am i under-equipped?

S

Snowcrest 6

Guest
going after my first archery elk next year...question is, do i need to upgrade my bow?


i'm shooting a martin cheetah, 50# draw, using 234gr maximas with 100gr muzzys.




???




Thanks - B 
 
First of all, a lot of people have killed elk with 50lbs bows. That being said a lot comes into play with this setup you are talking about, from velocity total weight of arrow and energy. I would not shoot an elk with nothing less than 55 ftlbs of energy. Take it to a shop and have it chonographed get your arrow speed and go online to find a calculator that figures the energy,,,,,
 
50# is enough, but I am concerned with your arrow weight. I would shoot an arrow as close to 400 grains as possible. Read Dr. Ashby's report on front of center weight also. You should also shoot a cut on contact broadhead at that bow weight.
 
Plenty of elk killed with 50lbers, but as mentioned you should probably up your arrow weight, or adjust your shots taken accordingly.
 
At that weight I would recommend you to use a two blade broadhead like magnus stingers for better penetration.
 
Whew tough question,  50 will work however you need to consider your arrow weight,  speed etc..  Have you figured out you conetic energy?  Once you build your muscle memory you will proably want to upgrade to a 60-70,  just a thought & good luck
 
to be honest, i'd really like to be able to stay with this bow, and i'm having a hard time finding 60-70 limbs. 

but...if i upgrade into a piledriver 250, i should be right at about 44 fp of KE.
 
44 lbs KE is at the very bottom end for elk. Not much wiggle room for error if you hit a shoulder blade. If you "must" use this set up, then you MUST also know you limitations. Shooting distances should be reduced, nothing but broadside or angling away shots and a VERY sharp fixed head broadhead. No mechanical broadheads. And practice, practice, practice.


You may also want to check the regs in your state. Most will say minimum of 40# and 300 grain arrow if I remember correctly. But remember this is a minimum and not optimum.
 
Stingers (any two blade) will  help, but I would for sure add arrow weight too.  How old is your Cheetah?
 
You are fine with fifty pounds. Like the rest have said you need heavier arrows and a cut on contact broad heads. The only other advise I can give you is practice, practice and practice. Then when you think you are done. practice more. Shoot from your knees, standing, a little twisted etc. you need to be surgical with that bow. Also I would limit your range to 40 and under. These are all thingsyou have to do to help reduce the chances of you wounding and crippling an elk. Oh one more thing have fun!
 
It may be time to upgrade.  +1 on alot of what has already been mentioned.  You typically want to have as much KE as you can get out of your bow.  The higher draw weight (60-80) along with heavier arrows (400-450 gr) will get you closer to that 65-80 KE that you want to achieve for good penetration and bone cutting/pounding. 

Good Luck!
 
50# would work just fine. You may have to go with a little heavier arrow to keep your KE though. Here in WA we are required to have 6grns per poundage of your bow which I think is a little low for elk. For my bow I should shoot a 420 grn arrow but I shoot a 475 grn arrow. So with a 50# bow here in WA you would require a 300 grn arrow.


For you 50# bow I would probably go to at least a 350 grn arrow. Someone put a link to a tool on one of the posts on the forum that will tell you what you KE will be for the arrow you shoot out of your bow. Hopefully someone will post in here for you to use also :)
 
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