Broadhead Weight to use

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Ian Turner
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Broadhead Weight to use

#1 Post by Ian Turner » Tue Jan 23, 2018 9:49 am

Hi all i also currently shoot recurves 40 mostly a couple 45 and i draw about 28.5" from handle throat arrows are 30.5" to get good broadhead clearance: i am after peoples opinions on what would be the maximium broadhead weight to use before its all too heavy up front and i start top go backwards from a penetration perspective with the velocity and trajectory loss.
I use 5" feathers with right helical on aluminium and carbon arrows.
Goats and foxes being my primary interest at the usual hunting trad bow distances. cheers ian

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TomMcDonald
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#2 Post by TomMcDonald » Tue Jan 23, 2018 3:14 pm

Ian,
Do yourself a favour and read Dr Ed Ashby's studies on broadhead weight and design, among many other interesting things related to arrow design.
You can find his studies on Tradgang or other websites.
I wouldn't hesitate to use 300 grains on a 45 pound bow but there are other variables to consider, especially regarding tuning (good arrow flight with broadheads), strength of arrow and broadhead, and broadhead design.
People might say that using a really heavy head on small or thin skinned game is overkill but several times I've hit shoulder or foreleg bone on goats and still been able to get full pass throughs, using 435 grains up front.
There is also evidence that front loading your arrows makes for better flight.
Cheers,
Tom.
Tom

Sometimes the simplest things are the most profound.

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Ian Turner
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#3 Post by Ian Turner » Tue Jan 23, 2018 6:09 pm

Hi mate was thinking of going heavier, currently using 150gr but then thought that any much heavier would make for a real bananna trajectory and hence difficult to shoot with ant confidence.
Cheers

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Muz1970
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#4 Post by Muz1970 » Tue Jan 23, 2018 9:22 pm

Do some research mate like Tom suggested.

Start with 10 grains per pound and tune your arrow point weight to your bow.

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TomMcDonald
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#5 Post by TomMcDonald » Wed Jan 24, 2018 7:43 am

Ian Turner wrote:Hi mate was thinking of going heavier, currently using 150gr but then thought that any much heavier would make for a real bananna trajectory and hence difficult to shoot with ant confidence.
Cheers
As long as you practice enough it doesn't really matter what your arrow's trajectory is.
Go heavier mate, you'll be pleasantly surprised :Bow
Tom

Sometimes the simplest things are the most profound.

www.billygoatbowstrings.com

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Kendaric
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#6 Post by Kendaric » Sat Feb 29, 2020 7:06 pm

I tried extreme FOC and very heavy weighted points once.

Arrows flew like a thrown brick.

Trying to counter the trajectory after 10 metres was not conducive to accuracy at all.

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Jim
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#7 Post by Jim » Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:18 pm

Ian, I tried making extreme forward of center arrows for a 40# recurve a few years back. From memory I ended up with something like 250 or 300 in the head. Like the concern you raised it made for a very short and steep trajectory. That was ok shooting at the range because I had time to judge the distance and compensate my aim. For hunting, particularly small game, for me it would be unworkable.

I would aim for no more than 200 up front (tusker Aztec is a nice head for small game at about that weight), if you can use some very light carbon shafts to keep the total weight down. Otherwise I’d recommend just aiming for 10gpp with a standard 125 head.

Good luck mate and let us know how you go :)

Jim
"Structural Integrity of the entire arrow system is THE most important factor in terminal arrow performance. When structural integrity fails nothing else about your arrow's design matters."
-Doc Ashby

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Kendaric
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#8 Post by Kendaric » Fri Oct 09, 2020 1:12 pm

Jim's advise is good.

I've started using Easton Genesis XX75 1820's recently, from my 50lbs recurve. These are a heavy arrow at 12.2g/inch. Using these with a 135g broadhead (including adapter). Overall, a reasonably heavy arrow. However they don't have an extreme FOC, and fly beautifully and pretty flat with a solid thump when they hit the target (when using field points). Because they are intended primarily now for NASP, they are cheap to acquire. Being so think walled, they are robust, and I believe, forgiving.

I also don't get the banana trajectory that I did from extreme FOC arrows.

Ian Turner
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#9 Post by Ian Turner » Fri Oct 09, 2020 7:13 pm

Hi mate didn't think about trying 1820's i have some so will give them a try. Cheers

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Kendaric
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#10 Post by Kendaric » Sat Oct 10, 2020 2:20 pm

Just so you know, I couldn't get 1820 threaded inserts, so I purchased 1816 ones and used a disk sander to remove a bit (2 thou) of the 'ribs' of the insert to make it fit the shaft. It was easy enough.

Ian Turner
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#11 Post by Ian Turner » Sat Oct 10, 2020 8:28 pm

Mate you must be a mind reader!!n
Have just been trying some 1820 Easton Genesis arrows i happen to have a few with vanes on em but thought i would try anyway and even with the vanes (i dont know what point weights in them tho will have to pull one and check) but yeah shot nicely out of my 40# montana and then i got to thinking what components i could get for these shafts so yeah thats worth a shot. Cheers
Ian'

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discord
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#12 Post by discord » Sun Nov 08, 2020 9:50 am

The Easton Powerflight carbons are a pretty light shaft, I was using 400 spine with 175gr points for my 45lb recurve and got about 18% FOC while keeping the GPP just below 10.
HAIL ERIS!

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kimall
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Re: Broadhead Weight to use

#13 Post by kimall » Mon Nov 09, 2020 7:06 pm

I have always found that it is overall arrow weight that leads to looping cast not heavy point. I shoot 735 grain arrow at about 60 pound recurve with 500 of that in the point.
Nice and flat flight 165 FPS
Cheers KIM

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