Gold Tip Ultra-Light .300 Spine Arrows for Hunting Deer

[MilDotMaster]

Anybody have any facts in regards to how these work in the field for hunting? They are the only .300 spine arrow that I can find from Gold Tip that may be used as a hunting arrow. The .300 spine is my only option for my set-up. Fully loaded and ready to hunt they will be right around 425 grains total weight. With over 80 ft pounds of kinetic energy, I don't really need a heavier arrow for penetration. I figured I might as well take full advantage of my set-up and have a flat shooting arrow. My concern is the wall thickness/durability for hunting. Apparently they are made from a stronger material than the GT XT Hunter arrows. What are your thoughts?

Here is the link:

http://www.goldtip.com/products/family.asp?cid=7-55AC935C-4E5C-470B-8359-727C7508C503&rnd=158777215

[kilnbux]

I would like to know as well. I actually ordered some, but didn't end up even trying them out due to bow limb problems.

[Matt / PA]

The 7595's are a 300 spine shaft as well.........they have a 5 layer construction that I think differs from the regular Ultralights and I believe they are a tougher shaft. (I am trying to go from memory here) I think the 7595's are only about .5gr heavier per inch as well. The fact that they are a bit heavier per inch of the same spine tells me they are the more durable shaft with a thicker wall.

Over the length of say a 29.5" shaft (guess for a 31" draw) you are only adding about 12 grs of arrow weight.
What components were you thinking for a 425gr finished UL300? That seems a little high?

I would tend to go for the little thicker walled shaft regardless of the extra weight. (You can always make up weight on component choices)
There's a reason why they offer 2 similar shafts in weight and spine of the same diameter and I wouldn't be quick to choose the one designated for target use over the one ear marked for hunting.

Now if you REALLY want to flatten the trajectory? Look at the 22 series shafts. They are really light and actually VERY tough. They are stiff as well........something like a .250 spine? A finished arrow weight could easily be under 400grs with a 100gr head.
I shot them all 3D season last year and they took a BEATING....literally. I had to replace countless bushings but no destroyed shafts except for the robinhoods of course.

Whatever you decide on, scrap the plain GT nocks and get some uni bushings in those shafts or it realy doesn't matter what you choose.......they'll crack.
I'd suggest the pin nock system which I like very much but I don't know how much stress those little nocks can take with 400gr+weights and the energy you are putting out.
Plain ol' Unis and G nocks will do you just fine.

I'll be hunting with a 70# /30" Allegiance for much of the 2006 season and I'm choosing the 7595 Pro-Hunters, I might have you a bit in the energy Dept too.

Regardless, any finished arrow of 425grs or less out of that bow is going to look like a lazer beam.

I would rank the GT shafts for your set-up
1. 7595's (PRo's or XT's)
2. 7595's camo hunters

Then for #3 I'd think about the "Play" choices like the 22's which wouldn't be a bad choice if you really want a flat shooting bow but realistically is lighter than you need to go.

Frankly I wouldn't have the plain UL300's in my top 5 for a hunting shaft choice from GT.

[Rick James]

Mildot........

Sorry for not getting to looking your setup on Ontarget2. I got a little sidetracked with the new toy.

According to Ontarget2, the 7595 is weak for you with the 100 grain point @ 70lbs, and 31" DL, and 29.5" arrow length They are not a .300 spine, they are a .340. .300 spine is absolutely perfect for you according to Ontarget2 though. You could go with the Pro 22's as Matt / PA said which are a .300 spine, I shot them as well last year for 3D, and only had 2 busted because of robin hoods........they are VERY rugged, especially for a linecutter style shaft. They are light though and I don't know if you want to hunt with that speed. You may also have to experiment with them to make sure you get them over 5gpi.

You could also check out Carbon Tech's Whitetail XP. Their 65/80 spine shaft is a .300 spine, and weighs in at 9.5 gpi. I don't know why this shaft isn't more popular. They are the same price as the GT pro hunters, have much tighter spine tolerances, and better weight + straitness tolerances. This arrow would be absolutely perfect for you. This is what I may be hunting with next year. They are about $100 a dozen.

[Matt / PA]

Well that shows you how good my memory is......Was I even close on the weights?

.340 for the 7595's really?No wonder I get so screwed up with the GT chart especially with the Bowtech models.

With regards to the 22's I think MilDot would have no problem getting 5gr/lb with these set-up properly.

