tapered ash arrows

[18thcentman]

Hello all, I am interested in your opinion on using a tapered ash shaft with 5 inch feathers,using a 145 grain broadhead. I currently use 5-1/2 inch feathers on my ash, using a 160 grain broadhead.They shoot good, but they drop fast. Am I splitting hairs? Should I just leave it alone and stay with the bigger feathers and heavier tips? Will the 5 inch feathers stabilize a 145 grain head? I am using a 49# recurve.

[lpcjon2]

I shoot 160 gr heads with 5" parabolics and they fly great.There are guys who shoot heavy heads with 4".How far out do they start to drop? whats you average hunting shot distance?

[Spectre]

I say get some arrows built that fly better. That drop would be completely unacceptable to me.

[monkeyball]

Brian,
      The idea is to get a practice(3-d) arrow close in weight to what you are going to be hunting with. If you are going to be pushing a broadhead in the 160 gr area then you are good to go. Your setup there has to be easily over 600 grs,which is plenty for your bow weight.

   If you plan to go with a 145 gr head then get some field tips at that weight. You will pick up some distance right there.

  As far as fletching goes, it is the steering wheel of the arrow. A broadhead is harder to steer than a field pt. Your 5.5 might be an advantage there. Good shooting my friend,
                                         Craig

[Orion]

Five-inch feathers are plenty to stabilize a 145 or 160 grain head.  Dropping a little point weight and reducing feather size will improve the trajectory slightly.  Ash is just a heavy wood and you're shooting a heavy arrow.  If you canlive with the trajectory, it will be powerful medicine on game.

[Fletcher]

There is nothing wrong with 5.5 inch fletch if you like it, but it shouldn't be necessary.  5" fletch will stabilize any arrow as long as it is well tuned to the bow and the broadhead is mounted straight.  I doubt that you will notice any real speed or trajectory improvement by dropping just 15 grains of point weight and a little bit of fletching.  Ash makes a decent arrow, but it will also be a heavy arrow.  I find I can get good arrow weight and great flight with Doug Fir.

[Arrow4Christ]

I'm with Rick on this one...you're probably better off with a lighter arrow wood for most applications...especially since you don't like the drop you're seeing with Ash.
Craig

[smoke1953]

I love the heavy weight that my tapered ash provides and as far as the drop goes it's like anything else, train the brain and it all FALLS into place.

[18thcentman]

Thanks for the input. I like the ash and want to stick with it. I was just curious as to the effect a smaller feather would have on a 160 vs. 145 grains.I think I will stay with the heavier broadhead and keep practicing. Thanks guys.