I have shot and hunted a compound for 30 years, I recently decided to get my recurve out and have been shooting it quite a bit. It is a Wing Red Wing Hunter (1968) well stored and maintained, etc

45#@28 and I draw 27"

Been shooting two sets of arrows, both Black Eagle Traditionals, split finger, instinctive. I installed 75 grain brass weights up front.

500 spine, 28"
200 grain points
542 grains total arrow weight
160 fps

600 spine, 27.5"
150 grain points
471 grains total arrow weight
171 fps

The thing is, both shoot about the same accuracy wise. I will be hunting white tails and plan on limiting my shots to about 20 yards. This distance is fairly normal where I hunt since it is mostly thick bush.

Since they shoot the same, which arrow do you think will be most effective on deer given identical hits? One is considerably heavier but about a yard per second slower with a 50 grain difference in broad head weight. I plan on using a two blade cut on contact head..
Any opinions appreciated...Tree

The difference will be negligible, but I’d use the heavier arrow, especially at the range you’re talking about.

I vote for the heavy arrow. 20 yards you will hardly notice the ballistic difference.

Good advice. Heavy arrow is it......I wonder if you would notice a ballistic difference from 30-40 yards though?

Yup: Hard to beat momentum, Heavier arrow for sure if both tune well.

Sadly most guys want to do calculations for KE.
In bowhunting, you should chase the highest momentum until It gives you a trajectory that impairs your shooting. I think that 160 fps is about as slow as you want to go.
Help yourself out and go with a two balde, cut on contact, broadhead so as to maximize penetration.

542 gr would be my choice 2 blade Samurai OVERKILL 200 or Maasai

I pull about 48# on my longbow and I use 125 gr broadheads and a heavier arrow shaft for 550 + gr arrows. They fly great ,have good penetration and drop is negligible at my range.
However I shoot wooden arrows.

Yep, I plan on Magnus Stinger 2 blade, either 125 or 150...I have had success with Muzzy 90 grain 4 blade but that was with a 64# compound.

I would choose the heavier arrow and preference would be a 200gr Cutthroat. Those broadheads are heck for stout and have used the same head to kill multiple deer and turkeys.

My second favorite broadhead is a VPA 3 blade. Same as above, and punched a 250gr, 550 gr arrows out of 48@28 longbow clear through a deer earlier this month. I do pull 29.5 inches though.