Help with arrow weight

[Clrems77]

Thanks in advance for everyone’s input. New to the archery game for about a year and love it. Just upgraded from a Matthews Z3 to a Hoyt Carbon RX-1. 28” DL with 72lb weight.
I’ve read countless Things on arrows being optimal around the 400 + weight range so decided to weigh mine which resulted in a 375 grain weight.
My question for you seasoned guys is should I up the weight or am I good where I’m at? And if higher weight is recommended how shall I do it?
Im currently shooting Bohning fletched Victory VAP Elites, 350gr, 27.5” length With a 100gr field point (Planning to use Wac em 100 grain broad heads). Grouping out to 40 yards is good when I do my part and will hopefully be hunting Mule deer and elk this fall.

 

[Zac]

Your probably okay for mule deer but I'd probably want at least 420 to 450 for elk. The Vaps can handle a ton of weight up front so you could probably handle a 125 no problem. I'd probably see if some sort of high quality 2 blade COC 125 would work and go with that.

 

[DB29]

For elk I like a heavier arrow. I have a 27in draw length and shoot a 520gr arrow for elk. The heavier arrow gets a lot more penetration and with a short draw length I need all the help I can get.

 

[jmav58]

Go heavier. No one ever complained about too much penetration.

 

[bjfoxhoven]

If it were me, I would definitely go above 500 for elk. I like to keep my arrows close to 500 for deer, if they spin, duck or run and you don’t make a perfect shot you want that extra oomph.

 

[Ctitus25]

Depending on your state, 375 might be too light. Check your regs to see if there is a grains per pound requirement.

 

[49plates]

I’m shooting the same arrow with a 29 inch draw. Currently right around 385. I’m thinking about switching to the stainless outserts to get to about 440. Something to consider.

 

[Zac]

I was thinking you could go with a Kudu in either the 125, or 150 grain department. Both of those would get your weight up and would probably fly just as good as the WacEM. Should get alot better penetration as well. Price point should be pretty even too.

 

[OFFHNTN]

In my opinion, yes, 375gr is too light, especially at a 72lb draw. Like Zac said, up your broad head weight, or add an outsert/footer, etc. Good luck!

 

[Tag_Soup]

You could easily get away with another 25 grains up front without changing anything. You are pretty light for elk but as with anything else, good arrow flight and a broadside shot will hide a lot of sins. I like an arrow weight of at least 420 grains for elk out of a 70 lb compound. If I were you I may look into a 150 grain point and a nock collar or lighted knock to stiffen the spine a bit. Usually adding around 1/3 of the weight to the back that you add up front will keep your spine the same. If you went with a 150 grain point and added 15 grains to the nock you should be in great shape and sitting at around 430 grains which would be a much more lethal arrow on imperfect hits and would probably buck the wind a bit better. Adding 150 up front without doing anything to the nock end would probably leave you slightly under spined and may make tuning difficult.

 

[dkime]

I base a lot of my decision making in life on the questions of "how does it help; how does it hurt?" IMHO with you being newer to the archery game and not having a "cast" engrained into your brain just yet, you should consider bumping up near the 475-500gr range.

How does it help?
It gives you a slower setup that will increase your odds of achieving a better tune
Penetration
Quieter Bow
Durability
It gives you a baseline of understanding the actual cast of a heavy arrow and flexibility to move later

How does it hurt?
You're new to archery and probably not the best at ranging game or targets without a range finder, so your cast after 50yds will fall off faster when compared to a lighter arrow
You'll want to buy a range finder if you ever plan on shooting beyond that distance.


My 2 cents

 

[Clrems77]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Looking at Victory’s site, I was thinking about the following additions:

95 grain Stainless insert with a 125 grain BH and a 15 grain nock. That would put me around 470 total weight. Thoughts or comments?

 

[wind gypsy]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Looking at Victory’s site, I was thinking about the following additions:

95 grain Stainless insert with a 125 grain BH and a 15 grain nock. That would put me around 470 total weight. Thoughts or comments?

I would guess you'll be under spined with 350s and that much point weight. I would start over with 300 spine shafts if you want that much weight up front.

 

[TBHasler]

Go heavier. No one ever complained about too much penetration.

That’s what she said

 

[SDHNTR]

What’s your arrow spine? Unless I missed it, I didn’t see that listed. Not sure how anyone could tell you to go up in point weight without knowing that.

 

[Clrems77]

Current spine is 350. Just got off the phone with Victory who suggested the 300 spine without nock weight and a downgraded 75 grain insert. Puts me in the 450 range.

 

[SDHNTR]

Current spine is 350. Just got off the phone with Victory who suggested the 300 spine without nock weight and a downgraded 75 grain insert. Puts me in the 450 range.

Their advice is solid. I’d follow it.

 

[406unltd]

I wouldn’t be hunting elk with a arrow that light. I hunted a few years with a 430gr arrow but it was also moving 300fps. If I was you I’d just aim for a speed in the 270-285 area. Load up your arrow till you hit that speed. Lots of ways to add weight. Once you get in that speed range Then you can pick your arrow setup based on components you want to use. Since the weight differences of components and arrows available out there vary widely you can put together something you like, flies good, and achieves that speed. It’ll help you tune better/ more accurate broadheads...chances are you’ll end up with a 300 spine with 125/150gr head. Maybe around 450 total arrow weight. I really don’t know exactly but long and seer short I’d def go heavier. Good balance of speed and momentum is the best option.

 

[nphunter]

I agree with 406 about worrying about speed. I find everything tunes the best around 285 or lower, after than fixed heads open up a lot with minor form issues. I would be more worried about the accuracy than weight.

I hunted for a lot of years with arrows right around 400gr, I've killed bulls with 400ish gr arrows with COC and zipped right through like a hot knife through butter, I was shooting Solid Legends with VAP Elite 300's and Easton Injexion, those arrows would fly like darts with small cut head two blades at up to 315fps, most other heads did not. Any head with a large amount of surface area flys sucky out of a fast bow, and I have come to like a more forgiving setup. Other states I hunt still require fixed heads so until everyone allows mechanicals I will stick around 280-290fps.

I am currently shooting 490gr out of pretty much the exact same bow as you at just over 280fps. I pushed a 2" cut Trypan through a mature bull with that setup. I can still shoot out to about 115 yards with my slider but my unmarked 3D scores are noticeably worse with the loss in trajectory going from a 400-490gr arrow. Probably not enough to matter in a hunting situation but there is a noticeable difference with that big of jump in weight.

I think you will be much happier with a heavier arrow, I personally would ditch the 4mm arrows if you do get new arrows. If you still want smaller diameter look at Axis or if you like Victory RIP's are great arrows too.

 

[Beendare]

Optimal is in the eye of the beholder.

OP, I can tell you this; Every single experienced bowhunter I know has gradually increased their arrow weight over the years into the 450gr - 550gr range....

Its no surprise, this makes for a fairly smooth and quiet setup, that's easy to tune- assuming you aren't under spined- with good trajectory.


The little bit of flatter trajectory with a light arrow isn't worth the many other advantage of heavier arrows.

_____