bow draw weights

[billc]

Just got my son his first bow and will be giving it to him for x-mas.Was wondering what draw weight everyone thought was min. to kill a bull elk out to like 30 yards.Going to due another muzzy hunt this coming year but hope to do some archery in a few years.Thanks Bill c

 

[dillon]

There are several other factors that affect how the arrow penetrates (draw length, arrow weight, broadhead weight, fletchings, arrowrest, release, etc.) Personally I would say for elk no less than 45 pounds, but you can tweet around that. Lesser weights can kill them but there is a lot of bone on an elk and you need to get through into the vitals.

Dillon

 

[trophyhunter]

+1 on Dillons post. The world record elk for years was taken with a 46 pound draw weight. Its all about the Kenetic Energy at impact from well placed shots.

With the technology today and the advancements in gear one can maxiumize arrow speed and kenetic energy for the young hunter by purchasing the smaller diamiter arrows, adding Blazer vanes, and shooting a small aerodynamic cut on contact broadhead.

For my Grandson we set him up with Easton FMJ arrows, Blazer vanes, and G-5 Striker broadheads. The KE is unbeleivable and you get "8 inches less arrow drop" at 50yds. Your son won't be ready to shoot those ranges for a while. The arrows are expensive but worth every penny and more if your going to try for elk. There are plenty of other quality brand arrows just make sure your get something that will calculate to around 440gr total arrow weight for the K.E.

Good Hunt'n

)))).....>

 

[billc]

What do you think of carbon arrows then.I was told about those easton arrows but also carbon.What grain are those broadheads you are talking about.Any one use these rage heads or then just over hyped.

 

[Ihuntthereforeiam]

Depending on draw legnth and several other factors a 440 gr. arrow might not be possible and if his draw legnth is short not very practacle either. There is a fine line between arrow weight and arrow speed. I personally wouldnt recomend an arrow under 350 grains, and at 40-45lbs speed is important also. Make sure the arrow weight is over 350 grains, shoot a good cut-on-contact broadhead (probably not a rage at that low poundage) and shoot them in the right place. It doesnt matter what you shoot if you hit it in the shoulder.

Shoot em till their dead

 

[NickJ1980]

I also agree 100% with dillon.

Also, there is no way would I even try a Rage or any other mechanical with a low draw weight/short draw length bow for elk. I would look at some of the longer cut on contact heads (which to me does not include muzzys or other "tipped" broadheads) to maximize what K.E. his bow produces. Muzzy Phantoms, original Magnus Snuffers, or Steelforce Premiums would all be good choices and should not give you any trouble tuning.

 

[trophyhunter]

Yeh, These guys are right I stated an adult arrow weight at 440gr. I got back on this thread after thinking about my post with the youth size most likely not able to accomplish 440gr due to arrow lenght. I'd still go with as heavy an arrow as you can find like the Easton FMJ340 they are expensive but they last forever if you can shoot fairly well and hit the target as well as the game. I would go with the 125gr. Broadhead and make the arrow 1 1/2 inches longer than standard so the youth can grow into the arrows since they are expensive. That's just the way I would do it for our application. I do not deal with spine and such since we want the KE we need the 340 to get to our arrow weight adult about 466gr.

The Easton FMJ series is a small diamiter carbon composite inner core with a thin aluminum outer shell. They do not flex as much as carbon. Everyone has there favorite arrows, I don't want to start a debate against carbon because they are fine arrows. Just telling you what we use.

Remember plenty of game has been taken for years before compound bows with traditional as well as recurve bows. They took and still take there game with heavy arrows "KE" and not speed because those bows have no speed. Just a heavy arrow and a well placed shot. Now combine that heavy arrow KE with with a compound bows greater speed and you have one heck of a killing machine.

The G-5 Striker is a fixed blade replaceable blade broadhead. Where we hunt in Idaho expandables are illegal. Plus the G-5 Striker shoots same as our field points and groups six shots the size of a softball at 60 yds in a well tuned bow.

Our Grandson/ all of us shoot a whisker biscut arrow rest because we tend to be in a lot of off sideways crawling positions so with this rest we do not worry about our arrows falling off the correct shooting position.

Hope this and others posts will help give some ideas on what you wish to accomplish with a setup for your son.

)))).....>

 

[elknut1]

http://www.elknut.com
Vortex Optics Dealer


Good info, go heavy, meaning 10grn per # of draw wt. 45# BOW 425-450grn arrows will suck up all the energy his limbs will deliver casting that arrow with all the force the bow can muster & give ultimate penetration. Lighter arrows will flex much more meaning energy lost in the flexing action as the arrow leaves bow & on impact with its target. The arrow will once again start flexing on impact due to its lightness impeding penetration.

Wanting to shoot 30 yds I'd most likely go with a well structured 2-bladed head or the smaller diameter 3-bladed heads as mentioned above or a Magnus SnufferSS in 100grn or 125grn whichever was needed to get to desired wt. Both are very tough. Make sure head choice is razor sharp & the lad practices with his heads to be used a month before season so he can have the confidence in his equipment. Never hunt with the heads you practiced with without re-sharpening or replacing dull blades!

Here's a photo of a bull taken at 15yds with a 40# hoyt raider compound with a 410grn arrow & a 3-bladed head, the arrow sunk to the fletchings on a good broadside shot, bull was down inside 60yds! This was my son at 13.

ElkNut1

 

[elknut1]

http://www.elknut.com
Vortex Optics Dealer

Well maybe this time! (grin)

 

[koldtrailin]

The new archery equipment out for the youth is simply amazing. 40-45 pounds bows ripping arrows down range. you gotta love it.

 

[3blade]

A lot of good info above. A 450 gr arrow or more with a cut on contact head is a good set up. I'd stick with a 2 blade over a 3 because a 2 will out penetrate a 3.

 

[upper_deck]

I will agree that a heavier arrow will suck up more energy of the bow to make it quieter.

But a heavier weight arrow does not mean it will flex less. The spine of an arrow is the determining factor on the flex of an arrow. A 340 spines arrow will flex the same if it weights 350 grains or if it weights 430 grain.

The best advice i can give is to get the bow matched to an arrow of proper spine that flies well. I would agree to go with a arrow that is a little slower to help with a marginal shot. If you don't have the arrow spines correctly for the bow you will have a tough time getting a fixed blade head to fly.

Good luck and best of luck.

 

[TOPGUN]

I didn't read all the responses real close, but make sure you have a legal bow before you go on any hunt because many, if not all the states out west, have minimum specs. you have to meet to hunt each of the animals with a bow or gun.