Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: S.C. Hunter on March 10, 2015, 12:37:00 AM

Title: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: S.C. Hunter on March 10, 2015, 12:37:00 AM
Let's do this different. Just want input on the arrow setup that works best for you. Please specify the bow and bow draw weight at your draw. Arrow spine and make as well as length, specs with regards to weight and inserts fletching wraps etc. Maybe we can get a idea of a starting point for a given draw length and bow weight for a arrow setup. I'm sure it won't fit all shooters but just curious how it will pan out. Thanks.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Msbow on March 10, 2015, 01:36:00 AM
CE Heritage 350 29 3/4 long. Three 5" left helical shield cut trueflight feathers. 8" arrow wraps.
Arrow weight 650 grs 50 gr brass inserts 190 gr treesharks
Carbon nock and tip collars 10 grs
58" Bodnik slick stick 50#@26
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: dbd870 on March 10, 2015, 07:20:00 AM
Easton Legacy 1916's, 29.5", (3) 5" feathers right helical; 125gr Magnus Stingers. 462gr total.

Early 70's Bear Grizzly 58" & ~46# @28.5".
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: njloco on March 10, 2015, 07:29:00 AM
At present, 1535 GT trad 28 7\\8", 50gr brass insert,100gr screw on adaptor, 160gr grizzly right bevel, with 3 x 3" or 4 x 4" parabolic feathers, preferably footed with a 1 1\\2" 2117 aluminum arrow.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Rock 'N Bow on March 10, 2015, 08:13:00 AM
31" Goldtip Traditional 5575 with standard insert, 185gr Grizzly on a 75gr adapter, 1" of 2219 footing, and 5" shield cut feathers shot from a Fedora Xtreme longbow, 52#@29".
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: MnFn on March 10, 2015, 08:24:00 AM
Out of a Blacktail 60" VL Elite 53# @28"
29" Wilderness Surewood 75 spine, 3 -5" left wing turkey feathers with 180 grain Grizzley single bevel.

Or, a 29" CE Heritage 250 with 100 grain brass insert and 160 grain head (insert included) 3-5"left wing fletch.

Or a FMJ 400, 4X4 fletch with 75 grain insert appears to be workable but I have not shot it a lot yet.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Trond on March 10, 2015, 08:25:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by njloco:
At present, 1535 GT trad 28 7\\8", 50gr brass insert,100gr screw on adaptor, 160gr grizzly right bevel, with 3 x 3" or 4 x 4" parabolic feathers, preferably footed with a 1 1\\2" 2117 aluminum arrow.
Always pondered the spine question. I put these numbers through Stu Millers calc and came out with a spine at 27.4! Isn't that a bit on the low side looking at the bows you shoot?
The reason I ask, is because my favourite arrows these days are 3555 GT Trad 32.5", 50gr alu insert, 125gr fieldpoint and 3x4" parabolic. These fly like darts from my 35# @28" Cayuga 66" longbow, drawn to 30"
I don't think I will ever fully understand spine...
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: goingoldskool on March 10, 2015, 08:28:00 AM
CE Heritage 250, 29.5" with 20 gr insert, 175 gr Tigershark, 3 5" shield cut right wing truflight feathers. Total weight 550 gr. 51# @28" Black Widow longbow drawn to 28.5".


God bless,

Rodd
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Sam McMichael on March 10, 2015, 08:50:00 AM
I'm shooting wood (mostly cedar) from my 55# @28 HHA Cheetah. I only draw 25", so am not exactly sure what draw weight I am pulling. The arrows are 11/32 diameter and are 29" long with three 5"  LW feathers.  I use 125 gr points.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: britt on March 10, 2015, 09:04:00 AM
45# at 29.5, Hill Country Harvest Master, GT 55-75, 31in., 175gr tip. BUT thinking about going back to woods after reading all the stuff about carbons.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: stagetek on March 10, 2015, 10:29:00 AM
31" 2018 Legacy's. Three 5" right wing shield cut feathers, w/wraps and crest. 125gr. Magnus II's or Snuffers. Shot from 48-53# Bear T/D's or Predators.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Terry Green on March 10, 2015, 10:37:00 AM
Arrow Dynamics for over a decade....regular Trads...

