Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Biathlonman on May 06, 2013, 04:37:00 PM
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Curious who has had success or failures with elk rigs about #50? Would love to hear your setups and gear recommendations. My go to is 51@28, I draw about 28.5". Going to try and work into a #55 of the same make and model bow I just picked up, but I'm real happy with my go to. Drew a Kentucky cow elk tag so time to start obsessing about my gear for the next 6 months!
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heavy, straight shooting arrow with a sharp broadhead in the sweet spot and you should be fine. 50# is enough imo.
Do a forum search. Lots of info on this topic
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I have killed elk sized game(zebra) w/ 51#@ 26" . I'll be going w/ similar weight this fall for elk.
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I've read every thread on search term "elk", several times in the last couple of days! :) .
We need details Prairie Drifter!
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Do yourself a favor and train and hunt with the 55#er. If you have never hunted Elk do not go out there with marginal equipment,I am of the mind to shoot the heaviest bow you can be accurate with a shooting distances, if you make a less than perfect shot on an animal you can make up the difference with the penetration you will get from the heavier bow(the possibility is there)artery.. part of lung, liver...etc.etc.
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I hunted Africa in 2011. I took this zebra w/ a 51#@ 26" Maddog longbow. Arrows were GT trads 35/55, w/ 240grs(125gr stinger,100gr bullet behing the regular insert) up front, about 22-23 % foc. Total arrow weight around 500grs. Got penetration up to the feathers. Broadhead buried in opposite shoulder. About 15 yard shot, slight quatering away.
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh236/Prairiedrifter/Africa%202011/IMG_0095.jpg) (http://s257.photobucket.com/user/Prairiedrifter/media/Africa%202011/IMG_0095.jpg.html)
A zebra is deeper across the chest than an elk, so I have no qualms using my equipment on elk.
I will be in Africa again this August and will be hunting w/ low 50 lb bows.
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The difference between my go to and the heavier one seems to be right at 5 fps. Across all arrow weights from 500-650. Doesn't seem like much gain for how much heavier the bow feels. I'm still going to give it a go though.
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Work up to the 55#er if it turns out your not as accurate with it the 51#er will be easy to draw.
I would think a sharp two blade will help penetration.
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Never hunted elk ,but what I have found on Hogs is that a lighter bow properly tuned and drawn FULLY without struggle and shot accurately will penetrate as good if not better one someone is struggling with . I would rather have another inch of draw than 5 pounds drawn shorter :)
The key is a finely tuned bow/arrow combo with a SHARP 2 blade head in the vitals .
I know some will disagree with my statements , but that is ok . This is my opinion based on experience and cannot be changed very easily .
Again I have NEVER hunted Elk .
Good luck in your quest !
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If your heavier bow feels that much heavier, you may not be drawing it the same. Work into it a while and make sure you are getting full draw on it. Shortdrawing even a 1/2" or an 1" can make a huge difference.
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I will add one more thing, when you are in the heat of the moment everything had better be fluid, you will probably only get a fleeting moment to make the shot so make it count.
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I have some experience. Little,but some. I have shot 1 elk with trad bow . One bull 6x6. 15 yard shot. 53@26 550 grain arrow.
I'm going back to hunt elk again this year. I will be using the same bow but with a heavier arrow 640grains is what I weighed them at.
Take a ethical shot and shoot 10-12 gpi and you can kill just about anything with it
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If you have no physical limitaions, then work into the 55# bow. Training to use a bow, is what traditional archery is about. I believe the current trend of "use the lightest possible bow, with the least amout of work" is a dangerous flaw for our sport. (IMHO)
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I killed a large kudu in Africa with my 50# at my DL Sarrels Blueridge longbow, and would not hesitate to take it elk hunting.
If you are well tuned you will be just fine.
Bisch
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I killed a very large cow elk with my 51# ACS CX and a 650 gn Fir arrow.
My son killed a 5x5 Bull with his 53# ACS CX and a 630 gn Cedar arrow.
Both animals died within 50 yds.
Sharp single bevel and a well tuned arrow will help you get it done.
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I should have added that getting your arrow weight up around or above 11 GPI on a 50# bow is important with this setup also .
Of course if you can handle the heavier bow very well use it .
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(http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq19/fnshtr/Trad_Elk.jpg) (http://s429.photobucket.com/user/fnshtr/media/Trad_Elk.jpg.html)
I shot this young bull with a 58" BW PSAIII, 48@28 and I only draw 27". The arrow was a Trad Only 400 spine with a Magnus Stinger 125 grain BH. Total arrow weight was 630 grains (weight tubes).
I shot the bull at 23 yards and got complete penetration. Recovered the bull within 100 yards.
I will be hunting with a 54#@28 LB this year. Similar arrow weight.
Good luck!
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:thumbsup:
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Fnshtr, any idea the speed of your BW rig? My backup bow is similar specs.
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Sorry... never shot it through a chronograph. When I went from 530 grain (whitetail) set up to the 630 grains, I did notice a trajectory change. I limited my shots to a max of 25 yards.
I really do think the heavier arrow is needed with the lower poundage bows. I tinkered with different weight arrows and noticed a big difference in penetration with the heavier ones (in same target butts).
I understand that we should shoot as heavy a bow as we can accurately... but scary sharp COC BHs and heavy well placed arrows will do the job.
I don't want to start a controversy, but I know someone that took a huge cow with a 41# recurve and 630 grain arrow. He had injured his shoulder and couldn't shoot any heavier bow. I wouldn't recommend that light of a bow though.
Good luck!
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I appreciate it. Never really tried the 600+ arrows out of high 40s bow until today. They actually looked pretty darn good. ~640 grs. Was right at 145 out of the little bow. By no means an "elk" bow, but a good plan c to have in my back pocket. There is certainly a trajectory difference from the 500 gr. Arrows I was shooting, but my brain seems to be able to adjust to the slow arrows quicker. Maybe that says something about me! ;)
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Back before I knew any different I shot a cow elk with a 50# longbow, cedar arrow, and 4 blade broad head. Good thing that elk hadn't read the internet... otherwise it wouldn't have died so easily.
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forget the speed thing and go with heavy arrows and 50lbs will be plenty...i started in the 60's with a 50lb cheepy bow and the elk died just as well then as they did when i shot 83lb's custom bows in the 80's...now i kill them with 54lbs
remember the aveage bull is 19 inches wide at the back of the ribs and about 12 or less up front where you want your arrow...they're not monsters!!!