The ones I used for 3D had light 4" vanes (7grs per) , inserts, 75gr tips uni bushings and Beiter 19-2 nocks and they weighed in at 360grs for a finished arrow with 28.5" of cut carbon.
Heavier vanes and up the point weight or throw on some wraps and he could conceivably get over 400grs.

I was considering these shafts myself for a September Antelope hunt.......I still haven't ruled them out because I can get them spined correctly and they'll zip like Bullets out of either my Tribute or Allegiance. For deer I'll tune the 7595's

[MilDotMaster]

ORIGINAL: Rick James

Mildot........

Sorry for not getting to looking your setup on Ontarget2. I got a little sidetracked with the new toy.

According to Ontarget2, the 7595 is weak for you with the 100 grain point @ 70lbs, and 31" DL, and 29.5" arrow length They are not a .300 spine, they are a .340. .300 spine is absolutely perfect for you according to Ontarget2 though. You could go with the Pro 22's as Matt / PA said which are a .300 spine, I shot them as well last year for 3D, and only had 2 busted because of robin hoods........they are VERY rugged, especially for a linecutter style shaft. They are light though and I don't know if you want to hunt with that speed. You may also have to experiment with them to make sure you get them over 5gpi.

You could also check out Carbon Tech's Whitetail XP. Their 65/80 spine shaft is a .300 spine, and weighs in at 9.5 gpi. I don't know why this shaft isn't more popular. They are the same price as the GT pro hunters, have much tighter spine tolerances, and better weight + straitness tolerances. This arrow would be absolutely perfect for you. This is what I may be hunting with next year. They are about $100 a dozen.

Rick,

Thanks for the help and I can't believe you brought up the Carbon Tech WT XP. That is so funny!!! They make those arrows 5 miles from my house and the local BowTech Dealer has been suggesting these arrows to me for over a month. I wasn't listening because they aren't a "well known" company yet, as compared to Gold Tip or Easton. I have their brochure right on my coffee table. Your right, they are a great arrow when looking at the specsand the wall thickness on the .300 spine is like .059 as compared to the GT UL of .050. The only draw back with the Carbon Techs is I won't be able to use wraps on rear of arrows because that will put my FOC % to low. I could combat that and install a 10 grain weight on the tip but then I'm up to a 455 grain arrow. Guess that my be better anyway for hunting purposes. 425-455 the trajectory should be pretty close. Now you got me thinking about the CT again. [:-]

[Rick James]

ORIGINAL: MilDotMaster

Rick,

Thanks for the help and I can't believe you brought up the Carbon Tech WT XP. That is so funny!!! They make those arrows 5 miles from my house and the local BowTech Dealer has been suggesting these arrows to me for over a month. I wasn't listening because they aren't a "well known" company yet, as compared to Gold Tip or Easton. I have their brochure right on my coffee table. Your right, they are a great arrow when looking at the specsand the wall thickness on the .300 spine is like .059 as compared to the GT UL of .050. The only draw back with the Carbon Techs is I won't be able to use wraps on rear of arrows because that will put my FOC % to low. I could combat that and install a 10 grain weight on the tip but then I'm up to a 455 grain arrow. Guess that my be better anyway for hunting purposes. 425-455 the trajectory should be pretty close. Now you got me thinking about the CT again. [:-]

I wouldn't worry too much about FOC. My351 grain Pro 22's with65 grain points in them are off the chart when it comes to FOC and according to the data out there should probably be tumbling end over end on the way to the target................................but I can put them all in a 4" spot at 50 yards. I can also shoot them into the mid 430's on a 450 vegas face at well over 300fps this way. I would worry about your spine, not FOC.

[MilDotMaster]

OK, I just hung up the phone after placing my order for new arrows. Matt and Rick, thanks for your help.

I started this post in hopes to get reassurance that the .300 spine Gold Tip Ultra Lights were going to work. After further research, I decided to get the Carbon Tech Whitetail XP 65/80 .300 spine arrows. Total arrow weight for 29.5 inches should be right around 443 grains. That includes 100 grain tips and 10.3 grain arrow wraps.

These babies are going to look sweet. Check this out, they have a dark, deep black/graphite tint to them withyellow lettering. I'm going with white wraps, white nocks, 2 flo green vanes and 1 white cock vane.

This company has a long ways to go on their marketing, but don't let that fool you like it did me. The specs on these arrows are the best I have seen for a hunting arrow. Wall thickness is perfect and the weight will be a good match for my bow and hunting style.