Talk to me about my arrows.

[mottlet]

Since I last hunted elk, I've switched my arrows. I'm now shooting the Black Eagle carnivore 300s, which I really like, but are not very heavy. At 29" and with a hundred grain Viper Trick screwed into a 50 gr. brass insert, I come in just under 400 gr. total arrow weight. I'd just as soon not completely rejigger my whole setup, so I'm thinking of switching to 125 gr. broadheads to get me over the 400 gr. mark and increase my FOC. Having an extra 25 gr. for whitetails isn't going to matter a whole lot one way or the other, but it sure can't hurt for my elk hunt. I haven't chrono'd my setup, but the bow is plenty fast enough. Standard cliches about doing my part, put it in the boiler room, etc. etc. apply, but I should be ok with this setup, right?

Also, last year was my first with the Viper Tricks and I wasn't that impressed with the blood trails that I got with them. A couple I sort of understand because the shots were higher, but one in particular on a doe practically right under my tree really was disappointing. Arrow went in just under the backstrap and came out between her front legs. She made it about thirty five yards and died on her feet, but I really thought there should have been more blood, with the exit hole in the very bottom of her chest. There was enough to follow, but I was not impressed. On the other hand, penetration with the VTs seems to be incredible. Since I have to get new heads anyway to get the 125 gr, anybody prefer the Shuttle Ts or ever done a side by side comparison? FWIW, the VTs flew great out of my setup and hit with my field points much better than standard slick tricks. Thoughts from the experts?

[Pmcgee]

Did you add your fletching and nock to that weight?

[Mike_Parson]

i think it sounds just fine to me. Im coming in just under 400gn for my elk setup and i have no real worried as i expect to only take a good placed shot with my really sharp Ramcat broadheads and i dont expect any trouble getting one down and in the freezer.

[CurlyTail]

Sounds pretty close. I think the sweet spot between speed/flat trajectory, and penetration is around 450 grains. Just my opinion. Complete pass through should be your goal - two holes, two blood trails. Consider a Nocturnal lighted nock to add another 15gr. and give you a chance of seeing where your arrow actually hits. I like the 125gr. head weight idea.

[Ryan Conkle]

Mottlet,
I almost worried myself into a panic attack over this very same situation before my first elk hunt in the fall 2014, my set-up is as follows: Mathews DXT 70 LBS. at 29 inches, shooting Carbon Express Maxima Hunter 350's weighing in at 8.9 G.P.I., tipped with 100 grain Slick Trick Standards', which have flown excellent for me. I was worried about my total arrow weight, which came in at 388-390 grains' in total, although I did not want to change my entire set-up around, since I was extremely comfortable with my set-up and my kinetic energy was coming in above the needed ft. lbs. recommended for elk. Although I understand that a little heavier might be optimally better, I shot might first elk with this exact set-up in 2015 and had no problem receiving a complete pass through, although the shot was at a close range of 30 yards'. My 2 cents' to you would be that if you are comfortable with the set-up that you are currently shooting, I would stick with it and in my opinion would not make any major changes' and would shoot it with confidence, as a quick successful recovery has much more to do with the type of shot taken and the shot placement, rather than how heavy of an arrow is shot, Just my opinion.
On a side note, the Slick Trick Standards' have penetrated for me exceptionally well and although the blood trails' of some of the critters' that I have shot with them have took a short distance for the blood trail to open up, only one of them has made it past the 60 yard mark, so that has not been a problem and I have only praise to say about the broadhead.

[TurkeyBowMaster]

The ONLY negative to shooting a heavier setup is loss of trajectory so a trajectory test is the only way to measure the amount of loss. Now just shooting one arrow and then the other is not a trajectory test. To do an accurate trajectory test you milust sight in for each arrow and then do a controlled test where a set amount of misjudged yardage is made for each arrow. When this test is done, you will be surprised at how little if any loss of trajectory is acquired by shooting a heavier arrow.

[jmez]

25gr isn't going to make much of a difference either way.

If you are going to add weight to your setup specifically for elk the add 100gr and get up around the 500 mark, otherwise leave as is.

[mottlet]

25gr isn't going to make much of a difference either way.

If you are going to add weight to your setup specifically for elk the add 100gr and get up around the 500 mark, otherwise leave as is.

This is what I've decided to do. I misspoke earlier, I'm shooting the 350s, not the 300s. So, I'll be right around 400 grains. I shoot better groups with these arrows than any others I've tried, so why make more work for myself? I have enough to do with getting in better shape, studying maps, and all the other little things.