Tough Spine Question

[Tree Ghost]

I am currently shooting a beman 340 Black Max loaded up front with a 100 grain insert and a 150 grain head.  When I bought the shafts a couple of years ago, I realized that they were somewhat stiff but was kind of stuck with what I had and just kept with the same set up even though I can easily shoot a shaft that is 2-2 1/4 inches shorter.  I'm looking at buying a new dozen shafts and am wondering if I could go with the same set on a 400.  Has anyone tried to make this kind of switch, or does anyone have an idea if a 2 inch shorter shaft could allow me to get away with a softer shaft?  I'm shooting my Schafer 65 lbs @ 28" with the current shaft at an average of 203 fps.

Tree Ghost

[DesertDude]

I know that 1/8-1/4 cut from a shaft when bare shaft testing makes a big differance. I'm sure that if you bare shaft test a .400 spine shaft it will work for you. I had perfect results with a .400 spine shaft with a 100gr insert and a 145gr point cut to 30". my bow was 58# @ 28" and I draw right 30" so about 64#  @30"

[Tree Ghost]

I'm kinda thinking that it will work, but I spent so much time and money getting to where I'm at, I just want to make sure it can happen.

[Shawn Leonard]

Tree, ya do not say what your draw length is, just what the bow is marked. if ya draw 28"s than ya could cut a 400 shaft to 29"s and i gaurantee that it will fly perfect with 225 up front out of that bow, if it is one of the skinny hit type shafts though ya may have to build the plate out ever so slightly and i mean slight. If i was you I would shoot a carbonwood 4000s out of made up like i said above and it will be perfect. Shawn

[Tree Ghost]

My draw length is 28-28 1/4, the shaft would be 29, or whatever it spines out as.  I also shoot off of an elevated rest.  Yes, it's a skinny shaft and I was thinking of going with the new Beman that resembles wood.  I get great penetration from these shafts, so I want to stay with them.

[Shawn Leonard]

I would leave the shaft at 29.5"s than and cut back 1/4" at a time, but off that elevated rest you will be good to go. Shawn

[Tree Ghost]

I picked up a 400 shaft, started cutting it back after 30" and 1/4 at a time.  I switched to a 125 grain head at 28 1/4and found it to group well with my old arrows at 28.  I then fletched the shaft and shot the 125 field head which flew good.  I then put on a 125 grain stinger and it showed weak, so I cut off a quarter of an inch and it was there.  I believe that I can load a slightly heaver silencer and use a wrap to put the broadhead in at 28" which is what I'm looking for.  Thanks for all the help, and I will try to keep an update going.  I was using a ICS 400, and ordered the 400 small diameter wood look-a-like with the hidden inserts.  I'm kinda wondering if they won't be a little stiffer since the insert sets deeper in the shaft, does anyone have any experience with this?

Tree Ghost