I just Finished a red oak board self bow... I have a shaft cut in and that's 3/8 from center ( center of arrow to center of bow ) The only arrow I had to shoot the bow is a 30"BOP easton 2016 with 125grn point..... I like ash wood for my arrows so I'm going to try them first... The bow is 70" n2n 53#@24.5" back side of finger on bow hand is 26" so I want a 27"BOP arrow I'll be using a 160grn point.. Would 35-40 or 40-45 be a starter.. I'll start full length and cut as I go for great flight... It will be used more so for whitetail deer.

Using Kelly spine chart and matching the 2016 at 30"BOP weight 45# so I looked at the wood spine under 45# at 27" it showed 40#....

I also checked it the kelly said... self bow -5/10# 53# now 43# now +5# for the 160 grn point 48# spine.... Does this sound right.

At 53 to 55 #'s self bow, Ash arrow 40/45 - 29 1/2 with a 160 grain head.

Sal...most of my selfbows shoot the same spine shaft as the weight of the bow, except for one which shot less.   A lot goes into your selection of course.  When choosing wood for selfbows, try and pick out the "skinniest" shafts you can, to move the effective "center" closer to the real center...does that make sense.   Most of my arrows are 11/32 to less, with the exception of the hand-planed shafts or primitive shafts.  Of course, I also like big feathers in the back to get things straightened out quicker....works for me with the heavier heads I shoot, and it would work for yours also.  Good luck.

I was thinking of maybe trying tapered shafts.. I was going to get some 11/32" 40-45#... going with a cut rest I can sand down the back end/tapered to bring in the spine...


I am going to try bamboo arrows soon... I was emailing Mickey and He told me to follow his River Cain how to. He said I should go to wally World & get some bamboo sticks...More to come.

I like tapered shafts.  They always seem to fly better for me.  I generally taper my own using 3/8" ramin dowels as my stock.  Taper them nock end only down to a bit less than 11/32".  Then sand for spine.

I think you are close. I would start with the 40/45 with the 160grn up front.

Don't you just love a selfbow?

Yeah.


John III