To my mind that is the perfect way to test arrow flight and see the actual difference. I may just be slow but I have tried a new setup and either did or didn’t like it right off the bat was it better or worse who knows but with this you can see and even though you are shooting it kinda takes out the fooling yourself
The amazing part is that sure the 850g arrows are slower but they maintain that speed better than the lighter arrow. They're essentially bullets with tails.
This is out freaking standing. You dropped so many nuggets of gold in this video. This is a must watch for anyone getting into setting up their own bows and arrows!!!
Gold Tip Pierce Platinums: 481 grains, 32" (30.5" cut arrow) draw lenth, and 67# draw weight gives me 295 FPS. This yields approximately .63 M and 93 KE. I hunt in CO for elk and in TX for deer and pigs and this seems to be a good compromise of speed and arrow mass for great penetration.
Black Eagle X Impacts - 300 spine, 100grn F.O.C.O.S. insert/outsert with a 100 grn QAD Exodus broadhead. Total weight is 460grns. Bow is a Mathews VXR 31.5 70lb mods pulling 72lbs at a 28.5” dl.
Now that was a great video!!! Well done Brandon!! The part of the video showing you shoot the different arrow weights at the target was outstanding. Thank you for that.
Just found your channel tonight....already in my top three favs of ALL of my subscriptions....love the personality, the honesty, and your no BS, strait shooting. Sense of humor is also on point! Great stuff brother.
Best breakdown I’ve seen on RU-vid and I’ve been down this rabbit hole for over a year now. This 3 part was unbiased and without agenda. Also covered all sides of the topics and showed actual video of it in practice. I luv the character that is the ranch fairy but he’s like talking politics with liberals and conservatives. It’s his way or no way seemingly. I don’t shoot corn fed pigs at known distances on most hunts so there’s got to be an alternative. Yes 90% of my shots are goin to be 30 and in but I do not wanna be caught watching a booner stroll through a cut at 45 and wonder is that 40 or 46 and guess wrong by a couple yds and miss. Now I practice exclusively at 40+ so I know if I have decent shot at 45ish it’s more then doable. My current setup is 28” draw 72lb bow 28in arrow weighting 442gr. 13.5foc. This flys at 280fps and has a 100gr Magnus black hornet ser razor. I consider this on the low side of a compromise and think if I stay between 440-480gr I can still maintain that middle ground where I think arrow flight and speed are the best while getting good foc. More weight and I think the sacrifice comes in accuracy and that’s a bigger issue for me. I kill 200 deer with my old setup when in 90’s speed was the thing. That set up I worked out the other day was same bow specs but I was shooting a 364gr arrow so opposite side of pendulum. Shot a moose at 55yds clean pass through. Again thanks for videos very informative and like both sides of coin!!!
I think the difference in impact time is actually more at closer distances and less the further the two arrows travel - as opposed to what you suggested in the video, since the lighter arrows starts faster but then decelerates faster than a heavier one.
Listen up arrow company’s send this man a ton of free arrows!! 😂 first time I’ve felt like I completely understand what a persons talking about and I’ve been Bowhunting for about 20 years now!! Gr8 stuff love your content!
I would like to echo some of the previous commenters - the side-by-side comparison of the two arrows was telling. Victory VAP elite 300 spine with a 95 grain insert has been my arrow for the last two years. Thank you for the great content - you should be on prime time TV.
Love your videos, well done. I am working on heavy arrows thanks to Troy but you do a great job explaining and demonstrating. The dual arrow shot was better than a thousand words.
Editing has a steep curve on the front end. I had a rough first 6 months! I still watch RU-vid tutorials on video editing at least once or twice a week. I really enjoy it though
I totally agree. I mostly hunt elk with my bow and wanted a heavier arrow. I shoot 72lb prime bow with a 250 spine Day Six arrow with 125gr 2 blade broadhead, coming in at 620 grains. Best shooting combo I have shot so far. The trajectory is a little more but hunting the PNW most of my shots are closer and they hammer elk. As always, awesome video quality!
This year I am running easton axis 340's with an ethics stainless footer (40 grains) with the standard HIT insert, 3 fletch with 3" bohning x vanes. Total with regular easton x nock is 440 grains. At my 26.5" DL I think its a good balance of speed and momentum. Plus the total arrow set up isn't that expensive. As always awesome video Brandon! Keep them coming!
