Folks,

I bought a Maddog pup longbow for my boys. 25# @ 25". My eldest has a draw length of about 21".

Any thoughts about proper arrow spine for a set up like this. I have a bunch of old Trad Only 500's and Beman ICS 500 that could be used for the bow.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. I want these guys to have fun time shooting the bow.

Mike

Those 500's will be WAY to stiff. I would get some 1/4" wood dowels and stain, seal and fletch them up. Have your kids help you. They will have a blast making and shooting their own arrows.

I agree that the lighter arrows will be better.
Do you fletch or make your own ?
Send me a PM  I have a lot of 1/4 inch shafts if interested in making your own.

Thanks! I may take you up on that. Let me look around first.

I teach archery to young people, many of whom shoot 25# bows.  I find that 1616 aluminum arrows with the lightweight tips that come with them (50 grain?) are quite zippy and about the right spine.

Since the 1616 shafts are quite narrow, it works best if you do a straight fletch with something like a Jo Jan fletcher.

McDave,

What length are the arrows that your young archers are shooting? Thanks for the advice. I'll check out some 1616's

With the way Mike cuts the bow's shelf, 1616's  are gonna be too stiff.

I would go with 1/4" poplar dowels.  Get 48" ones, cut them in half, seal with three coats of Minwax Wipe-On Water Based Poly, fletch them up and use 60 grain points.  They'll fly good....and quick.  They'll cost you about $3.00 an arrows + your time.  Get your kids to help with the finishing. They'll have fun and appreciate the arrows even more.

Go with Jazz 1214 aluminum. THey are the only shaft that has a spine to match youth bow weights and draws.  Here's a link where you can order them matched to the archer and bow.
 http://www.rangersarchery.com/?q=apprenticearrow  

If you want to make them yourself, I can send you the Lancaster part numbers to order and I can mail you some free feathers.

Dave

I keep the 1616's full length, because cutting them would stiffen the spine.  If 1616's turn out to be too stiff, you can also try 1516's.  I generally use the 1516's on the 15# bows I use for kids who have trouble with the 25# bows.

I just bought the 1/4 dowels and plan on making some with my sons. One is 5 and the other 10. I bought some 5/16 for the bigger guy. Thanks for the advice gents!

Just a heads up...I recently bought some 5/16 poplar dowels from Lowe's. I lucked up and got a spine tester for Christmas. Some of those arrows made from plain dowels spined in the mid 40s. If you are selective on the grain it can make a difference if the bows get close to 30# or go over. If in the mid 20s or lower it really doesn't matter.

The dowels are a great alternative.

QuoteOriginally posted by Prairie Drifter:
Those 500's will be WAY to stiff. I would get some 1/4" wood dowels and stain, seal and fletch them up. Have your kids help you. They will have a blast making and shooting their own arrows.

There's a kids arrow build along on here somewhere too
Dowels are a great inexpensive option.

My boy just got new black rhino.  They have finished ceader arrows for kids 6 for $20.

http://www.bows.net/arrowsandaccessories.htm#arrows

If you don't have time to make your own, I have ordered both of these at various times for my grandkids and others with good results.


http://www.3riversarchery.com/3Rivers+Wood+Youth+Arrows_i4292X_baseitem.html

http://www.kustomkingarchery.com/5_16-Youth-Wood-Arrows-_per-1_2-doz/productinfo/4307/

If your kid is a decent shot then they will thank you for getting them Easton Jazz arrows in the correct spine. They will fly like the proverbial darts. I went the 1/4 dowel route at first but it was apparent after we got the Easton Jazz that 1/4 dowel arrows do not fly consistently. That's my experience and it paid off. My son took first place in the NC state trad championships 3 times, second at ATAR once and first at ATAR once.

The other important characteristic of the Jazz, besides spine and consistancy, is that they weigh in at 200 grains (26.5") with feathers and points.  Most wood arrows will weigh almost twice that. The lighter Jazz really help them reach out to the target.  My daughter was shooting 30 yards the other day no problem with her 25@28" bow and 18" draw length.  so whether you want accuracy or range the Jazz shine either way.

Well,

The boys and I ended making some arrows this week. 5/16" for the 10 year old and 1/4" for the 5 year old. 5 inch fletching on the 5/16 and 4 inch on the 1/4.

They look nice, and the boys did have fun making them. We plan on shooting this weekend. Anybody ever have shattering or anything like that happen? Just want to be safe.

This was a fun process and I thank all of you for your expert advice!!!!

Mike,
Glad they had fun and look forward to hearing how the shooting goes.  One thing to consider next time is cutting the feathers down to about 3" inches for increasing arrow speed and range.  With limited bow power and draw length they need every advantage for getting the arrow out there.... Here is true flights suggestion on how to trim fletching.