Im sure you guys are gettin sick of me and my back and forth antics but ive hit a wall! If youve kept up on me recently(if you havent i dont blame you), you know im torn between the Ace Express 165gr and the Magnus Snuffer 160gr for my hunting endeavors this fall! I can get a scary sharp edge on the Snuffers and my bow/arrow combo just flat loves 'em! Im shooting a Bear Montana #55@28" and 480gr Douglas Fir arrows(640gr with the heads attached)! Ive stirred the pot on here numerous times, yet i always come back to the Snuffers! In your opinion, whats the minimum poundage/arrow weight combo for Snuffers on game like elk, moose, bear, etc.? Im really liking 'em, but id be sick if i got minimal penetration and lost an elk due to being stubborn :knothead:
Legend has it 53# is the min,so I've heard.Like to see what others have to say...
I have taken Whitetail Deer with 160grn Snuffers using a 50# selfbow...
If it gets sharp and flies well, HUNT IT!! don't fix what ain't broke .They have taken all size game for years.
In took a deer with a 49#@27"all wood bow, 145gr Snuffer, 500gr total arrow weight. BH passed through. Then the deer busted the arrow when it took off.
You have plenty of bow and arrow for the Snuffer and more than plenty for the Ace.
Java Man
You are worried for no reason. 10s of thousands of big game animals have been taken with 55# bows and big Snuffers. Roger had a shoulder problem last year and shot thru a BUNCH of deer with a low 40 bow...and he would not even think of using something other than the 160 Snuffer. Years ago, I worried the same way--for no reason. If you arrows are flying well, you are golden for any big game we've got in the US.
The only animal that ive ever harvested with a 160 Snuffer was a 22lb tom this last spring1 Full passthrough at 16yds, broke the spine in half on the exit! I fell in love with the head instantly, but didnt feel a turkey was a true test for the head eventhough ive heard guys have trouble with full penetration on 'em! I have the sharpening down pat for 'em as well! File then i work through 3 different grades of Norton files changing pressure as i go, and finish with a stropping on notebook paper!!!
I don't know much about the Ace Express 165 grain so I cannot comment on it.
However, using 160 grain Snuffers and a 68 pound longbow, I've gone completely through the rib cages (and further) of big black bears, big bull caribou, and big Canadian whitetail bucks.
Although I have killed bull moose with the same setup, I prefer using two blades when moose hunting for extra penetration in the event of a quartering away shot, etc.
This year I got a complete pass through on a huge black bear quartering away. The snuffer went through the rib cage and then through the opposite shoulder (but didn't hit the bone). I shot the bear at very close range though. I posted the picture and story here in early June under the title "natural ground blinds and black bears".
I have since moved on to a different longbow, but still really like Snuffers and use them whenever I think I should. Strength, straightness, consistency in manufacturing, true weight, ease of sharpening, and last but not least size of wound are reasons why I do.
I am repeating myself from one of your previous threads but just keep away from the shoulder and you won't have a problem with your setup.
As an example, this is the 160 grain Snuffer quartering away exit wound of the big black I killed on May 31.
However, I used a 75 pound Caribow longbow and as I've already mentioned, at extreme close range.
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/Mehikan/Tradgang/DSC_0802.jpg)
Sharpen what you have. Put it in the right spot.
Eat meat.
If i were shooting heavier pondage i wouldnt have any doubt about using the Snuffers! The Montana isnt a speed demon by any means, it is a very quiet bow with little hand shock that puts a good heavy hunting arrow where its supposed to time and time again! That may be my saving grace here, as i feel im shooting a very heavy arrow to bow weight ratio! 29" BOP arrow with 14% FOC and a total weight of 640gr! The momentum of that heavy projectile alone should have no problem with adequate penetration! Ive done a penetration test that involved carpet, cardboard and wood paneling and the arrow went right through at 25yds and blew through the canteloupe that i had on the backside to simulate vitals!!! What do ya think?
The arrow went clean through the turkey i harvested this spring stern to stern and imbedded itself into a tree 8-10yds behind the bird almost all the way to the back of the head!
Get it sharp. Quit worrying. And go hunting!
Snuffer all the way.
I'm shooting a very similar set-up this year. 55@28 Dwyer Defiant longbow. Beman ICS hunters with 100 gr. inserts and a 160gr. snuffer for 640gr. arrow. Only chasing whitetails this year but I'm looking forward to the bloodtrails they leave.
I think you should listen to what everybody has said here and the other hundreds that are rolling their eyes wondering why you are waiting for a dissenting opinion, mount up the Snuffers and shoot straight... :deadhorse:
my buddy...Phil Harris from Maryland...took a nice bear in Sask back in 90s with a Snuffer...went in one side and lodged in opposite shoulder...bear went just a few yards. Taxidermist up there thought Phil shot it with a shotgun slug the hole was so huge....
No worries with your set-up, but they can be loud ... Good Luck ...