I have this imaginary line that I can't bring myself to cross when it comes to total arrow weight for whitetails.
It is 500 gr. I have nothing to back that up. No scientific data...LOL. But under 500 is a deal breaker for me.
Anyone else have such an imaginary line they won't cross?
For me it's no less then 8gr of arrow weight and a very straight/true fling arrow with a BH. Oh and it stands to reason being a good shot.
Felt the same way for years, and still do... A heavy arrow, 500 grains plus is quiet and accurate within my comfort zone...
... mike ...
We are in the same boat. For no reason at all I don`t feel good shooting less than 500 grains no matter the pounds. RC
500 gains is about my minimum as well, preferably more but heavy tips seem to help penetration to
at least 600 for me
10 grains per pound, is my preferred weight for most everything.
Right around 500 for me as well.
I like a min of 9gpp.
I don't have an imaginary number, but I really don't like being under 10gpp. For me, that keeps the total arrow weight just over 500gr. Idk what I will do if I have to go down in weight at some point in my life!
Bisch
I haven't killed enough whitetails yet (with trad gear) to form too many opinions, but I trust most of what I come across on here, and 9-10 gpp seems to be a pretty consistent suggestion,
so in my mind, I have a hard time justifying anything lower than that.
I'm at 580 now and don"t want to go below 540(9gpp) with this bow but if I hunt with my old curve 475 is good for me. Keep it close with sharp edges and let her rip!
500 is about my minimum, too, even if I have to drop weight. A few years ago my bow shoulder rotator cuff went nuts on me and I had to drop to the upper 30's for a pig hunt. I carried a Great Northern field bow pulling about 37 lb at my 26" draw and fir arrows with 200 gr Grizzly Kodiaks and 225 Tuffheads. Arrow weights were around 520 to 550. I didn't get the chance to shoot any pigs, but had confidence that my gear would work.
Don't know what my hunting arrow weights were in the 70's. Am aware that my comfort zone has merely been established by harvest with the lowest arrrow weight, since actual weighing arrows, as having been approximately 525 grains.
I understand the desire to staynatba certain gpp. My question is total arrow weight though.
All my bows are much more quiet at 10 gpp or above. But there is a lot of difference in a 420 gr arrow and a 540 gr arrow.
The GPP thing does not work for me. I'm down to a 44# hunting bow (actually I'm up to 44#, since a shoulder problem had me down to 37# for a while). My deer hunting is mulies, but they aren't that different from whitetails.
My hunting arrows are at 650 to 675 regardless of the bow weight. They tend to drop pretty quick, but that's just something to adapt to as well as I can.
Don't have an exact number but I like to be in the high 400's 475-500 range.
Mine is 500 as well, simply because of my 10 grains per inch self inflicted minimum also. All my bows are right at 50 pounds at my draw. I've found over the years that 10 gpi from my bows is the minimum I can go and still get mostly pass through and at least an exit hole on most of my shots on our whitetail.
I'd say my minimum for whitetail would be more like 450ish I've helped drag several deer out that were take with 40-45#and similar set ups...I might add that I've pulled some bloody arrows out of the dirt with that set up too ;)
I like heavy arrows even with lighter weight bows. Mid 500's to over 600. I shot aluminum for many years and 2219's were my all-time favorite shaft. With 60ish # bows shot through most all deer. One year I decided to go light weight and shot 2312's. While I did kill four deer that year with those lightweights, not one single arrow passed through...and I like two holes.
I am currently shooting 625 grain douglas fir arrows from 46#. Just started this lighter weight bow setup, so can't say what the penetration will be on a mature Northern Whitetail buck, but my guess is it will be sufficient. Limiting myself to about 25 yards.
I understand the desire to stay at a certain gpp. My question is total arrow weight though.
All my bows are much more quiet at 10 gpp or above. But there is a lot of difference in a 420 gr arrow and a 540 gr arrow.
Ya Know, I used to think 500 would be about minimum, but I've seen so many pictures on line of little 50-60 pound deer killed I don't think it likely matters much.
My minimum from any bow would 500 grains. Since dropping to 45 lbs due to an elbow injury I have been in the 550-575 grain range out of a 45 lb bow, using carbon and wood. I have gotten pass throughs on the few deer I have shot since making the change.
When I was younger I was shooting 60 lbs with al arrows in the 500 grain range. Generally had two holes but rarely had the arrow go though and into the ground. That is expected with the heavier arrows and lighter bow based on my experience so far.
