Scarcity of Arrows in my area and a question

[The-Talon]

Hey everyone been browsing for awhile decided to finally make my first post. It's a question really.. In my area Outskirts of Toronto Canada.. There are no places that cater to Traditional archery or anything besides crossbows, compound bows or guns. I have tried a few different spines of arrows and from various materials.. Carbon, wood, Aluminum.. I really like the durability of carbon but I love the look and feel of wood arrows with my longbow.

I am shooting a fred bear montana longbow at 50# at 28 inches I believe. Anyway my question is about spine and grains of the arrowhead tip. Since I will be ordering online I wanna be absolutely sure about what I'm ordering.. I believe that 400 spine is the correct spine for me and I have been shooting 100 grain field tips and also 100 grain broadheads.. Do you guys have any idea if this sounds correct to you or is there any information you can give me to help me get my specs dead on with limited resources.

I have been shooting traditional for about 4 years  and have tried sooo many different arrows I just wanna know for sure what my specs should be.. At the moment I'm shooting 400 carbons with 100 grain  arrowheads. Sorry for the longwinded post but thanks in advance for any info. Great website and good community!! Looking forward to posting more.

-Talon

[arrowslinger22]

.400 is going to be too stiff @50# and 28".  I would be looking at something in the .500 to .600 range.  Depends on your actual draw length with that bow, if it's less than 28", I'd lean toward the .600 side.  I would also suggest heavier points.  Total arrow weight should be around 500 grains.

[The-Talon]

Ah okay i was wondering cause it seems sometimes they release a bit funny.. and seem to porpuss(sp?) a bit.. The only thing is you say in the 500-600 range.. it's hard when I can only really find them online and I get 100 dollars worth of arrows and they are wrong yet again..  :(  I guess I should figure out what my draw length is once and for all..

[Bud B.]

Gold Tip 35/55s should do well from your bow.

Cut'em to 30" depending on your draw and tune with different tips.

What is your draw length?

[Bladepeek]

I'll second the 3555s. They seem to be useful for me on any of my bows from 43# to 50#. I would be tempted to leave them a hair longer; 30.5"(?) to start with, especially if you want to use lighter points.

Mine tune up very nicely on a couple of bows just under 50# @ 28" and I draw a bit more so I'm shooting just about 49# - 51# depending on which bow. I use 160 gr broadheads and have some of them set up with an extra 20gr insert for 145 gr field points. They shoot dead on for me.

[The-Talon]

So the heavier tip seems to be better eh? Do you guys think 125 would be heavy enough?? Or should I move all the way up to 150.. I also shoot Flu-Flu arrows for small game like rabbits and squirrels so I'd like to find small game heads in those sizes as well.

[The-Talon]

Will the arrowhead weight change when shooting flu flus? And will the 3555 be the same as well if I'm shooting Flu flu's.. Sorry I'm getting kind of excited.. Nice to have some help it's so rare around here lol had to learn alot myself, and as you can see I haven't learned much about the technical aspects.

[The-Talon]

Also.. what would 3555 be in relations to spine for a carbon arrow?

[Bud B.]

3555 is 500

1535 is 600

As for flu-flus, the point weight is not as significant as the large feathers help make up for too heavy a spine. Or too light.

If you're pulling your bow to 27" and it's 50@28 then you're around 47lbs. I shoot 3555s out of my 50# recurve using 175gr points and full length (30.5") shafts.

You want a finished arrow that's around 470gr if you want 10gpp. You can also go as light as 8gpp but use caution going light. The bow will likely react better to a heavier arrow. Less noise that way. Try to stay above 400gr.

Bladepeek is probably right. Shoot 30.5" arrows and buy a test kit of field points and go from there. I can't see you shooting more than 225 up front. My bet is 175 or 200gr points will be where you find the best arrow flight, if nock height and brace are correct.

[Killdeer]

Squirrels outrun flu-flus.    
I use both 500 and 600 spine arrows, and 175 grain points with bows in your weight range, and I draw 26.5  to 27".
Killdeer

[mahantango]

Yeah, .500 spine, no stiffer, around 175 - 225gr. points. Start full-length and tune from there. Carbons react much more to changes in length than point weight. Cut no more than 1/4" at a time, bareshafting as you go.

[mahantango]

And yes, a squirrel will duck a flu-flu like you wouldn't believe.

[Bladepeek]

I swear some of those tree rats can duck a .22LR (or did I maybe just miss?)

[Rustic]

I'd go with full length GT3555s and trim them 1/4" at a time...jmho

[58WINTERS]

What's been said good advice. My set up: 50# a 28 HH Wesley Special. 35/55 29 BOP 200 grains up front. Same bow but 55# same arrow 200-250 up front. 5-1/2" 3 fletch.
58

[rick7]

gold tips 35/55 is what i shot when i had a montana with 125 grain points. i draw 28 inch and my arrows were 29 inch.

[Fanto]

for sure 3555. 30" at least and I'd suggest 125 points.
I use 100gr brass inserts, I reccomend these. much stronger, you get more weight so a quieter shot and more penetration on larger game. you can get just about any point blunt and broadhead in 120-125 grain, which Is why I use heavy inserts. if you use 225 broadheads you then have to try to find the blunts and points to match which is possible but harder

[damascusdave]

Have you talked to the guys at Archer's Nook in London?

DDave

[Bud B.]

Just remember, if you buy full length carbons you'll need a way to cleanly cut them and squarely cut them. Might be easier to decide on a reasonable length, have'em cut and inserts installed, and tune with point weight.


Big Jim is a good place to start. Ask him and he can fix you up.

[HARL]

PM sent !