I'm going to be shooting with and possibly hunting with 35# and 38# Bows. I'm just curious on set up that you guys have. I want to use Axis 500. But I think I'll probably have to go down to the 600. I want to use carbon arrows. I'm using two blade Zwickey 135 gr upfront. My arrow wt. Would be right at about 470-485.

I would just like to hear from Some of you guys that actually hunt with that Weight of bow. As to what your setup is.

I'm already aware of the accuracy of the shot and the sharpness of the 2 blade.

The bow I'm using that is 38# It is a Dan Toelke " Pika " 56" 38# @ 28

My draw is 28 1/2" so it's probably 1 & 1/2 lb more .

He sure does do good work though !!!

The reason I went down to those weights, I had shoulder issues. And I've only been back at it maybe three for months.

But I'm more concerned about the set up (arrow & bow) for a well tuned bow.

Thanks in advance

Carl <------------<<<<

I have a 36# Longbow and it likes the 1535 gold tips. I do have a brass insert in it tho. Flies really good. Just keep your shots under 20 and you should be fine. Have fun

500 will be too stiff with 135 up front...even at full length. A 600 at 30/31 inches with 135 should work fine at that draw (app 40#). With a low stretch string on that it should be fine with the 600.

My wife has shot a bunch of deer with recurves and longbows that are 38 pounds at 26.5" using cedar arrows that come in at 430 to 440 grains tipped with Zwickey Eskimos.

As info I shoot standard Axis 600s thru my two 38# bows. They are 29 1/2" to bop 125 gr point 3-4" fletch They bare shaft perfect They only weigh 383 grains though

find an arrow that flys true and a sharp broadhead and you will be just fine! shot placement matters with heavy bows and light bows....and they kill deer the same

Shooter, that's 10 grains per pound and that is near the upper end of the suggested gpp.

If your setup tunes well, i would not be scared to go for it. If you are confident and accurate, take the shot! My wife hunts with a 41# bow and has sailed arrows through deer and hog with arrow sticking out both sides with the steel force 2 blade single bevel heads. The hog was a little over 200# at 18 yards if memory serves right and the deer have been 12 to 21 yards and were 160 to 180#.

If you are shooting a 38# bow, you are golden with a tuned setup and a well placed shot!

Yeap George Just letting the OP know that with the standard Axis he will not get the weight he is looking for. Or sure what the Trad Axis weigh but that may get him there.

A full length gold tip traditional with screw in inserts and your 135 grain broad head will be close to 400 grains. Should fly close to perfect out of your bows.

My 42# Toelke Whip like a 28.5" heritage 75 (.670 spine) w 200 up front. It also shoots a mfx .600 29.5" with 200 up front. I draw 26.5", so i would bet .600s would work for you. I have killed deer with this set up using grizzly single bevel--- zwickeys are great too. I have a Pika 40#@29". At my draw i have perfectly tuned bareshafts--- cx predator ii .800 spine with 40 grain outsert and 125 head, full length. If you find .600s a bit stiff, check out the

I've been rehabbing with a 35@28 martin x-200 recurve. My arrow is an Easton 600 Epic with a 75 gr insert and 150gr point. Total arrow weight is 440gr and flies well.

Sorry--- easton axis .700s.

I will have to purchase some single arrows, 600,700's. I think that was my trouble before with some bows. To stiff arrow. I still have complete set of axes 400, and quite a few 500s. 2 dozen. But they will sell !

I do want to stick with 135 gr 2 Zwy BH upfront. I'd like to get this project done by purchasing just one set of arrows ! I've had the traditional 600 from three River before. They seem to work well. I like the skinny shaft penetration.

I just don't like going back to school !!! BUT back to basics !

Carl <------------<<<<

I've taken five deer in the last few years with bows in this class. I use arrows in the 400gr. range and 125 Woodsman heads. The one deer I didn't get a pass through with, was a buck, shot at 12 yards. The arrow centered on the far side rib, cracking it a bit and rolling over the broadhead tip.

You also might want to consider some 1816 aluminums. that way you can keep the weight up.

My Montana is 38# at my draw length. I am shooting full length 1535’s with 100 grain brass insert...and 125 grain head. Arrows come in around 460 grains...and fly great.

Before the carbons I was shooting 29” 1816’s with 125 grains up front. They came in at 440 grains....and flew perfect.

I have only shot 2 deer with the carbons...and had two holes in both...but they didnt go completely through. But I have shot a pile of deer with the 1816’s....and only one wasn’t a complete passthrough. He was a big 140” buck.

Aluminums are the way to go in my opinion. I will be going back to them as soon as my gold tips are used up.

I tried shooting full length ICS hunter 500s with 200 up front and they were still too stiff for my 38#. I think you’ll be good with 600

Depends on length!

I shoot a 28” GT Entrada 600 out of a #50@28” Howatt Bamboo Viper, so maybe drawing #45-#46, somewhere in there. Bare-shafts perfectly with 125 up front.