Bows from 58 to 78 pounds...heads from 150 to 225 grains....mostly 175 grain heads
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Danny Rowan on March 10, 2015, 11:08:00 AM
Arrow Dynamics Trads. 30.5" 100 gr brass insert and 300 gr heads, bows 55-60#
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: OregonTom on March 10, 2015, 11:38:00 AM
My best flying arrows so far are my Port Orford Cedar arrows.  They are 11/32  ,  30 inches,  and 55-60 spine.  On the tail they have Boehnig classic nocks and three 41/2 inch parabolic feathers hand tied in a helical.  Up front 125 grain field points or Zwickey eskimos.  A real plain jane arrow but they fly nice out of cut past center 45 pound bows.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: 58WINTERS on March 10, 2015, 11:45:00 AM
GT 35/55 XT Hunter or Expedition camo finish for the extra weight. 29 BOP left wing 5 or 5-1/2 3 fletch sheild or parabolic 1 inch 2115/2117 footing. std GT insert with low melt adhesive some with 9 inch wraps some without. I strip factory decals with lacquer thinner leaving only the camo finish. GT or Bohning Signature nocks. 250 up front yields 540 total arrow weight with 19% foc. HH Wesley Specials 68" 50@28 55@28 66" 52@27. 200gr up front also works well. Aluminum 2016's also work well. Surewood firs 50-55 with Zwickey Eskimo or No Mercy.
Allen Boice Liberty bows Classic and English in same poundages shoot these well with some 1916"s thrown in on one bow.
HH bows with B50 (playing with FF) Boice mostly FF
58
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Hoyt on March 10, 2015, 12:34:00 PM
Beman MFX Classic 400's 29-3/4" and 30-3/4" according to screw on or glue on Simmons Tree Shark broadheads. 50gr. brass Hit insert, 3, 3" Magnus Shield cut wild turkey feathers. No wraps and X nocks. 47 to 50lbs recurves.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Recurve Amigo on March 10, 2015, 12:54:00 PM
I like the beman center shots and gold tip traditionals in the 600 spine
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: mec lineman on March 10, 2015, 01:38:00 PM
I got 3 dozen beman mfx classic 500 before they stopped making. Shoot them 29.25  140-165 gr. Heads 75 gr. Insert out of my 52-55 lb bows
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: smokin joe on March 10, 2015, 02:02:00 PM
For my 52 @ 29" Bear TD with Rose Oak limbs (my go-to bow these days):

My deer and 3-D arrow is:

Trad Only 400 carbon shaft
29.5" BOP
glue in nock adaptor with Bohning Classic nock
9" Onestringer wrap
3 - 5" feathers
75 gr. brass glue-in-glue-on broadhead adaptor
carbon collar
125 gr field point (or 125 gr woodsman 3-blade)
This makes a 517 gr arrow that is very tough and sturdy, and it flies like a laser beam. The spine calculator says this arrow should fly at 193 fps, and by the looks of things when I shoot I have no reason to doubt that.

A single length of .095 weed whacker line inside adds 50 gr for a 567 gr arrow; 2 lengths make a 617 arrow, etc.

This has been a very reliable formula for me for this bow.

My other bows have other arrow formulas, naturally.
  :archer2:
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: olddogrib on March 10, 2015, 02:11:00 PM
Centershot of the bow, the amount that the riser is cut past the centerline will explain a lot of wht appear to be anomalies. Unfortunately, unless your bowyer tells you, most owners have no clue.  Individual form is a big factor and I'm well off as often as not by Stu.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: DesertDude on March 10, 2015, 02:14:00 PM
GT 55/75 with 100 inserts 250gn heads 4x5"  

55 liberty contender
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: stickem1 on March 10, 2015, 05:20:00 PM
31" Douglas Fir custom made by Snag.125g head, 75-80
31.5" Beman ICS Hunter 100g insert 200g head, 3X5"
620 grain
Fedora 560 1pc 61@30
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Kris on March 10, 2015, 05:32:00 PM
Quote
"Please specify the bow and bow draw weight at your draw. Arrow spine and make as well as length, specs with regards to weight and inserts fletching wraps etc

- ACS 3 pc. TD

- 51#@28"

- 400 Beman MFX Classics

- AOL BOP 29.5"

- Alum insert, 75 grn. steel BH adaptor, any BH from 125 gns - 200 gns, one inch 2016 alum arrow outsert.