My bows are 48-53# and the arrows are 570grn.
Seems to work well for me.
I'm getting really good arrow flight with 520 grains. I used to shoot over 600 grains (since I mostly hunt pigs) but I'm going to give this a try this season on pigs and hopefully deer.
700 gr minimum
700 grains?!??! Holy cow...that would drop like a rock from a
40# bow
Never even thought about it....but I will leave this to chew on for a while...
When Cade was 12, he killed his first 2 deer with a little 48" longbow that was only #37 at his measly 24" draw, I believe his little .800 spine arrows weighed in at only about 450 grains...
Not exactly a tank killer....but it did the job!
Lets remember....we're talking deer here...it doesn't take much :thumbsup:
At the distances we all profess to not shoot farther than,i don't feel it matters for deer, quiet is probably more important. With my ultra long draw I'm always well North of 500gr anyways though.
All my hunting arrows now come in at least 500 grains. That being said I find it hard to believe that that there would be a difference between 450 and 500 grains. That's half of a little 100 grain FP.
I do the 10 gpp thing most generally, because I feel it keeps the bow quieter ( which to me means it is better for the bow).
I won't go below about 450 as a general thing (I shoot heavier bows so that is not yet an issue but I have doctored up some arrows for a friend to use with a 45# bow so they met that goal).
Not sure why I chose 450, but I did. I agree with Guru on this, if you keep it close and the shots right it don't take that much on a deer.
CHuckC
9-10 GPP for me. This puts my arrows 414-475. I don't think I've ever shot an arrow, in 46 years that weighed more than 550. My arrows are 27". Even with a 200 grain broadhead I didn't achieve an arrow heavier than 550 grains.
8-21 yard shots on 6 deer, all were pass-throughs the past 6 years. 16 yard shot on black bear, exit hole but arrow didn't pass through...he broke it falling within sight at 40 yards. Shot choice, impact location, and 2-blade single bevel sharp broadhead were more important than the arrow weight.
Minimum about 400. Around 450 these days is my average set up. 50 to 53# bows.
570 to 650 for everything, from a 53@29 bow
I like the 10 grain per pound rule. Good for the bow, quiet, relatively flat trajectory. I use the same arrow for hunting and 3-D. Over 10 gpp is a disadvantage in 3-d when you are trying to hit a circle the size of a silver dollar at unknown distances. I think for hunting at 20 yards or less 12 grains pp will not hurt.
A minimum of 10-10.5 gpp for me seems to be my sweet spot for Whitetail over the years.
To answer the question more accurately this seems to be in the 550-580 grain range.
Simple answer for me is 500 Grain minimum, though I "prefer" more...
450 to 550 for me. The higher you are up in a tree the more important the weight becomes if you want a complete pass through. Especially with big broadheads. On the ground it's pretty easy to push all the way through both sides on a broadside shot with lighter weight. I've killed deer with arrows that only weighed 380 but out of a treestand it's really asking for trouble.
Are these numbers including broadheads or just the arrow itself 500-600
Including my broadheads I'm right at 610 grains and I'm loving the results. The minimum for deer? Based on the deer my son has killed with 35 to 45 pound bows. I would say around 500 grains would be a safe bet.
My gold tips with 100gr brass inserts and a 125 woodsman total 490he. Shot from a 54# bow they are lethal.
Okie,
Yes. Total arrow weight.
QuoteOriginally posted by Michael Arnette:
700 grains?!??! Holy cow...that would drop like a rock from a
40# bow
Wouldnt that depend on the bow? My 43 pound sends them out quite flat at 25 yards and under...Of course my arrows are only 685 gr...if my 40 lb bow made a 700 gr arrow drop like a rock, i need to buy a better bow.
QuoteOriginally posted by Shadowhnter:
QuoteOriginally posted by Michael Arnette:
700 grains?!??! Holy cow...that would drop like a rock from a
40# bow
Wouldnt that depend on the bow? My 43 pound sends them out quite flat at 25 yards and under...Of course my arrows are only 685 gr...if my 40 lb bow made a 700 gr arrow drop like a rock, i need to buy a better bow. [/b]
Wow, the more I read, the better and more confident I am feeling about using lighter poundage bows with heavier arrows.
Thanks guys, keep 'em coming.
Bill, to get a great flying arrow and laying aside the fact that tuning is needed, the weight alone wont cut it. Get up around 20%foc along with that weight, and the heavy arrow will amaze you for it's trajectory as well as penetration.