Too Heavy??

[Greg Sz.]

K here are the specs for my bow... I draw 31" and at that my bow pulls 53#. I just bought some heritage 350's. With 100gr. tips they already weigh 540gr. I would like to bump up to 200gr. up front but is a 640gr. arrow too heavy to shoot accurately from my bow??

[Kevin L.]

Accurately?  No, a heavy, properly tuned combo should shoot just as accurately as a lighter combo, just not as fast or as flat. How far you can shoot with the heavier, slower arrow is up to the shooter. I personally prefer heavier arrows, they're quieter and easier on the bow, but that's me.

[Apex Predator]

I've killed several critters this year with 700 grain arrows and 50 pound bows.  Will probably be more accurate, but you have to stay within your comfortable range.

[Greg Sz.]

Well I dont have a comfortable range since the bow is new to me so that problem is done with  :D

[BLACK WOLF]

Originally posted by Greg Sz.:
K here are the specs for my bow... I draw 31" and at that my bow pulls 53#. I just bought some heritage 350's. With 100gr. tips they already weigh 540gr. I would like to bump up to 200gr. up front but is a 640gr. arrow too heavy to shoot accurately from my bow??

Greg,

That is really COMPLETELY up to the archer...but generally speaking as humans and archers we can make errors in range estimation and aiming. A flatter shooting arrow often decreases the effects of those errors...where as a slower arrow is more critical of range estimation and aiming.

The further the distance the more critical arrow speed plays a factor in redusing the effect of errors.

An archer who has perfect form, perfect aiming techinique and perfect range estimation is a machine. Those who can shoot like that...are very few and far between    

Ray    

[Biggie Hoffman]

I shoot 55# and my Heritage 350's weigh a little over 750grains. If your a bowhunter, you'll appreciate the heavy arrows.
You'll learn your effective range no matter which arrow weight you decide on. Just stick to it and leave the flatter shooting lightweight arrows for the target range.

[beachbowhunter]

How the heck do you guys get 350s to work in 53 and 55 lb bows?  I can hardly get 250s to work in my 55 - 58 lb center cut recurves at my 27 inch draw. Maybe a 31 inch draw makes a huge difference in required spine.

[stmpthmpr]

OK, Ive been in the bush too long and Im trying to learn somethn here! What the heck is a Heritage 350?

I started the "Whatchya shootin?" thread to find out just how popular carbons are. Are these carbons? If so, that kinda weight sounds good. I thought carbons were like 11 gr. per inch.

As far as effectively shooting heavy weights, I hit a rib on a broadside moose square and only one lunged him. He ran off with his cows and they tried to circle downwind. They stood out there at 80 yards and I stood up, took a deep breath, and launched one of my 750 -780 gr.ers. He was quartered away and I hit him high midway back. The arrow buried completely inside him with the zwickey slicing his heart. Admittedly it was a once in a lifetime shot (which I wouldnt have taken had I not already had a lethal shot in him), but that likely wouldnt have happened with a light arrow.

[Greg Sz.]

stmpthmpr: Heritage 350 is a Carbon Express arrow that has a woodlike finish. google them and look on their site. The 350 is about 11gr. per inch.

beachbow:  Yeah a 31" draw does change things alot... Right now with the 100gr. tips they are a bit stiff but not very noticeably.

I have noticed that it flies a heck of alot slower than the CX 100's that I had(wayyyyyyyyyyy underspined but were cheap and all I could afford at the time  :p ) and that I seem to be having to aim higher. But its just minor things like that which I can easily get used to. Other than that i am in love with them.

[swampbuck]

Just started messin around with heritage 250's/250gr up front and @ my 28" draw arrows cut to 30.5" seem to be shooting well.Thats out of a 55# centaur and it seems pretty decent out to 20-25 yrds which is about as far as I shoot deer anyway.

On the 3D range a lighter fast arrow could make a differance...actually it does LOL but how much is tuff to say.A lighter(8gr/#) will shoot thru a whitetail no problem

there's trade offs either way the choice is yours

No your not too heavy if YOU can live with the trajectory you get.

[James Wrenn]

You can get use to anything.At your draw length they should still be shoot pretty flat.

[Biggie Hoffman]

You got it beachbowhunter. My 32" draw makes for some odd sounding set-ups. I get the weight by adding the weight tubes. I can shoot any weight point from 125 to 225 with no obvious change out to 15 yards.

[Richie Nell]

The slower trajectory is not all negative.  It gives you the ability to see the arrow better learning the flight subconciously.  This is important when instinctive shooting...not aiming.

The heavier arrows are going to hold that momentum a lot farther down range increasing  your lethal distance as stmpthmpr found out with that moose.

[Greg Sz.]

Okay I think that I will go ahead and order some 200gr. points since none of the archery shops around me carry any (whoda thunk?    ) These will reduce the spine just abit right?

[paradocs]

AD Trad heavies, cut to 27 1/4", 100 gr brass insert, 100 gr steel adapter, and 200 gr Ace Super Express/Hex head/field point...725 gr out of a 57# @ 26" Great Northern Bushbow.  400 gr up front for about 22% foc, and they hit like a freight train....quiet, too.  I'm used to the arc; routinely shoot out to 50 yards or so in practice.  Wouldn't take a hunting shot that far, but 30-35 yards isn't much of a problem from a trajectory standpoint.

[Greg Sz.]

Thanks paradocs its nice to know that I can still shoot the long shots 4 3d just have to elevate the shot more than I am used to.

[Greg Sz.]

Well my one of my St. Jude's auction items came in 200gr. Muzzy Phantoms courtesy of Skyler. Decided to put them in:
 
 
I plan on taking them over to the broadhead range at my local club to see if they fly better than the 100gr. broadheads that I have tried with the errors (hehe errors not arrows hehe)

[John3]

Do what you need to tune the arrows. Do not be afraid of heavy arrows. Heavy's are all I bowhunt with. Quiet bows and plenty of pass through shots.
700 grains is always my goal, anything more is gravy.

JDS III