OK, I read all these threads and posts on these topics and its driving me crazy! Can someone help because I'm lost. Here's my setup:
Buckmaster 2000 at 58lbs
27 1/2 inch 2213 Eastons w/ NAP Thunderheads 100 grn.
Timberline No Peep and trigger Release
Predator IV Pendulum sight.
My shop originally sold me 2213 Easton Aluminums and NAP Spitfire (now changed to 100 grn Thunderheads) with my bow and I've never changed arrow size. But as I look at the Easton Chart these arrows aren't even shown as acceptable now and I actually want to increase my bow's poundage a little for next year. All I do is bow hunt and just want a good arrow that will be accurate to my abiltiy (I can hit a tennis ball size target consistantly at 30 yards (my personal maximum) and that will produce the quickest kill with a good shot. I don't really care about the speed so long as it can do the job in the real hunting world.
From all I've read, I do not see any advantage for a person like me using Carbon arrows. So, Easton lists "light", "average", and "heavy-weight" sizes for aluminums all supposedly having the correct spine for my setup. How do I choose between the acceptable shafts listed in the Chart?
Sorry for the lenght of this post, but, I really need some help on understanding what I'm seeing. Thanks.
My idea of choosing arrow weight is simple: Light for target shooting (under 7 grains per pound). Medium weight for anything up to deer size game (7-9 grains per pound). Heavy for game the size of elk and bigger (Over 9 grains per pound).
Since I don't like to swap around a whole lot with arrow weights, and I like having plenty of 'punch' for hog hunting, I like to do ALL my shooting with arrows weighing around 10 grains per pound of draw weight, although I'll go as light as 9 and as heavy as 12 sometimes, depending on what the bow likes. And I've still got more tournament trophies than I know what to do with.
The heavier the poundage you shoot, the longer your draw length and the higher performance the bow is, you can go lighter on arrow weight and still get adequate performance on game.
Even though an arrow at 5-6 grains per pound will often work fine for someone shooting a 70 pound, hard cam bow at 30" draw length, I simply feel that doing so is taking unjustified chances on getting bad penetration. And when the people that do so get those good results and tell people with shorter draw lengths and less poundage that they can expect good results at the same arrow weight/draw weight ratio, it's nothing short of criminal.
I agree with Arthur for the most part. At 58 lbs. with your draw length, 2213's are not a bad shaft. If you go up a couple or 4 more pounds check out some 2215's or even give 2314's a gander. I like carbons and the weight is getting heavier for hunting carbon arrows each year, but personally I am returning to aluminums for hunting.
Thanks for the info. Arthur, if I understand your suggestion for medium weight (deer size game) the total arrow weight for my 58lb bow would be 58 x 9 = 522 grains total arrow weight. Easton shows my 2213's as 9.83 grains per inch. So 27.5 inch length X 9.83 = 270.325 grains. Add the 100 grain broadhead and your at 370.325. I don't know the weight of the vanes, nock, and inserts, but, I think its got to be way short of the 522 grains total suggested arrow weight.
2215's would yield 393.425 grains plus weight of vanes, nock, and inserts. That still looks pretty short of the 522 grain calculated above.
Now, if I look at 7 grains per pound, which is still in your medium range (58 x7 = 406 grains total arrow wieght) then the 2215's start to look pretty good.
Have I got this right, and am I correct that my 2213's really are too light.
I've got a pretty low opinion of 2213's anyway. The only dozen of them I've ever tried were bent up and beat to crap within a week. They're just not very sturdy. But, to answer your question... Yes. In my opinion, they are too light and too easily bent to use for hunting.
With an XX78 2215, 4" vanes and a 100 gn point, you'd be around 470 grains. If you could bump up to a 125 gn point, then you'd be close to 500 grains. Use my numbers as a general guideline, not as gospel. With arrow weight, there IS such a thing as 'close enough.' Good arrow flight and accuracy is a lot more important than loading a few more grains of weight on an arrow.
Arrow spine, weight, Alum, Carbon???
