Elk bow ?

[Tom L]

I shoot a 50lb longbow. What arrow weight would be best for elk?

Tom

[twistedlim]

I am by no means an expert but I used 685 gr with my Toelke Whip 51 lb but did not get a chance to see how well it would work.  I am just thinking at least 600 gr.  Perhaps the elk experts could chime in?

[Kris]

Tom,

It's not as easy as someone telling you what weight arrow to use.  There are several important factors to consider contributing to arrow efficiency/penetration.  In no particular order.

- arrow flight
- broadhead mechanical advantage (MA)
- weight Forward of Center (FoC)
- integrity of total arrow setup (strength/reliability)

Many would suggest a starting point of 10 grains/inch arrow length.  I would suggest 500 to 700 grains depending on your arrow flight et. al., your expectations and your ability to shoot this setup accurately at a range you pre limit yourself to.  Many would argue that placing your arrow exactly where it needs to go is the most importance factor...I would tend to agree, however, this does not diminish the importance of these other factors as well.

There are endless amounts of posts regarding this subject and related topics.  Do a search.

Best of luck in your quest for a “best” elk arrow!

Kris

[wapitirod]

I'm no expert on this either,especially since I'm just getting back into traditional hunting.  I have read the same thing posted above about 10gpi.  I like to run heavy for everything I hunt so I'm sticking with my tried and true aluminum shafts in 2317 which are 13.3gpi and a 145gr Razorhead but I'm also shooting 15-25 more pounds than the bow you listed.  In the past I've always had the best luck shooting the heaviest arrow that still shot well and fairly flat.  My arrow/broadhead combination is just a hair under 700gr.

[Over&Under]

Originally posted by Kris:
Tom,

It's not as easy as someone telling you what weight arrow to use.  There are several important factors to consider contributing to arrow efficiency/penetration.  In no particular order.

- arrow flight
- broadhead mechanical advantage (MA)
- weight Forward of Center (FoC)

Many would suggest a starting point of 10 grains/inch arrow length.  I would suggest anywhere from 500 to 700 grains depending on your arrow flight, your expectations and your ability to shoot this setup accurately and at a range you pre limit yourself to.

There are endless amounts of posts regarding this subject.  Do a search.

Beat of luck!

Kris

Can't say it better than that...I would agree start at 10 gpp (although I have seen less do the job) and place it well and you should be fine.  The last elk I killed was with a 51# bow and my arrows were just a fuzz above 10 gpp

[wingnut]

I too shoot about a 50 pound bow and use 550 to 600 grain arrows.

I'll be using the same setup for moose next year in Alaska.

Mike

[The Hawk]

2 cents. An arrow that you can shoot accurately (while you are shaking lol    ) with a razor sharp two or three blade. I got pass-thrus on two elk this year (bull and cow) with 600g arrow tipped with a Zwickey Eskimo out of a 62 lb pronghorn. Around 10 gpp. Good Luck.

[Bjorn]

Adam and I both killed Elk with 650 gn Fir arrows shot from 51 and 53# bows. Adam got a double lung shot on his bull with his 53# ACS. My cow succumbed to a heart shot from my 51# ACS.
If I ever draw a moose tag I'll use the same set up.

[Biathlonman]

I'm running a 575 gr. Arrow about 165 out of a #51 recurve.  If I ever draw an elk tag that's my plan...

There is a Hill style shooter here that had a longbow that was 52@26", his draw length. In three years in a row, he got two pass throughs and one that the arrow dangled by the feathers before it came through on elk. His arrows were just 520 grains. I opted for more poundage and a heavier arrow, my draw is the same. However, since talking to the Schulz boys about it, I was under estimating the killing power of 50s# longbows and slim two blade broadheads. The poundage number is just that, a number, a faster bow design with a longer draw length could easily throw a heavier shaft with a larger broadhead flatter than say a Hill style bow with a shorter draw that could be ten pounds heavier. Even though I shoot Hill style bows, I personally like a faster arrow and I have no problems with going to a heavier or faster bow to maintain it when shooting a heavier shaft.

[fnshtr]

I shoot near 50# and a 630 grain arrow did the trick 2 years ago... I shot 680 grains this year. Wasn't really trying to make the arrows heavier, just turned out that way after adding cap wraps for visibility, aluminum collars and 1" longer feathers.

With lighter bows (55# and less) the heavier arrows seem to help penetration. That's my $.02.

Good luck!