I've got a weight question

[Wannabe1]

I am not trying to stir no pots here but, do have a question on arrow weight. Now, I do believe in the heavy arrow for better penetration debate and also believe in a razor sharp 2 blade broadhead. So, here's my dilemma.

62" DAS Dalaa, w/45# Dalaa limbs. Pulling to 28.5" with a tenringsstring Rhino string. My arrows is a 30" GT 3555 Trad Hunter with 125gr up front. This is only giving me a 423gr total arrow weight but, HOT DANG this bow is fast. No, I have not chronoed it but, it is to me the fastest bow I've shot yet.

At approx. 18yds, it is shooting pretty flat to my target and burying the arrow almost 3/4 of the way up the shaft. I am getting great flight off my ST-300 rest with a shorty plunger. Has me pretty excited!   :D

I usually like a bit heavier arrow and believe I owe it to the animal to get as much penetration as possible. My question, do you think I'm to light? I can probably go heavier and tune the arrow again to the bow, but believe I will loose that flat shooting effect. Or will there be that much difference as my max is 20yds?

Looking for straight honest answers with no malcontent involved. Thanks, TW

[old_goat2]

Depends on what your doing or hunting, deer or target shooting I imagine you will be fine.

[Etter]

I would personally like more up front.  I recently went from a 500 grain arrow with 200 up front to a 600 grain arrow with 300 up front and the penetration on both targets and game is very noticeable.

[Wannabe1]

Right now, I am predominately hunting deer and smaller game. I will need a heavier set of limbs if I go after elk.

Etter: What draw weight are you shooting with that heavy of an arrow?

That arrow puts you right at 9.5gpp. You are fine hunting deer and smaller game with that set up!

Bisch

[Pointer]

If you are hunting whitetails you should be fine. I don't see a problem with that setup

[Wannabe1]

Thanks Bisch! I was really hoping to hear that as getting it tuned to shoot like that was fun but, a process. Now I don't want to mess with it!

I hesitate to say it but, I think I may have found my bow of bows!  

[nineworlds9]

I think you're fine.  I generally end up with 'at least' a 475g arrow depending on what shaft I'm using and so it's become my 'minimum', but if you're 9.5gpp I wouldn't give it a second thought.  It would be easy to tip the scale to 10gpp or more just with things like a slightly heavier insert, or a slightly heavier 2 blade broadhead like 145-160g which shouldn't change your trajectory hardly at all.

[Wannabe1]

Thanks 9W9. I may try a 145gr tip tomorrow and see how that goes. I was going to put a bow quiver on it but, don't want to change the characteristics of the bow right now. If I hunt from a stand, won't be no problem carrying a side or back quiver.

[McDave]

I think you're more like 9 gpp because of the extra 1/2" you're drawing, but I still think that's fine.  I would stick with the 125 grain broadhead, since that's working so well for you.

Oh, I just noticed. I vote no bow quiver.  Keep it clean and get a Safari quiver or whatever else you might like.

[ChuckC]

The question was asked. .  what is it you intend of your equipment.  For deer and similar, . . .  go hunt.
CHuckC

[drewsbow]

yes you should be fine , put the arrow in the right place .

[ISP 5353]

For deer you should be fine.

[Bowwild]

That's almost exact weight of arrow I sometimes use. I've had complete pass throughs.

[David Mitchell]

Well, I have a good friend who shot through an adult bison and the arrow went skipping across the frozen ground with a 50# recurve (at his 26" draw) and 425 grain arrow with 2 blade head.  He regularly shoots through some nice hogs with a similar set-up using big snuffers. I think I would use a bit more horse power on a bison myself but it worked extremely well. His successes with that gear has made me think a bit differently about how heavy we really need to go.  This guy is a very experienced hunter who has shot lots of African game (plains variety) as well as many North American species. You will be fine on deer and hog sized game.

[tracker12]

Sounds like everything is working for you.  Only thing left is to shoot a few critters and evaluate the results.  You can ask all long what is best but in the end it's the field results that count.

[Wannabe1]

Very much appreciate all the input and feel real well with my setup now! I am going to keep it as it is because, well, cannot not argue with how she's shooting!   :D  I'm hoping to stick me a deer this year and this is the setup I hope to do it with.