Hey Gang,
Currently I am shooting some 3 Rivers Hunter arrows 60-65# cut to 29" with 125gr Eskimos through my 1965 Kodiak 53#@28 and they shoot pretty well. I will be building some arrows this winter using some  Surewood Douglas Fir shafts.
My question is; can I expect the same spine fir shafts to shoot like my cedar shafts? I know that the fir is heavier, and that will likely have some affect. I will order them full length and cut to tune as I did with the cedar shafts.  I also plan on going up to a heavier(190gr.-ish) point. I am trying to avoid the extra cost of a test pack. I am usually not so frugal, but I am also saving up for a new longbow...
Do you think I can get away with ordering 60-65# shafts or should I suck it up and buy the test pack.

Thanks in advance for the advice.
Cheers
j

With heavier point you should consider the next spine group stiffer.

As far as cedes to doug fir, the spine range should stay the same. Jumping up 65 grains of point weight, you'll probably want to add close to 10 pounds of spine though, to shoot the same length.

If you're willing to flex a little on the 190 points, like i65's or so, 65-70's ought to be mighty close, they may also handle the 190's.

Buy the test pack, mark the spines well and use them to save buying dozens of arrows later....  :D

As Joe has replied, spine with cedar is spine with fir and 65 grains more point weight will require 10 lbs. more spine in the same length arrow.

I shoot 60+ lbs with a 160 gr head and my shafts are 80 lb spine. I plan on jumping point weight to 190 and will get stiffer arrows when I do. I shoot a 31 in. shaft. If you buy some shafts and the first few seem a little weak, you can align your nock indicator WITH the grain of the arrow, rather than at 90 degrees to the grain. this will give you a stiffer arrow.

Thanks for the advice fellas.

when a shaft is tested for spine, the weight is hung (or pressed) with the grain of the arrow since it's the strongest orientation of the shaft...kind of like an I-beam.

nocks should already be aligned with the grain of the arrow for consistency.  never heard of anyone who would align their nock perpendicular to the grain of the arrow.  not recommended.  don't mess with the orientation of the nock.

70-75 spine should work fine with the 190gn heads.  You may need to fiddle with length a little.  i'd still recommend getting a test kit though.  costs a little extra in the short term, but in the long run, you'll know exactly what you need.

QuoteOriginally posted by newhouse114:
If you buy some shafts and the first few seem a little weak, you can align your nock indicator WITH the grain of the arrow, rather than at 90 degrees to the grain. this will give you a stiffer arrow.

Newhouse14,
Can you explain this a bit more.  Seems very counterintuitive, to me.  
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