Archery build for moose hunting

[Versatile_Hunter]

I'm putting the finishing touches to my moose bow/arrow set up and I'd appreciate some feedback on weight/FOC.

I'm upgrading my bow limbs to shoot up to 70 lbs and my draw length is 29.5 inches. I'm sticking with Easton Axis 5mm Match Grade arrows and I'll be shooting Iron Will Outfitters single bevel broadheads.

These arrows are 300 spine at 10.7 GPI and have 18 gr total vane weight and a 9 gr nock. I'm trying to decide on the broadhead, insert, and collar configuration to get an optimal weight and FOC.

The easiest arrow build would be to use the arrow with its 16 gr Easton Hit insert and throw on a 125gr broadhead. This would place the arrow at
1- 125 gr broadhead; 16 gr insert; no collar: 486.3 gr; 10.6% FOC

With a 150 gr broadhead, the arrow would be:
2- 150 gr broadhead; 16 gr insert; no collar: 511.3 gr; 12.4% FOC

Alternatively, I can add a collar or use a heavier insert:
3- 125 gr broadhead; 16 gr insert; 25 gr collar; 511.3 gr; 12.2% FOC

4- 125 gr broadhead; 25 gr insert; no collar: 495.3 gr; 11.3% FOC

The question ultimately boils down to where is the best place to stack weight on an arrow? At the tip by sizing up the broadhead, at the insert, or with a collar? I like build #1 best because it's the simplest and that arrow seems like a very good all-purpose, not just a moose specialist. 

 

[Chef]

I know you want to stay with your current arrow but look at the maxima triads they have a 90 grain outsert instead of a insert


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[Versatile_Hunter]

16 minutes ago, Chef said:

I know you want to stay with your current arrow but look at the maxima triads they have a 90 grain outsert instead of a insert


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What do you like about the outsert system compared to an insert? Is there an advantage to shifting the weight that far forward? How does it compare to just using a heavier broadhead? 

For the insert/collar combos that I listed, I’m looking at iron will components. They have additional sizes if I wanted to go extra heavy:

https://www.ironwilloutfitters.com/archery-components 

[Jeremy K]

The current trend is to pile weight on the front of the arrow . I never saw a reason to shoot the ultra high FOC for whitetail, other larger animals or hogs i have no experience shooting. 

[NonTypical]

With more weight up front, it will help stabilize the arrow faster. And a heavier arrow will penetrate much more. The Triads are over 550 grains with a 100g broadhead and Nocturnal installed. I think they were about 14% FOC. 

Edited July 30, 2021 by NonTypical

[Robhuntandfish]

burying the lead...... where ya going on a moose hunt?  

[rob-c]

As I’m sure you know the more weight you add to the tip the weaker the spine of your arrow will be . I’d say experiment and what ever arrow set up shoots the best out of your bow that’s the one . 

[sodfather]

I have zero experience with moose or elk hunts but if it were me I’d practice from far distances like 65-100 shots jut in case the opportunity only presents those distances you’ll be ready 

[Versatile_Hunter]

1 hour ago, rob-c said:

As I’m sure you know the more weight you add to the tip the weaker the spine of your arrow will be . I’d say experiment and what ever arrow set up shoots the best out of your bow that’s the one . 

Good point. I already spined down from 340 to 300. 

Edited July 30, 2021 by Versatile_Hunter

[Versatile_Hunter]

2 hours ago, Robhuntandfish said:

burying the lead...... where ya going on a moose hunt?  

I’m going up to Quebec. I’ll be taking my bird dog along with me and going after grouse and woodcock (and hare) too. Well that’s the plan anyways. I had this hunt booked for last year but it was delayed due to the pandemic shutdown. Things were looking good with the recent announcement of an Aug reopening of the border. But now that there’s a strike of Canadian border workers and with the new delta variant peak, I hope it doesn’t delay things again. All I can do is assume it will be on and prepare appropriately. 

