Help me decide on an arrow setup! In between spines.

[BuckeyeRifleman]

I'm new here, but I have been hunting with a trad bow for the past year. Just finally splurged on a Predator re curve bow 51@28. I've gotten two different spined arrows to tune with it, and I can't decide which one to go with.

Traditional only 400's 29.5" with 175gr up front. This makes for an approximately 470gr arrow and 18% FOC. It bare shaft tunes just very slightly weak, but just about perfect.

Second are the Traditional only 340's 29.5" with 175 gr up front, and 100 gr of screw in weight under the insert. Makes for a 590gr arrow and around 22% FOC. Bare shaft flight is anywhere from perfect to showing slightly stiff, depending on my release.

Which arrow would you choose?

Thanks!

[PaulDeadringer29]

I would choose the .400's, they should stiffen up ever so slightly with the fletching on the back. But if both bare shaft the way you describe, I bet you would be fine with either once fletched.

[Henry Hammer]

Personally I like a heavy arrow so I would go with the heavier setup. I am pretty sure after you fletch and attach a BH you will be just fine with either setup. My 2€......Henry

[WildmanSC]

Your bow will be quieter with the heavier arrow and the flight should be fine once you put the fletching on the arrows, IMHO.  

Bill

[KentuckyTJ]

Try a 500 and see what happens. My bows are all 50@28 and they like them weaker than you are trying for the most part as I have a 27" draw. If you are drawing 29" or more you are probably ok with the stiffness you have. Try upping your point weight some. Alot depends on how your riser is cut as well. Fool with windage on your the sideplate some as well.

[2bird]

The 400's, when you put fletching on it they will stiffen up a little bit, also you will have a ton of drop in trajectory with a 590 grain arrow, it might be easier to shoot the 470 grain arrow in that aspect.

[Scott E]

If you went to a 200 grain point in the 340s you'll be good to go. Even if you stick with them the way they are they should be fine. The FOC will really help make them fly well.

You could also shoot both sets for awhile and see which groups consistently better. And of course shooting both with broadheads should help you decide.

[rraming]

I have a Predator 51@28 I pull 28" and use GT5575 29 3/8" with 225 up front (100 grain insert and 125 head) - they weigh like 520 grains, I believe. I did not want to go with a light shaft than that - works great!

For you it would not matter what you choose - the bow will still spit out the 590 grain shaft really well. I have used some Douglas Fir in that weight and enjoyed shooting them.

[WESTBROOK]

I'd shoot the 590's. That Predator is a strong bow and a little extra weight wont slow it down much.

Yea..I like my arrows more heavy than lite.   :D

[Sam McMichael]

It sounds like both your arrows are performing about the same if your release is good. Therefore, I would tend to go with the heavier arrow if the trajectory is o.k. Can you set up both arrows with fletching and broad head to see which one flies best in full hunting form?

[southernwoody]

The heavier setup is what I would choose. I like to use an EFOC arrow.

[RLA]

Try a 500 & see what happens x2

[BuckeyeRifleman]

I did, it was WAY too weak. The predator isn't your average 50 lb bow. My 50lb grizzly and sammick longbow both like 2016 shafts (500) but the Predator is a different beast. Noticeably faster.

Shooting the bare shafts again tonight I think I am going with the 400s, they were consistently flying straighter than the 340s bare shaft, and I didn't have to add a ton of weight to do so. I may add another set of beaver fur silencers anyway and that might slow it down just a tad to make the 400s perfect. Should do just fine for Ohio whitetail this year. Might buy some 340s at a later date to experiment with EFOC if I go after something more dangerous.  

Thanks for the advice everyone!

[damascusdave]

As your last post implies you are the only one that is there seeing the results and therefore our opinions matter not one bit...between a friend and I we have and tune about 40 bows right now and the only conclusion we have come to, when it comes to spine, is that every bow likes what it likes...trying to make sense of things any other way is futile

DDave

[Big Ed]

Seems to like the 400 better , not as critical on release. Put a vinyl wrap and feathers on and you should be fine. Remember adding weight to the nock end stiffens things up .

[BuckeyeRifleman]

So I broke my 29.5" trad only 400 last night shooting it the garage. Arrow started to come off the shelf as I released and flew sideways into the corner of the garage. Doh!

I also have a 29" bare 400 shaft as well, it shoots about perfect, but I would rather stick with the same arrow length for all my set ups (29.5") as I feel like shooting different length arrows would mess with my shooting. Just ordered a set of 6 400's to make into arrows. I'll fletch half and leave the rest bare and see how they group together. If I have to I'll chop off the extra .5"

It's funny, I also have a Gold Tip bare shaft 400 spine at 29.5", but it consistently shoots far weaker than the traditional only shaft. Anyone else find this happen when going to a different brand? Doesn't make sense as the gold tip is even slightly heavier.

I swear tuning is the most frustrating part of this whole trad thing!

[bowhuntingrn]

As far as the issue of Trad Only vs. Gold Tip goes... My best guess from lots of reading on here is the difference in manufacturers and their tolerances. I've always heard that Easton (whom I believe makes the Trad Only) has about the tightest tolerances around. If they say it is a 400 spine, you can pretty well bank on it. Gold Tip on the other hand is said by those with spine testers to vary fairly substantially in spine from shaft to shaft. Sometimes even with the same shaft, that is, depending on the orientation of the shaft you can get multiple spine readings from it. All that being said, there's an awful lot of critters taken every year with both brands, so shoot what works best for you.

[rraming]

Originally posted by BuckeyeRifleman:
So I broke my 29.5" trad only 400 last night shooting it the garage. Arrow started to come off the shelf as I released and flew sideways into the corner of the garage. Doh!

I also have a 29" bare 400 shaft as well, it shoots about perfect, but I would rather stick with the same arrow length for all my set ups (29.5") as I feel like shooting different length arrows would mess with my shooting. Just ordered a set of 6 400's to make into arrows. I'll fletch half and leave the rest bare and see how they group together. If I have to I'll chop off the extra .5"

It's funny, I also have a Gold Tip bare shaft 400 spine at 29.5", but it consistently shoots far weaker than the traditional only shaft. Anyone else find this happen when going to a different brand? Doesn't make sense as the gold tip is even slightly heavier.

I swear tuning is the most frustrating part of this whole trad thing!

That sideways shot is from not taking deep enough of a hook on your string - take a deeper hook and that should avoid those - been there, done that!

[WildmanSC]

I should also add that I'm shooting the Maxima Red 350s at 29" with 200 gr up front and getting great flight out of my Morrison Cheyenne, 62", 45#@28" and with Max 1 carbon/foam limbs.  They fly like darts.

Bill