What are your thoughts on heavy arrows 500 gr +?

[oxberger]

I already have a "normal" (420 gr) weight arrow set up for another bow. But, I am going to build an arrow that will weigh around 600 grains when all is said and done.

My set up is a 70 lb Hoyt Vector Turbo 30" dl and I am building a FMJ Axis Dangerous Game with either the 50 or 75 grain insert and either 100 or 125 grain muzzy. I have not decided on a broadhead weight yet.

I am from the midwest, but, I am going to be heading out west hopefully soon. I am wondering what are all of your thoughts on a heavier arrow set up.

How do you think it will perform in the wind, uphill / downhill shots, penetration and etc?

 

[kodiakfly]

I'm a proponent of an arrow that hits heavy and hard, vs just fast. But I do think there's a point of diminishing returns if you go too heavy. I have a few arrows I shoot from various bows that range from 435 gr up to just at 500 gr.

I think there's a time and a place for heavy arrows- Africa namely. You've just got to have a special rig to kill some of those animals. But you're also talking about 80 or 90 or heavier bows. I think with a 70 lb bow (which is mostly what I shoot, along with a couple 80's that I hardly shoot anymore) you've got to look at each arrow, shoot it and compute the ft-lbs of energy. It's hard to just say, "a 600 gr arrow will work, but 700 gr is too heavy..." or whatever. You need to shoot them, get their speed and then plug them into the KE equation and look at ft lbs on paper. Then shoot them and see what they do at distance.

Once that arrow gets beyond a certain weight, it may hit like a freight train at 20 or 30 yards, but your pin spread will be huge and it's energy at 50 yards will be nill and it's trajectory will look more like a rainbow than a ballistic curve. And therein comes the Western factor of hunting...longer distances and unknown ranges. Speed is a good thing and I know a few guys that place little if any importance on it, in favor of heavy ass arrows that "shatter bone." Bone shattering is good...if you can get the arrow to fly 50 yards and still have energy left when it gets there...not to mention if your yardage is a bit off or the animal moves after you range it.

Everything is a compromise and you have to find that balance of speed, KE, FOC, and shootability. I like 500 gr arrows and haven't found the need to go heavier than that, but a lot of guys do. Personal preference and shooting/hunting style.

 

[MattB]

Why? Your 420 gr. arrow will be fine for anything out west. Unless you religiously use a RF, a 600 gr. arrow is likely GIF material.

 

[squeekieslayer]

can't imagine any situation where you need a 500+ arrow for ANYTHING on this continent. The trouble is getting an arrow like that to fly relatively fast and spine out without having such a high foc that the arrow tumbles half way there. haha. A 100 grain arrow and a 500 grain arrow are going to perform the same up and down hill assuming you calculate the proper distance cut based on the angle. In wind a 500 grain arrow will do slightly better, but not so much that it would make it worth all the downside. Penetration... yeah, you would have penetration, but it would depend a lot on your speed as well.

Joe

 

[dreamingbig]

My arrows are right at 505 grains. They fly well out of my 80lb maxxis and faktor turbo

 

[squeekieslayer]

I am not saying you won't get them to spine and fly/group well... I just don't see the point. I agree that heavier is better, but there is a point of diminishing returns. At some point it is very very nice to have a flat shooting bow for yardage, wind, angle estimation. If you are off a little on a 280 fps arrow, you miss a whole lot more than if you are off on a 320 fps arrow.

gotta find that balance. If you want a super heavy arrow... more power to you, but don't do it just because you need it to hunt "out west" because you don't NEED it at all.

Joe

 

[Shawn Hultquist]

I love me some heavy arrows. mine are 650-700 grains depending on what bow I'm shooting. When I shot a compound I shot 650 grain arrows out of my mathews.

Shawn

 

[oxberger]

Thanks for the input.

I know hunting in my home state of Wisconsin these "logs" will work fine. Longest shot I'll have is maybe 40 yds. Worse case, I will use the heavy arrows here and as a back up when I go out west.

Those of you who are shooting heavy arrows, have you ran into some of the things / problems people have mentioned here. Have you missed because your yardage was a little off and your pin gap was too wide to make up the slight yardage difference? Is it a trade off you accept?

I have no set opinion either way, I figured I already have a "normal" weight arrow I'll try something different.

 

[5MilesBack]

I consider 500gr arrows just "normal" weight arrows. I need a .300 or stiffer arrow. I like a very durable thick-walled thinner diameter shaft. I need at least a 30" arrow. And that just equates to 500+, which I consider "normal". I also like the size of the pin gaps for visibility, and I can easily get all 7 pins in the sightguard. Good luck.

