rubber blunts and not wanting any penetration

[twostrings]

Hey everyone, I almost lost an arrow that climbed to the top of a tree after I shot a squirrel with it today. (It has taken me almost 3 years to hit one!) As exciting as it was to finally connect, I was not to fond at the idea of loosing an expensive arrow.

My question is: How far do blunts penetrate? Would it penetrate a squirrel? If so, what is the smallest game that it would not usually penetrate (raccoon, fox, coyote)?

Thanks,
mh

[Mike Vines]

With rubber blunts, it's not about penetration so much as blunt force trama.  It litterally knocks the crap out of them.

[twostrings]

That is exactly what I want. Actually, I am going for zero penetration. Do you think I will get zero penetration with a 57lb recurve shooting about 10gpi?

Matthew

[blueline]

Small game point and flu-flu, it dont get much better than that!

Gongrats on da Kill!!!

[Jeremy]

I've never been happy with the performance of rubber blunts on anything except stumps and will not shoot at an animal with them.  For the record, I'm shooting around 58# @ 30+".  I'm not fond of judos either.

I use regular steel blunts or hex heads and get as full penetration as possible.  Usually that means anchoring the rabbit or tree rat to the ground.  

Anything bigger than a rabbit (and those too if I'm not hunting over dogs) gets a broadhead though.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

I wouldn't take anything other than a head shot with a rubber blunt and only small game like a tree rat or rabbit.

[jarhead_hunter]

I generally use a 50# recurve, usually a Bear three piece take down, but have also used a Hoyt Gamemaster 1 and a few others recurves.

I have shot a lot of tassel ear squirrels with steel screw blunts and rubber blunts on aluminum arrows.

I generally use wood arrows with a 125 grain steel blunt as they are cheaper to lose. I usually spray paint the shafts some fluoresent color like orange or yellow so I can find the missed shots.

I really have not lost very many arrows in over 30 years of hunting squirrels. Perhaps a couple of dozen????

Good luck.

Charles.

[Shooty1]

I got a full passthrough on every bunny I shot with a Saunder's bludgeon, from 55 to 60 lbs.

[joekeith]

I've used rubber blunts with 50+# bows.  Usually no penetration, just a loud thud, and the squirrel rolls over.  Sometimes dead, sometimes not.
 With a flu flu I've had the squirrel run around the tree and watch it hit a foot below it, where it was when I took the shot.  They're fast.  

[sagebrush]

I wouldn't use rubber blunts on squirrels. They are too tough. You might kill some but not consistently. I would use steel blunts or for a cheap head try 357 magnum cases. A broadhead would also work. Gary

[2 edges]

1/2" x 1/4 fender washer behind your point(1/4" is the hole size). Travis

[Brian Krebs]

If your shooting straight up at squirrels; your really better off with rubber blunts- what goes up...

 I use rubber blunts on grouse and rabbits and rattlesnakes with excellent results.

 If you want more umph - then put the rubber blunt over a metal blunt.

 Don't put a rubber blunt over a target or field point- it will penetrate the rubber blunt.

 I hunt in rocky country; and rubber blunts allow your arrow to survive if you miss.

 Rubber blunts are not intended for tough critters like marmots and woodchucks; or fox; coyotes etc.

 But for birds - they work really well; and rabbits too. I like shooting them while roving; and while hunting- and I feel like taking a shot at a flower or tree.

 I shot a 42 " rattlesnake with one yesterday; and it worked just fine.

[Brent Hill]

Ace hexhead for all of your stumping an smallgame needs.

[broketooth]

i agree with jeremy about squirrells bein tough. rabbits will run when shot but die pretty quick by my experience. im going to try another tg members methodhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_Gm5Zf9G9g

[broketooth]

what i do wrong for the link

[Dave Alaxanian]

Brian has it spot-on! metal blunt with a snug fitting rubber blunt over it gives you s VERY hard hitting small game head!! If your gonna shoot anything bigger carry an old salvaged broadhead in your quiver.

[Blackstick]

I got the link OK by placing a space between method and http://

Good vid also.

I like the 100 grain blunts with the small htm or small blungeon on them.  they have done a good job on the small game that I have taken with them.  However, the plain old 160 grain steel blunt works good for me as well.

[Boomerang]

With VPA SGT's you get the best of both worlds!

[Ia Hawkeye]

Don't have to lose "an expensive arrow" . Make up some cheap woodies and have at it!Squirrel hunting with a bow is a blast !
Carry one in your quiver when hunting deer .