- 6" arrow wrap w/three 4" Parabolic True Flight fletches.

Kris
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Joeabowhunter on March 10, 2015, 06:26:00 PM
Cari-bow Slynx 55@28 drawing 28 1/2"

29 3/4" Beman Centershot 400's
3 x 4" feathers
75 grain insert
175 grain BH
555 grain total
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: tracker12 on March 10, 2015, 06:46:00 PM
Paying attention to this thread.  I have been shooting Beman ICS Hunters and they fly alright but I have had them break more than I like.  I am testing a GT Trad and might look at a better Beman arrow.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: kleine on March 10, 2015, 06:59:00 PM
Dwyer Endevor 50lb at 28", approx. 28" draw
GT3555 cut 30"
3gr. weight tubes
8" wraps or painted
3 leftwing helical 5" shield cut
150 to 175gr. points and broadheads
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Gdpolk on March 10, 2015, 07:03:00 PM
It's in my signature   ;)

I've also been used to known to dabble with aluminum, wood, and cheap Wal-Mart specials.  However, my favorites and my only complete set of arrows are as listed in the signature.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Stump73 on March 10, 2015, 08:12:00 PM
1. Is hunting setup for my Thunderchild 53@ 28 my draw 24 7/8"
   1535 GT trads 25 7/8"
   250 gr 2 blade Vpa Penetrator
   50gr brass insert
   3x4" feathers
   20gr nocturnal nock

2. Is hungting setup for my Dryad Orion 54@28
   350 Victory Vh 28 1/2
   250gr 2blade Penetrator
   100 gr brass insert
    3x4" feathers
    20gr nocturnal nock
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Todd Cook on March 10, 2015, 08:59:00 PM
Straight limbed longbow, 58# at 29".
65/70 surewoods. Works for me.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: hitman on March 10, 2015, 09:34:00 PM
Douglas fir shafts with nock taper stained, sealed , crested and fletched by me.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Orion on March 11, 2015, 12:24:00 AM
I don't have an arrow of choice.  I have several different arrows I use for different bows and purposes.  I have a 28-inch draw and shoot bows from 45# to 55# at my draw length. I shoot carbon and wood arrows, ranging from 500 to 650 grains with several different broad heads.  About the only things that stay the same across arrows is their length -- all cut to 29 inches -- and fletching -- three 5-inch shield cut left wing feathers.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: snag on March 11, 2015, 09:24:00 AM
I prefer wood. Mainly Surewood Shaft premiums. I like the quality, the durability, the looks of the wood when stained, the weight, and the flight of a well built and tuned wood arrow. Perfection in motion.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Whitetail Addict on March 11, 2015, 01:52:00 PM
I'm shooting a Huntworthy Productions "Outlaw", at everything I can hunt here in NY. It's an all wood, R/D design, with bamboo back and belly. 51#@28", I draw 28". I'm shooting 29" Gold Tip Traditional Hunter 5575's, with 4" parabolic feathers and 125 gr. original Woodsman broadheads, at 8.5 gpp. This is basically the same combination of bow to arrow weight that I've used for quite a few years now, and I've really come to like it. Our biggest game animals here are whitetails and black bear, and I couldn't ask for any better performance on them.

Bob
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: riverrat 2 on March 11, 2015, 07:56:00 PM
Easton 2018's 29.5"long with 3 5"fletchings on 7"cap wraps. .175 heads on every bow in my signature line.  rat'
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: yeager on March 12, 2015, 12:16:00 AM
RER XR - 60"/52#@28"......Easton Axis FMJ 500, 29", standard HIT insert, old Bear razorhead with screw-in broadhead adapter, 3x5" parabolic feathers, and Onestringer wraps with double dog.

