Selfbow and 8 grains/pound?

[sgrogg]

My selfbow is 67# @ 28" and likes a 65-70 spined arrow.  The 65-70 arrows I shot today at 3-Rivers only weighed 550 grains. Is it OK to shoot a selfbow with an arrow that's only 8g/lb?  If not, what kind of shaft would get me up into the 10-12 gr/lb range?

Thanks   -Steve

[the Ferret]

It shouldn't "hurt" it, as that's not light enough to simulate a dry fire, but you won't be getting the most out of your bow either. It might be shockier to the hand, and noisier than it should be. A heavier arrow would absorb more of the energy available from the bow.

Try some hickory shafts or many of the other woods that come in heavier weights.Heck I would think it would be fairly easy to get cedar shafts that would make 650 grain arrows.

[mmgrode]

Take a look at laminated birch. Worked well for me.

[sgrogg]

If it quits raining I'm going to go out and try some of my Arrow Dynamics Trads.  They are 615g with a 250g field tip.  I know, I know....carbon arrows out of a selfbow just ain't "right".  What can I say?

[Dave2old]

I had no trouble finding PO cedar shafts weighing in excess of 400 raw and finished at 620. Maple is cheap, harder and heavier.