Good arrow weight for recurve?

[MihajloSimsic]

I plan on hunting next year for deer with my recurve so this discussion is a bit early, but I'd like to make sure I'm practicing with the proper arrows. Here are some specs.

- I have a 29" draw on a 50# bow so it's probably closer to 52#.
- I shoot a QAD exodus 100gr w/ a 25gr collar. I chose the exodus because I noticed it rivalled the penetration of even the magnus stinger on some tests. Plus they shoot similar to target points.
- My arrows are 31" 400 spine and I added two 50gr gold-tips to the insert which brings it to about 373gr.
Total weight is 498gr w/ a 20 FOC.

I hear of guys regularily shooting 700gr setups so I'm wondering if I need a heavier setup. I can only really make this setup maybe 50gr heavier but I'd have to buy new BHs.

[dean.f]

I'm not sure the difference in energy- draw weight between recurve and compound, but I'm shooting arrows with roughly the same spec from a 60lb compound bow and while sighting at 60yds I missed the target block and my arrow penetrated 3/4 plywood with doubled 2x6 behind like nothing.

I've been considering making the switch to a recurve, so your recent threads have got me thinking more about it.

[MihajloSimsic]

I'm not sure the difference in energy- draw weight between recurve and compound, but I'm shooting arrows with roughly the same spec from a 60lb compound bow and while sighting at 60yds I missed the target block and my arrow penetrated 3/4 plywood with doubled 2x6 behind like nothing.

I've been considering making the switch to a recurve, so your recent threads have got me thinking more about it.

Definitely there'd be a difference between a recurve and compound I believe. With a 60lb compound you probably get somewhere close to 300fps and with a 50lb recurve probably somewhere around 170fps. The riser is also much more center-cut so archer's paradox would be minimized. I'd definitely hop onto a recurve if you're into it! I only ever hunted with a crossbow for 10 years and I'm already getting tight groups at 20 yards. A compound would be a better pre-requisite than what I started with. My bow setup is below $300, arrows and everything.

[Fatfish949i]

I have bowtech reign 7 60 lb draw weight 29 inch draw length
arrows I use are gold tip hunter xt 400 gr with 125 grain Magnus stinger broad heads
they don’t go 20

[dean.f]

Definitely there'd be a difference between a recurve and compound I believe. With a 60lb compound you probably get somewhere close to 300fps and with a 50lb recurve probably somewhere around 170fps. The riser is also much more center-cut so archer's paradox would be minimized. I'd definitely hop onto a recurve if you're into it! I only ever hunted with a crossbow for 10 years and I'm already getting tight groups at 20 yards. A compound would be a better pre-requisite than what I started with. My bow setup is below $300, arrows and everything.

I joined an archery club this year and got the chance to try 3d and have seen a lot of people shooting trad bows better than I can shoot a compound. It's definitely not an exact science, but I like the challenge of building arrows and testing accuracy, building the muscle memory and consistency of form. I find if something seems too easy I lose interest.

Good luck with your coming season, hopefully you can seal the deal and post your success.

[MihajloSimsic]

I joined an archery club this year and got the chance to try 3d and have seen a lot of people shooting trad bows better than I can shoot a compound. It's definitely not an exact science, but I like the challenge of building arrows and testing accuracy, building the muscle memory and consistency of form. I find if something seems too easy I lose interest.

Good luck with your coming season, hopefully you can seal the deal and post your success.

Thanks! You as well! Good luck.

[LowbanksArcher]

Could be fine. But too light for my liking. I don't know anyone that shoots under 10gpp on a hunting setup. That said, arrow flight and a sharp head are most important. If your setup is TUNED right now, and you add that 50gr, you'll need to cut the arrows slightly to make up for that added point weight. Another thought, every time you push those broadheads into the foam of your quiver, they're losing their edge. Something to consider. Learn to sharpen them.
I've always shot a heavier arrow(600gr+), and I keep my string fairly light by only using the sheathing material from paracord as silencers.
As Cody Greenwood says: "Move the Mass out of the string and silencers and place it in your arrow."
https://www.thetradlab.com/silencerstudy

[MihajloSimsic]

Could be fine. But too light for my liking. I don't know anyone that shoots under 10gpp on a hunting setup. That said, arrow flight and a sharp head are most important. If your setup is TUNED right now, and you add that 50gr, you'll need to cut the arrows slightly to make up for that added point weight. Another thought, every time you push those broadheads into the foam of your quiver, they're losing their edge. Something to consider. Learn to sharpen them.
I've always shot a heavier arrow(600gr+), and I keep my string fairly light by only using the sheathing material from paracord as silencers.
As Cody Greenwood says: "Move the Mass out of the string and silencers and place it in your arrow."
https://www.thetradlab.com/silencerstudy

So something like 550 is a better arrow weight then. I have 31" arrows so I can afford to shave off some arrow length. Thanks for the input. My arrow setup most likely does reach that 10gpp arrow weight but the scale I use only measures in grams and no decimals and it measures out at 32 grams. Also I've found lots of success with sharpening using small ceramic rods. I managed to sharpen heads that I've driven through foam targets to shave hair again.