Arrow weight for deer.
 

I am going after the whitetail deer in October and am wondering which arrow I should get. How many grains should the total arrow weigh? (I am using a 100 grain broadhead.) I have a PSE Fire-FLite 33 and am going to pull 60lbs. I have a 26.5" draw length. Thanks

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

I have very simular specs, but I shoot at 70 pounds. And I recently purchased the new Easton Axis Arrows. In my opinion they are the perfect blend of speed and kinetic energy. You woud probably use the size 300 shafts, which would put you right around 400 grains. If you are using a drop away rest, these arrows would be a good choice, if not, still a good choice, but you would have to watch how much helical is used in order to get good arrow clearance.

Good luck,

Jason

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

400 grains should be the legal minimum arrow weight for hunting deer size game, regardless of draw weight or speed. But it's not, so I can only say that's my opinion.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

I would need arrows over 11 gpi if I were to have over a 400 grain arrow with my 100 grain head included. Where would I get those arrows?

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

As bad as I hate to agree with arthurp[:'(][&:]:D I am a firm believer in the 400 gr. "rule" myself. Also, you wouldn't have to go quite that heavy to hit 400 gr. at 26.5 inches or even 25" for that matter. I am shooting a 29 inch arrow that weighs 10.7 grains per inch and it weighs 480 grains. If you cut 4 inches off of that arrow, it would still be 437 gr. That being said, you should be able to go with an arrow weighing 9.7 - 10.0 grains, to get you to your target weight.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

Silent which arrow do you shoot? If I shot an arrow with 10 gpi then a 26.5 arrow would weigh 265 grains plus the veins and inserts. When I add the 100 grain broadhead then the total would be about 365 grains.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

http://www.cabeagent.com/netagent/sc...ll?Action=1060 I asked someone on cabelas and they said that they would work for deer. Has anyone tried these?

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

Zak,
For axis shafts easton charts reccommend a 500 shaft for your numbers ( with 100 gr bh), but if you went with a 125 gr bh they say a 400, with a 400, 125 gr bh and 3 -4" vanes you would be at about 411gr total, 12.3 foc.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

I tend to agree with the 400 grain hunting arrow suggestion as well despite your particular setup. I am sure that some of the heavier aluminums have to weigh in that range. Arthur?

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

A 2115 at 26.5" is 315gr with just the bushing and insert, 2213 is 298gr. Add your vanes, nock and bh and you'll make 400 easy.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

265 is what the bare shaft would weigh. Then you add about 15 for the insert and 12-15 for the nock and the about 20-25 for the veins. You can count on adding about 50 grains or more to your weight with components.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

It'll be alright, silentassassin. I agree with you on the string loop thread on the Tech forum. :D

There's a bunch of arrows that are over 11 grains per inch. Even some non-aluminum arrows. My favorite in that crowd would be Carbon Express Terminator Hunter Selects. Size 4560 at 11 gpi, 6075's at 12 gpi.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

That's twice in one day. I am not really sure what to think about that[:-]:D

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

I never really considered a minimum as far as total arrow weight. I've always been more concerned about proper flight and minimum requirements not to tear up my equipment. That said, I have two set ups, one weighs in at 425... the other at 525. 400 would probably be a good rule to go with.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

i have been shooting arrows for deer or hogs at 59 lbs at 334 grains and have had no problem with getting great penetration and taking animals. i am shooting between 250 to 252 fps. sop i have plenty of ke
rob k

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

I would go for about 400 grains.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

Robk,

With that setup the numbers come out to 46 foot pounds of KE. I realize the term "plenty" is subjective and based on what an individuals expectations are. For me, plenty would be enough KE to hit the offside shoulder of a 300 pound whitetail and still get a passthrough. I am shooting about 78 foot pounds of KE and my odds of doing that would be 50% - 50%. Lots of archers have seen what they considered plenty, turn into not nearly enough with the ducking or turning of an animal etc. JMO

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

I'm sorry, but I don't agree that there should be a set minimum. First deer are not large animals and the idea of KE for them is very highly overdone. Secondly, there are many people of short stature, be it women, youngsters , or just short people, that shoot shorter draws and/or lighter draw weights, that it's not fair to make a blanket statement like that. Would it be fair to them to disclude them from hunting because of their physical capabilities? They may have better abilities in the accuracy department than many of us.
Personally, I shoot a 27" draw, 54 to 60 lbs, and normal hunting arrows weigh from 306gr to 330gr. The only deer I've shot with these lightweights that didn't pass through hit the opposite shoulder bone, fracturing it and bending the stainless tip of the broadhead. And that was only traveling 237fps that year.
Some states make such a limit and people who live there have to abide by it, to be legal, but it's akin to someone on a forum asking "What's the best....." There are just too many variables in each situation to make hard and fast rules. How would you all like it if someone made the rules that could only hunt with brand XXX bow, or only shoot XXX broadhead. Nah, it ain't fair to make such rules.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

"Secondly, there are many people of short stature, be it women, youngsters , or just short people, that shoot shorter draws and/or lighter draw weights, that it's not fair to make a blanket statement like that."

We're talking about minimun arrow weight, not minimum draw weight.

"Would it be fair to them to disclude them from hunting because of their physical capabilities?"

What, they can't lift a 400 grain arrow?

"How would you all like it if someone made the rules that could only hunt with brand XXX bow, or only shoot XXX broadhead. Nah, it ain't fair to make such rules."

Apples & oranges...

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

I'm with Silentassassin... I don't consider anything below 55 foot pounds to be PLENTY. I have one setup at 72 and one at 65. I feel a proper hit will get me a passthrough. If I hit the shoulder on a BIG deer I hope to poke a hole in the offside but probably wouldn't get a passthrough with the 65 and questionable with the 72. Depends on where you hit the shoulder. I've hit both and gone through and I've left it stuck in the off side without coming out. All depends.

RE: Arrow weight for deer.
 

JRW

The point that bgfisher is trying to make is for someone with a short draw and not able to pull heavy poundage to get an arrow to reach the 400 gr mark,they would have to shoot a way overspined arrow along with an foc that would be way out of line.This puts arrow weight as the number one factor and excludes accuracy and good arrow flight and both are more important IMO than an arrow that weighs 400 grains.


Heck for me to shoot an ACC the proper spine arrow is a 3-39.Add 4" vanes and a 100 gr point that gives me 11.3% foc(perfect imo) would only add up to 390 grains and no one is going to tell me that a perfectly balanced arrow and a perfectly spined arrow isn't enough.That is with vanes,if I wanted to shoot feathers,well too bad it isn't possible.

Yes I could easily achieve 400 grain rule and still have a proper setup but there are those that can not.Arrow wraps on the back along with a 125 gr point,I would be perfect.


Needless to say I oppose the 400 grain rule.I promote accuracy and properly spined arrows along with the proper tune.