Edited July 30, 2021 by Versatile_Hunter

[Robhuntandfish]

1 minute ago, Versatile_Hunter said:

I’m going up to Quebec. I’ll be taking my bird dog along with me and going after grouse and woodcock (and hare) too. Well that’s the plan anyways. I had this hunt hooked for last year but it was delayed a year due to the pandemic shutdown. Things were looking good with the recent announcement of an Aug reopening of the border. But now that there’s a strike of Canadian border workers and with the new delta variant peak, I hope it doesn’t delay things again. All I can do is assume it will be on and prepare appropriately. 

sounds awesome.  Keep us posted, would love to hear about it. Best of luck and hope you make it this year

[dbHunterNY]

from what I've heard from people hunting there and seen from being up there not hunting, quebec is thick. won't get a long shot (compared to around here) unless you're at the edge of a pond or lake. everybody said all good stuff already. razor sharp broadhead on an arrow with some weight to it. build up your strength to pull more weight helps. FOC doesn't matter. it'll be acceptable in the end and with a heavy finished arrow you'll have enough up front to "pull' the rest of the arrow through.

[dbHunterNY]

finished grain weight into the 500's should be good. start to get heavier and it'll drop like a rock further you shoot.

[BowmanMike]

A high gpi arrow makes it hard to get high foc because of the weight of the shaft. You would be better off putting the weight in the head or the insert.  At your DL I doubt you really have to up the draw weight,you are in a much better position than folks with t-rex arms.Have you looked into day six arrows? They seem like a good company and can build the whole arrow broadhead combo for you.

Edited July 30, 2021 by BowmanMike

[Pygmy]

Any shots at moose in Eastern Canada are likely to be to be very close....40 yards would be a long shot and 20 is more likely...You also have an 18 inch square vital area, given a broadside shot...Good luck, Pilgrim....

[Versatile_Hunter]

1 hour ago, BowmanMike said:

A high gpi arrow makes it hard to get high foc because of the weight of the shaft. You would be better off putting the weight in the head or the insert.  At your DL I doubt you really have to up the draw weight,you are in a much better position than folks with t-rex arms.Have you looked into day six arrows? They seem like a good company and can build the whole arrow broadhead combo for you.

I’ve heard good things about day six but at this point I’m going with Easton axis.

[Nomad]

My buddy in Seattle , uses a 62# Bighorn built for him by Fred Asbel . 31 inch Easton 2219s with 125 grain Zwicky Bh . Pass throughs on Elk ,and this is his set up for his upcoming, moose hunt .

It’s the carpenter not the hammer ,not be all hung up on the weight of this or that .

Edited July 30, 2021 by Nomad

[Versatile_Hunter]

20 minutes ago, Nomad said:

My buddy in Seattle , uses a 62# Bighorn built for him by Fred Asbel . 31 inch Easton 2219s with 125 grain Zwicky Bh . Pass throughs on Elk ,and this is his set up for his upcoming, moose hunt .

It’s the carpenter not the hammer ,not be all hung up on the weight of this or that .

Yeah, hung up is not a good plan. Considering the options when building my first “deliberate” arrow is something else. I am itching to try recurve though. 

[Nomad]

52 minutes ago, Versatile_Hunter said:

Yeah, hung up is not a good plan. Considering the options when building my first “deliberate” arrow is something else. I am itching to try recurve though. 

To be honest when I read about guys set ups ,I often don’t know wtf they’re taking about . I have had three bows since ‘88, and I can’t tell you the let off let alone all the BS guys talk about . I’ve got five arrows in my quiver and only two are the same ….

happy hunting 

[Versatile_Hunter]

26 minutes ago, Nomad said:

To be honest when I read about guys set ups ,I often don’t know wtf they’re taking about . I have had three bows since ‘88, and I can’t tell you the let off let alone all the BS guys talk about . I’ve got five arrows in my quiver and only two are the same ….

happy hunting 

I actually didn’t know half this stuff up until 3 weeks ago… 

[Dinsdale]

12 hours ago, Versatile_Hunter said:

 All I can do is assume it will be on and prepare appropriately. 

In the same boat for a fall hunting trip, still checking boxes and prepping like its going to happen. 

Fingers crossed.

[Chef]

With more weight up front, it will help stabilize the arrow faster. And a heavier arrow will penetrate much more. The Triads are over 550 grains with a 100g broadhead and Nocturnal installed. I think they were about 14% FOC. 

Depends on draw length mine come out to 512 with a 100 grain head


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[NonTypical]

20 minutes ago, Chef said:

Depends on draw length mine come out to 512 with a 100 grain head


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It was early and I meant to state for an arrow cut to 28.75” and a 300 spine.  

Edited July 31, 2021 by NonTypical

[Trial153]

I like number 2 and 3 for moose. My sample size is fairly small having only killed three. All with TAW set ups about 500 grains with fixed blade heads.

Stay in that wheelhouse and you can’t go far wrong