I went with aluminum inserts and 300 grain heads. When cut to 20 inches several different bots liked this combo. Gets me around 600 grains total. My xforce pile-driver 390 loves them
I would love to see you try out a really heavy bolt. Sirius 11.6 trying out the heavy ranch fairy kit. Weights between about 590-690 grains. That’s a bone smasher where you aim for the shoulder and let it rip. Easy tracking if the animal can barely walk after.
I've watched this now for a second time Matt, and I'm leaning towards trying these Phoenix bolts. My new Wicked Ridge M-370 is rated at 370 FPS but the best I've been able to get with 435 grain arrow setups has been 354! And surprisingly less when I shoot a 125 head. So I'm just not sure about the upgrade for this season, but it's on my bucket list for next FALL. Great job on this video.
@@chasbrady2544 I purchased six of them, so I'll measure them to see how they compare with my previous bolts. I'm going to be testing both 125 gr and 150 heads so I'll run them through the chronograph and see what FPS I get. But I'm sure they'll be very effective with deer.
Heavy option, 90 - 110 And I just weighed the arrows with 125 gr tips 479 and with 150 gr tips 508, both without a lighted nock yet so that number will increase@@chasbrady2544
Sorry if this question has already been answered. what comes first? Knock tuning or point weight tuning? I fully understand the concept of both. I come from a trad background where I tinker with arrow length and front end weight (inserts+point weights) to bare shaft tune to get proper flight. I’m a heavy arrow/high foc proponent. Crossbows are new to me. I appreciate all the info you have provided!
I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer to this...but I always nock tune first. Once I get a paper tear I like from one of the 3 nock positions, I then add weight until the tear gets worse. That then gives me the weight or bracket of weights a particular shaft will shoot well out of a particular bow.
Waiting on my phoenix bolts to arrive. I went with 21" and 90 grains up front to hopefully get more broadhead flying well. We'll see how it shoots out of an old Excalibur.
You've convinced me Matt! My order is in with Sirius for these bolts! Plan to shoot them this season with 125 grain RAGE, but also have some SEVR 150's on order as well. Might even try and see how it shoots with 175 Tooth of the Arrow! Are you using the Chinese Universal lighted nocks on this setup?
I use the stock 20" Barnett Headhunters with 150gr Annihilator XL's. Total weight is 475gr and I love the move away from 100gr broadheads. Not the 500gr+ range but still loving it.
I just got my new Killer Instinct Vital X 430. My first crossbow. I have shot thunderhead 125 brad heads from my compound bow for years. They also make a 150. I am looking for a bolt/brad head weight around 500 or so. Any suggestions I am new to this game. These arrows don't seem available you show here.
If you replace the insert in your Killer Instinct HYPR arrows (which are good arrows by the way) with a 110 grain insert, shoot a 150 grain point, you'll be right around 485. Add a lighted nock and you're at 500. I did this exact build in this video: th-cam.com/video/TIHW_f0EgkQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nSFJ9TMUlncMdN6h
The only problem I see with a hvy front end, is you would have to have a scope that you can adjust EACH crosshair, because the farther out you are the more it'll drop
I know this is a year old video but I just found it and had a few questions. I nock tuned my Black Eagle executioners from Wyvern creations. They are 420ish grains with a 100 grain head. I found three that are really close and one that is a bullet hole. How we, none of them want to group together with a 100 grain swhacker practice head. They are identical to the real heads. They just don’t open on impact. Would the extra weight bring the group closer together???
Extra weight may. Doesn’t hurt to try. Swhackers are a long head, CG of that head is further out than CG of a field point, that could also be the problem. Also spin test your broadheads/practice broadhead and make sure they are straight.
Building my bolts over the next month or so. I'm shooting Bear X TrueX bolts with 110 grain brass inserts. Any concern for impact damage (ie splitting the carbon) with these high velocity, high FOC heavy bolts? I saw some companies make sleeves/outserts. Ever considered using those or has it not been an issue for you?
Excellent question, the short answer is yes. If everything is exactly the same and the only difference is one shaft is 20” and the other is 22”, the 22” should control a broadhead better as it gives the fletchings a longer lever arm to correct the broadhead.
@@draggindeeroutdoors ok excellent, my Tenpoint recommends 22 inch arrows, I went with 20 inch 400gr arrows and shooting 125gr ironwills and they are hitting a foot lower then field points, you think the 2 inch will help with that ?
Have you tried removing the domed aluminum nocks on the swat xp arrows? I’m trying to help my friend put in heavier inserts. I can’t get the nocks out to knock the insert out.
I shoot a Wicked Ridge/TenPoint bow that requires a proprietary nock. Can I get these without a nock? I can buy the nocks and inserts from TenPoint and use/build the bolts myself.
