Light arrows

[DC]

I'm looking to make some stiff, light arrows. Somewhere in the 350 grain,50-55# spine range. The only shafts I've found that come close are bamboo and then it's hit and miss, most are too heavy. Any ideas?

[Badger]

  Dc, the lighter arrows come out faster but loose speed quicker. I would go for a dense wood with no point smallish diameters. I would try between 175 grains up to about 270 grains and see which score the best. I think with the right arrow close to 400 yards is very possible.

[DC]

Do you taper or barrel them to get some weight forward?

[Badger]

   I seem to do best with an arrow that tapers slightly from front to back with about 1/2" of the front rounded into a point.

[avcase]

DC,
How long do these arrows need to be?

Alan

[DC]

28" minimum.

[avcase]

Decent quality 5/16” Douglas fir shafts should be sufficient for a finished weight of 355 grains.  Starting with a straight shaft with 60-65 pound spine will still be around 50-55 pound spine after barrel tapering.  This assumes that the diameter at base of the point and nock taper down to about .240-.245” diameter.

Sitka Spruce would end up around 270 grains for the same stiffness and a little bigger maximum diameter.

Alan

[DC]

I've got some old growth Western Hemlock that I tried a while back, maybe I'll give it another look. About 6 months ago a 3' dia Sitka Spruce washed up on the beach just up the road. Someone got to it before me

[leonwood]

Anyone in Europe know where to find some really stiff spruce? Been working on some flight arrows lately and have some success with purpleheart.
Want to try spruce or pine but the stiffest 5/16 spruce shafts available are only spined 45/50.
Did find some sitka spruce boards but they are crazy expensive and I have no idea if they will provide stiff enough shafts so I did not buy them

[Selfbowman]

Guys what is the rule of thumb on spine when the arrow has no point. I am building some 70# flight arrows and don't won't one in my arm. D.C. I have been tapering some SureShaft furr that will hit your needs. Arvin

[DC]

5# stiffer for every 25 grains less point weight. Arrows are usually spined with 125 grain points I think so no point should be 25# stiffer.

[Badger]

  DC  25# less stiff, not stiffer.

[DC]

I'm starting with a 125 grain point and I take it off. Doesn't the arrow get dynamically stiffer?

[Badger]

I'm starting with a 125 grain point and I take it off. Doesn't the arrow get dynamically stiffer?

  Ok, yes the arrow does get stiffer. I thought you meant you needed 25# more spine. Sorry I misunderstood.

[DC]

I probably could have explained better.