broadhead/arrow setup for recurve........done a little tuning and need more advice

[tomsm44]

I'm relatively new to trad bow hunting.  Last year was my first year and I didn't get a shot with my recurve.  I switched late in the summer and didn't have a chance to try any different weight points so I just used what I already had set up for my compound.  I was shooting carbon arrows with 100gr. carbon express xt 4 blade broadheads with a total weight of around 425gr.  I'm hunting with an early 60s 53# Red Wing Hunter.  Should I stick with this setup, or would I benefit from a heavier broadhead?  I like the looks of the Simmons Sharks, especially the 2" wide tree shark, but at 190gr, it is almost double what I am currently shooting.  Any advice would be appreciated.  

I also have a '69 70# Super Kodiak that I may try to hunt with some if I decide I can shoot the heavier draw well enough.  Will the same setup work well with it?

Thanks,
Matt

[Henry Hammer]

Matt, I would get your arrow weight up to around that 10 grains per pound of bow you are shooting. So if you are shooting the 53# bow an arrow that weighs 530 grains would be ideal. Your bow will shoot quieter, but your arrow will become weaker with the heavier point weight. Do a search on here for tuning your bow and read all you can and then have fun experimenting. Good Luck..Henry

P.S. you will need a stiffer spine arrow for the 70# bow compared to the 53# bow. A whole different ball game then with the compound, not a one size fits all with traditional.

[JamesKerr]

I would get my arrow weight up to around 475-550 grains if I could for that bow. Once you have it tuned in then just choose whatever matching weight broadhead you want to use.

[tomsm44]

Thanks guys,

The tree shark at 190gr would put me around 515-520gr.  I may try to get me a 190 gr. field point/brass washer combo and see how it does.  

I go to church with a man that has been shooting recurves/longbows since before I was born.  I can probably borrow some different weight field points from him to keep from having to spend too much.  He may even be willing to spend a Sunday afternoon helping me figure out what works best.

[pickaspot55]

I will say my experience with the simmons shark has been great every deer I've shot with them there has been a great blood trail sock would say go with them. Good luck with everything. Chandler

[tomsm44]

Did some shooting with 125, 135, and 145 gr.  I don't have anything heavier right now.  My total arrow weight with the 100 gr I was originally shooting was actually about 445 instead of 425 as stated in the original post.  

Shot great with the 145s.  I've noticed that there aren't very many screw in broadheads in this weight range.  I've found a lot of 125s and 160-165s, but not much in between.  The Muzzy Fred Eichler is 150gr and I found a 150 gr. steel force hellfire on 3rivers archery.  Anybody had any experience with either of these or know of any other 145-150 gr screw ins?  It may not matter if it shoots well with 160's because I'll have a lot of options.  Just curious in case 145-150 is the 'magic' point weight for my bow/arrows

[tomsm44]

By the way, the 150's would put my total weight at around 495, which is getting close to 10 gr/#.  The bow is 53#, but I actually draw about 27", so it's probably closer to 50-51#.

[JamesKerr]

I would try the 150 grain Woodsman head or if you have the money go with silver flames.

[tomsm44]

James,
I would like to go with a two blade if I can, but would be ok with a 4 blade.  If all else fails, I may give the woodsman a try.  I've heard a lot of good things about them.  I want to try shooting some 160s before I buy anything.  If it shoots good with them, I'll probably go with a Zwickey.  The silver flames look great but are definitely out of my price range.

[Tom]

I am shooting a 51# bow this fall with Zwickey 125 eskimos with the long aluminum adapters-weigh 151.5 grains after sharpening. Full length AD lites and hit same as 145 gr. field points. Have killed more than a few deer with this combo.

[tomsm44]

Would that be the same as the 160 grain screw ins that 3rivers sells, or are you using a different adapter than they put in them at the factory?  I wasn't sure how much weight would be lost after sharpening.  

I did some more looking around and found a 150 gr magnus stinger 2-blade and a magnus classic 150 gr by thundervalley archery.  Any opinion on how the magnus classic compares to the zwickey?  I also found the new eclipse werewolf screwins in 150, but they are a little more pricey.

Turns out there are a lot more 2-blade options in this weight than I originally found.  Just took a little more time looking around to find them.