What do you think?

[T-Bone]

I'm setting up a 45# tomahawk longbow to elk, antelope and mule deer hunt with.  Yeah, I know lots of you out there believe 45#'s won't work on the elk, but I believe it can.  I have chronoed this bow with two arrow setups and would like some advice on which arrow you would choose for this setup.  I have narrowed it down to two choices. The first option is a 607 grain total weight 2018 alluminum with a 125 grain two blade stinger.  This arrow chronoed at 153 fps.  The second arrow is identical except it weighs 655 grains.  It chronoed at 147 fps.  I used weight tubes to obtain these weights.  Considering penetration at close shots under 25 yards, which arrow would you go with. Both arrows were bareshaft tuned.

Thanks for the help.
God Bless.

Tom

[30coupe]

I would go with the heavy one if they both bareshaft well. 2018 sounds awful stiff for a 45 pound bow, especially with ony 125 grains up front. If your bow is cut to center it will be pretty forgiving of spine though.

May I ask, what kind of weight tubes did you use? I have seen them for carbons before, but not for aluminum arrows.

[vermonster13]

I'm surprised you are getting good flight with a 2018 with only 125 up front on a 45# bow.

[T-Bone]

I used 3rivers 3 and 5 grain per inch tubes.  I agree it is surprising with the 2018's shooting perfect.  I left them abit long at 29 and 1/2" length.  I have noticed the weight tubes weakening the spine a bit. And yes, they make 2 diameters of tubes, one for alluminums, and another for carbons.

[Soilarch]

The lighter arrow has 32ft/lbs and the heavier has 31ft/lbs of KE.

The lighter arrow has 1.834 N-S and the heavier has 1.902 N-S or momentum.

Roughly 3% difference in both KE and Momentum...each favoring a different arrow.

Point is there gonna be reeeeeaaaal close.  Never hunted elk but thought I'd run the numbers for you.


I've got a sneaky suspicion that a slightly better flying arrow OR a slightly sharper broadhead will make up any difference seen.   Shoot what you're most confident in.....or which ever ones are prettier    :D    


Whaaaaat?  You wanna look good in those trophy picks don't you? lol

[SoNevada Archer]

My Ke calculations are a little different.
A 605gr arrow @ 153ft. per sec. = 31.6KE
A 655gr arrow @ 147ft. per sec. = 31.4KE

I say shoot which ever one flys better and the one you like or own the most of!

[Apex Predator]

If your gonna use that weight for elk, I would set up some carbons with a lot of weight up front.  You can gain a whole lot of penetration potential with an extremely high FOC arrow.  Just my .02.

[LATradHunter]

2016's with 168 grains up front works well for from my 45# recurve...never shot an elk though    

[T-Bone]

Thanks for all your input.  This tomahawk longbow shoots the 607 grain arrow 3pfs faster than my 50# Montana.  I'm leaning toward the 650 grain arrow just to obtain that little bit more of momentum.  I'm not planning on shooting past 20 yards. I have a 60# spirit longbow, which I really like, but my shoulders are starting to really act up and I'm retooling my hunting arsenal toward lighter bows with really heavy arrows.  Pat Lefemine got a pass through on a giant alaskan moose with 800 grains traveling 115 fps with his 55# self bow.  I guess I was hoping to see if anyone uses a similar setup for elk and what experiences they have.  My setup with the 607 grain arrows is almost right at the  momentum value of Pat's setup, and the 650 grain arrows exceeds the momentum for his setup, so I'm pretty confident it will penetrate an elk.

Thanks again and God Bless.

Tom