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Who Did Not Snort the Fairy Dust? And Why?

I snorted the fairy dust and learned a lot about tuning in the process. Insert tuning, nock tuning, spine combos for FOCs, Ashby’s penetration fundamentals, etc... then I had a small intervention.

Nate Seller’s of Average Jack Archery YouTube channel posted this:


Pretty much, engineers have busted their ass to create modern day bows so we can tune the bow to our choice of arrows. This eliminates the trial & error of selecting different weights up front as part of “the process”. You choose your desired spine, arrow, and FOC, then you tune your bow (probably with the help of a shop) for that arrow. (Note you still must tune your arrow via nock & insert)

I did exactly this. My bow (Hoyt Torrex) finally came in last week, I bought GT Hunter XT 300s, 100gr insert, 125 field tip. Got it shooting bullets in less than 20 minutes after all the initial centering & such that comes with a new bow.

517gr @ 28.5in
18% FOC
227-236fps
Zinger 4 fletch 6° Right Offset

I’m shooting great at my longest comfortable shot of 40yds.

Snort the fairy dust, but only as much as you need.


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Not trying to criticize the intent of the OP but If you go through this process you begin to learn that you start to have possibilities that you didn't realize before with just your typical "balanced arrow" normal foc arrows. Now I haven't finished my experimentation with my setups yet but for this year because hunting season is almost upon me, I have already increased my TAW by 154 grains from 373gr to 527gr and my FOC from 12% to 21.7% and after bow season I plan on continuing to experiment with even more up front. I went with 100gr Ethics inserts and got perfect bullet holes with both 100gr and 150gr. tips. So 200 and 250gr up front. I will try going up in 25 grain increments with this current build to see how much more I can do just in changing tip weight to get UEFOC Anything over 19" is EFOC. Now, my arrows are slower but my momentum is tangible and I can tell just by the damage to my crossbow target which is relatively new. These arrows are already starting to come through my newer broadhead target!!! Plus, I am saving exponential wear and tear on my bow and sights and axles, cams, fittings and attachments because more of the energy is being absorbed by the heavy arrow and not just waisted on a lighter projectile. That means a quiet bow too in the deer woods!! Now my FPS is down about 42fps but my arrow flight is more stable...... they look like straight rods flyng from the bow.... no yawing, no whipping at release. Just nice, perfect, linear, arrow flight... and did I mention Q.U.I.E.T. ?? These are all benefits that don't even relate to the true reason for going to a heavy arrow..... penetration when Murphy strikes at the time of release on the animal. The most important reason. So if you haven't tried it yet, because you don't want to change whats been working.... , don't judge it until you embark on the journey. And if you never do.... that's ok too. What I'm also excited about is probably if this trend continuous, bow manufacturers will be able to develop risers and other components that can be lighter and more sleek because they will not have to worry about setups almost being dry fired every time they're shot which helps us carry less weight in the field. I think this helps us in many ways that are still evolving in terms of bow efficiency etc. They're coming out with sub pound tree climbing sticks for cripes sakes..... I want a 2 lb compound bow!!! with a 18" ATA that I can stuff in my pack on the way up the tree. Gear Head is on the trend already.
 
I have three dozen of my existing arrows at home in the shelf. $$$. That’s why! Will go through those before revisiting my arrow weights or overall bow setup. Will be a few years! My current bow/arrow setup has worked really well for the last 11 seasons on everything I’ve shot - deer, elk, moose, and bear. If I do my job with proper shot selection and placement, the bow and arrows have done theirs!
 
Maverick1 said:
I have three dozen of my existing arrows at home in the shelf. $$$. That’s why! Will go through those before revisiting my arrow weights or overall bow setup. Will be a few years! My current bow/arrow setup has worked really well for the last 11 seasons on everything I’ve shot - deer, elk, moose, and bear. If I do my job with proper shot selection and placement, the bow and arrows have done theirs!
Click to expand...
Well you may be able to sell those arrows if you didn't want to be stuck with a large inventory. Or if you have up and comers that you think could use them??? Just some thoughts on that.
 
woodsdog2 said:
Well you may be able to sell those arrows if you didn't want to be stuck with a large inventory. Or if you have up and comers that you think could use them??? Just some thoughts on that.
Click to expand...

Thought about that! They are all cut, with inserts installed, wrapped, fletched, and ready to go. With proper shot placement, I’ve gotten complete pass throughs on everything I’ve shot listed above. No need to change! (Kids draw lengths are all longer than mine!). LOL. Good situation to be in. (I stockpiled on the arrows when the manufacturer discontinued that particular model.). So, nope!
 