Bought, built, bare shaft and nock tuned Sirius Apollo 250s (100gn insert, 100gn point, 560gn, 16ish%) annnnd now they get to collect dust because I can’t afford the non-rez. hunting licenses in Oregon since I moved here on a whim 4 weeks ago chasing work (hence why I can’t afford it) and I’m not a resident until 6 mo. Anyways that’s what I WOULD have been shooting. Oh well, I doubt they’ll rot.
I guess everyone is gonna be launching logs now... But seriously, this gives new archery folks a better idea of what to look for and how to build arrows. Because you can go down some deep rabbit holes on arrow builds!
I'm a 32" draw @ 70+ pounds. 430gn is the lightest I can go on arrow unless I spend lots more bugs on some victory arrows. Hunting I do with 570gn arrows and just love the hitting power. Decided this year to hunt with my 430gn arrow (at 304fps and Montec M3 BH) to see how it holds up. No issue with penetration but got internal deflection of the arrow. The exit wound was about a foot off from where it should have been, My new arrows will be 645gn and it will leave my bow at approximately 255-260fps. I'm smiling as you have confirmed, not much difference in flight time. Important point you also pointed out. You need to tune your own bow to perfection.
This information is something I needed to see and here, I was going to switch to FMJ's next year but now I am going to build a Iron Will Axis set-up. Already shooting those arrows and love them so no need to change. I am referencing this information to all my Army Archery buddies. Rock on man! E Co. 1-509th (ABN) IN REGT SGT Barnett, Out.
might give us another 3-5 DB on the final edit Brandon. Audio is a little weak. As always thanks for the awesome cinemaphotography. The layered double arrow shot was a thing of beauty.
Black eagle rampage, 300 spine, 31 inch draw, 100 grain outsert with 100 grain qad swipe blade broad head, 4 flech low profile heat fleching, two degree off set, 20 grain black eagle pin nocks. 502 grains. Matthew 31.5 70lb 279fps. This is the best shooting / flying combo out to 110 yds. It shoots better than me if that makes since. 80 is my so called hunting limit but the penetration at 110 is amazing.
That speed comparison bit was really well done. I'm shooting the victory rip gamers 300 spine with the gold tip airstrike aluminum insert and collar, and bohning heat vanes in a 4 fletch. The 2 piece insert system was a game changer as far as durability was concerned. Much better than the victory inserts. Total arrow weight is 486 grains.
I have taken the Victory VAP TKO's shafts in the sport model & with nock tuning I can get everyone in a dozen to fly immaculate. Having said that I'm sure somewhere on a grassy knoll there is someone looking to put a bullet through my head. Last year I put the Victory 95 grain steel outserts on my micros & I had 1 failure in practice & 1 failure on a deer but it was a big bodied deer & the arrow stuck in the opposite side in a very compromised position. I'm sure a tire iron would have bent on that one. This year with the Valkyrie system 210 short Jag in practice it has met all my expectations in repeatability & toughness. The heads r so sharp that I don't want to even look @ them for fear of a papercut. We aren't talking cape Buffalo setup here. Just 30 inch draw with 62 lbs. Total arrow weight @ 300 spine with the 210 grain head is around 570. It shoots so quiet & accurate it's ridiculous. I hunt from a saddle in a 🌳 so I will never use a 70 lb. setup so I'm not sure if the same results would apply. But I used ACC's for 2 decades & never thought the momentum of this system would produce these results 😳
Those jag heads are insane. I was testing a few heads just pushing then into the ballistics gel and I couldn't believe how easily they went in compared to some of the others.
@@brandonmcdonald6121 12 days ago I shot a doe that I watched all summer. She was hanging out with her mother who is huge & has 1 fawn & the other fawn was hit by a car 2 months ago. Anyway when I shot this doe she was too close for my Tactacam to record the hit. I got her on camera as she went away & then she stopped & looked around like she wasn't even hit. I couldn't see the entrance but the exit was very close to the last rib. The jag went through her above the lungs on both sides. No blood & the arrow didn't even smell. She was eating 🍎 in a neighbors yard & u could see the exit wound which was just a spot. That arrow went through her so quickly w/o hitting even a bone & I sharpened it like new. I had over 10 minutes to prepare for the shot & I was squatting as low as I could so the angle wouldn't be so severe. She took a short step ahead & slightly toward me when I fired the Stan. I had too small of a peep on a cloudy morning but after sunrise & never caught that step. I had it tight on the shoulder which would have made a quick recovery. She looked like she has been hitting the feed bag hard. Now there's a new house going up which takes away their usual travel route. Sunday morning is probably the only time now to go there & not might be a stretch. 2020 is sure throwing a lot of curve balls @ us. Have a good season 👍
Being that weird guy that comments twice on the same video... Running a 300 spine Easton Bowhunter 6.5 with 4 fletch Bully vane and 150-175 grains up front and likewise find it to be the most accurate setup I have tried. Total weight 445-470 grains Sounds very similar to the Victory setup you had. Must just be something about that weight distribution.
