What arrow weight are you shooting for deer?

truck24hr · November 29, 2015, 03:10:00 PM

I've seen a few posts that are making me rethink my setup. I'm currently shooting a 56lb HH Wesley Special. I'm shooting CE Heritage 250's full length, 3gpi tubes, 100gr inserts and 150gr broadheads. I think finished weight is around 670 grains. I mainly hunt whitetails.

I see lots of folks shooting in the 450-500 grain weight. Am I way overweight? Bow shoots well and is extremely quiet, and I'm sure pretty slow.

Cory Mattson · November 29, 2015, 03:21:00 PM

I shoot 650 grains

"bow shoots well and is extremely quiet" - DONE

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KSdan · November 29, 2015, 03:30:00 PM

665

Mike Bolin · November 29, 2015, 03:32:00 PM

625

23feetupandhappy · November 29, 2015, 03:33:00 PM

With that setup I think you could hunt anything smaller than an elephant.... :

What would you want to accomplish by going lighter?
Do you know what your FPS is?

Unless your having issues with your setup I wouldnt change a thing!!!

You'll get all sorts of different oppinions here but I think you could drop 100 grains without suffering much penetration issues and will pick up some speed which will help you shoot a little flatter.....

akaboomer · November 29, 2015, 03:40:00 PM

Mine are 565 grain. Launched from my 56# @ my draw recurve. This setup has been working for me for years. I get pass through shots on almost all critters. I have even lost an arrow that kept on sailing through a 243# Texas boar. My thoughts are that if what your doing is working don't change it. I tried a heavy arrow with added weight at the inserts, they made my bow behave like a stranger. The feel was so foreign that I couldn't maintain focus long enough to get used to it.

Whichever way you choose, enjoy the journey.

Chris

truck24hr · November 29, 2015, 03:41:00 PM

Thanks guys.

I've just seen so many lately shooting much lighter.

23,
Not really looking to go lighter, just curious.
I have no idea how fast it's shooting.

November 29, 2015, 03:42:00 PM

QuoteBow shoots well and is extremely quiet, and I'm sure pretty slow. [/QB]

It's all relative! If you shoot it well and it is well tuned, then it is just fine. If you want faster, then go lighter and see how it does for you. Your arrow is right at 12gpp. You could drop 100gr and still have a plenty heavy enough arrow to hunt with, if you wanted. You would have to be careful how you dropped the weight though, so you did not mess up your tune.

My setup is 570gr off of a 50# at my DL r/d longbow.

Bisch

David Mitchell · November 29, 2015, 03:45:00 PM

Around 525 grains for a 45# bow.

Sam McMichael · November 29, 2015, 03:52:00 PM

I shoot cedar on my HHA Cheetah 56@28". They tend to weigh 495 - 520. I never have paid much attention to arrow weight (I went to my quiver and weighed my arrows when I saw this thread). In my opinion, any arrow that tunes well on a suitable weight hunting bow will be sufficiently heavy to ensure adequate penetration and quick kills on a deer. Admittedly, this theory may not always hold up when dealing with bigger and tougher animals. However, if you are getting good performance from your current arrows, don't change a thing.

23feetupandhappy · November 29, 2015, 03:58:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by truck24hr:
Thanks guys.

I've just seen so many lately shooting much lighter.

23,
Not really looking to go lighter, just curious.
I have no idea how fast it's shooting.

10 gr per pound is a base hunting weight, so your 110 gr over that....

I shoot 47#s and my arrow setup weighs 503 gr., 10.7 gr per pound...
I have another arrow setup that is 583 but I find the extra 83 gr to really slow my arrow down, I really notice it out at 20 yards.

Your at 11.9 gr per pound which is a pretty solid hunting weight

If you like playing around with this kind of stuff then I would say Play!!!
Make up an arrow that's 10 gr per pound and see how ya like it then let us know your findings

cacciatore · November 29, 2015, 04:12:00 PM

You already have a winner there,so if you want try something different wait till the end of the season and experience new stuff,you can just gain knowledge.

Jayrod · November 29, 2015, 04:19:00 PM

9-11gpp is always been good for anything in North America and a sharp broadhead

Gehrke145 · November 29, 2015, 04:47:00 PM

I just bumped mine up to, 500 with a 50 or 55 lbs recurve

Duncan · November 29, 2015, 04:58:00 PM

I think 450-500 is OK if your shooting 45-50#. That's what mine are set up for.

BigErn · November 29, 2015, 05:00:00 PM

510gr-47lbs Kodiak Mag!Shoots pretty straight
out to 18yds.
Ernie

Friend · November 29, 2015, 05:21:00 PM

Are you way over weight? Absolutely Not>>>

Could you lighten up 100 grains and maintain an effective lethal setup? Absolutely Yes>>>

ChuckC · November 29, 2015, 05:23:00 PM

There are suggestions, but there are no rules.

The only thing you really need is to make sure the arrow flies well for you. There are a ton of ways to go about that and none of them are right(er) or wrong(er) than the other, only different.
ChuckC

frassettor · November 29, 2015, 06:40:00 PM

785 gr for 58/61# bows

Warden609 · November 29, 2015, 06:52:00 PM

This year 612 grains 55# silvertip. Awesome setup for me. Have fun and enjoy.