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Heavy arrows

So I started doing some testing with 200gr heads. Is it weird that my arrows are hit almost exactly the same spot with 125gr at 20 and 30 yards? I was worried about having to tweak the scope when I went to 200 grain overkill broadheads. I am not shooting past 30 yards anyways, so my 125 and 200 gr broadheads are interchangeable.

At 20 and 30, no that’s not weird. Even with a 70lb compound I don’t notice a difference with an extra 50 grains up front less than 40 yards. It’s not significant until 50 yards.


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I am using a total bolt weight of 530 in my r26 right at about 350 fps according to the scope speed dial. 150 grain cutthroat on it. I lost my bolt in Nebraska this year zipped right through the deer never heard a thing besides bow firing. Launched bolt probably 100 yards across draw after passing through buck at 20 yards. Buck ran 30 yards and tipped over. Changing my setup a hair for this year. Gonna shave a few grains off bolt and use a 200 grain 3 blade tuffhead evolution. Target about 520 total weight. Hopefully I don't lose some of them will bring a teer to the eye.
Are you referring to a Ravin R26? If so, are you shooting custom bolts?
 
It is the dots in my scope. I thought there would be more of a difference, speed, weight and all. I come from more of a rifle background sighting in at 200 yards and killing to 400 yards. At those ranges 75gr makes a huge difference.
Easy to figure trajectory changes with a crossbow calculator http://www.bestcrossbowsource.com/crossbow-arrow-ballistics-calculator Just remember that the speed input is bolt speed not bow speed. Initial bolt speed obviously decreases as total bolt weight increases. With a 25gr increase in Broadheads weight, my Ravin R20 drops 10FPS to 420.
 
Are you referring to a Ravin R26? If so, are you shooting custom bolts?
Yes ravin R26. I am using firenock bolts right now at 18" length. I am building some sirius bolts to get more of the weight up front for my new build. Using 110 gr inserts with 200 grain broadheads for new ones. I gotta get some new cables for the R26 before I do some more shooting they are showing enough wear starting to make me alittle nervous. I just gotta order them have my own press.
 
OK, I’m still shooting Ravin bolts. I knew there were alternatives out there but haven’t really taken the time to investigate other options. I like a heavier head, but there is a point of diminishing returns. Have to balance penetration with trajectory. If a bolt will penetrate three deer standing side by side, then I just needlessly gave up a more favorable trajectory profile for nothing. Good luck!
 
OK, I’m still shooting Ravin bolts. I knew there were alternatives out there but haven’t really taken the time to investigate other options. I like a heavier head, but there is a point of diminishing returns. Have to balance penetration with trajectory. If a bolt will penetrate three deer standing side by side, then I just needlessly gave up a more favorable trajectory profile for nothing. Good luck!
I just like playing around. I haven't really seen too much negative to trajectory. Had to slow the speed dial down alittle but still stacks them just fine out to 80. Groups actually got tighter over the stock bolts and made the bow alot quieter. I killed a buck in 19 at 52 yards with the heavier bolts. He was preoccupied had no idea I was there no reaction at all. Just fun to mess around. Good luck to you too.
 
Was thinking about this.. crossbow COC are pretty limited. I screwed one of my 200gr samuris into a crossbow bolt. Not sure if there is a better insert. But I am going to shoot a few this summer and see what it looks like. Screenshot_20210315-130759.png
 
How did that samurai work with your crossbow?
I never got around to it. I also had in the back of my mind that according to Ashby's 11 things, the Broadheads had to be larger than the shaft. It was pretty close, but seemed smaller. I actually ended up ordering some Magnus crossbow Broadheads. Never shot the Grizzles through it. I might if I have time. The crossbow is kinda a back up. So shooting my bow has been more important.
 
Saw this and thought I would add my update.
Last season my compound started to peel on the limbs. So I went to my crossbow. Ended up loading my 200gr Massais onto the arrows. Didn't change much at 30yrd. Maybe an inch low. Took them Hunting, and sent one thru my buck like butter. Watched him run about 30yrds. Look around, he stagger and tipped over. Seen similar results from the NAPs out of it. But also have had a few not pass thru. I'm not going back. I filed that BH some, stroped it a few times, and it was back in the quiver for the evening hunt.
Not going back either. I don't plan to shoot at anything past 35. I did a 40yrd few years back that ended badly.
 
I'm just curious how far is everyone shooting? Unless I was at a field edge I think I would have a hard time trying to thread a bolt anymore than 30 yards through the woods that I hunt. I don't think that I could see a deer clear enough over 40 yards in the wood around here. I have a practice tree in the woods that I have five targets around from 15 to 30 yards. that 30 yarder is difficult to see at times.

I had this friend (Joe) he was a gun hunter and wanted to extend his season so he asked me to help him out with bowhunting which I did. This was when the compound first came out, a long time ago. Joe has killed more deer than any person I know he was an awesome hunter. We took a week and went bowhunting in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the state we lived in. He ended up shooting his whole quiver of arrows and asked me to help him find his deer so we went to to the spot. He stayed where he took the shots from and guided me to where the deer were. When I got to the spot I couldn't believe it. He was a good 70 to 80 yards from the deer when he emptied his quiver. We couldn't find and arrow, deer or blood. I asked him why he took such a long shots? He said you can't hit them if you don't shoot at them! LOL!
 
I'm just curious how far is everyone shooting? Unless I was at a field edge I think I would have a hard time trying to thread a bolt anymore than 30 yards through the woods that I hunt. I don't think that I could see a deer clear enough over 40 yards in the wood around here. I have a practice tree in the woods that I have five targets around from 15 to 30 yards. that 30 yarder is difficult to see at times.

I had this friend (Joe) he was a gun hunter and wanted to extend his season so he asked me to help him out with bowhunting which I did. This was when the compound first came out, a long time ago. Joe has killed more deer than any person I know he was an awesome hunter. We took a week and went bowhunting in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the state we lived in. He ended up shooting his whole quiver of arrows and asked me to help him find his deer so we went to to the spot. He stayed where he took the shots from and guided me to where the deer were. When I got to the spot I couldn't believe it. He was a good 70 to 80 yards from the deer when he emptied his quiver. We couldn't find and arrow, deer or blood. I asked him why he took such a long shots? He said you can't hit them if you don't shoot at them! LOL!
I am with you. 30 yards would be maximum. I like 20 to 25 yards.
 
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