Bob Lee Classic T/D - 60"/55#@28".......same arrow set-up except cut to 28 1/16".
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Terry Lightle on March 12, 2015, 06:49:00 AM
Wood
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Bjorn on March 12, 2015, 05:58:00 PM
For 3D I use cedar and hunting, doug fir. 80/85 11/32
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Wudstix on March 12, 2015, 10:52:00 PM
Tapered Maple 28.5", five inch Traditional cut feather, 190 grain Grizzly Instinct head, 63# MOAB
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: halfseminole on March 12, 2015, 11:37:00 PM
Tapered hardwood 36" long, 1/2" to 23/64", drilled at the front for arrow tangs, oval reinforced self nocks, 3 11" feathers low to the shaft, Flagella Dei hand forged heads.

Got a pile like that in leopardwood on the way.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: TC in Spfld on March 13, 2015, 11:54:00 AM
Drawing 28.5" with my 48# @ 28" Tall Tines I shoot a 2016 Legacy cut 29.5" bop, 3 five inch parabolics, 7" wrap, 22gr aluminum insert with a 125gr Eskimo attached.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: nontypical on March 14, 2015, 10:06:00 AM
From my 45-50# bows I shoot: 3555 GT Expedition full length with 125 tip, 100 grn insert,3" 2117 footing,a 7" wrap and 3-4"  fletch.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Flatshooter on March 14, 2015, 10:31:00 AM
CX 250'S cut to 30.5" WITH 300 grs.up front.(3) 5" RW Shields. Total weight around 650grs. CHX 58" 50# 28"
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: dnovo on March 14, 2015, 01:18:00 PM
53#  Tall Timbers R/D longbow. 65# cedars with 190 up front, 3- 4.5 banana fletch done on a burner.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Homebru on March 14, 2015, 01:21:00 PM
Right now, Surewoods from Wilderness Custom Arrows (aka Snag).  I was putting together an order for all of the supplies to build some and discovered that for just a couple of dollars more, I could have Snag build them.  Sold!
homebru
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: maxwell on March 14, 2015, 09:13:00 PM
Surewood tapered doug fir- 60-65# 145 BH.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Kingstaken on March 14, 2015, 09:35:00 PM
Autum Legends....
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: trad_bowhunter1965 on March 14, 2015, 10:43:00 PM
Easton axis 500 29" 50gr brass insert 2 bladed zwickey delta four 4"  shield cut feathers.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: lbshooter on March 16, 2015, 09:04:00 AM
Hand made POC, 5" Truflight feathers, Mercury or Bohning nock, Howard Hill or Bear Razorhead BH.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: joe skipp on March 16, 2015, 12:44:00 PM
I prefer the consistency of Aluminum. I shoot 2117's both Dougherty Naturals and Legacy. Crown dipped, 5" parabolic feathers. I use 5.5" HB Shields on the arrows I bear hunt with because I use 160 gr Snuffers.

Last year I made up 1 dz Doug Fir from Surewood Steve for my Longbow. Fully dipped white with 5" parabolic feathers in white/chartruese. Also made 1 dz Fir to shoot out of "Lefty". However, my go to arrow for all out of state hunts....Aluminum.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Butch Speer on March 16, 2015, 03:46:00 PM
35/55 GTs  28"  4x4" feathers  300grns. up front. They shoot great out of my HH Half Breed. 44@28.Kind of heavy but they sure shoot good.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: hvyhitter on March 16, 2015, 06:02:00 PM
1816,1916,2014,2016,2018,2020,2114,2115,2117,2213,2215,2216,2217,2219,2220,2315,2440 aluminum, 29 to 31 inches, 40# to 75#, selfbow, D bow, R/D bow, hybreds , recurves, I got em all covered.............. I think the 2440 spines out for 120# with a 400gr head........... (for the elephant bow of course)....
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: medic77 on March 16, 2015, 06:07:00 PM
Easton Full Metal Jackets 340's 29" 100gr brass insert and 200gr heads.  They are tough as nails.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: tzolk on March 18, 2015, 01:10:00 AM
Easton FMJ and Axis Woodgrain 400s. 31" standard 16gr insert. 200 grain point. 3 5" feathers. Toelke Super D 66" 56@30.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: DanielB89 on March 18, 2015, 01:45:00 PM
I use a variety of arrows depending on what it is for.  But they all boil down to about the same.

