Cross bow bolts and broadheads?

[Benno]

Can anyone give me some info on what sort of bolts a mate of mine should be shooting on a 175lb crossbow? ie spine and weight ??
and what sort of broadheads he should be using? I was thinking of getting him some of woodys heavier outbacks, just to up the penetration a little as the bolts are light compared to arrows. any advice would be appreciated.

Ive got him hooked - he has had the crossbow for a while but he came out on his first camel hunt on the weekend. He didnt drop one but I think not much will be safe from him from now on - talk about keen!

[Ben Kleinig]

I'm not an expert, but I think you could use the stiffest, heaviest shaft available - Brian from Archery Mart could set you straight (Adelaide). As for broadheads, I think you can go as heavy as you like, and for penetration, the heavier the better. Because a bolt is so short, it's pretty stiff anyway, and putting really heavy tips up front shouldn't weaken it noticeably. The bloke who owns Excalibur Crossbow Company shot his bull elephant with double shafts, steel adaptors, and Magnus 2-blade broadheads.

[Ben Kleinig]

If he's using a 125 grain screw-in broadhead at present, he could gain 175 to 190 grains just by changing to a 125 grain adaptor with either a Tusker Aztec or a big Ribtek broadhead.

[woody]

I see a lot of crossbow bolts on Ebay in Easton 2219 alloys. If your mate used this size, he could put some 35/55 Gold Tips shafts inside them to up the arrow weight.

[LeighS]

Bolts are short so the heavier the head on them the better for FOC, which needs to be well forward to get good flight out of them. Think more 'dart' than arrow.

[mercyfulfate]

What sort of crossbow is it? What is the length of the rail? I'd try Gold Tip Laser 2's in it, they work very well for me. Specify the brass insert when you're buying them to keep it top heavy :) I'd shoot a 100grain tip to keep the speed up though.

[nev]

ive got an excaliber 175 # and the manefactura recomends nothing smaller than 350 grn shaft with 100grn head.

[mercyfulfate]

The Excal Phoenix? Should be fine with GT2's, brass inserts and 100gr tips.
How is the Phoenix anyway? I was thinking of getting one for the missus