Build my Mule Deer Arrow

Joined
Jul 29, 2024
Messages
20
Location
Spokane, WA
Hey all, I recently upgraded my bow setup to a Matthews Lift X 33. I shoot a 30” draw with 75lb draw weight. I was hoping to go with a lighter arrow for the “range forgiveness” that James Yates talks about. I like the idea of getting Easton arrows since they are American made and possibly pairing it with the Sevr 1.5” Hyrbids. Does anyone have any recommendations? I would like to try to stay in the lower 400s for grains and hopefully around 300-320fps? Im a newer archery hunter and don’t know a ton. Just curious what some other hunters have liked/not liked to see if I’m on the right track or need to research some more.


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Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,200
Location
Oregon
Hey all, I recently upgraded my bow setup to a Matthews Lift X 33. I shoot a 30” draw with 75lb draw weight. I was hoping to go with a lighter arrow for the “range forgiveness” that James Yates talks about. I like the idea of getting Easton arrows since they are American made and possibly pairing it with the Sevr 1.5” Hyrbids. Does anyone have any recommendations? I would like to try to stay in the lower 400s for grains and hopefully around 300-320fps? Im a newer archery hunter and don’t know a ton. Just curious what some other hunters have liked/not liked to see if I’m on the right track or need to research some more.


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I haven’t looked at eastons newest line-up. Go to their website and find the GPI for each line. If you know your arrow length carbon to carbon, you can do the math yourself. Add in nock, vanes, insert and broadhead. Last I recall the sonic 6.0 would fit around your weight you want to land at.
There are more knowledgeable people here on the specifics, but you can do the legwork yourself too, and learn along the way.
 

Shawn_Guinn

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 18, 2018
Messages
133
Easton sonic or the lighter 5 mm shaft. Me if I was only hunting mule deer I would go with a Victory Vap non tko in 300 cut as short as you can get it with lighter aluminum outsert or Easton deep six and a 100 grain sevr or 125 whatever gets you a shade over 400 grains or go 250 with a heavier outsert or ethics heavier deep six and collar. That would land mid 400’s. Personally if it was mullies only I would build the arrow for speed and wind bucking capabilities. I’ve had good flight from black eagle 4 mm instincts as well and new focus inserts seem to be solid on paper have not played with em yet. I don’t put much thought in Easton claiming American made its marketing when they do make several things overseas including their Hoyt carbon bows, most if not all there recurves and several arrows. I’ve got similar specs and have had very good flight from 300s cut to 29 inches at 30.5 and 70 lbs on my lift. I run a lot heavier up front but I build arrows for elk, for deer only I would drop arrow weight.
 

Slick8

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 8, 2019
Messages
277
I'd use this from WT to Elk.
Black Eagle Carnivore's, 100 grains of added insert weight for some serious FOC and a 125 grain broad head of choice.

Mine is 125 Ram Cats.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jan 26, 2017
Messages
3,331
Location
PA
The fancy set up would be procomps and the Hyde glue in mechanical.

Axis is too heavy for your goals, axis 4mm probably are too, so staying with Easton you probably have to go sonic as already mentioned if you want to stick Easton and can't justify procomp prices.

Victory has a few shafts that can accomplish your goals, most of their 4mm and 5mm shafts. Same with black eagle and gold tip.
 

sndmn11

"DADDY"
Joined
Mar 28, 2017
Messages
10,811
Location
Morrison, Colorado
250 spines

Sonic 6.0
29" with standard nock/insert
450grs w/125gr head
305fps predicted

Victory Rip xv
29" with standard AL insert/nock
414grs w/125gr head
317fps predicted

Sonic 6.5
29" with standard nock/insert
471grs w/125 head
298fps predicted

I'd choose the 6.5.
 

Bump79

WKR
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Messages
1,468
Easton sonic or the lighter 5 mm shaft. Me if I was only hunting mule deer I would go with a Victory Vap non tko in 300 cut as short as you can get it with lighter aluminum outsert or Easton deep six and a 100 grain sevr or 125 whatever gets you a shade over 400 grains or go 250 with a heavier outsert or ethics heavier deep six and collar. That would land mid 400’s. Personally if it was mullies only I would build the arrow for speed and wind bucking capabilities. I’ve had good flight from black eagle 4 mm instincts as well and new focus inserts seem to be solid on paper have not played with em yet. I don’t put much thought in Easton claiming American made its marketing when they do make several things overseas including their Hoyt carbon bows, most if not all there recurves and several arrows. I’ve got similar specs and have had very good flight from 300s cut to 29 inches at 30.5 and 70 lbs on my lift. I run a lot heavier up front but I build arrows for elk, for deer only I would drop arrow weight.

