Hello,
The more and more I read about guy's arrow set ups, it seems as though mine are quite light. I am shooting a Thunderhorn Coup Stick, draws 55# @ 26", but I draw it to about 28", so closer to 58 or 59#. (Going to find out exactly next time I stop by archery shop).
Anyhow, the bow came with a half dozen arrows, that it seems to shoot just fine. They are Gold Tip Traditionals 5575, cut to 29" with 175 grain field points. Total arrow weight is 441 grains. Do you guys think I might benefit by adding some extra weight adapters?? Like I said, these seem to be shooting without a problem. Why so many guys use such heavier arrows??
Hey bud. You're arrows may be a tad light...but depending on what the bow manufacturer suggests, they may not be too light. Most bowyers suggest an arrow that weighs at least 9 grains per pound of bow weight. The lighter the arrow...the more stress on the bow. If you are pulling 58 pounds..you are looking at 7.6 grains per pound. If I were you...I would check with the bowyer to make sure shooting such a light arrow is OK.
The advantages to a heavier arrow is that they will penetrate better on game animals, and will cause less stress to your bow.
They will also make your bow quieter on the shot, and also reduces handshock.
Of course there are advantages to a lighter arrow in the way of a flatter trajectory.
Above is all true and good advice.
You might be voiding your warranty by shooting that light of an arrow in your bow.
You can kill deer sized game with that setup, but I think you might be happier with a little heavier arrow/tip setup and you would have a better weapon.
If it were my setup I would want to be around 10 gpp or a tad more. Try to get your hands on a couple 7595's and load the front up. If you were shooting around a 600 gr arrow it would be better.
Cut to 29" you should be able to add considerable tip weight or 100 grn. brass inserts and get the 55/75's to tune. Jon is right on. My 55/75's weigh 670 grn.
In my opinion, the arrows are too light. Try for at least 9 grains per pound.
They are too light. A simple solution is to add three pieces of weed whip cord to the shaft. Cut them the full length of the shaft plus just a little so they fit tight. That will add about 100 grains to the arrows. Another option would be to pack them with hardwood saw dust. Just make sure you really pack it tight using a dowel to ram it.
The tip weight does sound a bit light for those shafts out of that weight bow. You may want to bare shaft tune or shoot some broadheads to confirm.
Your arrows are below the manufacture recommend weight for most bows. That should be a big alarm bell.
Capture the data on the arrows in Stus calculator then work up a heavier combo with the same static spine. That will get you real close for tuning.
Mike
I would up the weight of your arrows. Always be safe than sorry, light arrows are hard on a Bow. I shoot 50# to 54# with 28 1/2"
arrows at 675gr, with a 220gr grizzly up front. They fly awesome and really penetrate. God Bless Don
I shoot GT 55/75 cut 29.5" with 175g. points PLUS 100g. brass insert out of my 55-60# recurves.
Put some 100 grain brass inserts in them and see what you think.
If they fly good and are quiet enough, you are good to go. I wouldn't own a bow that I worried might blow the limbs with a 7.6 gr/lb arrow - I would get something better built.
Steve,
Would you mind providing some bowyers that will warranty their bows if you are shooting less than 8 grains per pound?
Hmmm. The bow is very quiet, there is no hand shock, and the arrows are grouping pretty well. Usually 4 or 5 inch cirlce, and at worst a 8-10 inch circle.
Maybe he did something to the arrows and they actually weigh more. Maybe he had something inside of them. I think I should perhaps get them weighed next time I go to the archery shop.
I personally like 10-10.5gr/lb.
:scared: Way to light.Use some brass inserts 100gr as Kentuckytj stated.
Going to add some 100 gr. brass inserts to my current 3 rivers order. That will take me up to 541 grains and right around 9 GPP.
Sam:
If you bought these from someone else... weigh them first. No tellin what they may weigh. Then, if they are light, go to work on them
QuoteOriginally posted by charles m:
Steve,
Would you mind providing some bowyers that will warranty their bows if you are shooting less than 8 grains per pound?
Up for Steve.
Good advice here- weigh them and then add weight if you need to so they come in at 10gpi or more !
Too light for what?