Watched your video and went to buy Easton Axis arrows.. Picked up the new 4mm Long Range Match 300grain arrows. Have you tried these yet? I won't be able to even try them for another month but I'm excited to test them out. Appreciate the great content btw!
Interested to hear if you have gotten your hands on the GrizzlyStik TDT arrows. They are tapered carbon shafts. I've been running them for a few years now and the durability of these arrows is fantastic. I was also surprised to not see any mention of ethics insert systems they are an aftermarket insert with several designs and materials to make a "bullet proof" arrow.
There are so many theories, test, practices. Even on fire arms. Is a 1oz slug better then a 22-250. Are stiff arrow shafts better then flexible ones. Bigger diameter light arrows or small diameter thin arrows. Your refering to math and physics. And at the same time refer to indian sticks and stones. It has to do alot more with price to production. Soon enough we will be shooting solid tooth pick sizes shafs with tios built in. Sharpen the tios on a stone. See the cycle here?
I went from VAPs to RIPs this season, didn't find the VAP to be durable enough either. Using the Ethics Archery insert/sleeve system with the 60gr post and 60gr sleeve. The arrows have proven to be bombproof for me this season. The only positive I've found with a light arrow is trajectory, the only negative to a heavy arrow is trajectory.
Enjoyed the video. Great info. But the time to the target is not the benefit of a lighter arrow. It’s trajectory. The question is do I lose more critters to penetration or distance mistakes. The answer is not the same for everyone. Personally I have only lost one to penetration in 38 years hunting multi states. I have lost more than that to yardage mistakes. I choose as heavy as I can while still providing good trajectory. For me and my poundage and draw length that’s 470-500. My one penetration problem could have been solved with a more reasonable size broadhead at the same weight.
Agreed. I think for me a fixed head out front of 450g gets it done. I just think for white tail guys in a stand where trajectory isn’t an issue, heavy is fine. Overall I just want people to think about it
Great video. Especially because I'm having a bit of an arrow funk right now. For about half of this season, I will be shooting Axis 340 with the hit insert, Kudu 125 point, and standard accessories for whitetail. Total arrow weight is 444. I'm shooting 62 lbs and a 27.5in draw on my vxr 31.5. While these arrows are super accurate and really consistent, I am not happy with the hit insert. I'm going to try different arrows going on, but if I knew the hit insert was so flimsy, I definitely would have chosen something else. I am also wanting to go a bit heavier. Around 500 grains. I'm shopping for arrows right now. This is just what my bow is tuned for at the moment. It will do. For now. Until I make my next order on arrows. Also, Kudu points ROCK. Fly great, super sharp. Especially when you start stropping. But the way the blade is shaped makes it a bit difficult to sharpen. Other than that, I have never had a broadhead fly so well.
Been shooting the Easton Axis 5mm 340 spine and never had an issue. Upgrading to an Easton Axis Match, 300 spine, with that Iron Will collar and inserts bumping my FOC up. Not cheap, but certainly worth it.
@@brandonmcdonald6121 Yeah, heard from a few people shooting it and it seems like the magic area for that set up is something around the 575 gr (+/- a few) with 225-250ish up front. Again, everyone is different, but that's the #'s that I keep seeing. So I'll start in that neighborhood and see what happens. Hopefully save myself a little time, money and trial & error.
I'm probably one of your newest subscribers, I follow you and Troy fowler (( The Ranch fairy )) I love the video you guys did together where you touched on everything from religion to family and Archery, So, what I want to say is in recent years (( since 2020 )) I've had to drop my draw weight down drastically (( from 70lbs to 55lbs )) due to a accident I was involved in on the job (( I won't bore you with details )) my Question to YOU is, I have two sets of Arrows I'm currently working with, half are 500gr and up, the other half are in around 395ish I'd like to settle on one or the other, because of my draw weight, should I be shooting a lighter Arrow? Or Heavy Arrow? I'm thinking Heavy, for a harder impact down range, BUT Now you have me thinking MAYBE a lighter Arrow might be the way to go to get a flatter trajectory and maybe some better Speed, I interested in your thoughts on this ... 😎🏹🎯
This year I went with the Micro diameter Easton FMJ's and a deep six inserts @ 100g point weight. It was very basic and the results were pretty embarrassing, I've never been so disappointed with such an expensive decision in arrows, ever. I would watch video after video on trying to understand what the FOC and calculating the right balance in spine stiffness, point weight and total arrow weight. It was pretty stressful to try and figure it all out and it really made me nervous to try to hunt ethically. I didn't want to be that guy who shoots the hind quarter and do more harm than good. Next year's set up I'm hoping I have more of an understanding of how this all works and I feel like so far you have made more sense of how I'm supposed to be set up for myself, so thank you and I look forward to the next video about arrows.
