I am off to chase Moose next year with my longbow. I just cannot make myself shoot anything but wood shafts out of my longbows.
I don't think my POC's (dipped, sealed and crested at 480 grains) are heavy enough. What should I look for in a durable, heavy grain weight wood shaft?
My bows are heavy enough, I am just a bit concerned about my finished arrow weight.
Any and all help will be appreciated.
thanks,
Sanderlin III
Ash makes a tough heavy shaft. You might try some of those. Depending on your arrow length, you should come out between 700-800 grains.
The 11/32 Hickory shafts I make are around 600-700 grains at 33".
Dennis
laminaed birch are realy nice mine are up around 65o and there also a little smaller in diameter and very tough
Laminated Birch mine 750gr@30" fly great and will go through any game up to Moose :archer:
All the above are good choices.
I am off in 2 days to chase moose in Newfoundland. I went in 2003 also and took a young bull with a 59# BBO with a 680 gr laminated birch shaft.
I have some arrows this time for one of my bows a that are footed, POC by cedarsmith. Finished, with a 145 gr Eclpise, they weigh in at 660-670 gr.
I would also check out Bob Burton at Whispering Wind. He can get you some heavy hex shafts. Either footed or non footed.
Lots of choices out there these days.
BP
I've been working this same issue, Sanderlin. Depending on how heavy you want to go, you have a few good options. Laminated birch is tough and heavy and once straightened holds it well for me. My 55-60 spine 26.5" LB weigh about 550 before the broadhead. Ramin and hexpine will get you over 600 gr, which should really be enuf for moose. Ash and hickory are also good choices for heavy shafts, altho I have no experience with them. Whatever you choose, make sure you get GOOD shafts; they are the heart of your arrow.
What kind of bow, weight and draw do you have?
ASH, I haven't hunted moose with them... But Boy do they do a number on Whitetail's
27"BOP w/160grn BH = 771gr total weight
I'll give the hickory shafts Dennis makes a plug. They all came in around 800gr. when finished. Talk about tough, they'll take a beatin'.
I recently bought a dozen ash shafts from Raptor. They came in plastic wrap and were absolutely straight. And unless they changed they will cut to length and taper both ends for free. They made some nice HEAVY arrows. I recommend them.
I shoot a barrel tapered Super Cedar that finishes at 720 gr at 32 inches. The laminated birch go 690 gr, but are a little short for me. You could also glue on the tapered conversion to a threaded end (F/S Discount Archery) and then use a steal broad head adapter at say 100 or 125 gr and then add on your favorite broad head. You would then add arrow weight as well as get a little benefit from FOC weight addition that some folks find aid in penetration.
Mike
Perhaps the best solution, but also the most expensive, is hardwood footed shafts. They not only get the weight up above Dr. Ashby's minimum of 650 grains big-big game, but put most of that weight up front for max FoC. At the other extreme, the cheapest heavy hardwood shafts I've found are maple, which deliver 700 grain arrows (11/32) with 160gr pounts at 29". About the same price as cedar. I still have a few skinny hickory shafts -- thinner by far than 11/32 though perhaps not a standard size. A few years ago I shot completely through a cow with one, hitting ribs both in and out. I found that shaft, resharpened the point and the next year shot completely through a bull, also hitting ribs on both sides. They weigh 750 with 160 gr. points and are indestructible though occasionally need straightening. All the advice from others, above, is excellent. dave