For the bow weight? - Debatable. Personally I'd say if they shoot well, group well & your bow is quiet & shock free you'll be fine. As far as I'm aware, 99.9% of bowyers won't warrant a bow at less than 8 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight, but unless the bow is new, chances are it's out of warranty anyway.
For hunting? - Not at all. They'll do for pretty much anything you'd want to shoot with them.
Emailed Duane Jessop, who owns Thunderhorn and made my bow. Here is what he said:
"I recommend 9-10 grains per pound of draw weight. Nine works really well if you want a slightly lighter and faster arrow. That's what I shoot.
so, if you're drawing 28" on that 55#@26" bow, your poundage will be 61#@28". That's a 550 grain arrow at 9 g. per pound. 441 grains is definitely too light to suit me. I think you'll find the bow more quiet and forgiving if you bump up the overall weight of your arrows.
regards,
Duane"
yes
QuoteOriginally posted by mahantango:
I shoot GT 55/75 cut 29.5" with 175g. points PLUS 100g. brass insert out of my 55-60# recurves.
Same here, for my 59#@28 Predator. With 1 inch aluminum footings, mine weigh approx. 575gr for a gpp of 9.7. It would be a quick thing to swap out your inserts for the 100g brass ones.
For hunting, I shoot 170g zwickey deltas on these.
If you already have some broadheads, consider this. I also made some heavier inserts. I took the 100gr brass inserts and drilled the hole all the way out the back. Then ran a tap through with the same thread size as the front end (8NC32), the brass is easy to tap. I put a brass 8-32 machine screw in the back end of the insert with loctite (put a broadhead/point in the front end first as a stop), and cut the head off the screw so it would go into the arrow shaft. This made an insert weighing 150gr with the length of screw I used. You can play with the insert weight this way by using a longer or shorter screw in the back end of it, weighing and cutting it before assembly.
I made up some arrows with these heavier 150g inserts, and now get very similar total weight and flight on them when using 125g tips & points as when using the 100g inserts with 175g tips and points. (I know, the weight is not quite as far forward, but it is very close,being just behind instead of in front of the insert.)
This lets me get some use out of 125g heads that I already had on hand. Just a thought for you.
did you actually weigh your arrows?
I like mine heivier but have blown thru deer with my LB using arrows that light and also had my best arrow flight along with my most robinhoods using a lite arrow.Bare shafts didnt even wiggle at all
I now shoot heavier because I like the feel of them or should I say the lack of feel LOL
good luck
Too light for the bow?...IMO yep...I like my bows too much to shoot that low a grain per pound.
Too light for deer?...Antelope?....Black Bear?...no....depending on the head you choose....but not for the heads I like to use.
I personally think they are too light in weight for larger hogs, elk, moose, Brown Bears, bison on a REGULAR basis. I don't think they would generate enough momentum for my confidence on a direct rib hit at impact.
Up again for Steve B.
I'm still waiting to learn about those better built bows. C'mon Steve, lets have a list. :readit:
I would like to know what the arrow weighs now...(to start with)
QuoteOriginally posted by USN_Sam1385:
Total arrow weight is 441 grains.
I would have to agree with the majority of what others have said, a little on the light side for the poundage of the bow. I would bump it up to at least 8 or 9 grains per pound. Better on the bow and most likely better results on game.
It sounds to me like you havent weighed your arrows....."441 grains" doesn't add up.
According to GT's website and Stu Miller's spine calculator, your arrows should weigh about 483 grains. That is with no heavy insert or weight tube.
At 59#s your at 8.18 grains per pound.
I agree with everyone else though; I would get the weight up to 530 - 590 grains.
QuoteOriginally posted by charles m:
Up again for Steve B.
I'm still waiting to learn about those better built bows. C'mon Steve, lets have a list. :readit:
Mike Fedora has helped me set up a couple with 7gr/lb. Maybe you have heard of him?
Also W&W both Winex and XQ's as are most of the larger companies ILF (and have been for years).
If 7gr/lb puts the bow in danger, I don't want it even though I am usually between 8 and 9.
Happy now?
I like 9-10 GPP
I got 441 grains by going to Gold Tips site, and plugging in everything including the 175 grain Field Points. The final # that the calculator gave me was 441 grains. Lo
No Steve. Not happy at all. Very short list, and most of those only kill foam.
TTT for Steve :D