I'm a fairly recent convert to the trad bow. I'm shooting a 50@28 Toelke Lynx recurve, which I draw about 28 1/4. I've got two arrow combinations shooting perfectly (paper and bare shaft tuning). Planning to hunt black bear for the first time in MT this fall, whitetails at home, and praying i get drawn for an elk tag. I'll be running large 2 blade broadheads, zwickey delta, no mercy, or Ace express.
1. 30.5", 2016, 145gr. Point in standard insert. Approximately 530gr. Total
2. 30.5" Gt5575 Trad. 100 gr. Brass insert and 250 gr. Point for about 640 total.
So which combo and why?
Either would work great.The GT would give you a little more momentum for elk and I would favor it for that,not that the 2016 wouldn't also work.
If they both shoot/tune well then I would use #2 set up. The higher FOC will aid flight and penetration which is good on any game. If elk is in the future the heavier shaft will be a big plus on penetration. It is only 90grns more but higer FOC is big ++++
my spects are the same as you.but in carbon I shoot a 35-55 w/50 gr brass insert an 145 head.Iwould go as heavy as you can if the bow is still shooting well.In alumnin i shoot 2016 w/a 145 head standard inserts.reason,better penatration.I also only like to use a 2-blade head.better flight an penatration.
So far everyone's in agreement. No one likes the faster/flatter 2016?
Both of those setups will work fine for any of those animals. For elk and black bear I think the heavier arrow would be best. For whitetails it would come down to the speed difference between the two arrows. If the 640 grain arrow is a lot slower than the 530 grain arrow than I would use the lighter one for whitetails. If the speed difference is minimal go with the heavier arrow for all three.
#1 for the deer & black bear. Should be flatter shooting and is more than adequate.
#2 for elk. Bigger tougher animal...but
which do you like to shoot best? That may be the question to answer, as really both arrows would do just fine.
The arrow with the higher FOC would be my choice. Mine always shoot better and penetrate better. However, whichever arrow shoots the straightest should trump all other factors. But, as I said, everything else being equal, the FOC wins out at my house.
Just a suggestion but weigh your 2016 set-up again, unless I'm mistaken it is a good bit heavier than 530 grains.
My apology, scratch my reply on the weight of your 2016s. My brain is old and I forgot about tne 100 grain brass inserts I was using in mine.
Let's bring this back to the top. Got my hands on a chronograph and lets see what you all think. I trimmed #1 slightly so I could utilize the pile of 175gr. Heads I already have. Both shoot bullet holes when paper tuning and put broadheads with fieldpoints.
#1: 30", 2016, weighs 535gr, 15% FOC, Shoots right at ~165fps.
#2: 30.5", GT5575, weighs 656 grains, 25% FOC, ~150 fps.
Frankly as a recent trad. bow convert the numbers kind of scare me. Do I have enough to hunt with or do I need to start working on a heavier bow?
Don't sweat the speeds.You have know idea how efficient those two setups can be especially since you were diligent in tuning them.
I would also pick #2 for weight,durability and FOC but either will work.Give it a chance.You will be astounded at what arrows in that weight range will do at what must seem like to you,slow speeds.