#50ish elk rigs

[Biathlonman]

Curious who has had success or failures with elk rigs about #50?  Would love to hear your setups and gear recommendations.  My go to is 51@28, I draw about 28.5".  Going to try and work into a #55 of the same make and model bow I just picked up, but I'm real happy with my go to.  Drew a Kentucky cow elk tag so time to start obsessing about my gear for the next 6 months!

[Kamm1004]

heavy, straight shooting arrow with a sharp broadhead in the sweet spot and you should be fine. 50# is enough imo.
Do a forum search. Lots of info on this topic

[Prairie Drifter]

I have killed elk sized game(zebra) w/ 51#@ 26" . I'll be going w/ similar weight this fall for elk.

[Biathlonman]

I've read every thread on search term "elk", several times in the last couple of days!   .

We need details Prairie Drifter!

[motorhead7963]

Do yourself a favor and train and hunt with the 55#er. If you have never hunted Elk do not go out there with marginal equipment,I am of the mind to shoot the heaviest bow you can be accurate with a shooting distances, if you make a less than perfect shot on an animal you can make up the difference with the penetration you will get from the heavier bow(the possibility is there)artery.. part of lung, liver...etc.etc.

[Prairie Drifter]

I hunted Africa in 2011. I took this zebra w/ a 51#@ 26" Maddog longbow. Arrows were GT trads 35/55, w/ 240grs(125gr stinger,100gr bullet behing the regular insert) up front, about 22-23 % foc. Total arrow weight around 500grs. Got penetration up to the feathers. Broadhead buried in opposite shoulder. About 15 yard shot, slight quatering away.

   

A zebra is deeper across the chest than an elk, so I have no qualms using my equipment on elk.

I will be in Africa again this August and will be hunting w/ low 50 lb bows.

[Biathlonman]

The difference between my go to and the heavier one seems to be right at 5 fps. Across all arrow weights from 500-650.  Doesn't seem like much gain for how much heavier the bow feels.  I'm still going to give it a go though.

[katman]

Work up to the 55#er if it turns out your not as accurate with it the 51#er will be easy to draw.

I would think a sharp two blade will help penetration.

[Jack Whitmire Jr]

Never hunted elk ,but what I have found on Hogs is that a lighter  bow properly tuned and drawn FULLY without struggle and shot accurately will penetrate as good if not better one someone is struggling with . I would rather have another inch of draw than 5 pounds drawn shorter  

The key is a finely tuned bow/arrow combo with a SHARP 2 blade head in the vitals .

I know some will disagree with my statements , but that is ok . This is my opinion based on experience  and cannot be changed very easily .
Again I have NEVER hunted Elk .

Good luck in your quest !

[dnovo]

If your heavier bow feels that much heavier, you may not be drawing it the same. Work into it a while and make sure you are getting full draw on it. Shortdrawing even a 1/2" or an 1" can make a huge difference.

[motorhead7963]

I will add one more thing, when you are in the heat of the moment everything had better be fluid, you will probably only get a fleeting moment to make the shot so make it count.

[rolltidehunter]

I have some experience. Little,but some. I have shot 1 elk with trad bow . One bull 6x6. 15 yard shot. 53@26 550 grain arrow.

I'm going back to hunt elk again this year. I will be using the same bow but with a heavier arrow 640grains is what I weighed them at.

Take a ethical shot and shoot 10-12 gpi and you can kill just about anything with it

[duncan idaho]

If you have no physical limitaions, then work into the 55# bow. Training to use a bow, is what traditional archery is about. I believe the current trend of "use the lightest possible bow, with the least amout of work" is a dangerous flaw for our sport. (IMHO)

I killed a large kudu in Africa with my 50# at my DL Sarrels Blueridge longbow, and would not hesitate to take it elk hunting.

If you are well tuned you will be just fine.


Bisch

[Bjorn]

I killed a very large cow elk with my 51# ACS CX and a 650 gn Fir arrow.
My son killed a 5x5 Bull with his 53# ACS CX and a 630 gn Cedar arrow.
Both animals died within 50 yds.  
Sharp single bevel and a well tuned arrow will help you get it done.

[Jack Whitmire Jr]

I should have added that getting your arrow weight up around or above 11 GPI on a 50# bow is important with this setup also .

Of course if you can handle the heavier bow very well use it .

[fnshtr]

I shot this young bull with a 58" BW PSAIII, 48@28 and I only draw 27". The arrow was a Trad Only 400 spine with a Magnus Stinger 125 grain BH. Total arrow weight was 630 grains (weight tubes).

I shot the bull at 23 yards and got complete penetration. Recovered the bull within 100 yards.

I will be hunting with a 54#@28 LB this year. Similar arrow weight.

Good luck!

[Matty]

[Biathlonman]

Fnshtr, any idea the speed of your BW rig? My backup bow is similar specs.

[fnshtr]

Sorry... never shot it through a chronograph. When I went from 530 grain (whitetail) set up to the 630 grains, I did notice a trajectory change. I limited my shots to a max of 25 yards.

I really do think the heavier arrow is needed with the lower poundage bows. I tinkered with different weight arrows and noticed a big difference in penetration with the heavier ones (in same target butts).

I understand that we should shoot as heavy a bow as we can accurately... but scary sharp COC BHs and heavy well placed arrows will do the job.

I don't want to start a controversy, but I know someone that took a huge cow with a 41# recurve and 630 grain arrow. He had injured his shoulder and couldn't shoot any heavier bow. I wouldn't recommend that light of a bow though.

Good luck!