Overlaying the heavy and light arrow footage was so much better than "this arrow hit in this time, this arrow hit in this time". We can see and hear the difference. Not gonna lie though I was confused how you shot 2 arrow at once for a second
Great 3 video series! Got me thinking. I agree about a happy medium for whitetail. 500-550ish with 12%+ FOC & sharp fixed broadheads, maybe? :shrug: Axis. The HIT inserts messes negatively with FOC. Edited
Personally I have a pile of about 80 different Victory's w/ all kinds of insert/outsert. And w/o a doubt the sleeve and insert in stainless or titanium is by far the best. I have found over time outsert systems like the Victory SS or Ethics/Black Eagle will bend and its just a matter of time. Especially w/ more force like my 80# Insanity pushes. The Iron Will is built on a Swiss Machine extremely good tolerances and they have options on the light end all the way to heavy. Whatever you run I recommend this combo over any plain outsert. Stay away from aluminum anything IMO. Great video! I will have try the Day 6 and I think the Valkyrie looks awesome but others compete for much less money and you are trapped with only their components and w/ Iron Will your free to move about the cabin!
I did notice any of the aluminum outserts on the victorys would slightly bend over time with regular everyday shooting. Valkyrie does have options for normal broadheads, but I just jumped in to see how it all works together with that long center pin. Just got a new set 450g up front on a 200 spine arrow. Mid 700s total weight. I can't shoot it with the vxr and get good groups but my Traverse that's 10lbe lighter was lights out today at 60 yards.
Bro.. I got some day six 250 spine with 100 grain outsert and 200 gran single bevel..! That thing is trucking..! Just got the VAP elite 300s and already having issues with the outsert and breaking..! Will shoot till they dead and gone then I’m back to day six..!
Lighted nocks at night trajectory and speed comparison was sick! I'm building a new hunting arrow this year and want to pick your brain. Bow - Mathews V3 31, 60 lbs, 27". Where would you start for an arrow broadhead combination for mule deer hunting out west?
I have found that you can have an arrow that is NOT nock tuned but close and make it get a bullet hole and adjust the rest to make it work.. I was even able to get them to impact vertically out to 70 yards.. the problem comes obvious with groups.. some arrows won't have good flight and appears as a weak spine...
Good job and great quality video and music. Award quality stuff here! I'm up from 425gr to 522gr. I'm shooting 262fps and having a hard time building heavier because of the speed loss. Thanks for putting the video together and looking forward to next year's video.
How fast is a leaf blowing in the wind when it passes by a deer without a flinch. The only downfall of shooting 260 fps is how close u set yourself up for a shot. If u have a quiet bow/ arrow setup & u r above them @ a short distance they react after the arrow is in the ground after the arrow passes through them. The only deer I want to even see @ 50 yards is the 1 coming through thick cover heading straight for me. The goal is to shoot inside 15 yards with a high level of predictability.
Brandon, Victory was smart to put the spine line marks on their arrows. Good move. Reach out to me and I will blow you're with the next level in arrow technology. If you haven't seen ArrowTech arrows yet, let me know and I will send you some for testing. Great videos!
Awesome info, Thank you. Question;;;; I've not shot a compound bow since I was 10 years old, want to get back into it for hunting (pig,deer, javalina)......Im on a budget.....What do you think of the Hoyt Trorrex for a beginner bow at the price point under $700? If you suggest any others to look at please let me know. I currently hunt with a PCP big bore air gun so my skill set is already very similar to bow hunting ranges ( Under 100 yards).
People seem to really like that bow although I haven't shot one yet. I would not hesitate to get a Bow that's a few years old as long as it's in good condition. You can probably get a fantastic bow for 500 bucks or less. If you look on Archery talk guys will sell a full setup for less than $1,000 with arrows releases sites etc all included. The biggest thing is just making sure it's in good shape and is safe to shoot
Brandon, your a detail mister with your equipment so I was hoping you could do a video on your Mathews bow and monkey tails. Meaning... how do they affect fps with AMD without and how does losing one affect your accuracy at 40, 50, 60 and 100 yds? Are they necessary? "Too monkey tail or not to monkey tail?" Maybe that would be a good question?? Thanks for being an archery junkie!