Hey Kelvin. The Sirius Phoenix come standard with 110 gr. SS inserts. If you want just inserts, Ethics Archery makes SS ones. Or, you can find 110 gr brass inserts on Amazon. I’ve used both, both work great! Hope that helps 👍
I bought 6 Sirius Phoenix arrows fully assembled for $110 shipped...For 3 of the Ten Point center punch arrows that my crossbow manufacturer recommends are 109.99 at cabelas. The sirius arrows arr far superior and HALF the price
I need advice this will be my 1st year hog hunting with a crossbow. My bolt is 548 gr. 26 foc. Broadheads grizzly samari 200gr overkill. Speed is appropriately 260ish. My last boar weight was 225 on the scales shot with rifle at feeder. The question I have is do I need this heavy bolt/foc to get pass thru on hogs? Will 500gr do the job and give me a little more speed? Does it matter under 30 yards?
@@draggindeeroutdoors thanks mate. Ive got a Ranch Fairy 200 grain 3 blade from Sirius enroute as we speak! So glad I haven’t fecked that up lol. Wasn’t sure if it was a balance thing of having the weight creep back from the tip. Cheers!
Great info! Any chance you've shot, or know those who have shot those exact bolts thru a raven crossbow? I do not know the model and that may matter, but in general. As I am recommending this to a friend just getting into bow hunting. Went thru all the ranch fairy set up stuff to him, and then found you with what Ranch fairy would call the "easy button" and for a beginner who doesn't necessarily want to put in the effort of bareshafting and all that, that's perfect! I hunt with a compound so my knowledge on the crossbow is super limited but I want to help him out! any info would be super helpful and I'd be very grateful.
I have not shot this bolt out of a Ravin. Shoot me an email, draggindeer@gmail.com and we can do some digging to see if these are compatible with your buddy's Ravin.
Okay guys…now what? I’ve got the Sirius Phoenix Bolts with the 110grain inserts with 200grain field points. I’m shooting a Wicked Ridge NXT 400 crossbow so I’m using the proprietary Ten Point Lighted Alpha Knocks. I knock tuned them and I’m absolutely shooting clock hands out to 45yards. Then I screw in the 200grain Cutthroat Broadheads and now I’m 3” left and 6” low with arrow #3… 3” left with arrow #2…and 3” right with arrow #1. How am I ever going to get them shooting straight?
This is a bit different setup than what I have experience with. But, there may be a few things that can help. To not make this a giant comment, shoot me an email at draggindeer@gmail.com. I have a few questions for ya and hopefully a few suggestions that may help!
I had the same issue shooting 200 grain VPAs in 20 inch Phoenix with 110 gr inserts from my Killer Instinct Speed 425. All six bolts with 200 grain field points were in a small 3 inch group at 20 yards. All on the odd fletch! Who needs to knock tune, right? Stretched the range out to 40 and I was good to go. Broadheads came in and i'm all over the place. I could see my arrows weeble-wobbling to the target in flight. I'm tuning down to 150 grain field points and broadheads and going from there.
I’m running 150gn RMS cutthroats. Is there an insert that doesn’t have a hard step between the broadhead and bolt or do we just have to live with it on our larger diameter crossbow shafts?
I don't know of an insert to help what you are describing, there may be one out there though. There are however broadheads with bigger ferrules to better match your bolts OD.
I started out with the Phoenix at 20 inches with 110 inserts and 200 grain field points and VPA single bevel. Fires from a Killer Instinct speed 425, it had me around 320 fps. All six field points landed in a good tight group. Broadheads went wonky with a lot of visible flex to the target. Got 6 more phoenix bolts in today and going to start by papering with 150 grain field tips and going from there. New bolts do not have components installed, so I can tune a bit more if needed. There's a lot more that goes into this than I first thought. By the way, how is everyone getting the target residue off their bolts and arrows without messing up the carbon shafts? I'm about to start using some sort of arrow lube so that should help.
20"? or 22". I'm shooting 22 inch Piledrivers. They are reasonably Priced. Built Well. Heavier beefy shaft. Long Vanes with good twist for Good Broadhead Control. 479 grains with a 100 grain Broadhead out of the box. Like 50 grains heavier than the manufacturers suggested Headhunter. I'm not into slow Crossbows. If, You want Straight. Go Aluminum. Your Heavy FOC isn't making any notable difference. There's is no notable KE change. You are slowing the bolt down into Slower Compound Speeds which will make ranging harder. Approach a string jump with a fast Bow. Not a slow lobber.
I went with aluminum inserts and 300 grain heads. When cut to 20 inches several different bots liked this combo. Gets me around 600 grains total. My xforce pile-driver 390 loves them
👌 very nice!
I would love to see you try out a really heavy bolt. Sirius 11.6 trying out the heavy ranch fairy kit. Weights between about 590-690 grains. That’s a bone smasher where you aim for the shoulder and let it rip. Easy tracking if the animal can barely walk after.
Great video. Great “out of the box” option to hit 500 (ish) grains.
Thanks, Les!
