Is 53 pounds of KE with a 100 grain muzzy enough for a passthrough at 20-25 yrds on a Large Whitetail?

YES

Is that a DOMINANT YES??

Cuz i have some guys telling me that i should be shooting heavier setup..

I am LIGHT right now..

shooting about 280 fps

Sheww I shoot about 35 ke now.

Mathews.......

53 is PLENTY........ Use a good broadhead and you'll have no problems..........

Is 53 going to pass through if you hit behind the shoulder? Probably, does it have to in order to kill it? No. Now 53ft/lbs won't blow through a shoulder like some of these guys setups will but why does it matter. If you hit it in the lungs/heart its probably not going more than 100yds so an exit hole isn't that necessary.

I was shooting 63 ft pounds with my aluminums. but now the carbons are only shooting 53.. but i shoot better and the trajectory is so much less.. I can be off in judging and still easily his the kill zone

YES, i shot with my bow set at 54 and had no problems with a pass through at approx 28yds. , just tweaked mine to its max at 60 shooting 61.7lbs. I think it shoots better set to its max potential. so as soon as you get real comfortable pulling it at 53 and strong enough to do it with ease start tweaking it up till it is maxed

Ngtshade, Kinetic Energy, Not Draw weight.. My draw weight is 60-70...

With 60-70 lbs draw weight it better.I shoot 70 lbs,with muzzy 100 grain 3 blade and the last 8 buck i shot it went through,Including a 175 lbs dressed 10 pt and 150 8 pt.