Would you shoot a different arrow for Bison than Elk?

2rocky

2rocky

WKR
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On the long shot chance that I were to draw a WY bison tag, I've often wondered about what my arrow setup would be in this case.

Currently I'm shooting 29.5 inch Axis .340 spine with Blazers and a 100grain fixed blade for all my bowhunting.

Curious if a 125 GR. head on a .300 spine arrow will increase penetration and at what trajectory cost.

I also wondered would a 16 gpi FMJ Dangerous game shaft give a markedly different FOC than the standard 12gpi FMJ? (i think it would) In that case how heavy would the Broadhead need to be?
 
John, while your current arrow would work, I think you'd be better off with a .300 spine and 125s. Center a rib and you'll be glad for the extra punch. And you'd still have an arrow that you could hunt everything else with. Not much at all lost with trajectory, IMO. And like our boy Chuck just said, who cares about trajectory when you have a rangefinder. Going to a heavier arrow alone won't give you more FOC without more point weight. And a heavier overall arrow requires disproportionately more broadhead weight to increase FOC, otherwise you'd be moving backwards WRT FOC. I don't think you need to build a special arrow for buff, and if you did, you'd have to retune twice. Once to get dialed in with the new arrow, and then again to go back to your regular arrow. I say pick something in between (.300 and 125) and stick with it. That's what I shoot. And I most always get pass thrus with great flight.
 
2rocky said:
On the long shot chance that I were to draw a WY bison tag, I've often wondered about what my arrow setup would be in this case.

Currently I'm shooting 29.5 inch Axis .340 spine with Blazers and a 100grain fixed blade for all my bowhunting.

Curious if a 125 GR. head on a .300 spine arrow will increase penetration and at what trajectory cost.

I also wondered would a 16 gpi FMJ Dangerous game shaft give a markedly different FOC than the standard 12gpi FMJ? (i think it would) In that case how heavy would the Broadhead need to be?
Click to expand...

I am headed to B.C. For moose and bison in September. I bumped up my arrow a lot compared to what I would be shooting if I was only moose hunting.

I wanted a arrow at least 500 grains. And a good 2 blade cut on contact broad head. Here is the arrow set up I went with

Easton axis .260 27.5 inches. 50 grain brass insert. 125grain GK silver flame. 4 x2 blazer vanes. Total arrow weight 507 grains


I'm getting 280 or so out of my new hoyt and that arrow should be perfect.
 
Personally, I would go heavier. I just re-built a Carbon Matrix for a good customer who drew a MT Bison tag. We finished the bow out with A/C/C's and 125grn DNG single bevel two blades. Finished at about 470. Worked great.

Changing arrows really won't change your FOC, the weight of the heads will make that difference.
 
If you were to make that change, I think you would be surprised at how little the trajectory changed at typical bowhunting ranges. I do still prefer a relatively flatter trajectory because, even though I always carry a rangefinder, I don't always have time to use it. If you can get 2 different arrows ~100 grs. different in total weight w/ roughly the same dynamic spine and with the same OD, shoot them both at 20, 30, and 40 yards to test this.

IMO FOC is over-rated/faddish, but if you go to a heavier GPI arrow, you are going to lose FOC. If you want to increase FOC, the recipe is a lighter shaft and heavier head. My opinion is that folks who chase FOC tend to go too light on the shaft and end up with a weaker arrow and end up losing rather than gaining. Most folks chasing FOC are doing so based on it being in Ashby's #5-#10 aspects of arrow penetration, but they totally forget or ignore that the structural integrity of the arrow is #1.
 
This has been a subject of debate in my head since I learned I drew a buffalo tag. I have been shooting FMJ's with 100gr Slick Tricks with great success on elk and they fly like darts out of all my bows. My current assembled arrow is 405gr total weight. I happen to have a dozen uncut FMJ shafts in the shop and I have been mauling over going with 125gr Slick Tricks and now you have me thinking about using brass inserts. I was already looking to use some heavier vanes & wraps again adding to the total arrow weight.


Or.... If it ain't broke don't fix it? And use the current setup.
 
John, don't overthink this. Go with a .300 spine FMJ and a 125 gr head and be done with it. You will be better off than with what you have now for all species, including buffalo. No need to build a T-Rex arrow.
 
SDHNTR said:
John, don't overthink this. Go with a .300 spine FMJ and a 125 gr head and be done with it. You will be better off than with what you have now for all species, including buffalo. No need to build a T-Rex arrow.
Click to expand...

Sound advice, and dont let the likely decrease in FOC cause said overthinking - the arrow recommended will kill perfectly fine.
 
The only change I would suggest between elk and bison is to go with a two-blade fixed blade head if you currently use a three-blade. I have never shot a bison but since they are a bit shaggier/woolier than an elk or deer I think a two-blade might cut through the hair better.
 
I am using the same arrow next month for Musk Ox that I have been using for everything else the past several years. No change whatsoever and I am not worried in the least... I would do the same if it was a Bison/Moose as well. 400gr arrow... I just make sure my two blade broadheads are as sharp as possible and put it where it belongs!
 
SDHNTR said:
John, don't overthink this. Go with a .300 spine FMJ and a 125 gr head and be done with it. You will be better off than with what you have now for all species, including buffalo. No need to build a T-Rex arrow.
Click to expand...

Thanks for confirming my gut hunch...
 
Agree with SDHunter, would be a good all around build. I shoot 500gr at everything so wouldn't change for Bison.
 
I am tinkering around w/the arrows for my compound, but for my recurve I would not use a different arrow only a different broadhead.

Shooting Axis 340's w/50 grain insert, 4" feathers (not sure if I will shoot 3 or 4 fletch) full length shafts. Bow will be 63# @ 28" I draw 29.5" and VPA 3 blade heads weighing in @ 200-250 depending on what bareshafts best.

For the really large game (moose, muskox, bison etc) I will shoot the Grizzly 185's mounted on adapters.
 
MattB said:
If you were to make that change, I think you would be surprised at how little the trajectory changed at typical bowhunting ranges. I do still prefer a relatively flatter trajectory because, even though I always carry a rangefinder, I don't always have time to use it. If you can get 2 different arrows ~100 grs. different in total weight w/ roughly the same dynamic spine and with the same OD, shoot them both at 20, 30, and 40 yards to test this.

IMO FOC is over-rated/faddish, but if you go to a heavier GPI arrow, you are going to lose FOC. If you want to increase FOC, the recipe is a lighter shaft and heavier head. My opinion is that folks who chase FOC tend to go too light on the shaft and end up with a weaker arrow and end up losing rather than gaining. Most folks chasing FOC are doing so based on it being in Ashby's #5-#10 aspects of arrow penetration, but they totally forget or ignore that the structural integrity of the arrow is #1.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. My 500 gr arrow is maybe 1 1/4" lower than my 420 gr arrows at 40 yds...insignificant trajectory difference for hunting...and it just pounds everything. With a coc head it goes through an animal so fast many just look around like, "what was that" and then fall over as they walk off. None of this tearing off with an arrow hanging out spooking them stuff...or with mech heads they know they have been hit.
 
I just switched from 100 grain heads on my Easton fmj 300's to 125 grain and did some testing with both weights. With the new set up I get about 1-1/2" - 2" more penetration. At 50 yards my arrow hit maybe 2" lower. My finished arrow weight is 500 grains and they hit hard I would not hesitate to hunt a bison with them I might consider a 2 blade head instead of the exodus but from what I've seen of this head they are super strong and super sharp..good luck in the draw
 
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