Arrow Weight for Elk

[dustinwittwer]

First things first, my new Hoyt Buffalo just came in the mail! I am beyond excited and happy with this thing. I will try and post some pictures of it in action when I get a chance.

That being said, I wanted to double check with anyone who has experience with hunting western big game animals, specifically for me bull elk, to see if a 535 overall arrow weight is sufficient momentum/knockdown power. My past arrow setup was closer to 580 so before I change some things, I wanted opinions and thoughts.

I'll be shooting a 50# Buffalo rated @ 28" but I'm pulling 30" draw so roughly 55# actual draw weight. And that would be with a 340 spine Easton Axis traditional using a 150 grain broadhead.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Assuming that the arrow is well tuned, you put that arrow in the right place with a very sharp broadhead, and you will have a very dead elk not too far away!

Bisch

[damascusdave]

You will likely get a lot of opinions...in fact your question, at this point, has been asked and answered...now work on putting said arrow exactly where you want...and work on getting as close as possible to that big bull...and btw there is no such things as knockdown power when it comes to arrows

DDave

[The Night Stalker]

A good post. I have been thinking about this for some time. A lighter arrow offers a flatter tradjectory but poorer penetration at distances beyond 25 yards.
I know Mike Treadway shot an elk with one of his bows that was lightweight but the shot was from a tree stand at about 10-15 yards. He got great penetration with an aluminum arrow and a two blade Eskimo. Seems to be two thoughts on this subject. Eastern hunters prefer a heavier arrow but some veteran western  elk hunters prefer the lighter arrow for the potential longer shot.
Some of you successful elk hunters can post your set ups and arrow weights and rough yardage of shots would be very helpful.

[Orion]

I'm a mid-westerner, but have been elk hunting for 25 years or so and killed a few along the way. Will a 535 grain arrow kill an elk?  Sure.  That being said, I prefer 600 grains plus.  

Don't know why folks think they have to shoot farther in western hunting.  I don't.  All of my elk kill shots, except one, have been inside of 20 yards.

I now shoot 52-56# ACS bows with 600-650 grain skinny carbon Axis arrows and two blade broad heads -- STOS, Abowyer and Zwickey.  Usually have one of each in the quiver. Shot heavier bows when I was younger, and still would if I could. Elk are big critters.

[Matty]

Try this subject.....

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=128480#000000

[Stickbow]

Most of the critters I have killed have been with 8-9 grains per pound. Elk, Deer, Bear, Moose, etc. Has nothing to do with shot distance, it is just what I shoot. IMO the arrow weight issue has confused many. I am not advocating light arrows, of which I do not believe 8-9 GPP fall. But judging what is generally posted on this board pertaining to arrow weight one would be  led to believe 10-12 would be minimum.
Strong sharp broadhead and good arrow flight....and practice

There is some great info in that thread, Matty, by a sure enough master on the subject!

Bisch

[Matty]

Originally posted by Bisch:
There is some great info in that thread, Matty, by a sure enough master on the subject!

Bisch

Oh Randy!!??  He may or may not know what he's talkin' bout!    
Last night a buddy of ours said. ...  "He's so lucky! I think he eats 4 leaf clovers and craps out horse shoes"
   
Now that's funny right there, I don't care who you are...

[dustinwittwer]

So, if I build the 535 grain arrow, what is your favorite 140-165 grain two blade broadhead?

[Fisher Cat]

Stickbow wrote:

"Most of the critters I have killed have been with 8-9 grains per pound. Elk, Deer, Bear, Moose, etc. Has nothing to do with shot distance, it is just what I shoot. IMO the arrow weight issue has confused many. I am not advocating light arrows, of which I do not believe 8-9 GPP fall. But judging what is generally posted on this board pertaining to arrow weight one would be led to believe 10-12 would be minimum.
Strong sharp broadhead and good arrow flight....and practice"

Amen Brother!  In my experience, its difficult to get an aluminum arrow to fly well at 10 GPP and up, yet for decades, aluminum was the standard.

