Help - How to choose the right hunting arrow

[Rusty Shackelford]

Like the title says I never learned the right approach to selecting the correct arrow, type, and spine. Just got a new bow, Mathews Arc 34 with a 28.5” draw, 70lbs.

For the last 10-15 years I’ve been shooting Easton axis with a 300 spine, 28” arrow 75 grain insert and 100 grain tip or broadhead. Total arrow weight is 492 grains. Yesterday I chrono’d this arrow out of my new bow at 267fps. I was a little surprised at that seemingly low speed.

I’m looking to make sure I have the right arrow for my set up. So school me, how do I approach finding the right arrow?

 

[Bump79]

Like the title says I never learned the right approach to selecting the correct arrow, type, and spine. Just got a new bow, Mathews Arc 34 with a 28.5” draw, 70lbs.

For the last 10-15 years I’ve been shooting Easton axis with a 300 spine, 28” arrow 75 grain insert and 100 grain tip or broadhead. Total arrow weight is 492 grains. Yesterday I chrono’d this arrow out of my new bow at 267fps. I was a little surprised at that seemingly low speed.

I’m looking to make sure I have the right arrow for my set up. So school me, how do I approach finding the right arrow?

If it's been effective and you have plenty of arrows, I wouldn't change a thing.

I do a lot of custom builds. Generally, I recommend around 420-450 grains for your specs. Which is very typical. If it was me - I wouldn't change anything if you've got money invested. But if I needed another dozen I'd build a set a hair lighter. Hit me up if you need some

 

[Billy Goat]

Its all pretty personal. Of course, I prefer a faster arrow. Robby and I talked about some of the benefits at one point.

It depends on how you hunt.

Whitetail hunters who don't shoot past 30 yards, load up the arrow weight. Quiets stuff down usually, makes tuning easier.


Western hunting, or where you are shooting further, I think you are better being a little lighter, into the 280's at minimum.

You can use your current setup, and drop the 75 gr insert to a hit insett, and pick up 20 fps.

 

[Rusty Shackelford]

If it's been effective and you have plenty of arrows, I wouldn't change a thing.

I do a lot of custom builds. Generally, I recommend around 420-450 grains for your specs. Which is very typical. If it was me - I wouldn't change anything if you've got money invested. But if I needed another dozen I'd build a set a hair lighter. Hit me up if you need some

Its all pretty personal. Of course, I prefer a faster arrow. Robby and I talked about some of the benefits at one point.

It depends on how you hunt.

Whitetail hunters who don't shoot past 30 yards, load up the arrow weight. Quiets stuff down usually, makes tuning easier.


Western hunting, or where you are shooting further, I think you are better being a little lighter, into the 280's at minimum.

You can use your current setup, and drop the 75 gr insert to a hit insett, and pick up 20 fps.

Interesting. I only hunt in the west, and am used to longer range shots. But I was always told the heavier the arrow the better. What's the logic behind a heavier arrow?

 

[Billy Goat]

What's the logic behind a heavier arrow?

Heavier should be better in wind, but it also has longer time of flight, so is subject to more wind at a point.

Should penetrate better, all things being equal, but I think in changing around 90 gr (410gr to 500gr) its going to be kinda minimal the difference, and that's gonna be about 30 fps at your specs. I shoot 290 fps better than I shoot 260.

Heavier is usually easier to tune, tho it's not weight, just slower. 250fps isn't a picky as 290fps.

 

[ATL]

For western hunting where longer shots are expected, a lighter arrow could increase your effectiveness. 300 spine 5mm or 6mm shaft cut to approximately 27”, weighing 8.5-9 grains/inch, with 150-160 grains total upfront, and lighter fletch (5-7 grains each), will get you a balanced built arrow that would serve you well. Total arrow weight of 410-430 grains. Velocity would be 280-290’s fps.

Easton Sonic 6.0 300 would be a great shaft choice. BE Spartan too. I prefer 6mm for the flanged insert systems.

Choose a well constructed/very sharp/reasonable cut diameter (1”-1 3/4”) broadhead, and tune to obtain perfect arrow flight, to assist with penetration.

For fixed blade I prefer Slick Trick Standard (incredible penetration on several Elk), and for mechanical the Sevr 1.5” have been great. Others I would be interested in include D6 Verse, GR Fatal Steel 1.25”, Rage Black Series +P, Rage Hypo 2 +P, GR Micro Hades. Many other heads with similar attributes would likely perform well too.