YMMV, especially if you’re closer to (or farther from) center-shot, but if you load up some extra point weight and get it to bare-shaft, 10-12 GPP should do a lot of damage out of a bow that’s as well made as the Pika is reputed to be....

Just my thoughts and experiences. 36-38lb bow at 28". Plenty of power/penetration to kill whitetail deer sizes animals at reasonable distances. A good flying arrow has more to do with penetration than does arrow weight. Weight does affect penetration but there are pros and cons of increased weight. I'm not interested in diving into that here. I would stick with factory standard arrows/components and a Zwickey eskellite or a 4 edge 2 blade with 1 1/16- 1 1/8" cutting dia. broadhead. I have shot my share of deer with same or similar set up with no problems. Shot placement within a reasonable distance and good flying arrow along with a quiet bow are the more important factors to consider. My experience tells me that if you stick with factory standard arrow/components and B-50 sting you should end up with a 500 spine at approx. 28" with a 145 gr. point. You can find a heavier aluminum Broad Head adapter to get the eskillite to come in from 140gr. to approx. 148gr. I have killed deer with a 36-37lb bow and this arrow with a zwickey delta also. I made a good shot at or under 10 yards and got he deer. But the large head did not penetrate as well as I would have liked. Keep it simple and you'll be better off. good luck.

my favorite ex has a (modern, high-effiency) longbow in the range you mention ... I set her up with 2018 aluminums cut to (as I remember) 29" and Bear razorhead lites and she's killed everything she's shot with it, deer and feral hog...as far as I know it's still her only hunting bow

Another vote for the 1816 alum. I shoot a 29" w/22grain insert and 145 grain head out of upper 30 lower 40 lb. bows and get great flite.

Fuzzy-favorite ex lol I like that I have couple fob them too but I try not to set my future ex’s up with weapons........ ;)

I thought about the aluminum 1816, but I think they be too lite. And I haven't checked into it yet but I think the 600 in traditional only, have trouble with broadheads. There are all right for shooting but not for pulling out of targets with matching Target points.

I want to go to the archery shop today and see what they have.

Carl <------------<<<<

Deerspotter could you clarify your last post about the 600 trade and BHs and field points. Thanks

Sorry can't add anything to discussion I apologize for that.Im curious of this set up,because I may have to go in dirrection if i want to keep shooting.I severed my distal tendon in bicep.

Shooter

What I was referring to is the difference in size of the screw in broadhead to the shaft size. Sometimes there's a difference when you have shaft that is smaller then the screw in Broadhead.

Wapiti

Keep working on your arm strength, evenly on both arms. As we get older we lose that strength if we don't use it. And sometimes even if we do. I find by going to 38# bow my accuracy improves, also more enjoyment. 38 # bow is good for traditional archery. It makes you more aware of what you are doing when you are in the woods. You know that you have to get your game within 10 to 15 yards. Yes you can take a 20 yard shot or 30 yard shot, but to be on spot and ethical, 10 - 15 in my opinion would be better.

Also a 38# bow is a confidence builder. I used to be interested in normal high-tech stuff years and years ago. It's been simplicity for a couple decades now. At my draw of 28 & 1/2 it's really a 40#. I used to have a drama exit 29" and that would be 41#

Maybe if I'm fortunate I can work it up to 45# . I think that would qualify me for a NEW bow !!! That would be a good goal !!!

Carl <------------<<<<

Carl,

No worries with 600 Trad and point size.

To clarify...600 Trad are smaller diameter than a Zwicky broadhead but that isn't really a problem. I have field points that are the exact diameter of the 600 Trad.

larger diameter broadhead ferrule and smaller diameter shaft is a good thing for hunting, maybe not such a good thing when it comes to removing them from targets however.

First thing to do is not go i to the arrow selection process with a preconceived notion about what you are going to shoot, unless you want to create problems for yourself from the beginning.

Go to the expense of setting up a test kit of about 3 arrows, in a reasonable spine range. 1 set that is spined on the money, 1 set slightly stiff, then 1 set slightly weak.

Then choose the one that gives YOU the best flight and performance. It makes -0- difference what anybody else uses, or has used.

Then either learn to sharpen braodheads razor sharp (or buy good presharpened heads) learn to shoot, and go do your thing.

Wife hunts with a 32# longbow, 28 inch 1716 aluminum arrow and a 2 blade Eskimo broad head and has killed deer with that set up. Her arrows fly great.

Believe me fellas, I have made plenty of mistakes in the past. That's why I am being so cautious on this one. I wanted it to be right. I have done the research, and it looks like I'll start out with 600 traditional only. I've shot them before, with too light of a broadhead upfront. And as long as I can get 400 gr. Total arrow wt. or more I'll be okay. I would like to get a bit heavyer. But I don't want my arc to look like the St. Louis monument .

I really appreciate all the help, but I think the bow and the arrow weill talk to me loudest !

Because what the bow sings the loudest it's accuracy smoothness and quietness. when it is right.

Carl <------------<<<<

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