I know these posts pop up all the time. However they are really effective, and I just can't seem to find anyone who knows a thing about traditional archery in North Central Iowa.

I'm shooting a 55lb Great Plains B Model Recurve. I pull my bow 28''. I am looking to shoot Gold Tip arrows for my set up. I would like to shoot a weight forward shaft. Should I use the 35/55's or 55/75's. Is there much of a difference between the black shafts and wood grain looking shafts. Any suggestions about weight and inches combination would be appreciated. I plan on bare shaft planning my arrows to tune. Thanks in advance.

if ur wanting to have alot of wieght up front u might want go with the stiffer 55/75 so you will have more room to play with your spine and the wood grain shafts are heavier not any stiffer.

play with this chart a little it might help.

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/hkg3sg1@sbcglobal.net/vwp2?.tok=bceRJecBj15UbCko&.dir=/Public&.dnm=Dynamic+Spine+Calculator+Rev1.xls&.src=bc


and windnut u r the man for posting this chart.it helped me save some money and time.thanks

Cole

I tried several different routes to building a weight forward arrow with 55/75 shafts. None of them worked well in all situations. I finally broke down and spent the cash on a set of "arrow dynamics" "Hammerheads". These are by far the best preforming carbon arrows I have ever shot, they blow grizzly sticks right out of the water! I'm getting double the penetration from the same field point and broad head out of a "hammerhead" when compared to the 55/75's. The dog gone things also fly like a dart out of every bow I own! I still use the 55/75's for small game in winter and ducks but for big game I only shoot arrow dynamic shafts!

I'll look into a set of "arrow dynamics" "hammerheads".  I was thinking of going in the direction of Gold Tips because that's what they sell at my local dealer.. Thanks a ton for the info....

 Regards,  Cole

Is there another way to open this? I can't seem to open it...Thanks

You need to download it and open it in Excel.

Mike

You could go with the 55/75 cut to 29"s and use 225-250 up front. Shawn

i can only relate my personal experiences with carbon shafts and arrows.  following the accepted spine charts and shaft selection wisdom proved a waste of lots of time and money for me.  i came slowly to realize that weaker carbon shafts with high foc flew best for me under all shooting circumstances.  my arrow of choice these dayze comprises a beman 500 bowhunter (ics venture) shaft cut to 29.25", 350 grains total front end weight, 4" banana 4-fletch.  my bow is a 55# @ 29" mohawk.  the arrows fly fast and true.  ymmv.

i think the chart above is probably pretty good and helpful for aluminums and woodies... carbons are a different animal...especially when cutting short..they stiffen very quickly...

i also agree that the weaker carbons with hi foc fly best...i shoot low to mid 40 bows and use .600 spine carbons.

So far it looks fairly good on the carbons I am testing right now, but there are still variations like stuff on your bow and string.  Even form I am sure can effect how it will work for you.  I have two sets of limbs so I gave it a go for the light ones figuring if that was too stiff I could use them on the heavy limbs.  I also went on the light end of the point weight range I wanted so I could up the point if it was stiff.  The chart showed me that if I cut as short as I could go I was right on so I did it.  Right now it looks like the listed length for my set-up is about 1" short of what I need.  However, I am using 100 gr. inserts and the extra length of those is probably stiffening my shaft some.  To me it looks too stiff by just a little in the light limbs, and they shoot good out of my heavy limbs or with one point size up in weight.  I am still testing.  

The chart is very good to help you see what every changes does and get in the ball park of what you want to use, but I would still cut a little long and work down.  If I had this chart from the start I could have saved a lot of cutting down steps and I would have started with 400 vs. 500 shafts.  What I have will work fine, but I wouldn't have minded a little more shaft weight and length.

New here but not to traditional. I shoot a 53# chekmate with 55/75 gold tips they shoot awsome and blow through deer.They are pretty tough also, I have one I have shot 3 deer and numerous varmints with and it is still in my quiver.No special mods just a 125gr. screw in magnus. Hope that helps.

Thanks again for all the good info..

 Cole