I went back. No regrets or arguments, just wanted to get my speed back up. I've only killed a dozen or so deer, all but 2 were pass through shots.
 
We in the traditional/primitive archery world have preached heavy arrow for hunting all along.
The argument has always been would you rather get hit will a wiffel ball or a baseball at 150ft pr ?
I have no time to debate. Do as you wish.
We shoot slow bows and heavy arrows.
It's worked for a few thousand years.
Seems like ranch guy is trying to convince compound shooters to do the same.
I know nothing about compounds and don't claim to. So please don't bash me.
 
Rev said:
We in the traditional/primitive archery world have preached heavy arrow for hunting all along.
The argument has always been would you rather get hit will a wiffel ball or a baseball at 150ft pr ?
I have no time to debate. Do as you wish.
We shoot slow bows and heavy arrows.
It's worked for a few thousand years.
Seems like ranch guy is trying to convince compound shooters to do the same.
I know nothing about compounds and don't claim to. So please don't bash me.
Click to expand...

Most whitetail kills are within 25 yards as is. For longer distances I can understand speed and flatter trajectory, however in closer range quieter bows are key. Heavy arrows shoot quieter, which outweighs speed.


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I have been shooting for a long time and have tried many different set ups through the years. 10 or more years ago I decided to shoot heavy arrows with Magnus Stinger heads, these arrows were significantly heaver than any arrow I had ever shot before. The first animal I shot that year was a mature doe quartering away and I didn't pass through. After shooting multiple animals that year I didn't notice any difference in the outcome of my shots, so I went back to my normal 385-430 grain set ups and have been shooting them with no issues since. I am currently shooting a heavy arrow for me at 430 gr just like I did last year with no issues. Just my 2 cents!
 
Weldabeast said:
Popular opinion with the heavier will all be determined by the hunting publics season..... If they start getting some real tangible evidence on camera of all the benefits it'll be different
Click to expand...

So far so good. The most recent one in ND was shot with a GS Massai at 10 yards or so. He made it another 20 or so and was DRT.
 
Aaronpaul14 said:
More of I’m pretty accurate with my 350 spine arrow and 100gr fixed broadbead. But if I’m sitting on an island alone I will start looking for a way off the island.

I totally get the deer move and heavy will punch through better but The only time I’ve had one stick and stay in bone was a doe walked out by my blind and was quartering away pretty good and went right through vitals and stuck in front left leg bone. She didn’t go more than 30yds.
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"Din't go 20" as Rut would say
 
I shot a small doe this past weekend, wasn't the greatest shot, hit end of 1 lung and out the other end of leg. Went 100 yrds before it died. Shooting 540 total weight, about 17-19% FOC, 225 up front, 26.5 draw 60 lbs.

Probably would've been different with a larger deer
 
I sort of did, but not really. I just went back to a FMJ I had previous success with years ago, but I did add a 125 grain broadhead.

Reasons I didn’t grow wings and turn into the TOOTH FAIRY...

1.). I can’t stand the prick.
2.) I chose a setup I can walk into any archery store in the country and duplicate if I get in a bind/have a crazy accident.

*Had to add a very important part.

3.) Pin gap is ridiculous with heavy/high FOC arrows.

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I see lots of guys complaining about pin gaps. I’d be willing to bet a paycheck that 90% of them have never shot a high FOC arrow out of their bows. To understand the trajectory (I’m talking out to at least 60 yards), you really have to try it for yourself to see. The arrows are much more efficient downrange. With that said, your arrow flight has to be flying straight, not kicking sideways at the shot. I can easily get 100 yards out of my Spot Hogg fast Eddie sight in my Bowtech Realm X at 29” and 71#with a 623 grain arrow. Same with my Athens Ridge 32 at 29” and 66# with same arrow. So the difference isn’t as large as some try to say. For me at least! I’m shooting 29” and 70# for reference.

I have 1 question....As a sportsman, shouldn’t we take ethical shots at our game? Specially, shouldn’t we know the distance of our shots so we can make a lethal kill shot? I have hunted a long time, and have shot animals as small as squirrels and large as an Water Buffalo with a bow....I understand animals are sometimes walking or chasing another. But we should know how far the animal is before the shot. There is no shame in passing a shot if we aren’t ready for it!

