Arrow weight

Matt Parker · March 01, 2014, 01:54:00 PM

I have been shooting gold tip 3555's with my 48 and 52 # recurves. I wanted more penetration so I went up to gold tip 5575's with 125 grain tip and added 50 grains to the insert. Now my arrow weight is where I want it but my arrow flight is horrible. Any ideas of what to do o fix this?

Prairie Drifter · March 01, 2014, 02:13:00 PM

Add more tip weight

jimneye · March 01, 2014, 02:14:00 PM

YUP.. what PD said

Matt Parker · March 01, 2014, 02:19:00 PM

I will try more tip weight. Thanks guys!

bigbadjon · March 01, 2014, 02:49:00 PM

You'll probably have to drop back to the lighter spined arrows to. 55/75 aren't going to fly right from a 52# bow.

rraming · March 01, 2014, 03:14:00 PM

I shoot GT5575 with 225 up front and it bareshafts perfect, (51 lb bow) guess it depends on your bow and draw length. I have no interest shooting an 8 grain per lb arrow or less.

joe skipp · March 01, 2014, 03:44:00 PM

Unless you add a minimum of 260 grains up front, those 55/75 are way too stiff.

Bladepeek · March 01, 2014, 06:33:00 PM

I just made up some 32" 5575's for my 46# longbow and #50# recurve. I have 61 grains (11 gr insert + 50 gr insert weight) and a 225 gr field point. They fly great, but do tend to shoot low. Takes a few arrows to re-calibrate my brain. I bare-shafted them and they were just a smidge weak. added some 5 1/2" feathers and dead on.

Oh, they also have a 1 1/2" 2117 footing, epoxied on, but it weighs so little compared to all the rest of the up-front weight, I don't think that made too much difference.

T-Bowhunter · March 01, 2014, 06:50:00 PM

I shoot a 50 @ 28 Big Jim Thunder child. My draw is 27.50 With a SBD 8 strand string. My arrows are 5575 cut 29 inches, standard inserts, 300 gr point, 3-5 inch feathers. I get great flight with these arrows. They are heavy and drop a lot after 25 yards, but I don't shoot over 25 yards.

Biathlonman · March 01, 2014, 06:53:00 PM

I shoot 5575 off of everything #48 on up. Never been able to get a. 500 to tune.

Friend · March 01, 2014, 10:51:00 PM

Not enough information provided for me to offer some possible worthwhile guidance. There are many...many variables.

One of my set-ups shooting approximately 48#s at 27 3/4"s, shoots GT5575...29.5"s...225 gn tip quite nicely.

BigJim · March 03, 2014, 08:08:00 AM

If you cut your shafts, sell them to a friend. Even with a cut past center bow, you are not likely to get those to fly well out of a 48-52 lb bow at anything less than full length and 200++ grains up front. This may change if your draw length is over 28.5"

Bigjim

BigJim · March 03, 2014, 08:09:00 AM

If you cut your shafts, sell them to a friend. Even with a cut past center bow, you are not likely to get those to fly well out of a 48-52 lb bow at anything less than full length and 200++ grains up front. This may change if your draw length is over 28.5"

Bigjim

March 03, 2014, 08:16:00 AM

You need to get to around 250 grains (or maybe more depending on DL) up front. You will also probably have to leave them full length, or very close to it, but they will tune out correctly for a 50# bow if you get the right combination.

Like Jim said, if you cut them, you will likely never get them to work.

Bisch

March 03, 2014, 08:17:00 AM

Oops! Double post.

Bisch

Son of Rooster · March 03, 2014, 08:50:00 AM

Matt,
My opinion on this is following what these guys are saying as far as weight up front. I am shooting the same arrows I got them from Big Jim. I use to shoot a 125 grn tip with a 50 grn brass insert. I left them, and am shooting full them length with a 200 grn tip with the 50 grn insert and the arrows are now hitting where I want them to. I got a spine weight kit (tips) from Big Jim and test tested until I got it right.
It was "foreign" to my way of thinking about tip/arrow weight...coming from wheeled bows. I have found that heavy is better, and mining for info here saves a lot of time and $$$.
My .02, FWIW

screamin · March 03, 2014, 11:57:00 PM

This isn't meant to add to your confusion, just to show what is possible. My recurve weighs 53@28, I draw about 28 1/4". I shoot a 30" 300 spined arrow with 350grs up front, 11grs per pound, 30% foc. My bare shafts fly like bullets out to 30 yards. I haven't tested them at farther ranges yet but I don't see why they wouldn't still fly like bullets. It's truly a beautiful thing.

shag08 · March 04, 2014, 01:03:00 AM

SOOO many variables to arrow tuning with carbons.

I tried for extreme foc arrows in the past. I have shot 75-95 with over 400 grains up front to get them to tune. Dang they were slow! I'd release, follow through, lower my bow hand, and still have enough time to spit before the arrow hit the target at 40 yards.

I now prefer to try my best to stay in the manufactures gpp specs to stay in the safe weight range. Weaker spine and lighter points. I don't stress over speed but I like for my arrow to move at a decent pace and hit where I'm looking.

I am a believer in the foc concept. But I can't accommodate my point on being 20 yards. Just my thoughts on the subject...it's what works best for me.

I shoot 35-55's cut to 29 1/4 with standard inserts and a 200 gr point through the majority of the bows. That set up usually tunes great for me as long as I do my part and make a clean release.

LB_hntr · March 04, 2014, 07:55:00 PM

Arrow flight is a personal thing. What works for some mightnnotnwork for others. Using a bow quiver that straps to limbs changes spine, release effects spine, shooting style effects spine, string type and silencers effect spine, etc.
Best option is to use a 3355 and a 5575 and bare shaft tune with the head weight you want. You can make adjustments by cutting shaft down a little at an time to increase spine. Adding point weight will weaken spine. An hour of testing will get your shafts tuned to your situation.
Its great to get suggestions and ideas but ultimately bare shaft testing is gonna give you the answers you are after and give you the best flying arrow.

Matt Parker · March 04, 2014, 09:03:00 PM

My 5575's with 50 grains in the insert and 125 grain tip makes my point on 25 yards. These arrows are not flying good because I apparently need more point weight. I am with Shag08, I don't like my point on less than 25 yards so I don't really want to shoot any more point weight. Im thinking maybe the 3555's with the 50 grains in the insert and a 125 grain point. But my arrow weight will only be around 470 grains, not sure if that is enough weight for good penetration.