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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: Wudstix on June 04, 2020, 01:03:52 PM

Title: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 04, 2020, 01:03:52 PM
Any experience with Red Balau shafting?
:coffee: :campfire:
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 04, 2020, 07:51:12 PM
Calculating with a 29" arrow I'll get @880 grains.  12.5-13.5 gpp depending on which longbow.  OMG!
:o
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: beemann on June 04, 2020, 10:51:12 PM
There is a member on here from Australia that has experience with them.  A. Lex is his user name I believe.  He shared some info about the shafts years ago.  Hopefully he chimes in.
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 04, 2020, 11:04:53 PM
Yes, we talked a bit, believe he shoots 105# barrel tapered shafts.  I'll try 90 or 100# spine tapered at 600 grains for just the shaft.  That should work.
:campfire:
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: A Lex on June 05, 2020, 02:51:26 AM
Lots  :biglaugh:

I really really like them, used them hard since 2012 and they have taken any and all punishment I can dish out to them. I shoot a lot, and I have found arrow shaft failures with Red Balau are very rare indeed. Taken things from Rabbits to Water Buffalo with them.

I get mine from Kevin Forrester Wood Shafts

880 grains all up arrow weight on one current set, and a fuzz under 1100 grains on my heavy set for my 75lb longbow, and around 865 grains all up arrow weight for my 65lb longbow.

Can take a little persuasion to get really straight should the odd shaft need it, but once straight, they seldom need tweaking much.

Darn good tough heavy shafts.

Like I said, I love them.

Best
Lex
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 05, 2020, 09:22:13 AM
Encouraging news.
:coffee: :campfire:
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Sam McMichael on June 05, 2020, 04:22:20 PM
Might be cheaper just to buy old telephone poles. Those are some heavy arrows, so I guess penetration is phenomenal. What is the largest game you hunt with them?
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 05, 2020, 04:29:35 PM
200#+ boar.  But trick is to get shafts spined heavy enough.  Heavy bows with heavy 3 blade heads.  Have always had total pass through even when shooting 630-700 grain arrows and 160 grain heads so this will not be a surprise.
:coffee: :campfire:
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: A Lex on June 05, 2020, 06:31:01 PM
Some may wonder about the trajectory of these heavy Red Balau wood arrows (actually were jokingly refered to as "telegraph poles" at a shoot I went to once Sam), but in my experience I've certainly never found trajectory to be an issue.

Even when everything is in my favor, I still like to limit my shots on game to a maximum of about 25m, but I way prefer getting in to halitosis range anyway, so trajectory doesn't seem to matter much then  :biglaugh:

These heavy arrows do seem to shoot fine for me out to 30-35m when bashing pine cones or a tennis ball around the paddock though.

I've never been remotely worried about the FOC of these heavies either. Just try for as perfect tuning as possible, and work hard on putting a good properly sharp broadhead in the right place, and I know penetration will certainly be more than just adequate  :goldtooth:

All my arrow set-ups are 29" VON to BOP. Running 105-110# shafts with 235 grains up the sharp end for the 75lb, and 85-90# shafts with 190 grains on the front for my 65lb.

Bows sure are quiet too.

Best
Lex
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 05, 2020, 06:45:52 PM
Thanks my arrow length sounds similar and I'll be pushing 190 grain VPA or Grizzly Instinct heads.
:campfire:
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 08, 2020, 10:18:54 PM
Gonna get to try out some Leopard wood and Mahogany.  Heavy spined arrows.  That will give me a reference for what spine I need.
:coffee: :campfire:
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Tajue17 on June 13, 2020, 09:59:46 AM
I was just shooting some yesterday,,  great arrows not sure the grain weight right now but they are heavy and to me fly like ash arrows...
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 13, 2020, 10:16:55 AM
In my experience they are about 100 grains heavier than Ash.  Hope to test my batch today.  It was a hot day in the sun pulling Theme Park security yesterday.  Plus, the honey do's that await today.
:coffee: :campfire: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Experience with Red Balau shafts ?
Post by: Wudstix on June 14, 2020, 08:06:24 PM
Initial testing is inconclusive.  Shafts tend towards stiff but that could be as much operator error as anything.  I'll fiddle more in a day or two to see what is happening.
:coffee: :campfire: :thumbsup: