I have a 55lb@28" Black Widow Recurve.  I have been shooting alum 2413 with helical (know that is big, but that was the only shaft that flew like a dart, and I tried them all).  I am looking to shoot carbon shafts and would like some advice on what shaft and length.  I called BW and had full intentions on ordering a couple GTs to test, but the guy  that answered the phone recommended I go with the carbon express.  I went with the carbon express (ordered a 250 and 350 to test) and now I am second guessing that decision, because weight can only be added to the tip end on the carbon express.  

I would also like my shaft to be cut around 28.5-29.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I think that a CE Heritage 250 cut to 29" and a 145-175 grain point, will fly excellent with that setup, assuming your draw length is 28".  Should get your around 550 grains total arrow weight depending on your point weight.  thise 350's cut to 29" or shorter will be to still, unless you are really looking to frontload the weight.  At least that's my opinion.

What lefty said.

Adding weight up front is a good thing...Carbon`s are great!! you can change spine by cutting ur arrows it stiffin them, try cuting a half " at a time till its right or close.. what i do is start with what i want up front, then trim to close an fine tune by tip weight if needed.. its a lot work but is worth it when you get it right.. just use a combination of length an weight forward to achieve desired lenght. More weight forward the weaker, the shorter the stiffer.. GOOD LUCK

I have a 53# BW PSA, and shoot Gold Tip 55-70, 29", 50gr brass insert, and 145 gr heads. The Ted Nugent zebra striped shafts work perfectly also.
The CE shafts that tune well for me are the older style Terminator 45-60, black, not camoed, with 50 gr brass insert, 29" also. All these shafts fly perfectly.

Hey there K9,
I also called BW when I bought my used SAIII and they told me the same as you.  I can tell you that their recommendation on the correct carbon express shaft to go with was right on (providing you told them your arrow length and what weight head you wanted to go with).

However, I also wonder about the recommendation on brand.  Does anyone else feel that the carbon express are better or worse than GT?  I shot Goldtip exclusively with my wheelie since they had the tightest tolerances on straightness.  The guys at BW say that the CE are more consistent in spine than the GT's.

Thanks,
Dave

Dave,
 Having shot GT's for about 3 years and now shooting CE's the last two years. my opinion is the CE's are much better.  One thing, they are MUCH more consistant in spine than the GT's ever were and secondly,they are a little heavier GPI.  I have a spine tester and test all my shafts when I get them.  The CE's are always within a pound or two in spine.  I have had GT's that have had as much as 15-20 pounds difference with in the same dozen and these were not blems or seconds.  Personally the spine difference is much more important to me than straightness tolerence of .006 or .003, I could even measure the difference of that, nor would it make a noticeable difference in my shooting.  Again, just my opinion, but best on actually experience.  I do like the GT wood grain better than the CE's , but not enough to risk the spine variance.  
Chris

Hey Dave,

I asume you are a lefty by your forum name.  I too am a lefty.  I was wondering what you use for wing cut(right or left) and size feathers (4" or 5"), and if offset or helical? Also if you have chronographed the BW?

I am jelious over your turkey picture.  I have been trying for 4 years to kill one with the widow, but it hasn't happened yet.  This year was the closest.  I shot one (about 10" beard) with a 2 blade zwicky that had a turkey grabber blade behind it.  The shot was about 10 yds, and look really good, but only got about 3-5 inches penetration.  I searched for him for about 2.5 hrs, and only found my arrow about 100 yds in the woods.  I wish I hadn't put that turkey grabber behind the zwicky.  I have killed two with the compound, and the grabber blade and each time they shot through him.

My SAIII loves the Easton N-Fused Axis 500 series with a 100 grain brass insert and a 200 grain point.  Bullet holes through paper.  I am shooting 50 lbs at 28" with a 29.5" shaft.  I never thought I would like the Axis but I have come to love them, they perform great!  I too had BW tell me to shoot the Carbon Express but went with the Axis before I bought them.

Randy,
 My name is Chris not Dave.  I was just replying to a question Dave asked.  
 As far as feathers go I currently shoot 5", left wing, shield cut, with a helical.  I do shoot 4" from time to time as well as parabolic cut and right wing.  As long as you are not shooting off your knuckle or a single bevel broadhead, then you really do not need to worry about right or left wing.  I have never shot offset always a helical, so really can't comment on that.  If you bow is well tuned and you are not shooting a real wide two blade broadhead, 4" or 5" feather aren't going to show much difference.  The larger fletch will help out if they are wet, help stabilize a wider blade, and help some if your are not quite tuned.  In the end though you are better off worrying more about tuning then added fletch to hide it.  These of course, are just my opinions.  Summer is a great time to experiment with stuff like that.
 Turkey are tough!  Keep after them and good hunting!
Chris

Hey there Chris,

Thanks for that info.  That's exactly what I wanted to hear.  Wow, I can't believe there's that much difference!!  It doesn't help if the arrows are straight in the box but shaped all different kinds of ways when they come off your shelf, eh?

As for direction of helical, I've heard it doesn't matter.  Only that one of the directions will cause your points to come undone (which happens to be the jig I bought of course).  Fletch the other direction!!  Someone on here will tell ya which one.

Best,
Dave

I have a PSA 51 @ 28, and it loves gold tip trads or blems, 5575 29.5 inches long, 100 grain brass insert wiht a 125 tip. Loves em.

I draw 29 inches so its a little more than 51 pounds, but consistently thorugh the chrono the 525 grain arrows fly in the mid 180's.

I'd love to try CE though.........

Carbon Express are not only far better in quality and spine consistency, but are more durable and have a smoother finish so they are easier to get out of 3d targets.
They are frankly in a whole different league than Gold Tip.
I've seen gold tip shaft wall thickness that is so uneven you would not believe they let them out of the factory, but they do.

Chris,

Sorry about the mix up.  

I appreciate everyones response.  Have any of you shot the grizzly sticks or hammerheads with your BW?  If so, what are your thoughts on these shafts?

Thanks again for the replies!