Brass inserts or heavier point?

[nightowl1]

Long hard journey to get here, but here I am...I am in the final process of tuning my arrows.

I shoot a 46 @27 hornes combo hunter longbow. I draw just a bit over 27.

Bareshafting I am getting perfect flight, little nock high but i'll get to that, with full length 35/55 with 225 up front.

Would you go with a standard insert and 200 grain head or 100gr brass and 125 tip? And what benefit either way?

[JimB]

Either way.I would let my choice of broadhead decide.

[Rob W.]

My question would be vented or solid? 2,3,4 blade? stainless? price range? The only difference either way that I have seen is the long brass in the shaft seems to help with hard impacts. I would rather pick my broadhead and tune arrow to it.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Don't forget an aluminum collar.  It really makes a tough arrow.  Let your broadhead decide the other choices.

I think you would have many more broadhead choices with the 125gr broadhead and the 100gr insert choice.

Bisch

[sawtoothscream]

once you get over 200gr broadhead options go down. if i could use brass inserts in my cx 90's i would in a second and have many b head options.

[nightowl1]

sounds like that is the way I will go.

Thanks for all the info...excited to finally have things lined up!

[30coupe]

I have tried the brass inserts, and while they do strengthen the arrow to a degree, I find I get better arrow flight and improved FOC by using steel adapters to get the broadhead to my desired weight. Moving the weight forward and inch or so seems to make quite a difference, at least in my experience.

Here is my carbon arrow set-up:

         
FOC   
ARROW   length   29.5
   shaft+feathers+nock wt      259 (Beman ICS Bowhunter 500)
   separate insert weight?      30 (standard aluminum insert)
   adapter weight?      100 (steel adapter from 3Rivers)
   point weight      130 (Zickey Delta 2 blade)
   total arrow weight      519
   balance length      21.25
      FOC %   22.03
         
GPP   
draw wt   46
arrow wt 519   
GPP 11.28

Get the Deltas scary sharp and this setup shoots through whitetails easily.

[LKH]

A brass insert is much tougher than the aluminum provided with most arrows.  I've been using them for quite a few years and they are about indestructible.

[KentuckyTJ]

I would go with the 100 gr brass and 125 points, simply because you will have a wider selection of broadheads and field points to choose from and Walmart would have target points if need be. With your lower poundage I also like the ability to use a smaller diameter broadhead for better penetration.

[joekeith]

Yes you can get a wider selection of 125 grn. heads......BUT you can get BIGGER 200 grn. heads with a wider cut.      
Find the broadhead you like the best, that flies the best. You've gotta large range to pick from.

[spike buck]

Nightowl1, I asked this question once as well. Here is the thread and maybe it will help.

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=083448;p=1

[Bowwild]

I personally like to go with heavier brass inserts (mine are 75 and 100 -- different arrows). Just realize the insert, if very long as most heavy ones are, adds a "footing affect to the arrow and this stiffens the spine. You sort of have to plan that in the beginning. IF you are getting good arrow flight without long inserts I'd work up the broadhead weight.

I don't like broadheads that are overly wide (more than 1.25".  If the dimensions of the broadhead change based upon the weight (assuming same brand head) I like the heavier head to get thicker gauge steel in it.

I use 125 Grain helix with 100 grain brass insert. Last year used 100 grain and 75 grain insert. I also switched to 500 spine from 600 spine.

[nightowl1]

Great info guys.

I have yet to connect with a big game animal with my longbow/recurves. So no experience as far as performance goes yet.

I was thinking just that bowwild about the gauge. That has meen leaning towards the tusker or magnus heads.

Tusker spirit more specifically

[WhiteOaks]

I like the inserts.
Lots of BH options in the 125 - 160 range.

[PaddyMac]

I like the bigger heads. Fer instance: I'm shooting 31" 3555s with 175 up front from a 50#@30 Bob Lee, almost perfect bare shaft, a tad nock up, just like you.

But... say in the Terminator. A 175 is solid. Teh 125 is open. The 175 is tougher, quieter and won't catch on bones.

I go with letting the broadhead decide.

[hvyhitter]

I tune for 160 snuffers......whatever it takes for that particular bow. Tuning an arrow then finding a broadhead close then retuning the arrow is just chasing your tail.

[cacciatore]

I like to have a BH of at least 150 grs and keep my total front weight around 250,300 max.it depends what I am hunting.

[JamesKerr]

Go with the brass inserts as they also make the shaft alot tuffer.

[nightowl1]

Ok so here is what I have decided!

35/55 full length, 100gr brass and 125 point
Have a handful of snuffers and magnus 125 grain 2 blades to use up (really want some tusker spirits though)

Just ordered a 4in shield chopper. Going to go with four fletch to help get more stability, no nock fiddling, and get 2 fletchs per feather and I have access to free feathers now! Pheasant, peacock, duck and others.

Will fletch straight and 90 or 75 degrees

Will be 10.8 gpp, and 20% FOC