Well, it's gettin down to the nitty gritty and I'm startin to think about gettin some new arrows. Right now, I'm shooting a 29.5 in. 2016 with 175 gr. tips, 3- 5 in. feathers, out of my 50# Lost Creek NAT. As far as I can tell, they're shooting like darts. No visible porpoising or fishtailing to my eyes. I haven't bareshafted though. According to Stu's new Calculator, I'm getting 529 gr. and 10.6 GPP. Is the calculator accurate? I don't have a scale yet.

Is going by just my eyes good enough? Are they heavy enough for deer? Or should I strip the fletching of one of my arrows and see how it shoots then?

Thanks for helping me with my questions. It's much appreciated.

KM

Yes, they are heavy enough. Put your favorite broadhead on them and see if they still fly like darts. If they do, use them and never doubt your eyes again!

Killdeer  

Whoo hoo. Thanks!

I realize this is of no help to you, but your post and Killdeer's reply made my day. I'm shooting a 50# recurve by a local maker and being a newbie no-nothing, I bought some arrows picked from Easton's charts. Figured my ragged groups (patterns?) were solely due to my lack of ability. I also started playing with Stu Millers spreadsheet and came up with exactly what you are shooting. At least now I know I can read and possibly make an intelligent decision in the future.:-)
Ron

I'm shooting the same set up but I use 29" 2016s and 125 gr tips.  Great shooting combo.

I set up some 1916s for my 45# class bows and bare shafted them.  They were slightly weak and slightly nock high at 20 yards and fly great with fletching.  In fact the best flying arrows I've ever shot out of those bows.

Those will be plenty heavy for deer and the heavy point/FOC will only help.  If you really want to check flight, you can also shoot a few fletched arrows thru paper from 6-10 feet.  You will be able to see from the tear just what the arrow is doing.  I prefer it to bareshafting.

Your right on the button with your selection.Like Katie said the eyes don't lie!We always tend to make things more complicated than they really are.I've shot bows for close to 50 years and have yet to shoot an arrow without feathers.Remember why we like this so much (K.I.S.S Keep it simple stupid !LOL)Best of luck.

When I shoot my arrows bareshaft I watch the arrow's flight. I adjust the tip wt until they do not kick left or right in flight but travel straight. The arrow is then most efficient. Then when I put on the fletchings I know less energy is wasted by the fletchings having to correct the arrow's flight so more energy is used for penetration.

KM, you won't know for sure unless you shoot them with broadheads. Arrows with field points can look perfect in flight, because the fletching corrects minor flaws. Broadheads, especially big ones, will tell the tale.