New arrow setup looking for opinions

[Muleyczy]

Ive got a weight/speed question for you archery guys who like to tinker. I’m not much of a this component vs. this component kinda guy, but rather cut it and let’s go. My old arrow set up was a 420grn finished arrow (100 grn tip) with 10% FOC that I comfortably shot at around 278fps out of my 65 lb bow. I use one arrow build for everything from pigs, bear, deer and elk with good success and never considered increasing weight, speed etc. however my arrow was old as dirt and I’m out of arrows now so I had to change. (Sigh)

I recently changed arrows and after a bit of miss calculation on my part I’m now with a 495grn finished arrow with 10% FOC. My speed dropped considerably at this weight so switch mods, increased weight to 69-70lbs which brought my speed back to 276 fps. Without switching mods I was shooting this setup at 267 fps. My dilemma is the slower speed is way more comfortable to shoot however now with a 495 grn arrow I’m worried its to slow and is going to nose dive at longer distances not to mention loss in energy.

Is it worth worrying about, should I just scrap these arrows and go back to 420s or is a 495 grn arrow where I should have been all along, and is the difference in speeds a big enough issue to worry about.

I know that’s a lot, and I’m talking kinda generally without getting into particular details of specific arrow, components, bows etc. but some opinions would be appreciated.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

#1: Shoot a draw weight you’re comfortable with, speed be damned.

#2: There’s nothing inherently right or wrong with a 495 gr (or any other weight) arrow. But if you find the trajectory at 495 gr to be unacceptable, find a way to lighten it. Depending on how you built those arrows, you might be able to reuse some of the components…possibly trim the shaft down a bit, switch to a lighter insert and/or broadhead. If that’s not possible, either live with the slower speed or start from scratch on a new arrow build.

#3: You’re not losing any energy by going to a heavier arrow. You’re actually gaining (a practically negligible amount of) energy. Any arrow calculator that tells you different is lying to you.

 

[Dylan Sluis]

Like said above there is nothing wrong with a 495 grain arrow. The speed and trajectory depends on your style of hunting and what you want it to be. If you were only hunting out west I'd say you're a little slow. If you were a treestand whitetail guy I'd say you're perfect. Depends on what you want out of a setup

Edit- definitley shoot lower poundage if the higher poundage isnt comfortable. Thats more important than anything else

 

[Bump79]

Can you tell us some more about your 495 grain arrow? Maybe there's some ways to shed weight with minimal changes.

Personally, I like to be north of 280 fps if I can do so with durability. That said, I wouldn't necessarily start from scratch to get there if I had an arrow built that flew fine.

For me - I like consistency. I like to learn an arrow speed and get used to it. I've head the same arrow speed for 10 years essentially. If was you and wanted I'd build another arrow just like you're old one and rock it. Confidence is key. If it's not broke don't fix it. The moniker "always be tinkering" is for influencers to sell stuff and get sponsors. I've been down that road and still tinker but I've never found a magic bullet.

If you need some help matching your old setup we'd be happy to help out.

 

[Muleyczy]

The current new arrow is Easton axis match grade 5mm, with standard Easton inserts and collar, 3” bohning Xvane with 300 spine. I realize it’s a heavier arrow which is essentially how I got to where I am. My “before build” calculations I thought I’d be somewhere around 440s. I was obviously wrong, and surprised when they came out at 495. The obvious answer to my weight issue is build another arrow, but dang it’s expensive. This mistake is going to cost me one way or another, which is why I was/am trying to make it work.

My old arrow was a Gold tip hunter pro spined at 340 cut at 29.75” carbon to carbon.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I played around with weight and speed a few years ago. I found that 420-430 to be the perfect weight and 480 to be too heavy. I treestand hunt majority of the time and found that the trajectory difference to be too great for that much weight for me. I would definitely scrap those heavier arrows and go back to the 420s.

The easy button for me is a Gold Tip Hunter XT 300 with a 50 grain insert and a 100 grain broadhead. Very accurate, inexpensive, and very durable.

 

[nphunter]

It’s up to you, i would sell them and go with a lighter arrow if it were me. I like 280fps or slightly more, 440gr has been plenty for me even with a 27.5” draw shooting mechanicals at elk.

 

[Marble]

The current new arrow is Easton axis match grade 5mm, with standard Easton inserts and collar, 3” bohning Xvane with 300 spine. I realize it’s a heavier arrow which is essentially how I got to where I am. My “before build” calculations I thought I’d be somewhere around 440s. I was obviously wrong, and surprised when they came out at 495. The obvious answer to my weight issue is build another arrow, but dang it’s expensive. This mistake is going to cost me one way or another, which is why I was/am trying to make it work.

My old arrow was a Gold tip hunter pro spined at 340 cut at 29.75” carbon to carbon.

Your arrow can be cut 2" shorter than your DL in most cases.

You probably don't need a collar of any type.

Depending on the weight of your collar and your draw length, you have some decent wiggle room for ĺightening your arrows.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[butcherboy]

I would go the route of shooting a shorter arrow and no collar. Another option is to shoot the new Easton 5.0. A lot lighter arrow and then you can choose to shoot a collar or heavier insert and still be under 480 grains.

 

[Muleyczy]

Your arrow can be cut 2" shorter than your DL in most cases.

You probably don't need a collar of any type.

Depending on the weight of your collar and your draw length, you have some decent wiggle room for ĺightening your arrows.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

Collar is 17grn and I could cut an inch and drop 28-29 grn

It’s up to you, i would sell them and go with a lighter arrow if it were me. I like 280fps or slightly more, 440gr has been plenty for me even with a 27.5” draw shooting mechanicals at elk.

out of curiosity what mechanical are you shooting?

 

[nphunter]

Collar is 17grn and I could cut an inch and drop 28-29 grn

out of curiosity what mechanical are you shooting?

Shooting evolution Hyde glue in heads currently. Have killed elk with them, Dead Meat and Trypans and would recommend any of the three.