?about 40-50lbs with 650-700gn arrows.

[Don Batten]

Ive shot and hunted trad since 1990. I know the deal about heavy arrows. I fell off a house in 89 and broke my shoulder. the doc say's i got some artheristas in it now. Ive hunted with 60lbs for ever. I shot 3D with 40 to 50 but always went back up to 60  before hunting season. Now 60lbs hurts to shoot.I did shoot 3 deer this year with my 46lb bow(420 gn arrows) got pass throughs on all and recovered in 50 yds or less. I atribute this to learning how sharp is sharp. My ? is i'm getting ready to go back hog hunting.I always shot hogs with my heavy bow and had great luck. I got some arrows that weigh 675gns and shoot great out of the 46lb bow. I do notice that past 20yds they fall off quickley. They fly good and straight(bare shaft, paper tune) I have heard of super heavy per lb not as good as 8 to 10 gns.

I'd like to just hear from folks who have some real life experiences with this. I'm not interested in the math and what not. I know the pingpong vs the golf ball stuff. Please don't think I'm being gruff, It's just that I'm kinda po'd that my body is getting wore out to the point that I gotta ask this ? thanks Don

[lilbobby]

I know how you feel "batman", got most of the same problem. Shot a hog a couple of years ago with arrow weight about 625, shooting a B.L. L.B. 47# @ 27" but my draw is 25 1/2". Blew right through with a 2 blade, hog went about 25 yr. They do drop alot past 20.

[stalkin4elk]

The Ashby forums on enhanced penetration arrows deal with a wealth of testing info for light bows and heavy arrows.

[Zradix]

Go for it!!! You put the point where it belongs and you'll be good.

[OS]

Before starting my own business I worked in archery shops for over 16 years I have taught thousands of peaple to shoot and have guided for over a hundred bowhunters from deer to hogs.  Real heavey arrows are great at close range but I have always found that 8 - 10 grains per inch offered the best in quieting the bow, speed, and penatration with any bow.

[mnbearbaiter]

If it'll harvest a deer it'll harvest a hog!!! Its not ideal as far as trajectory goes but a heavy arrow will keep its momentum longer than a lighter one will and that will increase penetration! I have friends that shoot wheel bows and when we do penetration tests i get better penetration than they do 9/10 times! Go for it!!! Good luck!!!

[Earthdog]

I shoot 610g from a 50lb bow with no issues.

With pigs on the ground it's not likely your going to be shooting past 20 yards anyway,so so long as those arrows are flying well,I think your good to go.

[James Wrenn]

Well I feel like anything over a 500gn arrow is a waste of good trajectory myself.Unless you find something a lot bigger than I usually shoot the extra arrow weight means very little because 500 grains will shoot through them much farther that you can hit them. jmo Of course if you like those logs have at it.  :D    

[JimB]

Batman,since having some shoulder problems,I started playing with some lighter weight bows and heavier arrows with higher FOC.Dropping bow weights from 60-66lbs.,To 50-55 lbs and increasing FOC,I have been able to double my penetration.

I was playing around recently with a chronograph and after checking speed of a 714 gr arrow,I tried a 619 gr arrow from the same bow.I gained 10 FPS from the lighter,619 gr arrow.95 grs lighter arrow weight gained 10 FPS.

That surprised me,so I tried a 530 gr arrow from the same bow.That drop in arrow weight gained me another 10 FPS.That all figures out to: dropping 15 % arrow weight gains 6% in speed.That is just on my bows but I checked it over and over again.

Losing 10 % speed can't mean much in terms of trajectory.I have no interest in measuring all that but I know,the adjustment from 500 to 700 gr arrows was not nearly as big a deal as I expected.

The bottom line is,I wouldn't take anyone's word for any of this.It is very easy to assume what may or may not happen,but it is a very simple matter to try a few different setups and see what results you get.

I have had no problem adjusting to the heavier arrow weights out to 30 yds.I cannot,in good conscience,shoot farther than that at big game.If you can shoot accurately at further distances at game,the heavier arrows may be problematic.

[Jesse Peltan]

Shoot an efficient bow and as much foc in the arrow as possible.  45# is more than enough.  Get some carbons and cut them down as far as you can go.  Add point weight till they tune.  If they're too heavy drop down in spine weight and repeat.  If they're too light go up.  This way you can get the maximum foc in your arrow.  I'd try to keep the arrow weight between 370 and 500 grains.

