Do I need a 200 spine arrow?

[BigDuckHunter]

As the title says, I’m trying to decide whether to order 250 or 200 spine arrows. I draw 74# and shoot a 31” arrow. I’m planning on putting a 200 grain broadhead on an insert that is 60-100 grains.

 

[madkaw284]

31” arrow or 31” draw?

 

[wayoh22]

I mean...that just seems overkill. Yeah you'd probably have to go with a 200 spine and not to be rude or anything, but what's the reasoning for 260 - 300g of weight in tip/insert alone? And is the arrow 31in? or your draw length is 31in? Even with just a general guesstimate you're probably looking at 12-14gpi which would range from 372-434g just for an arrow shaft. Add on a nock and vanes and wraps (if that's you're thing) and you're looking at a total arrow weight of 650-750g easily if not more. What are you hunting? Cape buffalo? Then by all means go for it but just need some context here.

 

[Ucsdryder]

Yes 200 without a doubt. Might even struggle to tune at 200 spine depending on draw length. You might need to play around with front arrow weight if you’re underspined.

 

[BigDuckHunter]

I mean...that just seems overkill. Yeah you'd probably have to go with a 200 spine and not to be rude or anything, but what's the reasoning for 260 - 300g of weight in tip/insert alone? And is the arrow 31in? or your draw length is 31in? Even with just a general guesstimate you're probably looking at 12-14gpi which would range from 372-434g just for an arrow shaft. Add on a nock and vanes and wraps (if that's you're thing) and you're looking at a total arrow weight of 650-750g easily if not more. What are you hunting? Cape buffalo? Then by all means go for it but just need some context here.

I draw 30.5 inches. I figure 31 is a good estimate for what the arrow length will be. Not Cape Buffalo this year but I figured that would be a good setup for elk. I’m just trying to maximize my FOC for better penetration than I’ve had before.

 

[Dead eye BT]

FYI to the OP. My draw length is 31”, I cut my arrows to 30.25”. Arrow length definitely plays into the equation here.

 

[madkaw284]

You could shoot a 29–30”shaft, that would definitely be easier to tune. It’s up to you but as already mentioned that’s a lot of up front weight and could be problematic to tune at that draw and poundage depending on your ability. Just offering some suggestions, If you’re wanting some more weight up front try a 100 grain insert and 100-125 head, you could do a 240 spine within that range.
300 up front is doable but I wouldn’t recommend it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BigDuckHunter]

I guess I’ve never measured my current arrows. That helps if they’re shorter than my draw. I’ve just been doing a lot of reading on research done by Ed Ashby and some other folks about penetration and FOC. I figure I’d rather have too much penetration than not enough.

 

[5MilesBack]

I shoot 75lbs at 32 7/8" draw with a 30" arrow. I can tune 300's, 250's, and 200's in my setup but the most weight I've put up front of the 300's is 285gr with the head and the insert. I find any decent arrow around 500gr + or - to penetrate elk just fine, even with large expandables.

 

[sndmn11]

Here is what I have for my setup, and it is working well. I had initially had a 250gr tip, and it would paper tune fine, but I never shot broadheads.

Bowtech Reckoning 72lb
30" draw "performance"
250 Gold Tip Pierce
28.25" nock valley to carbon
29" nock valley to back of point
110gr ethics insert aluminium post steel sleeve
125gr tip/cutthroat
3 Q2i rapt-x vanes

On broadheads I turned the top cam 1/4 turn on the deadlock, I have forgotten which way, and moved my rest up less than 1/16".

I think you could use either 200 or 250 without much effort.

 

[Dead eye BT]

I’m pulling 70#s at a 31” draw length. My 30.25”, 300 spine arrows weigh 415 grains (with 100 grain broadheads and no additional weight). My chronograph clocks this setup at 310-315 FPS, and I have no idea what my “front of center” is. I’ve killed a pile of deer, a couple black bears, a cow elk and a bull elk with this setup. But I don’t shoot expandable broadheads either.
If the OP wants to add weight, I’d suggest just getting up to the 500 grain range, tune, and go hunting.

 

[wayoh22]

A well placed shot trumps all.

Last year I ran a 260 Axis at 29.75in with 100g broadhead and 75g brass insert. FOC came out to 10.9% which was more than plenty. I wouldn't get too caught up in the heavy FOC vs low FOC. Switched to a 300 Axis with 50g brass insert and it still performs incredibly well whilst shedding weight and flying faster.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

I shoot an 80lb Impulse 34 with a 30" DL. I know with a 250 spine, 29" arrow carbon to carbon, and about 210 grains in the front I am fine but once I get into the 250 grains in the front I am borderline weak to too weak. Now if I cut my arrows back to 28 like I user to then I could easily go 250-275 in the front with good arrow flight. Omy reason I dont do that anymore is because I want to shoot the Ironwill wides this year. In your case if your DL is 31" and you shoot and arrow that comes close to the end of your riser yeah I would go with a .200 spine.

 

[406unltd]

Ya if your draw is 31-32” and you have that poundage and your arrow is 31” annnnd you are trying to hang 260-300gr on the end you’ll need atleast a 200 spine. If that’s not enough you’ll need a 150 spine BE rampage or something

 

[amack26]

I am a 32.5" draw length shooting an 80lb carbon spyder 34 long draw. I shoot 200 grain kinetic kaos shafts with the 100 grain trophy take shuttle t-lock broadheads and standard insert/outserts. Overall arrow weight is 510 grains and its shooting at 310 fps.I cannot cut my arrows down to increase the spine. I tried using the 260 spine easton axis and 250 spine gold tip platinum pierce and neither would tune properly out of my setup. I'm sure you could do it but if you aren't tuning your own bow you will have to find a magician at a local archery shop to help you out.

 

[TxxAgg]

OP, don't let the fast arrow guys talk you out if it. A heavy arrow with lots of FOC is a beautiful thing!

 

[scarygoose]

Fully agree with TxxAgg! Check out the Ranch Fairy on You Tube and he should answer most all of your concerns.

 

[Zac]

OP, don't let the fast arrow guys talk you out if it. A heavy arrow with lots of FOC is a beautiful thing!

Or you could take the long draw approach of Timmy Gillingham and run with a 375 grain, 2.2 inch mechanical at 315 fps.

 

[5MilesBack]

Or you could take the long draw approach of Timmy Gillingham and run with a 375 grain, 2.2 inch mechanical at 315 fps.

He must be shooting 100gr heads. The lightest I have ever been able to get an arrow is 390gr, and that's with 6.9gpi shafts.......but with 125's. But those arrows are so fragile, they almost break just looking at them.

 

[Zac]

He must be shooting 100gr heads. The lightest I have ever been able to get an arrow is 390gr, and that's with 6.9gpi shafts.......but with 125's. But those arrows are so fragile, they almost break just looking at them.

It's more of a Timism. It's a statement he makes during his podcasts. I think he's actually closer to 500 himself.