Anyone shoot less than 9gpp?

[snowplow]

Just thinking, do any of you shoot 8 gpp or so?

It seems to me that lots of you guys shoot big huge snuffers or treesharks out of 50+ # bows @ 9-10 gpp for deer.

With that in mind, does it seem unreasonable to consider 8 gpp and a thin grizzly style head for deer?

[Crooked Stic]

8 gpp would be the least I would shot out of any bow. It will probably work on deer but the little bit of extra kenetic energy you get with 9-10 gpp is worth it to me. I will take quite and forgiving bow over more arrow speed. Now if you get both you got a plus.

[nineworlds9]

I would think it would work fine, but as the last poster said it could be called a minimum and I'd much rather be shooting 9,10,11+ and enjoy a quieter bow, less vibration in the bow, and an extra margin of error if my shot doesnt strike the target surface/skin exactly how I intended. 9-10gpp is plenty flat shooting at what most folks would consider average hunting distances.  Sure it may be "fun" to use less than 8gpp on 3D targets, and I have watched it before with its laser like trajectory out to 30 but I always winced at how loud the bows were and thinking they might blow up LOL.  

Rick Welch swears by 400gr arrows out of 50ish pound bows and I understand his methodology, and his shooting prowess is incredible, but I frankly did not genuinely enjoy the one bow of his that I tried because it was so overbuilt and porky feeling.  Just my 2c.

[wingnut]

8 gpp is usually about the minimum recommended by most bowyers.  The bows just start losing efficiency when you go to light.  I don't see anything wrong with a light arrow and a good head on whitetail sized animals.  My personal preference is about 10 gpp for most any animal.

Mike

[Wheels2]

I shoot just over 8 gpp.  I have been playing around with some FMJ and found that I only lost 6 fps, so they might end up being my hunting arrows.

[Michael Arnette]

I have, I think it's reasonable in bows that are 60+. I've always preferred 9-9.5 gpi in my bows over 60.

[bucknut]

I understand where you are coming from wanting flatter trajectory out west. Here where I live not so much. From what I have seen most bowyers wont recommend anything under 9gpp just for the longevity of the bow. You may see what your bowyer recommends and go from there. I don't  want to take a chance at blowing any of my bows up. I like that quiet dull thump from a heavy woody myself. just my .02.

[Robert Armstrong]

61# 511 gr arrow 8.6 gpp. Light as I care to go with my set up. Good reasons stated above. It's just the balance between trajectory, bow noise, & speed I have confidence in. I like quit over speed and practice at distance.

[Robert Armstrong]

By the way GRIZZLES are KILLERS

[damascusdave]

I have had 2 bowyers their bows would be just fine at 7 gpp...I only shoot that for 3D...for hunting I stick with arrows around 600 grains

DDave

[Whitetail Addict]

I'm shooting 8.6 gpp, with a 430 grain arrow and a 50# bow for whitetails. I've killed a bunch of whitetails and a couple black bears with this set up, and others similar to it over the years, and I've never found it lacking anything.

Bob

[Mjolnir]

I'm shooting just a hair over 9gpi. 74lbs at my draw weight and total arrow weight is 695.5 grains. I tested shooting 745.5 grains last night and the spine seemed a little weak.

[2bird]

No real need to ever go over 400-450 grains for whitetails unless specified by your bowyer. I shoot 325-350 grains for hunting from a 41# recurve and 393 grains from my 47# recurve, I have shot deer with the 3 blade muzzys with my 47#  bow and 393 grain arrows... The only things that really matter with deer is a tuned arrow tipped with a sharp broad head and put in the right spot, everything else isn't really that important

[Yellow Dog]

9.5 to 10 per pound with two blade Bear Razorheads, Zwickey Deltas and Stingers. Tried the heavy FOC thing and I just have better luck tuning an arrow on the 500gr range.

[snowplow]

Thanks for all the replies guys. This isn't something I am going to do at the moment, just thinking and considering what might work best for me in the future.

A few of you locked right into where I was going in my mind.

I shoot 55# now and can shoot 60 easily. My next bow will be a 60. I am out west and dont tree stand hunt so shots are 20 min and 30 easily. Flatter trajectory would really be helpful. Not saying it cant be done otherwise, but it would help. And helping is always good right?- as long as I have a heavy enough setup to do the job. Which brings up weight. I heard Big Jim (I think) recently say that a heavier bow can shoot less gpp usually because it's build heavier. Along that line of reasoning, I figured if I shoot a 60# I could keep my 550 grain arrow (currently 10 gpp at my 55#) and be faster (at 9gpp) while having just as much arrow down range.

This might be out of range, but a guy shooting a 65-70# bow with a 550 grain arrow would be smoking fast and still sending as much or more arrow down range than many here.

See where I am going with this?

[MikeNova]

I'm shooting shafts made of solid lead. They give good penetration,however, when I'm shooting running game at over 50 yards I need a slightly greater lead.

[tracker12]

Originally posted by MikeNova:
I'm shooting shafts made of solid lead. They give good penetration,however, when I'm shooting running game at over 50 yards I need a slightly greater lead.

:knothead:I have the same problem.

[CRS]

no, I prefer 9.5-11gr/#

[Gehrke145]

Yup right around 7-8 here

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by wingnut:
8 gpp is usually about the minimum recommended by most bowyers.  The bows just start losing efficiency when you go to light.  I don't see anything wrong with a light arrow and a good head on whitetail sized animals.  My personal preference is about 10 gpp for most any animal.

Mike

I 2nd this one.... 9.5-10 gpp you get less noise from your bow too.