I setting up my Samick Journey (a 64" Sage) with 45# limbs and want to find an arrow to maximize the performance and accuracy of the bow with 150 grain tips and 29.5 arrow length. My draw length is 28.5. I have been using Stu's Calculator to preview bow/arrow combinations to equalize dynamic spine and to get FOC above or close to 20% but I a having a difficulty finding the right balance between spine, dynamic spine (bow and arrow match) speed (hoping for 185 fps or more), maximum FOC.

 I have been Bare Shaft Planing with Easton FMJ 400's and Axis 400's black (at 29.5 they don't calculate well). The Axis fly pretty well both bare and fletched. I have not fletched up the FMJ's yet but bare they are coming out of the bow straight to 30 yards. In aluminum I have tried to get a Easton GG (2016) 500 to work but no matter how short I cut the arrow it was always too weak to get any predictable arrow flight.

 I have also played with the CE Terminator 4560 XP's with poor results starting with a full length shaft and cutting down a little at a time.

 What would you suggest? I am open to use any make or brand of arrow to get the best performance out of this bow.

What I would like to have is an arrow/broad head combo that would get close to 450 gr with matching dynamic spine for both bow and arrow. I am open to using weighted inserts or whatever, lol.

 Anyone with a similar set up?

I checked the 3Rivers and the down loaded Stu's calculators on several arrow combos and they are off by 10 with the same inputs??? I am so confused!  

[LittleBen]

if you have a shaft flying well bare at 30 yards, I would sitck with that.

[gonefishing600]

Originally posted by LittleBen:
if you have a shaft flying well bare at 30 yards, I would sitck with that.

I Concur!

You are definitly in the ball park.

[Pivo]

Well I have just spent a large portion of my evening on Stu's calculator!! Great program

[ArrowCraCra]

LB and GF600: it was very tempting to stick with the FMJ's but I was tinkering around looking for the "top of the curve" arrow following these guidelines:  http://www.acsbows.com/bowtuning.html  with the help of  http://www.heilakka.com/stumiller/  and  http://www.3riversarchery.com/spinecalculator.asp.   Results were varied withe the 3R's calculator coming in 10 lbs lower.

I kept working up the XP Terminator 45/60's cut a little shoot, adjust, cut a little repeat.  At 30" things started to fly well and so I fletched a few up and they are tracking well also.  

The FMJ's 400's also do well at 30 and previously my old 29.5"ers were the ones that got me in the ball park.  I am sure I could use the FMJ's with great results but I was playing with the #'s and different arrows to see what the calculators could come up with and how efficient my bow can shoot (and me).  Also I was looking at all the factors including bow/arrow performance and as you know with the FMJ's $$, cost!

So what I came up with was the Carbon Express Terminator XP's 45/60's (spine .412, 9.9 gpi) at 30.25" with 14.46 % FOC, total weight 488 grains with 10.38 gpp (apprx).  They track well bare shaft to 30 yards and fletched they flew well from 10 to 50 yards.  Point on is in the upper 20's (27 yards +/-, more tinkering needed).  At 50 they make a pretty big arc and it looks like mortar rounds coming in!  From similar arrow work ups the speed in around 175 fps.  This combo is close to my original goals (180 fps, 450+ weight, high FOC (20% goal), and low cost (least important).  

I will continue with testing other arrow combos to see what else is out there but for now I have a pretty sweet arrow/bow match.  

Thanks for all the input and suggestions.  If you tinker with your gear you know the satisfaction of watching an unfletched arrow hit its mark again and again and knowing that at crunch time in the rain your arrow will track straight to its mark with or w/o the stabilization of the fletch!

Please submit any other combos for similar weight set ups that work for you.  

I hope this helps others who are trying to maximize accuracy and other factors for their trad set ups.

[ArrowCraCra]

Update 6-23-13

 I wasn't happy with the weight and speed of my arrow with the 45/60's even though they would work great for most hunting application and the flew beautifully straight. So I went back to the drawing board and success! I finally got what I originally was after. I worked up some Easton Bloodlines (7.7 gpi) in .400 spine this weekend and found a formula that is spot on for this set up:

 50 gr insert
 150 gr tip
 3 - 5" shield cut feathers (RH helical)
 Removed the factory installed wrap (- 11 grains off of the back of the shaft)


 I started with 3 full length shafts and 3 trimmed down to 30" to start bare shaft planing. They booth were knock high on target, so I adjusted the tied in knock down and the full length arrows started to straighten out but the 30" arrows did not. A little more adjustment to my knock and the full length arrows were coming out straight. No improvement to the 30" shafts. I tried again to shorten (stiffen) the 30" shafts to 29.5" to see if that would help but it was the wrong direction. So I Fletched up 3 of the full length shafts and watched them fly straight to the mark side by side with my bare shafts.

 What I finished with (approximately):

 460 grain missile
 9.9 GPP
 FOC 20%
 Speed 180 fps
 Energy 32.9
 Bow: Samick Journey 45 lb limbs @ 28
 My draw is 28.5 to 28.75 (+/-) I am a work in process!
 B50 string
 Velcro on shelf and side plate

 For those of us who like to be confident that our gear is in sync, it is possible to do, following the previous guidelines (http://www.acsbows.com/bareshaftplaning.html) and putting in the time.

 Some would ask "why bother" some reply "why would you not"?

 Please submit any other combos for similar weight set ups that work for you.

 I hope this helps others who are trying to maximize accuracy and other factors for their trad set ups.