I'm shooting a new to me black widow PSA III. It's 58" 52@28. I draw about 27.5". I would like to use a 29" arrow, 100 brass insert, 125gr head, and 5gpi weight tubes. I've never had a bow this light besides a bear, but that was a different animal. I'm stuck between getting 3555 (which is what I thought was the lightest they made, been out of it for a little while), but then saw the 1535 spine. Any opinions?

15/35 would be way too light with the insert and point weight.

35/55 would be my starting point for a shaft with that setup.

That's what I was thinking. Only reason I second guessed it was because I saw other shooters around the same bow weight shooting 1535. Thanks for the help

I see on your profile you're a Marine.

Thanks for your service.

My son-in-law is separating from the Marines soon and will be driving back to NC from Pendleton. I have a takedown bow waiting on him thanks to a kind TGer who was a Navy pilot.

Let us know how the setup works.

I draw 27" and the only time I can get a .600 spine arrow to work for me is bows 45# and under.A BW shoots pretty hard and is cut past center and if you are planning on using a 100 gr. insert you might even need a 55/75.You might want to get a test kit with a few different spines to try first.I don't care for weight tubes,they may add alittle extra weight but if you hit something hard they will pop out the nock.

Thanks to all for the help. So do you think I could get away with a 5575, 100gr insert and 175-200 grain point? Doing the math, it gets me close enough to where I want to be in weight. I could even bump to 30" arrow.

QuoteOriginally posted by hunt4life:
Thanks to all for the help. So do you think I could get away with a 5575, 100gr insert and 175-200 grain point? Doing the math, it gets me close enough to where I want to be in weight. I could even bump to 30" arrow.

I just shot the 2013 Faith bow. I had it for Sept. It is 61@28. I draw at 27.5-28. I  was shooting a 30.5" 55/75 with a 100gr insert and 200gr two blade BHs. Flight was great. That may be way too stiff for a 51lb bow.

My guess is you're shooting right at 50-51lbs at 27.5. I shoot a 50lb Super Grizzly and get great flight out of 30.5" 35/55s with factory insert and 175gr BHs. If your 35/55s are cut to 29 and you have the 100gr insert I think you'll be near spot-on for your setup. You'll be over the 10gpp hump and penetration will not be an issue.

Last year I shattered a doe's off side leg with the an Eclipse single bevel with the arrow sticking out about 6" on the off side. She broke the arrow while running off and through the trees. She was down and out in about 30 yards.

If you need the extra weight after testing the 29" 35/55s, then a weight tube is an alternative.

Not shooting Widows, but my 51#@29" bows with FF strings, like 55-57's 100gr inserts + 145gr point, cut to 31". I draw 29"

33-55 are pretty stout arrows.  I shoot them on a 55# Toelke and shot them through a 50# PL widow in the past.  I had a similar set up to yours minus the weight tube.

29in arrow is going to be pushing it with the 35/55 but will be close, might have to trim a little off the arrow but you should be very close.

I would say try the 5575's too. I shoot light bows 50# and under. With a bow not cut to center, 3555's might work fine, but I have to think a BW (don't own one) would like the stiffer arrow better. I have a 29.5" draw and my 50# recurves like the 5575 with 100gr inserts and 175gr field points or 160 2-blade broadheads.

The best advice was probably to get a trial set of different spines, but I'll bet the 5575's come out on top.

Also I don't like to cut carbon arrows to a certain length without shooting them first,I let my tuning determine their final length.I'll pick out the spine and weight I want to use upfront and tune and trim from there,I don't even consider their finished length in a carbon arrow.Unless they are getting too short,then I'll step up a spine.

I have three Bob Lee recurve bows(43#,45#&54#)that I draw to 28.5. I was shooting 35/55 from the 45# bows and 55/75 from the 54# bow. I started expermenting with the 35/55 o/o the 54# bow with better flights and consistenty, this is a 29.5" shaft, 4-4"fleathers, 50 grain insert and 175-200 grain point. A buddy tried these o/o his 52# black widow and now swapped to this combo.
I have also found the 15/35 to fly perfectly o/o my 45# bows at 29.25", 4 fletch, 50 grain inserts and 140-175 grain points. Hope this helps

1535's would be, I think, way too light. 3555's would be my choice

I would cut back to a 50gr brass insert.

Between the two, 35/55s will get you a lot closer to the specs you are looking for, and I don't believe a 15/35 will work at all.

I'm shooting 29" 3555s with 145Gr broadheads out of a 57# Grizzly.  They fly like they should and hit where I'm looking.  

Semper Fi, Marine!
Tom

My bows are all around 46# at my draw, I'm shooting GT3555's cut to 29.25 with a 50 gr. brass insert and broadhead weight 145. That's a total of 195 up front. If you go with a 29" arrow and 225 up front your setup will be week, that's why you should cut back to a 50 gr. insert to lighten up the front.