Just saw a video on youtube on Easton Axis traditional arrows, On this video Fred Eichler is describing his hunting arrows wich weigh 480 grains. That seems a bit light for large Game, what do you guys think?
Dave
I think that I don't argue with results, and when a man has killed every species of big game in North America I take his word for it.
He sure kills a lot of critters.
I do think he modifies his setup some. I recall him stepping up in poundage for a few hunts.
Relying on another's experience may be excellent for valid reference. There may be numerous and possibly significant variables that remain unknown which have contributed to the quite positive results.
Confidence is established and engrained by knowing the lethality of your own personal setup.
The quarry we pursue deserves nothing less.
Note: Mr. Eichler knows his personal equipment lethality
Fred is not a heavy arrow guy. He usually uses the 54# limbs and an arrow just under 500 grains and usually a 2-blade broadhead. He is sold on the small diameter carbons. If you have ever shot with him you know he practices a lot at longer ranges and is very good at it. The lighter arrows help him with trajectory.
D.P.
I've killed several Bull Elk, Deer, Bear etc. with a 60# recurve and arrows under 500 grains. NEVER had a problem with penetration. Many of those kills where with 3 blade, most where pass through's.
Light small diameter carbon arrows can be deadly, I'm sure he modified his setup slightly and as others have mentioned I know he has upped his draw weight for some of the bigger animals.
Bottom line is that his set up could easily kill any animal in North America with room to spare.
I talked to Fred Eichler once about one of his Muskox hunts. I was enquiring about his bow and arrow setup that he used, and right from the man himself, he told me his bow was 54Lbs and his arrows was 490 Grains. He also said the shot was taken at approx, 35 yards because that was as close as he could get.
Tony
Sounds like he favors 9gpp and his success with that arrow weight speaks for itself.
I'm a big fan of Fred personally and I just took down a black bear with a 125 grain Fred Eichler Muzzy Phantom four blade broadhead. I personally think if you shoot 9-12 grains per pound then you'll be in the clear. Like it was stated before...his results speak for themselves.
I see pictures of Fred drawing down on a water buffalo. Haven't seen the footage or read about it. Where? What set-up? Success?
8.5 to 10 gpp is not what I consider a light arrow. No one ever had any trouble shooting thru critters with that weight until after Al Gore created the Internet. I usually try to keep my hunting rigs at about 9 gpp and that would be quite sufficient for anything in North America.
Talking with a friend of mine who just got back from the bear Quest Hunt with Rod Jenkins. Now....ACCORDING TO MY FRIEND....Rod was using a 420 grain Arrow out of a 40 pound bow, And he told me that Rod said it was the heaviest Arrow he has ever used..??? At that bow weight it was still 10.5gpp...However, Apparently That included the African game he had killed.??? I hate to pass 3rd Barstool info, but he just told me this last week......Found this very interesting....And yes, he killed a bear with this setup on a pass through..
Rod had a deer kill pic on here a bit ago. The bow in the pic said 40#.
The deer looked really dead.
The very best tuned bow I ever owned was a 60" 50# MPA. The arrow was a .600 Goldtip Entrada with a 145 grain tip. Total arrow weight was a whopping 350 grains--that's 7 gpp.
Since I started bowhunting long before folks got all excited about "heavy" arrows, I knew this bow was more than adequate for whitetailed deer.
I shot at and killed three with that bow. One buried in the far shoulder, one cut two ribs in two and buried to the fletch, the last one cut a rib in two going in and buried in the dirt.
For deer-sized critters, sharp broadheads and shot placement trump arrow weight every time.
Wish I hadn't sold that PMA. :^)
QuoteOriginally posted by Benny Nganabbarru:
I see pictures of Fred drawing down on a water buffalo. Haven't seen the footage or read about it. Where? What set-up? Success?
In talking with Fred after his first water buffalo hunt he told me he went with heavier limbs and a much heavier Easton arrow.
Thanks, Mint.