Nice, short run down, I'm looking forward to the full version next year... one vote in the heavy arrow column. I'm slinging CE 350 Pile Drivers tipped with Tooth of the Arrow 125 grain XLs at ~ 270 fps out of a Halon 32 with a 30" draw at 72#.
Folks that are into speed usually measure the speed off the bow but what is the speed down range? The lighter arrows lose speed faster than the heavier arrows. Thanks for the demo.
I’d like to get your thoughts on Nexxus arrows. Company out of Australia, the videos they show of shooting them at a anvil and it’s not even cracked it’s insane. I’m more of a balanced arrow guy. My arrows weight 420 grains finished out, 70 lb Halon at 26.5” draw. Haven’t had one not pass through yet and can’t keep Morrell Block targets very long.
I have a question for whoever has an answer: I shoot a 29" Easton Hunter 6.5, with a 29.5 inch draw shooting between 55-60 lbs. This sounds ridiculous, but if I took that arrow, stuck a 100 grain insert and a 100 grain tip in it, what spine would I need, or a suggestion for a different arrow for 200 grains upfront.
Easton axis and Black eagle vintage have been the most durable I’ve come across. I accidentally shot my BE vintage at a solid block of stone (me being a dumbass) and the Vintage took it like a champ. It still spins true and flies like all it’s brethren. (My target was sitting on said stone)
Any reason you didn’t dive into the DaySix setup the way you did for the Victory and Easton setup? I just got the DaySix system and would love to hear your thoughts on it now that you’ve had it for a while. Especially with the hefty price. I’d imagine people want to know if it’s worth the cost.
I still really like both of my day6 setups. Super durable, straight shooters. Only busted shafts were from stacking broadheads or hitting metal in 3d targets.
The last 2 videos I watched were jared on midwest whitetail and in each video he got pass throughs with a 1-3/4 inch jak hammer mech. I think people are making this all alot more confusing then it has to be.
That guys awesome and he feels totally different about arrow setups than I do (and physics) but he’s killed way more than I have. he still has great arrow flight which allows you room to use heads with less penetration. When you use mechanicals as a crutch because the bow isn’t in tune Is when you have a problem. I bet mechanicals kill more deer every year than fixed, which is great because it means lots of different setups kill deer.
The Victory RIP TKO's are awesome. They are tougher than the regular VAP's and shoot amazing. The diameter goes up a bit but the increased toughness is amazing.
I picked up 1/2 dozen a few months ago and they’ve been solid so far. Haven’t done the full on destruction test I normally do, but they’ll hold up better than the elites, I can already tell
@@brandonmcdonald6121 My friend who owns the pro shop locally recommended them to me. I was going to buy another dozen of the 5mm Easton Axis and he steered me towards them. I couldn't be happier. The regular Axis shafts feel cheap after handling the TKO's now.
Another great video. Im interested to try the Day 6 set up. Im just not a heavy arrow guy. I shoot 60lbs at 28in. So im usually in that 375 to 420 range. I try to maintain a 14 and up FOC. I generally have pass throughs without a problem. Day 6 and the owner are just flat phenomenal though. So I'll definitely end up supporting him regardless. Side note, have you played with the VIP broadheads? I just bought them this year and have been impressed. FP accuracy is not a myth with these heads, so far. I ripped vanes off with my FP arrow at 60 yards. I think they would intrigue you.
Go watch the TAC vane video that Levi morgan just dropped. It’s really cool to see what happens in super slowmo. I’ve been close to getting there with a couple of different companies, just hasn’t come together yet!
This is best video I think you’ve made. I used to shoot vaps back in the gap. Broke the outsert on every animal I shot. Shattered several shafts as well. Oddly. They would crack on the nock .... very accurate. Loved practicing with them. But I trashed every arrow I put in an animal. You mention the axis.... my very first arrow. Loved them. Tough arrows , put them through some tough animals. But if an when you break one with a HIT insert it’s kinda game over . Great arrow , one of the best every made. I’ve been shooting maxima reds since their inception. Probably not as tough as the axis .... but in my opinion in my experiences it’s been one of the best tuning. So i kinda just stuck with them.....they pass through, they fly straight. Not the match grade groups I used to shoot with vaps , but they do well for me.
You can’t go wrong with axis. They’re shooters. Not the heaviest , but enough for most. When I change bows one day, and have to jump through the hoops of tuning rigamaro. I’ll probably attempt the axis again.
