New to carbons, help with spine selection

[Steve-ALA]

Hello all,

I’m a longtime member but rarely post.  Been shooting woodies exclusively for years.  I just got a new ACS longbow and want to shoot carbons from it.  I pull 44# @ my 27” draw.  The first shot with the bow the other day had me shooting 50-52# tapered cedars at 28.5” long with a 160gr head.  They flew quite well.  I have 29” XX75 legacies I’m gonna try 200 for points from.  But I want want to try CE Heritage arrows with 200 or 250 grain heads because I want stay around the 10 gpi mark.  I’m looking to try 90s and 150s in a 29” or 30” arrow.  Any suggestions?  Thanks

[limbshaker]

I shoot 29" long, 200gr up front, .500 spine Gold Tips from an RER XR at 43# @28" with the shelf built out to center.

The same arrows tune well from a Kanati longbow at 45#@28" with a cut to center shelf.

The CE Heritage 150 is a .500 spine. I would think they would work for your setup as well, unless the shelf is cut way past center.

[Roadkill]

They spine by deflection, not by pounds as you know-so it is pretty easy to land a shaft near your requirements.  The hard parts for new carbon users is the rate of recovery of the shaft, smaller diameters, and the cutting the ends squarely when tuning.  I shoot about48-54 pound longbow bows and have GTs mixed in my quiver.  They need a strand or three of weed eater line in them to  get 10 grains per pound of bow weight with a 125 grain point+insert.  That’s just me and how i shoot
When tuning, rather than pulling the nock and trimming the shaft from that end, we put a piece of plastic wrap on the insert. It holds until you PULL the insert out to trim the shaft

[Crash]

You wrote GPI, which is grains per inch, but from reading your post, you may have meant GPP, which is grains per pound.  If it's the latter, the 150 front loaded with 200 grains is going to weigh in around 550 grains total.  Might be more weight than you are wanting to shoot.  Those are the arrows that I use in bows that are low 40's at 28.

If you are wanting less arrow weight, I would try the 90's with a standard insert and 125 to 150 grain points.

[Steve-ALA]

Thanks all for the replies so far.  I reckon I didnt state my info correctly.  I do want an arrow that is at the 10 GPI mark for mass arrow shaft weight.  I was just stating my desire to shoot a 200 - 250 grain head, as I know how that affects spine.  I’m looking for a starting point and don’t wanna spend lots buying too many different spines.  Arrows ain’t cheap as we all know.  And I respect all the knowledge on this forum.

[CoilSpring]

I recommend the CE-150s (0.500 spine) at 30".  I tried to tune an ACS riser (they are cut past center) with the 90's (0.600 spine) and they were getting squirrelly (weak), even with lighter points. If the 150s are too weak, with your 200-250 grain heads, try some lighter heads to confirm, build out your side plate, or cut down the shafts a little at a time toward 29" to stiffen them up. You only can tune for your set up; we all shoot/release, etc. differently. Just my experience.

Maybe try a test kit of 90's and 150's first? or 1/2 dozen of each spine. They are tough arrows, and will outlast aluminum 10-1 in my experience.

[limbshaker]

One other thing to consider, Is the nocks break more easily on the 90s and are a special size. I used to shoot them out of a low poundage longbow and the nocks would snap off where they go into the shaft on a semi hard hit. The shafts are a bit smaller ID than the "standard" ID of the 150s.

I still think you are on the right track with a 150. Especially with a 200gr and up head    

[M60gunner]

Carbons are not cut and dry. From what I know about your bow you could “spine up” depending on weight you want arrows to weight. I would contact one of the retailers here and see if you can get a test kit.
 I can speak from experience about the CE 90’s. I have a 42# ILF rig with carbon/foam limbs that have a good hook to them. I normally cut my arrows to 29”. But that showed weak. I cut them to 28.75 which helped but it took some nocks collars and wraps to get a little more spine. You have a fast bow there, don’t be afraid to go a little past 10GPI