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Heavy arrow build thread

Thanks for the input! I have been looking at those, vpa two blade and the black hornets...how hard is it to sharpen a single bevel? I’m proficient keeping field and butchering knives hair popping but never dabble in a single bevel
Harder than I expected, but Dr. Ashby’s study is pretty compelling for me to reconsider double bevel. My next purchase will be a reliable sharpener that can keep the 25deg angle, but worst case, you can ship it back to the manufacturer and they’ll resharpen. One thing I learned the hard way is don't shoot a single bevel until you take off the burr.
 
Spent almost an hour on the phone with hoss from ethics archery this AM. What an awesome dude with so much knowledge to share. Directly after, I had the sirius archery 200/250ranch fairy efoc kit on the way. Draw 30” @70lbs. Thinking im going to come in somewhere between 650 and 800gr. But i will let the bare shaft tuning decide that. Very excited to start this build and see how everyone progresses throughthe summer. Now i gotta get my butt in the saddle that just came last week and start practicing with that until i have arrows to tinker with.
 
250 Sirius Apollo cut to 29 1/8" carbon to carbon
Ethics insert/footer
Meathead 265 single bevel
2.5" A&A feathers (3 fletch)
TAW=808 grains
FoC=29%
Hoyt Defiant 30" ATA 73 lbs

Going to need a new tape on my HHA, but not as much as I was expecting. Almost no change out to 20, and not seeing a significant drop-off until I get past 30 yards.

I didn't intend to go this heavy, just followed the process and read through most of Ashby's research and ended up here.

0B7B20D9-31EA-4305-A77F-85D1C331D26F_1_201_a.jpeg
 
250 Sirius Apollo cut to 29 1/8" carbon to carbon
Ethics insert/footer
Meathead 265 single bevel
2.5" A&A feathers (3 fletch)
TAW=808 grains
FoC=29%
Hoyt Defiant 30" ATA 73 lbs

Going to need a new tape on my HHA, but not as much as I was expecting. Almost no change out to 20, and not seeing a significant drop-off until I get past 30 yards.

I didn't intend to go this heavy, just followed the process and read through most of Ashby's research and ended up here.

View attachment 29143
That combo should be capable of shooting through an engine block.

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I tinkered and tinkered and finally figured out which arrow I'll run this year. 29-65 shooter, settled on a Day Six HD 300 cut at 27.5, 100grain stainless outsert, 3 fletch, 150grain broadhead. Total arrow weight is a few grains shy of 600.

I did test kits with CX piledrivers, Easton axis, BE spartans and the HD's. I wanted to try the Sirius shafts but several weeks later and they still havent answered my email. The spartan 250 shot great but I had one miss the backstop after going through the paper tuner and through a couple layers of 1/2" drywall. The insert end of the shaft splintered pretty bad and that kind if put me off of them.

The HD's shot really nice, had bullet holes or near-bullet holes with multiple point weights so if I choose to, I can go up or down in point weight and not need to do too much work to dial back in. Best of all, the customer service was second to none. Answered my email almost instantly and helped me with a couple follow up questions I had just as fast.

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I'm shooting a Triax with 29" draw and 72 lbs. I will be trying a 28" Sirius Vulcan .250 with 125 grain Magnus and 150 grain insert. The total arrow should be about 616 grains with 18% FOC. This was the heaviest set up on the 250's to shoot perfect bullet holes. Hopefully I get some action in the woods for testing the new setup.
 
Im running Carbon Express Piledriver 250 spine (10.5GPI) cut to 28.25 carbon to carbon. Paired with 100 gr brass inserts from three rivers. Threw magnus black hornet 125s on the front and ended up at 588 gr with 18% foc. Shooting 28.5DL at 70 lbs.

This'll be my first season with them so the jury is till out on regarding performance on meat and bone.
 
250 Sirius Apollo cut to 29 1/8" carbon to carbon
Ethics insert/footer
Meathead 265 single bevel
2.5" A&A feathers (3 fletch)
TAW=808 grains
FoC=29%
Hoyt Defiant 30" ATA 73 lbs

Going to need a new tape on my HHA, but not as much as I was expecting. Almost no change out to 20, and not seeing a significant drop-off until I get past 30 yards.

I didn't intend to go this heavy, just followed the process and read through most of Ashby's research and ended up here.

View attachment 29143
Looks like you turned out another beauty. How are the A&A fletch working out?
 
Looks like you turned out another beauty. How are the A&A fletch working out?
I figured I'd start with the smallest fletchings I could find, and increase the size only if needed. These are flying great out to 30 yards (so far) with the Meatheads.

I still need to do some slo-mo recording of these arrows to see how loud they are at the point of impact. Got sidetracked chasing turkeys around the countryside :)
 
Erricabott. HHA didn't make a tape slow enough for me but I made a blank one out to 60.... It worked but I changed to EZV to eliminate ranging. Two less steps as a self filler
 
Just a quick note regarding fletching size for those interested. I've been doing quite a bit of shooting various configurations this summer at long range. When I'm on, I get get great flight and group really well even out to 80 with surpsingly small fletching area. That said, on days where I'm not on or I just have a bad shot, the larger surface area configurations do prove to be much more forgiving of mistakes. It sounds obvious, but just like Ashby said in his writings, test that fletching size throughout all hunting specific scenarios and with your intended broadheads before locking it in.

Also, the degree of rotation does impact penetration to a certain extent. Straight fletch would penetrate best, all things being equal. Ive measured up to 15% difference in broadhead penetration into foam between 1deg and 6deg offset at 20 yards into clean foam, since the arrow stops rotation on impact. That said, a certain amount of rotation definitely helps stabilize a fixed head out of the bow and can help prevent planing in wind. Just another tradeoff to consider.