A lighter GPI arrow(less than 9 gpi) and a 200 + grain head(whatever makes it tune right).  

My newest arrows are some blood sport .350's that are 7.9gpi with standard insert and 200 grains up front.  They are right at 9gpp with my #53@28(i draw 29) black widow MAIII.  I am VERY pleased with the increased flatter trajectory.  This bow will sling a 500 grain arrow.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: slowbowjoe on March 19, 2015, 09:32:00 AM
Premium doug firs. I buy the shafts, put 'em together myself.
Stained, sealed, with a simple freehand cresting.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Fletcher on March 19, 2015, 01:00:00 PM
Fir has been my favorite arrow for many years. Currently shooting Surewood Fir with 200+ grain points and a total arrow weight around 570 gr.  That works out to a little over 11 gpp for my 50@26 Toelke Whip.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Chinook on March 20, 2015, 04:47:00 PM
CE Terminator Hunter 6075 29 1/2" long.
Four 4" left helical shield cut trueflight feathers.
CE yellow weight tubes
Arrow weight 600 grs 145 gr field point / Wensel Woodsman
Easton Uni-nocks
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Krex1010 on March 21, 2015, 08:18:00 AM
Coming from compounds I was all carbon, and I bought a some for my longbow, they work fine but I feel like they were finicky. After a couple different spines I decided to go back to aluminium and try those. I got some Easton legacy 1916's on the recommendation of the fellow I ordered a bow from.  I really like the 1916s, I like the weight, I like the way they fly and I've been impressed with the toughness of the arrows. I think I'm sticking with aluminium until I get the hankering to try wood lol.
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Bluefeather on March 21, 2015, 10:12:00 PM
Easton Classic 2117's cut to 31.5" with 125 gr Bear greenies, Zwickeys or Snuffers mounted on 75gr steel inserts and three 5" feathers.
21st Century Nova longbow,66" long, 50# at 31"

Easton AO 2018's cut to 31.5" with 125 gr. Bear or Zwickey heads mounted on 75 gr steel inserts  and three 5" feathers.
1966 Bear Super Kodiak,64" long, 44# at 31"
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: fujimo on March 21, 2015, 10:24:00 PM
i love spruce- its super tough, and lighter than fir, i can up the weight with heavier tips, and get a better FOC %. and get a good hunting weight arrow or more- the shaft is just the delivery system for the broad head- i tend to focus on the B / head more!
Title: Re: What is your arrow of choice?
Post by: Fletcher on March 26, 2015, 12:56:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by fujimo:
i love spruce- its super tough, and lighter than fir, i can up the weight with heavier tips, and get a better FOC %. and get a good hunting weight arrow or more- the shaft is just the delivery system for the broad head- i tend to focus on the B / head more!
The Sitka Spruce shafts I've received from Hildebrand have been quite good.  Sitka has the highest strength to weight ratio of all woods and has a fiberous structure that makes it quite tough.  Its light weight really lends sitka toward the use of heavy heads and a higher FOC than other wood types.  It's too bad that the spine maxes out at about 75 lbs.  Altho I still prefer fir, I have used Sitka with excellent results and a good friend used a Sitka arrow I made him and a 225 gr Tuffhead to kill a pig earlier this month.

I killed this pig a few years ago with a Sitka arrow with 50 gr of lead up the nose and a 190 gr VPA Terminator 3 blade.  FOC was pretty high for a wood arrow.  Entered at last rib and stopped in opposite shoulder.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v450/Fletcher610/Pig%20Gig%202010/P2190127.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/Fletcher610/media/Pig%20Gig%202010/P2190127.jpg.html)