I am thinking about changing my arrow weight but I am concerned about losing velocity. I know alot of people say velocity doesn't matter but alot of them don't hunt where I do. Most of my shots are 40+ yards through windows of brush. Also spot and stalk where a rangefinder cannot always be used where a flatter shooting bow is a little more forgiving if you misjudge a distance. So back to my question. Im shooting a 390 grain arrow and thinking about switching to around 440. How much does velocity change per grain of arrow weight? Is 50 more grains going to give me a big enough difference in penetration? I'm shooting a destroyer 340 @ 61 and 28". Thanks guys
Are you currently having penetration issues with your 390 grain arrows? What is the current Grains per inch (GPI) and arrow spine on your hunting arrows?
I've hunted 90% of the time with an arrow weighing 390 grains or less. I like to get my speed somewhere between 280fps and 305fps. This combo produces all the KE to hunt and get passthroughs on everything I have hunted including, Whitetails, Mule Deer, and Bears. The last Bear I killed weighed 450# and I was killing dirt after going completely through his body. I don't get to Elk hunt much but have gotten passthroughs on both Bulls I killed. One a 6 X 6 that was aged at 10.5 years old. Actually never found the arrow after it passed through him. Not that I was worried about! I was more concerned with getting my hands on the Bull I had just watched crumple after a 60 yard dash Dan
What broadheads are you using Dan? I'm thinking about switching to cut on contact and keeping my current arrow setup.
How about drop your spine down to 400, shorten your arrow length, and increase your tip weight. I bet that would not increase your arrow weight more than about 30-40 grains, and would increase the FOC of your arrow, resulting in better penetration.
I've used Slick Tricks for the most part since 03 and Grizz Tricks the last couple of years. I do test other broadheads I sell from time to time and this past season I loaded up some Spitfire Maxx broadheads and killed an 8 point. Results were the same, complete passthrough with a gaping hole. I like a lighter shaft as long as spine is correct and FOC is at 12%, more is even better. It would not bother me at all to hunt with a 340 grain arrow. I shoot 60# to 62# and shoot 27" 400 spine arrows. Dan
My arrows seem a little on the light side. I was wondering what you guys thought. I haven't had any penetration issues yet but I haven't shot an elk with my current setup. My last bow I was throwing logs downrange but with no speed. I was at the proshop and a group of guys couldn't believe how light my setup was. Just curious to see what your thoughts were. It's time to buy new arrows and was thinking about changing my spine to 400 and tip weight to 125.
I would think your weight range is good if you are also concerned about losing velocity. If you wanted to change anything I would do something like was suggested and increase my FOC. You could likely do that without affecting your total weight. At 60# a fixed blade or COC is what I would do although I got very good performance from a 3 blade bloodrunner at less than 60#'s.
Probably. I would think with a destroyer and a 100 grain head you are probably already borderline weak, if not weak on your current setup. If you move up to a .400 spine you may be able to get it done, with 125 grain tip, depending on arrow length.
Grantbvfd, you should definitely go to a 400 spine, you'll gain a little bit of weight there and will be properly spined. I've shot the Axis arrows for a long time and I've never had any tuning issues if they were slightly stiff. Where are you "out west"?
Is your bow maxed at 60#? If you're worried about losing velocity by going to a 400 and you have a 70# bow, can't you just turn it up a few pounds?
You're looking at losing 11-16fps.... OT2 says it's around 11fps, while most other calculators say 15-16fps. Assuming OT2 is somewhere near correct, you'd be zipping out there with about 76ft/#'s if KE with the 440gr arrow (assuming 279fps off the riser), and at 40yds, you'd still be holding onto 66ft/#, where with the 390gr arrow, you start out with about 72.5ft/# (assuming a 290fps speed off the riser), and you'd be around 63ft/# at 40yds. Again, these are just guestimated numbers, but should give you some idea. Looks like he's gonna be needing something .3446 range on the spine, so considering that, he could slide into a .340 just fine, and considering that Bemans in my length run right around 440, he could probably get something much closer to 400 gr with a couple inch shorter arrow and a 100gr BH (I use 125's w/ a 29.5" arrow), that would spine right, still achieving somewhere near the weight he's looking. I'm not sure he gains a whole lot by going UP in weight considering the numbers I punched in. He could shoot something like what I shoot, and cut it to 28" tip it with a 125gr BH, and be almost perfect, and come in around 420-425gr, spine would be near optimal, and the extra weight would be there as well..... Something in the 420gr range would still hold 75ft/# of KE (assuming 283fps off the riser), and pack 65ft/# at 40yds, still plenty with good shot placement and a good BH to punch through most big game animals in North America!!!
I lived in Gillette for a long time and hunted all around Sheridan and Buffalo. I moved out to California in 2007 due to work. Met a gal out here and to say the least it doesn't look like WE will be moving anytime soon. I'm living in Northern California. As to switching to the 400 spine thats what I have been leaning towards.
The 340 might work with a 29" arrow, but if he's shooting a 28" draw length with any modern day drop away his arrow is probably more like 26.75"-27"... that is significantly overspined at 60lbs