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Just a quick note regarding fletching size for those interested. I've been doing quite a bit of shooting various configurations this summer at long range. When I'm on, I get get great flight and group really well even out to 80 with surpsingly small fletching area. That said, on days where I'm not on or I just have a bad shot, the larger surface area configurations do prove to be much more forgiving of mistakes. It sounds obvious, but just like Ashby said in his writings, test that fletching size throughout all hunting specific scenarios and with your intended broadheads before locking it in.

Also, the degree of rotation does impact penetration to a certain extent. Straight fletch would penetrate best, all things being equal. Ive measured up to 15% difference in broadhead penetration into foam between 1deg and 6deg offset at 20 yards into clean foam, since the arrow stops rotation on impact. That said, a certain amount of rotation definitely helps stabilize a fixed head out of the bow and can help prevent planing in wind. Just another tradeoff to consider.

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Dang! Just what I need, One more thing I need to experiment with! Totally makes sense though. I have been trying out al sorts of different arrow, weight, FOC combinations but never thought to try fletchings. In your various configurations, did you find a fletching that seemed to work well with most setups or were they more specific to different arrow/weight combos?
 
My wife got me a sub to Peterson bowhunting and the 1 I just got in the mail they have an article "build better arrows"

20200616_210405.jpg

Hard hitting journalism....we talked to these guys and they said X but these guys said Y and Z....we dont really know but we will let u figure it out.
Also....if there are diminished returns what are some examples?
Magazines really are junk....I'll admit I didn't read word 4 word...kinda skimmed and read parts that caught my eye.....didn't see Ashby mentioned......I mean if your gonna write an article like that during your research you will have to see the ashby studies right?....
 
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Just a quick note regarding fletching size for those interested. I've been doing quite a bit of shooting various configurations this summer at long range. When I'm on, I get get great flight and group really well even out to 80 with surpsingly small fletching area. That said, on days where I'm not on or I just have a bad shot, the larger surface area configurations do prove to be much more forgiving of mistakes. It sounds obvious, but just like Ashby said in his writings, test that fletching size throughout all hunting specific scenarios and with your intended broadheads before locking it in.

Also, the degree of rotation does impact penetration to a certain extent. Straight fletch would penetrate best, all things being equal. Ive measured up to 15% difference in broadhead penetration into foam between 1deg and 6deg offset at 20 yards into clean foam, since the arrow stops rotation on impact. That said, a certain amount of rotation definitely helps stabilize a fixed head out of the bow and can help prevent planing in wind. Just another tradeoff to consider.

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Great points, thanks. I plan on spending the rest of the summer shooting from various angles to validate the arrow including fletching size. I did spend considerable time first tuning my bow then shooting bareshaft with different arrow lengths and tip weights, so I’m comfortable the arrow is dialed in for my bow. The wildcard is my shooting form and that will just take reps to shake out.
 
250 Sirius Apollo cut to 29 1/8" carbon to carbon
Ethics insert/footer
Meathead 265 single bevel
2.5" A&A feathers (3 fletch)
TAW=808 grains
FoC=29%
Hoyt Defiant 30" ATA 73 lbs

Going to need a new tape on my HHA, but not as much as I was expecting. Almost no change out to 20, and not seeing a significant drop-off until I get past 30 yards.

I didn't intend to go this heavy, just followed the process and read through most of Ashby's research and ended up here.

View attachment 29143
Did you do the test kit? Which two arrows and how did it go? if you dont mind me asking. Ive got the 200/250 efoc test kit on the way im pulling 30” @70 on and old pse whitetail extreme caca bow lol. Im wondering now if you went with the 250 spine if i should have gone with the 250/300 kit
 
I tried out some Victory 300 spines, but went right to the Apollo 250s based on the Sirius spine chart, considering the amount of weight I was putting up front and my draw weight. I also bought a few Apollo 200s which shot well but no better then the 250s so I decided to stick with those.

I would think with your arrow length and with any weight up front the 300s would be underspined.

 
Erricabott. HHA didn't make a tape slow enough for me but I made a blank one out to 60.... It worked but I changed to EZV to eliminate ranging. Two less steps as a self filler
I thought about the EZV and may try it at some point. I really like the sight picture with the single pin and no peep sight. Do you use a peep with it?
 
I tried out some Victory 300 spines, but went right to the Apollo 250s based on the Sirius spine chart, considering the amount of weight I was putting up front and my draw weight. I also bought a few Apollo 200s which shot well but no better then the 250s so I decided to stick with those.

I would think with your arrow length and with any weight up front the 300s would be underspined.

Thanks for the reply. Yea glad i grabbed the 200/250. Im hoping to upgrade my bow this year or next to something much faster/more efficient and the 200’s im sure will come in handy then. Im betting on this bow liking the 250’s
 
250 Sirius Apollo cut to 29 1/8" carbon to carbon
Ethics insert/footer
Meathead 265 single bevel
2.5" A&A feathers (3 fletch)
TAW=808 grains
FoC=29%
Hoyt Defiant 30" ATA 73 lbs

Going to need a new tape on my HHA, but not as much as I was expecting. Almost no change out to 20, and not seeing a significant drop-off until I get past 30 yards.

I didn't intend to go this heavy, just followed the process and read through most of Ashby's research and ended up here.

View attachment 29143
I would like to see some before and after chrono speeds. I know I just did some testing with my new bow, 387 grain arrow was 302fps, 593 grain arrow was 250fps.
 
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