Here's what you can expect for target arrow weights. This is calibration of this calculator to the speed test. By doing this first and adjusting the % at the bottom to real tesr you'll get the most accurate speeds.
1000017248.jpg
460 grains will get you right at 300 fps.
1000017250.jpg

403 Grains would get you to 320 fps.
1000017252.jpg
 

sndmn11

"DADDY"
Joined
Mar 28, 2017
Messages
10,811
Location
Morrison, Colorado

Bump79

WKR
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Messages
1,468
Youll need a 250 spine for sure.

Here's my 2 cents. Everything is a tradeoff. The 320 fps/403 grain arrow will be less forgiving in flight, less durable, more expensive BUT have a little better trajectory and time in flight.

The 300 fps/460 grain arrow will be more durable, better FOC, more forgiving in flight and a little less expensive. Still a fantastic trajectory.

Here's the thing when you start pushing these really high speeds. When it comes to drag (velocity loss) and flight forgiveness (force applied to blades/head) they are both tied to velocity squared. Meaning it's not the same difference 20 fps difference like going from 280 to 300. Also, while the higher velocity arrow will still arrive sooner and have a better trajectory - it's also shedding velocity faster. Meaning that at the animal the 320 fps arrow will have less KE and M.

A Sevr 1.5 Hybrid has a decent amount of blade exposed. Definitely minimized but it's nearly a small vented fixed. I'd lean towards an arrow the prioritizes durability and flight forgiveness. So 295-300 fps.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jun 28, 2021
Messages
516
Location
South Carolina
I’ve killed over 100 critter from Mullies, bear, elk, a stupid amount of whitetail with a 375-400 grain are going a blazing 240-290 fps with my 25.5 draw using 60-70lb bows.

You can literally shoot whatever you want and will have more then enough energy. People get wayyyy to hung up on the heavy arrow weights, they just are not needed.
 

Bump79

WKR
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Messages
1,468
Oh that's neat! I used 333fps in my calculations, but the % thingy seems to do the same.
Yeah the cool thing is you can calibrate it to a speed test like I demonstrated. I used to do the same and just cut some off but each bow varies. Then I realize most of the free calculators out there were completely wrong.. so I made my own and shared it.
 
Joined
Nov 3, 2014
Messages
662
Location
Montana
Be tough to not just stay on the axis route myself in your situation. I personally don’t like that 305-320 fps range I run in the 270-290 speed because it’s forgiving but still quite fast, in relative terms.

I would go gold tip pierce over vap personally due to component quality

The sonics are not durable in my experience
 

Bump79

WKR
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Messages
1,468
The fancy set up would be procomps and the Hyde glue in mechanical.

Axis is too heavy for your goals, axis 4mm probably are too, so staying with Easton you probably have to go sonic as already mentioned if you want to stick Easton and can't justify procomp prices.

Victory has a few shafts that can accomplish your goals, most of their 4mm and 5mm shafts. Same with black eagle and gold tip.
I was thinking the same thing. To get weight and strength optimized I'd go glue in, Deep six or a 204 ID shaft and a HIT. Glue in options for micro are Thorn, Trifecta, Evolution Outdoors and Thrive Broadheads. Deep six is pretty much just Sevr. But micro .166 will be heavier than .204, so idk what he'd prefer

Here are some lighter GPI options for both 4mm/5mm
ShaftSpineDescriptionID (Inches)OD (Inches)Grain per Inch
Victory RIP XV250Victory RIP XV 2500.204 0.260 8.10
Sirius Gemini250Sirius Gemini 2500.204 0.267 8.68
Victory HLR250Victory HLR 2500.204 0.265 8.70
Victory RIP TKO250Victory RIP TKO 2500.204 0.266 8.90
Gold Tip Black Label Quantum250Gold Tip Black Label Quantum 2500.204 0.268 9.30
Whitewater Archery New Ground250Whitewater Archery New Ground 2500.2040.268 9.30
Sirius Orion250Sirius Orion 2500.166 0.237 9.35
Black Eagle X-Impact250Black Eagle X-Impact 2500.165 0.240 9.50
Easton 5.0250Easton 5.0 2500.204 0.270 9.50
Kill'n Stix Micro Ventilator LT250Kill'n Stix Micro Ventilator LT 2500.166 0.240 9.50
Gold Tip Airstrike250Gold Tip Airstrike 2500.204 0.269 9.60
Element Storm250Element Storm 2500.166 0.240 9.66
Easton Axis 4mm LR250Easton Axis 4mm LR 2500.166 0.244 9.80
Gold Tip Pierce250Gold Tip Pierce 2500.166 0.245 9.80
Gold Tip Pierce LRT250Gold Tip Pierce LRT 2500.166 0.245 9.80
Gold Tip Pierce Platinum250Gold Tip Pierce Platinum 2500.166 0.245 9.80
Victory VAP250Victory VAP 2500.166 0.244 9.80
Victory RIP250Victory RIP 2500.204 0.273 9.90

Below and attached is a few build ideas.
1738598137932.png
 

Attachments

  • TimberMuleys Arrow Setups.pdf
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