Kinetic energy for buffalo?

[Wyosongdog]

What are the guidelines for kinetic energy needed for a dagga boy? I’ve read 80# 700 grain arrow. Then read 70# 600 grain arrows just a wide spectrum. COC iron will broadhead.
Thanks

 

[Rafiki]

I use 5860#, 570gr bullet

 

[Mwag]

The heaviest draw and heaviest & toughest arrow/broadhead that you can shoot well. Sometimes the buff go down quickly and sometimes they don't. The ones that don't will amaze you how tough and how far they can go

 

[1dirthawker]

i would contact your PH and get a definitive answer. i suspect tho, a 70# or heavier bow with a 800gr (or heavier) arrow would kill any buffalo that ever lived, if shot well and broadside.

as noted above, bigger tends to be better.

 

[Thomasrey]

What are the guidelines for kinetic energy needed for a dagga boy? I’ve read 80# 700 grain arrow. Then read 70# 600 grain arrows just a wide spectrum. COC iron will broadhead.
Thanks

You need to look at momentum instead of KE.
The KE will slightly increase when adding mass to the arrow.
The momentum will significant increase when adding mass to the arrow.

The 2 arrows below were my PG and cape buffalo set up:
582gr arrow - KE:99.77 - M: 0.718
909gr arrow - KE: 102.99 - M: 0.915

As you can see there is only a 3.1% increase in KE with a added mass of 327gr.
The momentum increased by 21.5%.

I would strongly suggest to get an arrow above 800gr with a single bevel BH. Try to use a light GPI Shaft like the Victory RIP TKO / HLR - Easton 5.0 in 200 spine and load the front of the arrow as much as you can to reach your >800gr arrow.

Best of luck for your cape buffalo hunt.

 

[Altitude sickness]

^^^^ 100% agree. Slugs of momentum numbers are what to focus on. You won’t be shooting long distance at dangerous game so under 30 yards the arc of the heavy arrow isn’t a factor.

I also like to shoot a much stiffer spine than the charts call for. Watch an arrow in slow motion and see all the flexing as soon as it leaves the Bow. it’s best if there is very little or no flexing.

Arrows no longer need to flex around the riser ( archers paradox) cross bow bolts don’t flex, are much shorter but somehow fly just fine.

Or at least ensure that your arrow is not flexing at 20 yards or further because that flexing steals a huge amount of energy. An arrow putting all of its weight exactly behind the broad head penetrates far better than one that has a nock flexed out away from centerline at time of impact penetrates less.

Groups are fine, but you can group your arrows perfectly and still have them flying and hitting at an angle to the target or not flying perfectly straight.

 

[fourfive8]

Kinetic energy is wrong parameter…. for either arrow or bullet, especially for large DG. How kinetic energy ever got started for rating the effectiveness potential of an arrow on game I’ll never know. Momentum is the parameter for comparison for arrows that makes sense. May have to do with delusional bragging rights based on arrow velocity, “my bow shoots faster than your bow…”

 

[HTK Safaris]

You need to look at momentum instead of KE.
The KE will slightly increase when adding mass to the arrow.
The momentum will significant increase when adding mass to the arrow.

The 2 arrows below were my PG and cape buffalo set up:
582gr arrow - KE:99.77 - M: 0.718
909gr arrow - KE: 102.99 - M: 0.915

As you can see there is only a 3.1% increase in KE with a added mass of 327gr.
The momentum increased by 21.5%.

I would strongly suggest to get an arrow above 800gr with a single bevel BH. Try to use a light GPI Shaft like the Victory RIP TKO / HLR - Easton 5.0 in 200 spine and load the front of the arrow as much as you can to reach your >800gr arrow.

Best of luck for your cape buffalo hunt.

@Wyosongdog @Thomasrey described it pretty well! Also as an outfitter/ph this side the heaviest bow you can shoot best is always good. I can tell you to do 80lbs but if you are only capable of 75lbs that will work. Shot placement is much more important than your setup.

 

[TOBY458]

Bow draw weight can’t always be relied upon as a means of figuring lethality. Some brands and models of 65# bows will shoot faster than other brands and models of 80# bows. Also draw length plays a major role. A guy with a 31” draw length will shoot much faster speeds than a guy with a 27” draw length in the same exact bow and poundage.