[sloaf]

I would say 12grains per pound is max I would go because of speed drop off.  10-12 gpp is really a sweet spot when you are looking for penetration.  A Caveat, past 20 yards and you are going to see the some steep drop off on the high end of the spectrum listed.  If you are hunting out of a tree primarily heavier isn't a problem as gravity has less effect. If not the old 10 gpp rule is great. I shoot 640grain arrows out of a 53lbs bow and they are freight trains.  I am completely confident and have had pass through consistenly on whitetails out of a treestand. The drop is negated by the elevation change when considering weight. Off of the ground I am more of a 10gpp guy, where drop off matters more. I would speculate for whitetail this is overkill, the good kind, but it is repeated to death for a reason, quiet bows and dead animals.  Also 45# is adequate horsepower, I'd shoot a 450-550gpp arrow and never give it a second thought with a 2 blade and a 45 lb bow on a whitetail.  Don't worry go hunt, have confidence.

[Molson]

Just go out and shoot some hogs with them arrows then invite us down for some delicious North Carolina BBQ!  

[Night Wing]

Just take a look at the bow poundages and the total arrow weights in grains in my signature. They're light arrows per inch, but with my long 30" draw length and the light bow poundages, those light arrows become heavy arrows. They're all very flat shooting out to 20 yards out of my 66" recurves and 68" longbow. My 42# recurve bow with a 32" long 555 grain 2213 shoots 13.21 gpp, my 37# recurve bow with a 32" long 526 grain 2212 shoots 14.21 gpp and my 41# hybrid longbow with a 32" long 526 grain 2212 shoots 12.82 gpp. During the last 45 years of bowhunting and I've taken bullfrogs, rabbits, javelina, feral hogs (250 pounds and under) and whitetail deer; I don't think I've ever taken a shot past 20 yards so I don't know and don't care how much an arrow drops in trajectory past 20 yards. If you like your arrow setup and it works for you, stay with it.

[HATCHCHASER]

I'm shooting a black swan hybrid that is 45@30".  I had some 620 grain arrows made up for a 62 lb. longbow and they just so happen to work for the swan.  I was suprised to see how little they drop out to 30".  Less than the 62lb. longbow.  It depends on your bows efficiency.  I wouldn't worry about a hog with your setup having taken deer with it.  I'd stay away from that armour plate on a big boar.

[drewsbow]

I used 840 gr arrows on a pig out of a 42 lb bow I draw 30 so I get more like 48 from the bow . I got dirt on the other side of the pig and couldn't be happier with the results. if they shoot good go for it , this is a close range sport and don't worry about arrow drop. Practice and know your equiptment . Drew

[Ground Hunter]

If your read Asbys reports, on this site, examining FOC and arrow weights I think you will have the answer you are looking for.  H

[mnbearbaiter]

Lots of good stuff here! Id say bow weight is such an overrated factor! Ive been at deer camp with guys shooting bows from 45#-70#! Had passthroughs with the 45# and had arrows stay in the deer with the 70#! Tons of factors there i know but dead is dead, so id worry more about shot placement! Get yourself some hardwood shafts like ash and tip them with a solid streamlined point like a Grizzly or a Stos and you my friend have more than just a pig gigger,  you have a solid elk setup!

[mnbearbaiter]

I have a friend in the same boat as you! He was a pitcher his whole life and has issues with his shoulder after surgery! He shoots a 48# longbow and i believe 650-700gr arrows! He has killed elk with it as well as deer, bear, turkey, and small game! The heavier arrows make the bow whisper quiet and once you get used to the arc you will become very accurate with it if you are an instinctive shooter! He shoots very good scores at 3D shoots!

[Pat B]

I'm shooting cane and hardwood shoot arrows that run between 600grs to over 700gr and my bow(yew selfbow) pulls 47#@26". Both cane and hardwood shoot arrows have heavy FOC just because of their natural shape(tapered)and at hunting distances they shoot right where I'm looking.
   Knowing the trajectory of your arrows at hunting distances is important with any set-up no matter what the arrow weight.

[mnbearbaiter]

Inside the distance of what most animals are taken at(20 yds), the difference between a 500gr arrow and a 700gr arrow is negligable! In my experience most people arent honest with themselves when it comes to their max effective range! Ive seen and heard alot of guys say its 35-40yds, and when you shoot with em its more like 15yds! Its not the case with everyone i know, there are some really good archers and there are some really good bowhunters, people that know their limitations and stick to them! If you shoot heavy arrows you are a bowhunter, and thats what you want! My personal cutoff is bout 25yds! Shoot the heavier arrows and you will have hunting success, period...