Heavy wood arrows

[Stone Knife]

Putting together some woodies for my Howard Hill the bow is 45# at my draw and I normally shoot around 10-12 grains per pound of draw. I bought some hickory shafts and they are going to come out around 15 gpp  anyone else using heavy arrows like this? I thought for deer they would penetrate better my shots are twenty paces and under.

[Orion]

They'll work, of course, but don't need an arrow that heavy.  At 15 gpp, you'll notice a change/drop in trajectory even at 20 yards, compared to say 10-12 gpp. Since I've dropped down in bow weight to 45-50#, I still stick with cedars, but go to heavier broadheads.  Gives me the arrow weight I want with the added benefit of a bit more FOC. Regardless, I try to keep my arrows in the 11-12 gpp range. 

[Terry Green]

I have some 740 grain compressed maples that are basically indestructible.

I wish I could find another source for these Compressed maples.

 They were given to me by a very interesting guy early on here at Tradgang in 2003 by the name of archery 7..... He seemed to have fell off the planet I would love to hear from him again if anybody knows him.

 They were by far the toughest wood arrows I have ever owned.

[Stone Knife]

These hickory shafts look tough as heck but I’m thinking too heavy for my setup. I have some ramin arrows made up that are tough and a tad bit heavier than cedar but I was having trouble locating some more in the states.

[YosemiteSam]

I hunted last year with stiff doug firs heavily weighted to loosen them up to fly true out of my 47# bow.  I didn't shoot anything but a turkey last year so not much experience on the business end of things.  Arrows were about 680 grains so about the same gpp.

A couple of observations on my setup:
1. they drop like rocks past about 18 yards.  At 20, they're already falling a few inches.  By 21-22 yards, I better not take a shot -- too much room for error.
2. they come out so slow that, when viewed with a slow-motion camera (iphone), they appear to bend into paradox and then flex back toward the bow before the arrow has even cleared the riser.  I've wondered about tuning -- whether I may sometimes slide the bow into the arrow if my arm isn't pushing straight toward the target.

I'll add that I've heard plenty of folks talking about penetration being a problem on turkeys.  After making a solid shot on that bird last year, the arrow was sticking out the other side with only the fletching still buried inside.  The head had been shot already that day, buried in the dirt, recovered & then shot again without resharpening.

This year, I'm rethinking the entire setup in favor of something in the realm of 10-11 gpp.  Before making that final shot on the turkey last year, I missed 5 others -- most of those were low & due to bad distance estimation around that 20-yard mark.  Sitting low in tall grass on weird angles messes with my head.  I can use a little more forgiveness.

[A Lex]

I've been using wood arrows exclusively  for over 10 years now, usually in the 12-13 grains per pound of draw weight range, sometimes a little more even. I think it's a really good thing.

If you are after some weight and strength in a wooden shaft, have a look at Kevin Forrester Wood Shafts. Half a dozen or so types of hardwood to choose from.

He lists the spine and weights of each lot of arrows. I'd even recommend getting hold of him and telling him what you are trying to do, he's very knowledgeable and very happy to help.

I've used a heap of his Red Balau hardwood shafts, nothing but good things to say about the man and his arrow shafts..

Best
Lex

[Skipmaster1]

I picked up some hickory last year that came in finished about 900 grains for my 53# longbow. I just didn’t love the trajectory. I ended up making some maples that were a bit lighter but still heavier than cedar and I really liked them.

[Terry Green]

Yeah.....I shot them out of my 70# MOAB and 69# Morrison Cougar....they would almost knock my 3D deer target over.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I shoot 62"[email protected] Longbow I use Surewood Dougfir shafts 60/65 29" with 160gr point they come in around 545gr I also made some up that come in at 610gr they are just a little stiff.

[Terry Green]

I shoot 62"[email protected] Longbow I use Surewood Dougfir shafts 60/65 29" with 160gr point they come in around 545gr I also made some up that come in at 610gr they are just a little stiff.

That is a nice combo if they will spine out!

[M60gunner]

I made up some Hickory arrows for a friend years ago. Yes, they are heavy. They were also a pain in the backside to straighten.

[JonCagle]

I’m glad I saw this post because I was on the cusp of ordering some hickory shafts. I love shooting wooden arrows but was unimpressed with the durability of the cedars I was shooting. I am admittedly pretty hard on my arrows and I need something as close to the toughness of carbon as I can get, in the opinion of you all, would I be better off with hickory, maple or Douglas fir?

[6feathers]

Might consider douglas fir.  You should be able to come up with a 540gr arrow if you start with about 420gr shaft 

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I shoot 62"[email protected] Longbow I use Surewood Dougfir shafts 60/65 29" with 160gr point they come in around 545gr I also made some up that come in at 610gr they are just a little stiff.

That is a nice combo if they will spine out!

Thank you Terry means a lot coming from you.

[V I Archer]

I have some 740 grain compressed maples that are basically indestructible.

I wish I could find another source for these Compressed maples.

 They were given to me by a very interesting guy early on here at Tradgang in 2003 by the name of archery 7..... He seemed to have fell off the planet I would love to hear from him again if anybody knows him.

 They were by far the toughest wood arrows I have ever owned.

I have six of those compressed maples from Archery7 as well. Dang heavy but BULLETPROOF! I'd love to see them made available again.

[Orion]

JC:  Doug fir is pretty tough, but hickory and maple are tougher.  They're also heavier.  Decide on the physical arrow weight you want and decide accordingly. 

[bluemelonchitlin]

I've used ash shafts that had a total weight of 690 grains that were used out of a 65# Shrew longbow.

[GRAYBEARD]

I have found maple to fly best of all the heavy woods. Very durable as well.

[dnovo]

I went the heavy wood arrow a few years ago. Had some nice cedars I drilled and weighted along with some 190 grain broadheads. They came in at about 700 grains out of a 53# longbow. I had them for a moose hunt. I’ve gone away from that heavy of an arrow back down to about 550 grains. Much better trajectory and I still get plenty of penetration on deer.

[varmint101]

When I first started here I got some used shafts stamped “whispering winds.”  I was told they were laminated birch I believe. Around 700 grains if I remember right. Man those shafts lasted forever! I shot the heck out of them too. Sure love a set like that again.