[FerretWYO]

Who said that Matty ha ha?

In truth though its not about luck all the time. You have to be ready when lady luck shines on you.

My honest thought is if you really draw 30 they you are in the ball park. Might try to squeeze a few more grains out your arrow in insert or head weight.

As for broadheads? SHARP, TUNED, and cut on contact. The Magnus Stinger is the tried and true. There is also the Cutthroat from RMSGear and many others out there. Don't get wrapped up in the hype around any head in particular. There so many great ones.

I am not the foremost authority on any of this stuff but if I can be of any help to you hit me up. I love to talk about elk hunting.

[beachbowhunter]

Originally posted by FerretWYO:
 The Magnus Stinger is the tried and true.  

Yup. I use the 150 grain ones with bleeders. Sailed through elk on 540 grain arrows.

[Bjorn]

My current bow is a 64" 50# ACS CX that I pull to 48#. Cedar arrows weigh in at 590 gns incl 175 gn BH. Doug fir in about 50-60 gn heavier. Both work just fine. There is so much more to killing an Elk. I think David Peterson advocated for a 650 gn arrow traveling at 160 fps in his book. Orion above nailed it!

[dustinwittwer]

Anyone had experience with the Steel Force traditional series broadhead? I like the 3:1 ratio and the single bevel design. Just curious if there were any users out there.

Thanks for the input everyone!

[Biathlonman]

No experience with the steel force but I've been shooting quite a few Tuskers from Tim at Braveheart recently and they all are flying great.

[Bobaru]

Not sure exactly why this issue keeps coming up.  As for myself, however, I will say that I have always been concerned about ethical shots.  

Last year, I went crazy trying to find my perfect setup to hunt Africa.  My setup was almost identical to yours.  And I was able to come home with a Wildebeest, roughly the same size as an Elk.  

My research showed that all issues were marginal.  Heavier arrow had only marginal increased penetration.  Lighter arrow had only marginally less drop at  25 yards.  So, in the end, I built the arrow I liked.  BTW, I used a 150 grain, 2 blade stinger with some other weight attached to the insert inside.

Bottom line, you'll be fine with what you have.  Practice, practice, practice...  Hit what you're aiming at, and have sharp broadheads.

[old_goat2]

Originally posted by dustinwittwer:
Anyone had experience with the Steel Force traditional series broadhead? I like the 3:1 ratio and the single bevel design. Just curious if there were any users out there.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Steel Force Traditional heads look like they would curl up on the tip to me, you would want to tanto the tips significantly if you went with them. I'm using the Cutthroat Broadheads this year, 200gr screw in's. They performed superbly for me deer hunting and they are the easiest head to sharpen I've come across! They all work if sharp and in the right spot!

[Prairie Drifter]

Originally posted by old_goat2:
 

Originally posted by dustinwittwer:
Anyone had experience with the Steel Force traditional series broadhead? I like the 3:1 ratio and the single bevel design. Just curious if there were any users out there.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Steel Force Traditional heads look like they would curl up on the tip to me, you would want to tanto the tips significantly if you went with them. I'm using the Cutthroat Broadheads this year, 200gr screw in's. They performed superbly for me deer hunting and they are the easiest head to sharpen I've come across! They all work if sharp and in the right spot! [/b]

The single bevel traditional heads have a tonto tip and are .080 thick

[old_goat2]

Originally posted by Prairie Drifter:
 

Originally posted by old_goat2:
 

Originally posted by dustinwittwer:
Anyone had experience with the Steel Force traditional series broadhead? I like the 3:1 ratio and the single bevel design. Just curious if there were any users out there.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Steel Force Traditional heads look like they would curl up on the tip to me, you would want to tanto the tips significantly if you went with them. I'm using the Cutthroat Broadheads this year, 200gr screw in's. They performed superbly for me deer hunting and they are the easiest head to sharpen I've come across! They all work if sharp and in the right spot! [/b]

The single bevel traditional heads have a tonto tip and are .080 thick [/b]

I didn't see a single bevel listed on their web page