How much arrow

[kleine]

Hi, I'm new to this. I,m shooting a grizzly 50# and was wondering which arrow to go with. I'm planning on using beman ics classics. My local sport shop suggested 400s but I talked to an easton rep and he suggested 500s, but I,m worried they might be to light of a spine. I,m tipping it with a 125gr. and right now arrow length is 31". Which is another question, I have about 2" out in front. Where about do you guys cut them off at. Also what should be a good weight overall for the arrow? Right now the 400s at 31" and tipped 125gr. are weighing in at 554gr.
Thanks

[pdk25]

Is there a reason that you want 2" out front?  Too each there own, but that seems more than you probably need to me.  1" might be better and stiffen your arrows up some.  Alot of other variables come into play.  Are you using fast flight string?  If you are, the arrows will need to be stiffer.  I would be a little surprised if you are drawing a 50# grizzly to 29" and have fast flight string and the 500's aren't too weak spined.  I would probably start with the 400's if you are going too keep them 2" over your draw length.  If they are too stiff you can easily add some point weight.  I have a Wing Slim Line Pro that is 45# @ 28" that I draw to a little over 29" and has a skinny fast flight string on it.  I use 30" 500 spine carbon arrows with a 75 grain brass insert and 125 grain tips for a total of 200 grains up front.  They bareshaft perfectly for me, but the centercut of the bow, type of string, type of silencers used, and individual release all factor in.  Good luck.

[kleine]

The 2" out front is what the arhery shop measured and cut them at. Which I thought might be long, and I have a B50 dacron string.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Klein,  

I would stick with the 500's.  I am shooting 31 inch 500's with a 55 lb longbow.  They are perfect.  Leave the arrows long and only shorten them if your tuning shows they ar weak.

Trad shooting is not compound shooting.  It is far easier to tune your bow to your arrow with brace height and nock set changes.  If your arrows are to stiff add weight up front.  Keep doing this until they spine out right.  Shortening the shaft makes the arrow stiffer and will increase the weight up front you need to get them spined right. Only shorten an arrow when they show weak at the extreme of your set up.   Trad arrows work best with more weight up front than a standard compound arrow user utilizes.

[trapperDave]

stick with the 500's and like said ,eave em long. if they need stiffened, cut em a 1/4 inch at a time

[George D. Stout]

Archery shops, for the most part, have no clue what a traditional bow will handle.  Get the 500 and cut it one inch over your draw.  You will still probably have to add some weight to the tip at that.  Carbons are inherently stiff, and most pro shops will tell you what a compound uses.

[Bowtie]

I would recommend the 500's.  As mentioned previously, leave them long and shorten if necessary.  Good luck and good shooting.

[kleine]

Thanks, I'll get a couple of 500s made up and try them. What should the safe minimum total arrow weight be?

[Killdeer]

Safe? I would go no lighter than 8 grains per pound. I usually shoot between 9 and 12 grains per pound.

It sounds as though you have an older Grizzly with the B50 string. These are great bows! You will find that the heavier-weighted arrow will pack some authority should you decide to hunt, as well as helping to keep your bow quiet.

Most folks like to have an arrow about an inch longer than the back of the bow when at full draw. So, if you are drawing an honest 28", then 29" would be your goal. But if your arrows demand a little more length, then no big deal, go with what the spine of the arrow and the bow demand.

As you progress and develop your back muscles and drawing style, your draw may lengthen, so a little extra length in the arrow is a good thing. Stick with it, and happy shooting! (Oh, and I think the 500s are right as well. Clay and George gave you good advice.)

Killdeer

[30coupe]

I'm with the majority here. Go with 500s. The 400s will be way too stiff, especially with a B50 string.

What shop were you in?

[kleine]

I was in Jim's sport shop in Waverly. I bought my bow a month ago and just started. I've been shooting everyday, somedays only 6 arrows at a time then go warm the hands up. The reason I'm questioning was after I talk to the easton rep that was there last week, and he mentioned the 500s. Because I've been getting some fishtail and my arrows aren't sticking straight and thought was over spined.

[Killdeer]

That sounds right. A rough release will also give you some fishtailing, so that might be something to work on until you get your arrows squared away. Smooth it out so that they fishtail the same way every time.

Killdeer  

[30coupe]

I've been there. They don't seem to know much about trad gear. I sent you a PM. I shoot Beman ICS Bowhunter 500s from both my 46# and 52# Kanatis. The 400s were too stiff. If you have a bare shaft. Shoot that once and see where it goes. If you are right handed, I'd bet it will end up to the left.

Killie also has a good point about the release, especially if you are plucking the string a bit.

Check your PMs.

Russ

[kleine]

Thanks for the help.
I know picking up a recurve has got me excited about bowhunting again, I'm already thinking about buying a tomahawk next but my wife thinks I need to wait awhile.

[30coupe]

I get down your way occasionally. Sometime, I'll let you shoot my Kanati, then you'll probably forget about the Tomahawk, lol. Not that they aren't good bows, but you can get a Kanati for less, and we need to support our Iowa bowyers.    

[kleine]

Yep, they do stick left.

[30coupe]

You will be amazed how much better the 500s shoot.

[kleine]

We'll have to do that. I emailed my cell, and maybe you can give me ome pointers.