would you hunt with 458 grn @160+fps

DennyK · July 07, 2015, 02:46:00 PM

Go Get 'Em- No problem with what you are shooting. Accuracy and a Scary Sharp Broadhead Will Do What You Want It To. Denny

Jakeemt · July 07, 2015, 02:54:00 PM

Ditto what these guys said just do it man. You'll be fine if you put your arrow in the boiler room.

July 07, 2015, 03:06:00 PM

He already stated that he was a trad shooter, but not a trad hunter and is going to use 'other means'. It is encouraging to see the positive objective feedback, new people can get pushed into unsuitable equipment by heavy bow advocates.

D. Key · July 07, 2015, 03:42:00 PM

No prob. Speed isn't everything.

I have an example from my early trad hunting days...Had a doe come into my set at about 10 yds. She was quartered away from me and I was shooting a 57# recurve with a 450 grain aluminum and 2 blade Zwickey Diamond (scary sharp). It was so still I could hear my heart beating so in lieu of coming to full draw, I only half drew the bow (about 26-30#), taking her at the left side back rib and it exited in front of her right shoulder. Not a complete pass-thru but only about 6" of the arrow remained inside. She only ran about 50 yds.

Hope that answers your concerns.

rolltidehunter · July 07, 2015, 03:45:00 PM

yes I would hunt with it and not think twice about it

Longbow58 · July 07, 2015, 04:46:00 PM

First trad kill was a 6pt. with a Ben Pearson Mach1 40#, GT 3555 weighing 450gr. grains. Second kill was 9pt. with a 43# Bear Alaskan same arrow plus 50gr insert. I think you are good. Put them in the boiler room. Good luck.

the rifleman · July 07, 2015, 05:29:00 PM

Close to my set up and experience has proven good sharp two blades and good placement equal good results.

KyStickbow · July 07, 2015, 06:41:00 PM

I wouldn't think twice about hunting with it!

Yewbender · July 07, 2015, 07:18:00 PM

Your fine with that setup on deer, keep shots close and use a sharp broadhead and shot placement is the key.

Thumper Dunker · July 08, 2015, 04:46:00 AM

How far do you want the arrow to go after it goes out the other side. That set up is just fine.

highlow · July 08, 2015, 06:53:00 AM

Why not.

cedar swampman · July 08, 2015, 08:44:00 AM

I think I have come to the realization that my body is shrinking(draw especially) and even when using expansion and such I have a pretty short power stroke. Speed is only one component but it is the only thing that drives an arrow through an animal(of course a well placed shot).Thanks for all the input.

cedar swampman · July 08, 2015, 09:11:00 AM

This morning I went and relaxed into my shot and am in the 150's and both my bows seem like toys(the penetration on my targets is minimal) so hunting with them is out in my book. I'll just shoot them for fun and leave the hunting with stickbows to you experienced folks.

Yewbender · July 08, 2015, 09:30:00 AM

Thumper Dunker, thats awsome Lmao!!!!

reddogge · July 08, 2015, 01:46:00 PM

That was the norm in the 60s and 70s. We didn't even know arrow speed was something to measure or how to measure it.

Ceb · July 08, 2015, 03:58:00 PM

Confidence is a major factor, obviously you do not have confidence in your setup, though everyone here has said its fine, and it is. Much larger game has been brought down with less. Try hunting smaller game first untill you realize the capability of your gear.

Bobby Urban · July 08, 2015, 06:12:00 PM

Cedar - I am 5'3" that is all God gave me. I pull 25" on a good day in a T-shirt so likely 23/24" in a hunting situation. I am shooting a 45@25 recurve currently w roughly 450g arrows with WW 3 blade broadheads on the business end. I am shooting deer here in Michigan just as you would be as well as bear here and in Canada. I can send you as many photos as you like of very dead things taken with that gear or less in regards to power stroke, Lbs. and speed. Hell, I feel 160fps is fast!!

As someone else mentioned - most often my arrows are in the dirt on the other side with both deer and bear. if not they hit the opposite shoulder and just as dead.

Ceb · July 08, 2015, 06:48:00 PM

By the way Cedar, what kind of draw weight are you shooting?

cedar swampman · July 08, 2015, 06:51:00 PM

Guys, I have been shooting a bow since I was 8 yrs old (I am 58 now) and have drilled a fair share of squirrels, rabbits and frogs as a kid. I have bee to Rick Welch's school as well as Bob Wesley's-I got a pretty good handle on shooting when my form is on. I hunt with modern gear and can take any game in North America so going back to sticks(especially the ones I presently own)is quite humbling as they perform only 10 fps than my old Wing and Bear bows from the 70's.I guess I don't have confidence in my equipment-like I said penetration on my targets with a broadhead is pretty lame.

tecum-tha · July 08, 2015, 07:07:00 PM

Your foam target is not a critter. Your comparison of penetration is completely flawed.
With field points or broadhead, it doesn't matter. Comparing penetration on foam is a non-valid comparison as different law of physics apply between foam (solid) and visco-elastic fluids (critters) . The same wrong comparison will give you the impression that a faster and lighter arrow will outpenetrate the slower and heavier arrow using the same broadhead.
What bow are you shooting now?
I would feel confident to hunt a bear with my 50# Wing recurve and an aluminum or wood arrow of around 480 grains, even though I only draw around 25". And I bet I get around 160fps out of that combo. Normally I use heavier bows, but that doesn't mean it is not an adequate combo.
Compare kinetic momentums and not kinetic energy and your combo will look quite good.
A lot of people think that traditional bows are not able to kill things, until they see the proof themselves.