Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: Kegan on March 17, 2007, 04:10:29 pm

Title: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Kegan on March 17, 2007, 04:10:29 pm
I'm working on some arrows for bushy tails this fall, making them pretty simple and cheap, assuming I will be losing more than a few into the trees after those jumpy devils ;D. Thing is, I don't know what point to use! I don't want to use feild point because I WILL be losing some arrows, but I don't know if old 30-30 spent casings will work. They're tough little buggers, will a blunt work on 'em?
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Agbowyer on March 17, 2007, 04:14:38 pm
Blunts work great on them and bounce of limbs. i used  .38 casings that did well. You can even drill holes and put pieces of heavy guage wire through them to keep from over penetrating. I think I got that from an old PA article.l
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: sonny on March 17, 2007, 04:57:41 pm
or you could make some nutters, simply explained as the proper sized hex nut screwed on the point end of a tapered wooden arrow shaft. seems to me that a very little bit of epoxy might help hold 'em in place but probably ain't completely necessary.
I'm hoping to get a few nutters made myself before too long........ 
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Pat B on March 17, 2007, 06:34:42 pm
Nutters are devistating on squirrels and cheap and easy to make. I put a little super glue around the nut and saturate the point of the shaft.  You won't find anything cheaper and they really do the job. I like to use a single spiraled fluflu for fletching also. Bright colors will help you find the arrow after the shot.      Pat
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: DBernier on March 17, 2007, 07:58:56 pm
I have used .38 shell casings held on with CA. I used #7 lead shot to bring the weight up a bit. Weigh the arrow,tip and shot all at the same time to get to your desired weight. The nuts option, as Pat said, is devastating on them. I use a double flu flu but a single will work just as good. Mine are dyed international orange and it "does" help finding them, even when they are still in the tree. Good luck.

Dick Bernier
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Kegan on March 21, 2007, 08:37:21 pm
As it stands the arrows will be: 3/8" dowels cut to 30" with 2 full length heavy spiral crow feathers with reinforced selfnocks and 30-30 blunts (I save his old casings after each time he shoots, I have enough for YEARS ;D)
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: mullet on March 21, 2007, 09:25:20 pm
  38 casing works good.I knock the primer out and insert a nail.Then cut it off at about a half inch.
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on March 21, 2007, 10:48:08 pm
    Do same as Eddie except I put a 2 sided wood screw into the primer pocket-sticks out about 1/2". Sometimes I put a flat washer on end..................bob
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Justin Snyder on March 21, 2007, 11:53:37 pm
Mullet, Man have I got to make some of these for pot-guts. (ground squirels)  Justin
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Stonedog on March 22, 2007, 03:24:28 pm
I use 5/16ths ramin dowels....I take ye old spine tester to lowes...and test away....yeah you get some funny looks, but who cares!

I then gat a big bag of use .30 carbine brass and knock out the old primer.  I glue it on with hot melt as usual.

I then cut a slot into the top of the casing for a blade.....You can use either a bear bleeder blade (which can get pricey)....or do what I do and use banding steel.

With banding steel....I insert it far enough so it looks like a bear bleeder blade is being used....I glue it in place with 5 min epoxy.  I then drill a small hole thru the brass, shaft and inserted blade....insert a small brad....peen over each side!  Voila!  Flies great and totaly devastating!  Cutting and blunt force trauma.....
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Justin Snyder on March 22, 2007, 04:35:41 pm
I'm starting to think that metal banding is like the bowyers duct tape.  ;D Justin
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Stonedog on March 22, 2007, 07:23:20 pm
Man....its cheap....sharpens well....is tough...and hell on small game!
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: jamie on March 24, 2007, 03:08:12 pm
stonedog i would drop dead laughing if i saw somebody spine testing dowels at the hardware store.. lol. ive been pretty successfull with wood blunts . when carving out the shaft i just leave a bulb on the end of the shaft. its some work though. peace
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: Stonedog on March 25, 2007, 12:07:21 am
J.

Believe me....I do get a look or 50.....but..there is that one person that comes up to me and asks what I am doing.....and I explain it....and 50% of those....get really excited.....or at least intrigued...and then there are those that just dont believe that it can be done....you can see the disbelief on their faces. 

Wooden blunt?  Man I bet they do look plenty tuff!  But I am all for economy!

With my feathers and the whole bit....I have about .90$ invested in each arrow.....about at disposable as I can make them.

Did I mention that they flat out drill an eastern grey?  Ever seen a red fox squirrel?  We got 'em HUGE here in KY and they can absorb a huge amount of energy!
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: onemississipp on August 21, 2007, 01:09:12 pm
Those are all great ideas!!!

Thanks guys
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: 1/2primitive on August 21, 2007, 01:57:21 pm
Eddie, how would I go about nocking the primer out of the casings?
    Sean
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: DanaM on August 21, 2007, 02:34:35 pm
Use a nail or a small punch
Title: Re: Squirrel Arrows
Post by: armymedic.2 on August 21, 2007, 05:25:00 pm
i like something more than blunts for tough squerrils, i really like "game nabbers", but you can make your own with old field points and pliers, just flare out the but end so it breaks creating a cutting edge.  no sharpening needed.  once they go in they won't come out, and don't stick trees half the time.  then again, half the time they do.  i usually wait until they are no more than 6 feet up a tree to shoot, but as you can imagine that loses you some shots.  with flu'flu's i figured tye jump the arrow a lot because they are so noisy, but many people here use them.  do they?  sure would let me shoot more if they didn't run like heck when they heard them, i just assumed they would.