Carbons- best way to add tip weight

[TIM B]

Ok- carbons are new to me.....I have a million questions but will try to take it slow and one at a time.

What's the best way to add weight up front?  I'm shooting traditional only carbon 400 right now and think they are a tad stiff for my 55# grizzly.  

So I've seen the tube things and then their are some screw in things too.....what has worked for you the best?

[Arctic Hunter]

I have used screw on weights, brass inserts, and tried weight tubes as well. Brass inserts are the easiest. If they are too stiff, I'd increase the tip weight to put it as far out on the shaft as possible. My .02.

[John146]

Tim,
Not sure if the arrows you have are Gold Tips or not which is what I have experience with but here are some suggestions.

First you could get a heavier broad head.

Secondly, you could add weight by getting brass or steel inserts instead of aluminum. They range from 50 grain to 100+ grain. This way you could keep your same broad head.

Thirdly, you could add weights to the back of your insert to get your spine where you need it. Gold Tip has weights that screw into the back of the broad head insert and you can tweak this weight in very small increments.

The tubes add weight throughout the arrow not just the front so that would not work to get your spine where you want it.

[Bladepeek]

You can get some very heavy heads - both field points and broadheads. Field points are relatively cheap, so you can tune your arrows with them before laying out a lot of money for broadheads until you know what you will need.

[AZ_Longbow]

I'd get heavier heads. i used the tubes, hated them, the screw in inserts are nice but can act as a internal footer. so be warry. heavy heads though, easy to change and easy to get.
right now i shoot gold tip velocity 300s. with standard inserts 300gr points and 1.5 inch aluminum footers they weigh right in at 635 grains.
you can get a standard and a heavy point test kit from 3 rivers. i suggest them both.
took some time but i was able to get my arrows flying from 20 yards the same with bare shaft, field points, broadheads, and bareshaft broadhead. Yes i know you are not suppose to shoot broadheads bare shaft. i had a 900 yard open field so i was sure it was not going to do a 180 and come back at me.

[Michael Arnette]

I'd stay away from weight tubes. I have a collection of field points that I use for bare shaft tuning and once I settle there I find the broadhead I want to shoot based on that. The best methods I have found are the brass inserts to go inside the shaft and aluminum or steel adapters for the broadheads of your choice.
I use plastic wrap to evaluate my weight with bare shafting when I am trading out the brass inserts.

[Jerry Jeffer]

Brass inserts and heavy points. I have 350gr up front on my arrows.

[Charlie3]

The easiest way to add weight also happens to be the best way, and that is by increasing your broadhead weight by using a steel screw-in adapter. If you need still more weight try a heavier broadhead too. The steel adapter will significantly improve your arrow integrity.

By the way- for me, I always ended up adding more weight on my carbons than I thought I would. I'd shoot a 150 grain point and be slightly nock right and think "oh, 25 more grains will be perfect". Usually would be more like 100 when I thought it'd be 25.

[Steve Kendrot]

What Charlie said. It takes a lot of weight to effect a spine change on carbons from my experience. However, a small change in length will have a big effect on spine. Go big with weight, but cut small.

[TIM B]

Thank you guys- very helpful info.....

[TIM B]

Ok another famous stupid question....
My traditional only arrows from 3R...I had them put inserts in.. How do I take them out to put in the heavy inserts?  I assume they are glued?

[John146]

Heat up some water in a pot and put the front of the arrow under water for a few seconds until you can pull out the inserts. If it doesn't come out then put it back in and keep trying till it does. Don't put a flame on the carbon shaft.

[TIM B]

Thanks again

Another good way to get the inserts out if they are not installed with hot melt, is to get a drill bit that will just fit in the shaft. Insert the drill bit from the nock end, and sling the arrow downward, causing the drill bit to ram into the back of the insert. Some come out on first try, and some take several tries.

Bisch

[Michael Arnette]

I use field point that is not screwed in all the way and heat the field point only (very important!) Slowly with a torch until the metal conducts enough heat to the insert to pull it out. Be careful and take it slow you don't want to over heat those carbons!

[TIM B]

Good tips boys!!  Thank y'all a lot