I would like to hear your opinions regarding arrow weight for big game. I love to hunt elk, and although I am still ten months away from opening day, I am starting to prepare. This will be my first elk hunt with a recurve. My arrows weigh in at 525gr. or so,100gr brass inserts and 125gr. broadhead. By adding weight tubes I can increase that to 600+ gr. Arrows bareshaft well either way. Shooting a Black Widow 53@ 28. Does it make sense to shoot 600+ grains from a 53# bow? Dave

Your 525gr arrows will work just fine....

You will do fine with that set-up, you are at 10gpp. and that high FOC will help too! Make sure those broadheads are scary sharp and keep your shots broadside or quartering away and you will be fine out to your effective range. I would say 30 yards and under. Shawn

I took a big cow elk saturday with a 450gr GT with a Silverflame bh - 51 @ 28 Dalaa 21' (riser)prototype.
Your 525 will work great and help with high/low errors.

Steve

Most effective weapon for elk hunting in being in real, real, good shape.

thanks guys, I would prefer to shoot them at 525 as opposed to 600+. KBOB- I hear ya man, huffin' and puffin @12,000 ft. is about a zero on the fun factor!  Congrats to you Steve on your elk. What state were you hunting?

skid...What broadheads are you using?  Also where are you hunting.  I went on my first elking trip this past september.  With my Widow as well.

Richie, I am not set on the broadhead just yet. Trying the Eclipse 2blade and the Zwickey 2blade for now. I am happy with their flight to 40 yds. which is beyond my max hunting range. Zwickey seems a bit easier to get the razor sharp edge I expect, but with a little extra work the Eclipse will also. I have hunted Colorado once with otc tags, but have spent most of my time in Oregon. Colorado was absolutely beautiful country, though I must admit I really love to hunt eastern Oregon, archery tags allow bowhunters to take any elk, and that suits me just fine, I am no trophy hunter.