This will be my first year hunting with traditional archery. In fact, I have never taken a shot at an animal with any kind of bow. As the season gets closer, I am getting more and more nervous about my arrow set up. I simply don't have any experience, so I don't know what will work. My bow is a Bear glass powered Black Bear with a 45 pound draw weight at 28 inches. I am shooting Beman ICS BowHunter 500's at 7.3 gpi. The shafts are 28.5 inches long with 125 grain field tips and 3, 4 inch feather fletchings. I am thinking about using Magnus 2-blade broad heads. Also, I am not sure if the arrows are tuned to my bow. They do seem to wave a little while in flight. I am looking for any advice that I can get to make sure that I am ready to put an ethical, clean, kill shot on a deer. Thanks for any input. I am open to all suggestions on how to get the best set up for my bow.
Thanks
Welcome to the wonderful world of bow hunting! I am far from an arrow expert but in doing some quick math your arrows are weighing in at 208 grains + your field tip 125 grains for a total of 333 grains. Sounds like it might be a little light which might accout for the wobble. Maybe try to get close to 9 to 10 grains per pound of draw weight. With a 45# draw weight an arrow closer to 400-450 grains including head might be better. Not familiar with that specific arrow either. Other will chime in I am sure.
what is your draw length? Is the arrow waving side to side? if so try turning the cock feather 180 degs ( cock feather in, If you now shot cock feather out ). Then and only then start moving brace hight.
My draw length is 28 inches. Thanks for the responses so far.
For total arrow weight you also have to add in fletching, nock and inserts. Probably bringing you to around 400 grains or so. Translates to about 8.8 grains per pound. I'd consider that a tad light for my tastes, but it is certainly doable. At that weight of bow and arrow setup tuning is going to be critical to capture all the efficiency that you can. Go on over to OL's site and tune your bow up exactly as he says. That's my opinion anyway. -Chad http://www.bowmaker.net/index2.htm
If spinnig your cock feather around 180 doesint helpflight, you may try a 1916 shaft with a 125
magnus, A good frend of mine hunts with a 45# grizzly @ 28" and shoots this setup of 1916 legacy shaft 3 5" feathers, and a 125 magnus
and does very well on whitetails, he would never shoot at a deer past 20 yards.
You may want too play with your brace a little raise it an 1/8" at a time and see what happens
if it gets worse start too lower it a lttle at a time, goodluck and keep it fun.
I'm shooting 41 pounds with a 28 inch draw, and I had to go with a CE Heritage 150 at 29 inches, wraps, 4-fletch, 125 gr. field point, and another 140 gr. loaded in the front of the arrow, for a combined weight of 610 gr., and it was like shooting a completely different bow. The arrows straightened up, handshock disappeared, and the bow was totally silent.
I shoot the same arrow out of my 45# gamemaster. I'd say your arrows may be a little too stiff. I'm shooting 500's with 100gr brass inserts and a 125gr head. A 100gr insert will give you more total arrow weight and and should help with penetration with it being up front.
you could try to put in weight tubs in your arrow and move up to a 145 or 150 feild tip and broad head that could help and would be cheaper than buyin new arrows
Thanks for the input. I weighed my arrows and they averaged around 380 grains total. I would like to install 100 grain brass inserts to increase the weight. Could anyone please explain how to accomplish this?
Thanks
once you get things ironed out bow wise, yout attitude sounds good. Shoot the very first legal animal you can get buck or doe. You'll be amazed at how your confidence will soar.
Good luck and good hunting
You are too stiff on that shaft. I shoot them in less than and up to center cut bows of 45-50#, and I have to have 100 gr. inserts plus 100-145 point depending on the bow and many other factors. Strip down one shaft and shoot it with your fletched shafts. You will probably see it head left on you if you are a right hand shooter. I would recommend you get a pack of 100 gr. brass inserts and some test field points of 100-225 from someplace like 3 rivers. Then start bare shaft group shooting per above post. You may also want to get some 50 gr. inserts while you are at it for maximum flexibility. With aluminum inserts in your arsenal also you can tune with about 122 gr. to 325. You will find a point weight that will work in there some place. Then you can fine tune brace height also. Plus you can build out the strike plate if needed to get the combo you want. Shaft length on carbons is a good tuning option to allow you to use a particular point weight you like, but if you have very many cut them I would work with the above options until the next time you get shafts.
QuoteOriginally posted by jhp0529:
Thanks for the input. I weighed my arrows and they averaged around 380 grains total. I would like to install 100 grain brass inserts to increase the weight. Could anyone please explain how to accomplish this?
Thanks
If you have inserts glued in with epoxy then do the heated field point or wiping the shaft with a drill bit in it. Do a search and you will find more on that. Clean out the shaft a little and glue in new inserts with hot melt until you are all tuned in. Some shafts don't like hot melt, but beman shafts take it great with no prep for me.