Homemade arrow weight.... DIY'er ingenuity

[PhillyB]

I am building my arrows for the upcoming season and had certain goals for weight and FOC in mind. In researching arrow weights, brass inserts, and other ways to add weight to an arrow, I had an idea of how to increase weight up front for pretty cheap.

I am shooting Carbon Express arrows with the standard insert, which is threaded on the bottom to accept weight. I wanted an extra 30g up front so I could hit 450g on the arrow and about 14% FOC.

After a trip to the hardware store, I had an 18" rod of 8-32 all thread for 0.99 cents. I cut the all thread down using cutters to retain the thread. A 1" piece weighs about 25g, so mine are just a hair longer. Screwed in the BH, then added the all thread to the bottom of the insert, removed the broadhead and made sure the field point fit, then put some glue around the all thread and insert to make sure it didnt back out on impact...

18" has done a dozen arrows. I know it wont work for everyone and isnt as convenient as the GT system with the wrenches and such, but it was exactly what I needed to get to my overall weight mark and FOC... best part it was only a buck and no shipping.

 

[JasonWi]

Very simple yet functional idea.

Any particular reason you decided on 450grns and about 14%? Is this going to be specifically for elk or all your big game hunting?

Jason

 

[PhillyB]

Hey Jason- Only a few days left until you find out if you drew that NV tag or not... be sure to keep me posted on your results.

I have enough points built up that I am hoping (fingers crossed) I draw my archery elk tag for NV. But I do plan on using it for my deer tag as well.

Another reason is, in my independent backyard testing (not official at all, just my observations), I have found that anything over 300fps doesnt fly as well with a fixed head for me. I like to be right around 280 fps with a fixed head and I am pretty consistent out to 80 yds. Plus that puts me just shy of 80 lbs of KE.

As for the FOC, I read an article on archery talk that anything above 15% on a compound bow can lead to arrows nosediving and they found that 12-14% provided the best results down range out of a hooter shooter. So I figured that is I would shoot for.

I will be paper tuning the bow this weekend to shoot these arrows and should be dialed in. I hope this combo mixed with the trick pin setup will lay the smack down this fall.

 

[JasonWi]

Did you get out and shoot your bow? How did the new arrow combo work?

I've got a few Axis 340's with the 50 grain brass inserts set up, I haven't fletched the arrows yet to see how well I'll like them compared to my regular Axis.

I'll let you know once the draws come out.

 

[PhillyB]

The arrows fly great. I lost some FPS going up 30 grains, but my slick tricks are flying great. I was impressed with my groups at 70yds.

I switched from blazers to ffp 360's for fixed heads. That mixed with the higher FOC seems to have made a huge difference with my BHs.

 

[JasonWi]

Those are quite a bit lower profile than the blazers? Was the switch mainly to reduce drag from the higher profile blazes? Or did you have issues with the blazers grouping your BH's?

 

[PhillyB]

Lower profile but more surface area compared to Blazers. The stiffness of the FFP vanes makes them a great choice.

I have been shootin mechanicals until recently. I want to shoot a fixed blade for all hunts. I have been testing different combos with Slick Tricks to see what gave me the best flight. Field points were the same with blazers and ffp's. My groups were noticeably tighter with the longer vanes and BHs