Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Bow Upgrade?

Hey Gents, kinda a bow greenhorn here, been hunting bow for decades but dont keep up to date with the latest equipment, and am most likely severely behind the technological curve with my older set-up.

Question is do I need to upgrade my bow and accessories, been shooting this bow since '06, really like it and shoot it very well and dont wanna change if drastic improvements in performance are not available.

Bow is an '06 Mathews Black Max II with Turbo cam, excellent condition.

Arrows 30'5"s long and weigh 364 grains

Broaheads are G5 Stryker Magnum at 125 grains

Velocity is an average at 311 fps.


Do these figures still compute to good killing power? I will only hunt NA game, with Elk most likely being the largest.

Thanks for any help, opinions, or equipment recommendations.

Gunner

You are damn good.

My bow is getting 278 to 280 with a 414 grain arrow and I would be willing to shoot a elk/bear out to 55 yards with it no problem.

In fact, heavier arrows might be better. Kinetic Energy kills.

With a total arrow weight of 364 grains @ 311 fps,..calculator gives 78 ft/lbs.

That's enough to energy to hunt T-Rex's.

No reason to change if it's still shooting good. You could buy new stuff, but probably wouldn't improve significantly over what you're already shooting.

I'm shooting an 07 Drenalin getting about 64ft/lbs,..way more than I need for a deer.

06 model bows are not really that out dated. The biggest improvement I see from then to now is better cams.

Thanks Winnie, sounding good.

Gunner

DW444, yes arrow only weight is 364, add the 125 gr broadhead and it's a total of 489 grains at 311 fps.

Guessing that would compute to a few more pounds of arrow energy?

Gunner

Thank You too MCH, glad to see that archery equipment isn't like electronic gadgetry, something 6 months old is already light-years behind new tech.

Gunner

I still shoot a 2006 Mathews XT and I will till something better comes along.

That's good news 257R, I spect I will too. I really like my older bow.

Does anyone know the formula for arrow energy?

489 grains total arrow weight with broadhead at 311 fps av. velocity for 5 shots through chrony.

Thanks,
Gunner

Here's an online link:

http://www.dewclawarchery.com/Kinetic_Engery_Calculator-a/157.htm

And if you have a pocket protector and a Hewlett Packard handy:

The kinetic energy formula is:

1/2 Mass times velocity squared

or

Kinetic Energy = (1/2 M) x (V2)


I'd agree with the cam comment above, and the other advantage with the new bows is weight reduction and riser design. I still have a Golden Eagle Hunter that I break out once in a while as a reminder of what will kill deer, and what advantages a new bow has. My Hunter still works, if your bow is still working for you, no need to change unless you find a design or feature that really appeals to you.

Best advice I could suggest is to go shoot every bow you can in your local bow shop, and see if any really give you an advantage/gain over your current set-up.

My old Switchback XT will be with me for many years to come. In fact if it was lost stolen or somehow ruined, I would search to by another used one before I bought something new.

There are things that just never get surpassed. Land cruisers, mustangs, Old Pre 64 winchesters, Switchbacks,

If you're happy with the accuracy and performance you're good to go. However there is no downside to having an equal backup. I have two bows at all times. They are far more fragile then a rifle so I keep an equal back available all the time.

My only personal input to this is shooting a sub 400 grain arrow, and not using slicktricks. There is a real world difference that you cannot measure on paper at that 400 grain level. 400 grains plus in weight has always seemed to penetrate far better for me, and all those I know that are serious archery hunters. Many of us have gone down the path of lighter, faster and flatter shooting arrows. On animals that is not the route we have seen work best. Long range flat shooting sub 400 grains is great on targets. But when that arrow hits anything bigger then deer, 400-425 and up has been a far better for all of us.

Gees,....

You must have a 36" draw length....

That puts you at 105 ft/lbs...

That moves you from the T-Rex to Blue Whale territory...

Wow I read that different the first time, That must be a typo, 489g at 311fps?

I would have to see this with my own eyes, the scale or the chronograph might need a service.

I wasn't going to say anything but yes that would be amazing speed with an arrow in that weight class.

Thanks everyone, and yes, the figures are correct, my arrows are the very stiff Easton AXIS 300's with the HIT tip and 125 grain G5 Magnum weigh exactly 489 grains. I fired 5 arrows through the chrono yesterday for an average of 311 fps.

The bow does have somewhat of a built in overdraw as the broadhead tips at full draw are at the rear of my left hand knuckles.

I remember the bow-shop done something to the bow when I first got it to get it as close as they could to a 31" draw.

I do know this combo flies through deer like a hot knife through butter, and I am happy with performance, just thought there may be some new tech out there being this set-up is 6 years old now.

Gunner

You guys think the Turbo Cam and extra draw length could be responsible for the bit of extra speed?

If that is the case, your saying I'm set for all NA game animals should I go for maybe Moose with a bow?

And I will bring the set-up to the Boar Hunt this spring and somebody can maybe make a recording of arrow weight and chrono results if ya'll think I should.

Gunner

LOL, I think a total weight of only 364 grains would probably blow my bow up.

So 105 is good?

Gunner

You could kill a Rhino...

I would shoot a moose with mine at 72 ft/lbs...

That's what the "experts" say...

Helluva dang deal Men, I do know with that big Morrell broadhead target ya have to pull the arrows on out the back of the target. LOL

Gunner