Anybody tried weighted tubes from 3 Rivers?

[johnnyk71]

Got my new Elkheart Magnum perfectly tuned today. The results were a little surprising, but the arrows fly like absolute darts from 10 yards about to 35 yards. I'm talking perfect arrow flight! After a couple hours of tinkering and shooting, I lucked into this setup with some arrows I already had fletched. Here's the rundown: JavaMan Elkheart Magnum 52", 51# at my 28" draw, Gold Tip 3555 trad blems cut to 30.5". standard aluminum inserts and nocks, three 5" shield cut feathers, 125 grain field points. Here's the the rub: they only weigh 400 grains. Only 13 gpp. (Edit - only 7.8 gpp actually).

Have any of you guys ever used the weighted tubes from 3 Rivers? If I use the 3 gpp ones, I can get to almost 500 grains with affecting spine. Looking for opinions on them and whether that's a good option. Hunting deer and hopefully hogs this spring.

[Maclean]

Johnny, is that 400 grains total arrow weight, shaft, insert, point, feathers and nock? If so, that's very, very light. And by my calcs equals 7.8 gpp (Gregg recommends 8.0 gpp minimum). A 500 grain arrow is only 9.8 gpp on that bow.

[johnnyk71]

Johnny, is that 400 grains total arrow weight, shaft, insert, point, feathers and nock? If so, that's very, very light. And by my calcs equals 7.8 gpp (Gregg recommends 8.0 gpp minimum). A 500 grain arrow is only 9.8 gpp on that bow.

Yep 400 grains total. Very light. And you're right, I miscalculated the gpp. What I calculated was gpi. Gotta beef it up some for sure.

[johnnyk71]

Looks like the 8 gpi tubes would get me to 12.86 gpp arrows. That's doable.

[Ulysseys]

I tried them in the past and actually thought they affected my arrow flight. I know they say they don't but it wasn't my experience.

[Maclean]

I've never used weight tubes. I usually adjust with heavier inserts and/or heavier broadheads. But I tend to like a more weight forward arrow for hunting, and if need be, I'll jump to a heavier spine.

[Arctic Hunter]

I tried them years ago. Still have a few stuffed in a box with all the old arrows I'll probably never use. I felt they had an effect on arrow flight as well.

[Hill Style]

Many years ago when I shot a recurve and carbon arrows I used them in all my arrows. I tuned with the tubes in never had any issue with arrow flight. I used the 3, 5, and 8 gpi tubes at different times. I still have probably a hundred of them. If you cut them the exact length they very rarely pop the nock off. A little clear tape on the end helps a lot.

[Michpatriot]

I know someone who uses para-cord inside their arrows..extremely quiet shots..I don't know his tuning process..he takes multiple deer every year with long bows and recurves that he builds in his basement. I witnessed him shooting the arrows and they were impressively quiet.

[kennym]

You need to tune the bow with the weights in there. Heavier will slow arrow speed and most likely make a stiff arrow ...

[Stringwacker]

My own experience was they made the arrow tune weaker and they blew the nocks off my arrows when they made impact. Both seem counter intuitive to what I would have thought...but that is how they worked for me. You may have different results.

[johnnyk71]

thanks, everyone, for the info. I had bought some 400 spine shafts thinking they would work, but they were proving to be exceedingly stiff, even with a huge amount of weight up front at factory length. on a whim, I decided to try these 3555 Goldtip trads that were already cut for a similar poundage bow. they flew so amazingly well that I really want to use them. I didn't realize until afterwards that they were so light. hard to give up on such well-tuned arrows, haha!

I think I am gonna try the weight tubes, as well as some paracord (should be much quieter than Weedeater line), and see if I get similar flight.

[Jegs.mich]

You can also put four strands of weed wip string inside the shaft for 75-100gr increase.