Bow weight

[GlennKY]

I am getting older and have stepped down in bow weight to the mid 40’s.  Yes I know that a sharp broad head covers a multitude of sins, but should I be concerned with the effective power of a 45lb bow with proper shot placement and proper broad head, FOC and arrow weight.

Also would a two blade broad-head, like a Zwicky penetrate better at lower poundage

[Silent footed]

I wouldn't be concerned. An Eskimo would penetrate better than a delta or a no mercy, in my opinion though, because it's narrower. You really want to get two holes, or you could be stuck with a very difficult tracking job.

With a 49 pound bow @25 inch draw, I shot two deer at 24, and 27 yards. Both were single hole wounds. There was almost no blood because it all collected inside the body cavity. I did find both deer though where they crashed after mainly following hoof prints, scuffs on ground, and the occasional hair and TINY specks of blood.  Very difficult tracking jobs, but the deer were plenty dead, both had broadhead lodged with tip against opposite rib cage just shy of poking through.

[Jim Casto Jr]

Like you, as I've gotten older I've had to drop in bow weight. 73# in the young days and now, down to lower 40's# for deer-sized critters.  All the while I also went to narrower profile broadheads.  My current favorite is a Grizzly with a 9 to 10 gpp arrow.  It shoots thru everything without issue.  I've never been one to pay any attention to FOC.

[GlennKY]

I have used Arrow Dynamic Carbon arrows for several years... I shoot Lites mostly but  hunt with Hammerhead Lites so FOC is really not much of a concern for me either.  Broadheads... I have used Eskimos a long time and understand the blood trail issue... but was wondering about Woodsman... Long with three cutting edges?

[Silent footed]

Just so there is no confusion, I recommended Eskimos to enhance penetration because they are narrower. They aren't actually the ones I had trouble blood trailing with.

I have only killed one deer with a 3 edge broadhead (a snuffer), and the shot was at 6 yards, complete pass through. So I don't know what penetration would be like past 20 yds; but my school of thought is that penetration is less with 3 edges. However, it would be better to talk to someone with more experience on 3 edge broadheads and a light bow. I'm not that guy.

I do know that even if it were a one hole wound, that one hole will bleed better with a 3 edge than with a 2 edge. Can't argue with that!

[the rifleman]

This year i moved up in bow weight--- 44# at my 27" draw vs below 40 last year.  I also moved down from 13 gpp to 8.5.  i felt a little uncertain about a 384 total weight arrow ( including a 125 stinger), but at 160 fps, it put two holes in the first deer i shot this year--- found the arrow about 40 yds down the trail.  I am now using vpa 3 blade 125s as I've never been impressed w 2 blade blood on the ground.  My home tests ( by no means sophisticated) show better penetration w 3 blades.  Hopefully i can give an in field report soon.  I checked my old bow at my draw last year and was surprised that it was only 31# ( i had a form issue lasy season that reduced my draw length).  But that bow put a 400 gr cedar arrow through a large bodied buck and lodged in offside shoulder.  Low to mid 40 s is all you need for whitetail.

[the rifleman]

Sorry, should have read 374 grain arrow.

[Silent footed]

Hey rifleman, what kind of bow were you using for those shots and what was the yardage? It's good to hear other people's observations, so I'm just wondering. 

[the rifleman]

Toelke Pikas.  Both deer were inside 15 yds.  My personal limit is 20 yds based on my abilities.  Im comfortable at 3d out to 25 and 30yds, but not deer.  Most of the places i hunt are pretty tight-- lots of brush.  Hope this helps.

[Silent footed]

I just looked them up.

I just think penetration on some light bows plunges after the 25 yard mark, if you hit a rib going in or out, there will be no pass through, and if you have to take a quartering away shot, there likely won't be a pass through either.

Maybe some other guys will comment on their experiences too. I'm betting there's guys on here with recurves and long draw lengths who are blowing through deer at 30 yards with 45 pounds. Maybe longbows too.

[Sam McMichael]

Is this a question/discussion regarding archery form or one about the mechanical performance of equipment. Interesting though it is, I feel it should be in the Pow Wow. True, bow weight is related to form, but not in the context of this discussion. Plus, I think it might get more response in Pow Wow.

[Todd Cook]

On Whitetails? shouldn't be a problem. With a little weight in the nose and a sharp Grizzly I bet you'll get two holes.

[Captain*Kirk]

3Rivers has an older video on YT that shows Dale Karch testing 3 broadheads...one expandable, one replaceable blade, and one CoC (Zwickey) on a piece of tanned hide. Both of the former required 20+ pounds of force to penetrate, while the Zwickey was through like a hot knife in butter at less than 2#.
Any good  properly sharpened CoC with proper arrow tuning and good FOC should be no problem on whitetails provided proper shot placement and distance is followed.