I would like some advise on setting up my 1966 Bear Kodiak. Its 60" and 45# @ 28". I fletched up some cedar shafts that I picked up from 3 Rivers. I bought them spined for 45 to 50, and have them tipped with vintage Bear Razorheads with out the bleeder blade. The arrows are flying ok, but not perfect. I can group them fine, they just seem to have a slight fishtail. Should I go with a stiffer spine? I have the brace ht set at 8.5".
thanks
Sean,first of all: what's your draw lenght and how long your arrows are?
Sean, I shoot 50-55's out of my 69 43# Kodiak and they seem to fly Great. That is with 125 field points though. I think Ron W. also uses a similar set up perhaps he will chime in.
Good Luck
My draw is 28.5" and my arrows are 29"
I would use this formula to get 55#-60# spine.
Draw wt. + 5#
Center Cut +5#
inch over or under 28" + or minus 5#
125 gr-145gr 0#
FF +5#
try adjusting the brace height a bit..up a little, then down a little..see if that helps.
I was playing around with this set up alittle and not realizing what I had typed in my original post, I was shooting the above arrows with 125 grn field points. I hadn't shot the rozorheads. Well, I shot the razorhead arrows this morning, and I great arrow fight. does that make sense to anyone? aren't the razor heads - the bleeders weigh about 115 grns?
Reddogge, do you think I should be shooting an arrow spined for about 15# stiffer than what the weight of the bow is?
You'll probably have to go up to either 50-55 or 55-60 because your arrows are over 28". You might save money in the long run by investing in that 8 arrow test kit from 3-Rivers to find the best spine for your rig and shooting style. The calculators and charts are a good place to start, but there's no substitute for just trying a bunch of different arrows to find the best one for you. I have a 52# recurve that shoots 30" 45-50's better than any other spine. No chart or calculator would have ever suggested them.
I've got a 45#@28" Kodiak that I draw to 30" (30-1/2" BOP) and I use 55-60# shafts. My brace height is 7-1/2". Some fishtailing is OK as long as it straightens out in 5 yards or so. If they are hitting where you want that is more important.
Don't go just by your visual. Fire a few and look at how the nocks are pointing back at you from the target.
Actually Sean the old razorheads can vary by 20 grains or more depending on how many times and by whom they've been sharpened. I have some that weigh 140gr without a bleeder and some that weigh 110-112 gr with a bleeder. 10-15 grains doesn't seem to affect much for me with any of my old Kodiaks..did you try adjusting the brace a little bit? maybe 8.5" isn't best for you
I dropped the brace hgt down to 7 3/4. The razor heads are "new" in the pack. I'm pretty comfortable with the way that its shooting now. thanks every one.
My set up for my 67' Kodiak Hunter 43# @ 28" I draw 29"......50-55 cedars full length 31" 125 gr up front. I can shoot 60-65 31" long 125 gr up front, but get better arrow flight with the 50-55. B-50 string about 7 3/4 brace. It shoots real good!!