My current arrow setup is a carbon express maxima 350 that weighs right around 374 grains. I have no complaints and everything works really well out of my bow. I was just wondering how this compares to everyone elses setup, who are mainly whitetail hunters? Is that an optimal arrow weight for whitetails? I have taken a much bigger interest lately in the tuning aspect of the bow and was thinking about going to a 125 grain head, this also bumps the FOC up to around 14% which is getting up there from what I understand. What do you think the 125 grain will do to my arrown flight if I keep the same arrow? I am pulling 70 lbs at 28" Just wanted to get some opinions and see what the experts think, thanks guys!
No expert here...but what poundage is your bow and/or speed of arrow? All 3 factors matter when talking arrow weight and ability to penetrate.
No expert here, but I decided to opt for the 125 grain BH this year. It bumped my FOC to 14% too, which is what I was after. And It pushed me up to 417grain finished weight arrow. You will have to do some slight modifications to your pins but other than that 25 grains should only help your setup IMHO.
Eric, Is your arrow length 28"? My setup is very similar except I'm at 363 grains total (28" easton flatline w/ 100 grain tip). I've been on this same train of though about adding a slight amount of weight. I think i'm going to just hold off though and here's why: My hunting which is very similar to yours (basically turkey and deer) do not require a lot of force to punch through. Your setup has proven effective. So even my bow shooting an arrow on the lighter side will have way more than enough power to pass through, so the more efficient (flatter and faster) I can get it there, the better off I am. I know this isn't a very popular way of thinking in that most will sacrafice speed over weight. I've been looking at it this way. You can get a pass through at 308 fps, or you can get a pass through at 268 fps, which would you rather have. Again, that's just what I've been thinking lately and I know it isn't very popular. However I feel it's more real situation.
You could get away with it, although you would most likely be running toward the weak side on your spine with the 125 grain heads. I think you would be good though.
Thanks Indy, and yes my arrow length is 28". I too just feel that adding a little weight won't hurt because my weight is a little on the light side, 374 grains. It wouldn't bother me to drop a few fps since I'm already right around 295 fps. I just didn't know if bumping up 25 grains and going to around 14% FOC would really effect my arrow flight that much. I think the spine should still be good, but I am new to this spectrum of arrow tuning. Oh, and are you ready to put a long beard down with the bow yet. Indiana season is right around the corner
Thanks Buckeye, my other thought was keeping a 100 grain head and changing to the CE Maxima KV. The regular maxima weighs 8.9 grains per inch and the KV weighs 9.8 with a slightly stiffer spine too. So if I kept the 100 grain head and switched arrows my weight would be 399 grains. I dont know if this is the better route. I might be thinking into this too far, if deer season was here I could just concentrate on the hunting side of it. All this free time has got me thinking too much
Oh man I am ready! My meat seekers should be here tomorrow. I'm going to go ahead and use those. All I have available is woods so it looks like the plan right now is to use distance. I am going to experiment with a 125 grain head too after the turkey season. I have a set of 425 grain eastons that I shot a few times and it felt like a civil war compared to a tomahawk missle. As much as I want to play with the weight, I keep talking myself out of it because I know I'm going to get a pass through with my current setup so adding weight is only reducing speed without any benefit. Again it's not a popular way of thinking. Do you have turkey up your way? I have to go to an uncle's land down on the Ohio. Here in central IN, we don't have them yet.
That is exactly my issue! I'm going to try the 125s, just because though. In writing all these, if the added FOC makes the arrow fly more consistently without much of a speed reduction at all ( 2.5 grains = 1 fps) then it may be worth it.
I believe you would still be good with the 125 grains heads on your current shafts.... As long as you don't take your DL and or DW up the shafts would be fine. As for changing out your arrows to pick up 1 grain per inch, 28 grains total.... Seems like a waste of cash... $100+ for a dozen arrows or $5 for new field tips..... Both accomplish basically the same increase in overall shaft weight. Give the heavier tips a try and see how your arrows are flying.
Hey indiana I am really glad you brought this up cause I have been wondering the same thing. But I have to tell you I tried the meat seeker 3 and I honestly hated them the filght was not consistant and they did not have complete penetration or a good blood trail. I really had high hopes for them because of the durability. I shoot a doe right under my stand just behind the shoulders complete pass thru and there was a drop of blood about every 15 yards. We found her after about 80 yards and I sliced the heart but the exit hole was only abut as big as my thumb. Another doe I shoot was quartering away and hit her behind the leaft shoulder and she dumped in the field after running circles fao a good 4 min. and the blood was the same. I really hope you have better luck with them then I did.
From my short experiences, blood trails really have me baffled. This year I shot my buck from 10 yards with a spitfire maxx. Complete pass through right through the middle of the heart, both lungs. I had a nice entry hole and huge exit hole. The blood trail was marginal even though he only went about 75 yards. After seeing the damage I would have expected a painted line to him. At the same token, two years ago I was shooting montec G5's. A much smaller cutting diameter. The first doe I ever harvested was a very high lung hit that was further back too. She to went about 75 yards, but there was a river of blood to her. I couldn't believe it! I just don't understand it, both were pass throughs, both in the vitals, but the much smaller head blead 100 times more than the larger one.