 

[Tim M]

I consider 500gr arrows just "normal" weight arrows. I need a .300 or stiffer arrow. I like a very durable thick-walled thinner diameter shaft. I need at least a 30" arrow. And that just equates to 500+, which I consider "normal". I also like the size of the pin gaps for visibility, and I can easily get all 7 pins in the sightguard. Good luck.

My thoughts exactly, I have always shot a 472 to 510 grain arrow out here and have never had an issue missing an animal because of the trajectory. I religiously practice out to 100+ with them and don't think twice about shooting an animal at 50-70 yds as long as the shot is good.

 

[justin davis]

I like a minimum of 450 grain arrows. Heavy arrows make your bow quieter and penetrate better. I'm shooting a short axis arrow with 50 grain brass insert and 125 grain head. Weighs in at 470 grains

 

[Jon Pynch]

this is all you need to know about arrow weight.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5xbvmLFrIo&feature=youtu.be

btw. shooting 487gr arrow at 284fps.

 

[dreamingbig]

Thanks for the input.

I know hunting in my home state of Wisconsin these "logs" will work fine. Longest shot I'll have is maybe 40 yds. Worse case, I will use the heavy arrows here and as a back up when I go out west.

Those of you who are shooting heavy arrows, have you ran into some of the things / problems people have mentioned here. Have you missed because your yardage was a little off and your pin gap was too wide to make up the slight yardage difference? Is it a trade off you accept?

I have no set opinion either way, I figured I already have a "normal" weight arrow I'll try something different.

I have shot at 10 elk in my lifetime missing twice and the arrow was never the problem for the miss. Both misses were due to a deflection by limbs.

It would be nice to have tighter pin gap but I don't want ribs or shoulder blades to cause penetration problems. I don't aim for shoulder blades but I do like to shoot the "V" which is tighter than the majority hold/aim for. A heavier arrow is going to help you out more times than not.

 

[Rolo]

Other than a few turkey hunting sticks, I don't own hunting arrows that weigh less than 500 grains. Like 5miles, that is normal for me, and what I consider to be medium weight (500-650). Also some interesting statements of physics on this thread. The reality is that lighter arrows shed their speed and energy at a higher rate than heavier arrows. Drag and friction being what it is. Physics don't lie...a heavier arrow will always have more energy and penetration potential than a lighter one assuming all else is the same up to and including impractical arrow weights. Are they absolutely needed....absolutely not.

Is there a trade-off...there sure is, but it is not a trade-off related to the arrow itself...the trade-off is for the individual, and how much speed they "want" compared to the penetration potential they want. Which of what, and how much of it is the individual willing to sacrifice, in order to get the other thing they want...that's the general trade-off. Available equipment and physical abilities of the individual also are an important consideration.

I have never missed due to heavy arrows or a wide pin gap (Personally, I think that whole line of argument is based mostly on assumption, with little or no practical experience). I have missed because I did something wrong. I've also killed a few critters that I probably wouldn't have killed (or at least recovered) if it had not been for the arrow weight. I'll take that everyday.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

I like to run them as heavy as I can and still be in the 275-285 fps range. Which puts my two setups at 485 grains and one at 511 grains. Both bows shoot great and provide plenty of down range power. Never had a heavy arrow play a factor in missing anything. I truly think anything 425 or so up to 550 is all you need for NA big game. Becoming a better shot is the best thing you can do hands down.

 

[Beendare]

I think guys are coming around from a few years ago when everyone thought, "faster is better" I like an arrow in the 450-500gr range with the criteria that the bow is pretty quiet. My compound arrows are right at 500 gr and the performance on game is undeniable. I've seen light arrows literally bounce back on striking animals from flexing and do all sorts of crazy things including change direction when hitting an animal. Heavier arrows just don't do that.

If the animal hears your bow go Thwack from a light arrow it doesn't matter how fast it is, the animal isn't going to be there as the speed of sound is 1126fps.

 

[Jtelarkin08]

My arrow setup right now is 520 grains. Shoots like 270 ish.. Hits hard.. I shot a few pigs last year through both shoulders and blew through them. Cant wait to shoot a giant moose and bison..

 

[ridgefire]

Right at 500 grains for me. Still getting 270-275 fps and fly perfect. I have confidence in my arrow/broadhead at this weight so no plans on changing. Great elk killing setup.

 

[charvey9]

I shoot 455 at 292, so don't see the need to go any higher. I would say if your 420gr setup shoots well for you, no need to change it.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

I think I run around 490 grains. When I went from 100 to 150 grain heads I only lost 10 fps (292 to 282).