If this isn’t for you, that’s completely fine...but you shouldn’t try to discourage others from determining whether is it good choice for them. We should all try to be the most ethical hunter that we can be, whether that includes a 350 grain arrow or a Ranch Fairy 700 grain special!
 
It's all up to the individual. I am not going down the fairy dusthole. I've killed countless deer with my set up the last 39 years. I've shot several out past 65 yds with most being pass through. (375gr-385gr)
I'm shooting whitetail that have a 12"-16" cavity area thickness. If I were hunting African game, I would probably go up in weight.
It's all personal preference. I hope each and every one learns their equipment, practice like there's no tomorrow and become proficient at the ranges they feel comfortable with.
We are all a brotherhood of hunters the main focus is getting outside, seeing God's creations and enjoying the persuit of filling the freezer.
 
Ninja Vanish said:
So far so good. The most recent one in ND was shot with a GS Massai at 10 yards or so. He made it another 20 or so and was DRT.
Click to expand...
I watched last night....so both THP and G2 have pretty good video evidence of the benefits of the heavies....THP shoot thru thick grass/brush with what looked like little to no deflection and G2 with a pretty hard quartering toward the shooter....both down in pretty short order. My personal experience the other weekend resulted similar with no track job required
 
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Deerhunter81 said:
I see lots of guys complaining about pin gaps. I’d be willing to bet a paycheck that 90% of them have never shot a high FOC arrow out of their bows. To understand the trajectory (I’m talking out to at least 60 yards), you really have to try it for yourself to see. The arrows are much more efficient downrange. With that said, your arrow flight has to be flying straight, not kicking sideways at the shot. I can easily get 100 yards out of my Spot Hogg fast Eddie sight in my Bowtech Realm X at 29” and 71#with a 623 grain arrow. Same with my Athens Ridge 32 at 29” and 66# with same arrow. So the difference isn’t as large as some try to say. For me at least! I’m shooting 29” and 70# for reference.

I have 1 question....As a sportsman, shouldn’t we take ethical shots at our game? Specially, shouldn’t we know the distance of our shots so we can make a lethal kill shot? I have hunted a long time, and have shot animals as small as squirrels and large as an Water Buffalo with a bow....I understand animals are sometimes walking or chasing another. But we should know how far the animal is before the shot. There is no shame in passing a shot if we aren’t ready for it!

If this isn’t for you, that’s completely fine...but you shouldn’t try to discourage others from determining whether is it good choice for them. We should all try to be the most ethical hunter that we can be, whether that includes a 350 grain arrow or a Ranch Fairy 700 grain special!
Click to expand...

The pin gap/arrow trajectory not being affected that you speak of only comes into play at 60 yards and further. 90% of us here won’t shoot a deer past 30 yards. A very critical part of my setup is being able to shoot 1 pin from 0-30 yards with minimal drop/compensation. Even my “twisler” shafts caused such a severe pin gap issue I almost didn’t shoot them. If I hold my 25 yard pin dead on the dot at 30 yards, my arrow will drop 5-6 inches and that’s ONLY a 5 yard difference! I am shooting 74 pounds @ 29.5” dL. I never like for my 25 yard pin to drop more than 3 inches at 30. It was absolutely an adjustment and can be a major league problem for people that do not know how to compensate hold over/under with their pin(s).

There will be a bunch of deer missed this year because of this. Some will miss the biggest deer of their lives because they risked the payoff of arrow trajectory forgiveness to be able to shoot any angle on a whitetail deer.


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Droptine85.mt said:
The pin gap/arrow trajectory not being affected that you speak of only comes into play at 60 yards and further. 90% of us here won’t shoot a deer past 30 yards. A very critical part of my setup is being able to shoot 1 pin from 0-30 yards with minimal drop/compensation. Even my “twisler” shafts caused such a severe pin gap issue I almost didn’t shoot them. If I hold my 25 yard pin dead on the dot at 30 yards, my arrow will drop 5-6 inches and that’s ONLY a 5 yard difference! I am shooting 74 pounds @ 29.5” dL. I never like for my 25 yard pin to drop more than 3 inches at 30. It was absolutely an adjustment and can be a major league problem for people that do not know how to compensate hold over/under with their pin(s).

There will be a bunch of deer missed this year because of this. Some will miss the biggest deer of their lives because they risked the payoff of arrow trajectory forgiveness to be able to shoot any angle on a whitetail deer.


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Click to expand...

what if you set your pin at 27 yards?
 
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