Questions About Arrow Setup

[engelm]

HI All,
I'm trying to decide on an arrow setup for this next year. Ideally, I would have one arrow for all my hunting; I plan on deer, elk and black bear. I shoot 70lbs with a 29" draw. Current arrows are 300 spine Black Eagle Rampages (with stock half-outs)with 100gr Viper Tricks, for an overall arrow weight of 425gr. I've been itching to step up to some 125gr Magnus Black Hornets to get my arrow weight around 450gr.

My main question for you all is whether or not you'd mess with the current setup to achieve that increased arrow weight. Absolutely no problems with the current setup and it shoots really well. The more I read, however, it seems I'm on the low end for what most people recommend, especially for elk. I'm not opposed to bringing the weight up or staying put where I'm at. Half the fun for me is theorycrafting and altering things for fun.

Secondly, if I do go the 125gr broadhead route, would I be better off going with a 250 spine or sticking with my 300 spines? Black Eagle's chart shows that at 70lb and 29" draw I'm spined correctly with a 100gr but could potentially need to go with a stiffer spine with a 125gr broadhead.

Thanks in advance!


Mitch

 

[Zac]

Just switching to the cut on contact head you mentioned would help with elk, heavier set up would undoubtedly help, however you are probably correct that you would be looking at another spine, so it depends on how bad you want to gain the extra weight, you could possibly keep your 300 spines for 3D or something like that. If you have some extra inches on your arrow you could look at chopping off a few inches and then running a heavier point weight I guess. Are you set on using the Rampages?

 

[engelm]

Thanks for the response. I'm not opposed to trying something else if need be. I have a dozen Rampages that are still quite new; I haven't tried anything else since these have worked well so far. What would you recommend as an alternative?

 

[Zac]

There are a lot of good options for heavy arrows, I’ve been messing around with Day 6 lately. The heaviest set ups right now is Day 6 a micro diameter 100 percent carbon shaft, the Victory Xtorsion, I believe it’s a pre prep metal mesh mixed into the carbon, and the good old FMJ which is of course the aluminum sleeve over a carbon shaft, I suppose the Easton ACC would be similar in weight as well.

 

[engelm]

I forgto to mention one detail: my arrows are 28" long, not including the half-out. With a 28" arrow and 70lb draw, BE says I should use a 300 spine with a 100gr broadhead. Will going to a 125gr head really necessitate moving to a 250 spine arrow? It seems like I wouldn't need to make that jump but I'm certainly no expert.

 

[RosinBag]

Just put 125’s in them and see if they tube, shoot and group. If they do, then 125’s in your 300’s work. The calculators are just a reference and are not the end all be all.

 

[Zac]

The most forgiving set up is usually a spine that is almost too weak, Dudley shoots a 300 spine with 50 grains of brass up front and he has a lengthy draw

 

[5MilesBack]

I forgto to mention one detail: my arrows are 28" long, not including the half-out. With a 28" arrow and 70lb draw, BE says I should use a 300 spine with a 100gr broadhead. Will going to a 125gr head really necessitate moving to a 250 spine arrow?

As far as spine goes, you'll be fine. I shoot a 30" .300 spine arrow with 125's at 32 1/2" draw at 70+ lbs and they tune and shoot great even at long range. However, I'm not a fan of the 300 spine Rampage arrows. They're way too light IMO at 8.7gpi. If for nothing else, I'd go with the 250's just for their weight. But on the other hand you could also get some Axis 300's at 10.7gpi as well. I'm also not a fan at all of their half-outs or any outsert. They all will bend eventually and the arrows wobble.

 

[Btaylor]

If the 300's with a 125 head show a little weak, you might try adding a lighted nock to help stiffen it a bit. Would also gain a little extra weight in the process.

 

[MattB]

I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[bsnedeker]

I agree with the above...going from 425 to 450 isn't worth it in my opinion. If you are looking to jump up 100+ grains I do think it would be worth it. I'm upgrading this year from 500 grains to somewhere in the 625 range when I'm all done. I'm trying to get a pass-through on an orca.

 

[engelm]

I agree with the above...going from 425 to 450 isn't worth it in my opinion. If you are looking to jump up 100+ grains I do think it would be worth it. I'm upgrading this year from 500 grains to somewhere in the 625 range when I'm all done. I'm trying to get a pass-through on an orca.

Hahaha! This gave me a good laugh!

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for all the input, everyone.

I think I will stay put where I'm at right now since things are working well at the range and these shafts are only a few months old. I'll look into a heavier setup down the road when I'm able to make a bigger jump in weight.

 

[arwhntr]

I think your set up is solid where it's at. IMHO 425 is the ideal arrow weight. That will zip through an elk.

Would be worth slapping on a 125 grain broadhead and seeing how it shoots with the additional weight and FOC.

 

[GregB]

I think Black Eagle likes to err on the side of caution with their spine chart. I have 28.5" draw and 27" arrows, I went up from a 350 to 300 spine because I was using a 125g point. I couldn't get my broadheads to group with field points and ran it through the OT2 calculator which told me the spine was too stiff. If your field points and broadheads group you should be fine. You could also run it through a spine calculator to see what it says.The setup I used this year was around 450g total and it worked fine.

 

[engelm]

I just ran the numbers through Archer’s Advantage and remeasured my arrows. Turns out the 300 rampages will be “optimal” with both 100 and 125 gr broadheads. The 100 gr is quite firmly in the optimal range whereas the 125 is on the lower end, but still optimal. Arrows are 27.875” in length; if I rounded up to 28” it tells me I’m slightly weak, so it’s super close.

I’m not sure if I’ll leave it alone or buy some 125 heads to try out to see how they group. I do appreciate all the help everyone!