I've watched this now for a second time Matt, and I'm leaning towards trying these Phoenix bolts. My new Wicked Ridge M-370 is rated at 370 FPS but the best I've been able to get with 435 grain arrow setups has been 354! And surprisingly less when I shoot a 125 head. So I'm just not sure about the upgrade for this season, but it's on my bucket list for next FALL. Great job on this video.
Thanks, Ron! Phoenix arrows (or really anything from Sirius Archery) is top-notch, if you get some you won’t be disappointed 👍
I’m curious if the outside diameter of the bolts will limit what I’m able to shoot
@@chasbrady2544 I purchased six of them, so I'll measure them to see how they compare with my previous bolts. I'm going to be testing both 125 gr and 150 heads so I'll run them through the chronograph and see what FPS I get. But I'm sure they'll be very effective with deer.
Did you order their light option or their heavy option?
Heavy option, 90 - 110 And I just weighed the arrows with 125 gr tips 479 and with 150 gr tips 508, both without a lighted nock yet so that number will increase@@chasbrady2544
Sorry if this question has already been answered.
what comes first? Knock tuning or point weight tuning? I fully understand the concept of both. I come from a trad background where I tinker with arrow length and front end weight (inserts+point weights) to bare shaft tune to get proper flight. I’m a heavy arrow/high foc proponent.
Crossbows are new to me. I appreciate all the info you have provided!
I don't know if there is a right or wrong answer to this...but I always nock tune first. Once I get a paper tear I like from one of the 3 nock positions, I then add weight until the tear gets worse. That then gives me the weight or bracket of weights a particular shaft will shoot well out of a particular bow.
In my opinion I think the Black Eagle arrows are the best they win more tournaments than any other bolt made
I’d take these over Black Eagles, but to each their own 👍
Waiting on my phoenix bolts to arrive. I went with 21" and 90 grains up front to hopefully get more broadhead flying well. We'll see how it shoots out of an old Excalibur.
Awesome, let me know how they work!
You've convinced me Matt! My order is in with Sirius for these bolts! Plan to shoot them this season with 125 grain RAGE, but also have some SEVR 150's on order as well. Might even try and see how it shoots with 175 Tooth of the Arrow! Are you using the Chinese Universal lighted nocks on this setup?
Awesome, Ron! Yes I’ve been shooting the Amazon lighted nocks
I use the stock 20" Barnett Headhunters with 150gr Annihilator XL's. Total weight is 475gr and I love the move away from 100gr broadheads. Not the 500gr+ range but still loving it.
Good stuff, Brandon. If it works with your bow stick with it!! 👍
I just got my new Killer Instinct Vital X 430. My first crossbow. I have shot thunderhead 125 brad heads from my compound bow for years. They also make a 150. I am looking for a bolt/brad head weight around 500 or so. Any suggestions I am new to this game. These arrows don't seem available you show here.
If you replace the insert in your Killer Instinct HYPR arrows (which are good arrows by the way) with a 110 grain insert, shoot a 150 grain point, you'll be right around 485. Add a lighted nock and you're at 500. I did this exact build in this video:
th-cam.com/video/TIHW_f0EgkQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nSFJ9TMUlncMdN6h
@@draggindeeroutdoors Thank you. Finding a cost effective heavy bolt has not been easy.
I use the 200 grain cutthroat with the exact same bolt and its a champ
Excellent!
The only problem I see with a hvy front end, is you would have to have a scope that you can adjust EACH crosshair, because the farther out you are the more it'll drop
I know this is a year old video but I just found it and had a few questions. I nock tuned my Black Eagle executioners from Wyvern creations. They are 420ish grains with a 100 grain head. I found three that are really close and one that is a bullet hole. How we, none of them want to group together with a 100 grain swhacker practice head. They are identical to the real heads. They just don’t open on impact. Would the extra weight bring the group closer together???
Extra weight may. Doesn’t hurt to try. Swhackers are a long head, CG of that head is further out than CG of a field point, that could also be the problem. Also spin test your broadheads/practice broadhead and make sure they are straight.
Building my bolts over the next month or so. I'm shooting Bear X TrueX bolts with 110 grain brass inserts. Any concern for impact damage (ie splitting the carbon) with these high velocity, high FOC heavy bolts? I saw some companies make sleeves/outserts. Ever considered using those or has it not been an issue for you?
I’ve never had issues with impact damage. I would suspect those having impact damage probably damaged the end of their bolt removing the stock insert.
I am currently building my bolts for my Barnett Whitetail Pro STR and am curious what speed you are getting out of yours with a 500 grain bolt??
Getting between 350-355 FPS with a 500 grain arrow out of bows rated @ 405 FPS.
@@draggindeeroutdoorsThank you!!
Will 22 inch control a fixed head better then a 20 inch bolt?
Excellent question, the short answer is yes. If everything is exactly the same and the only difference is one shaft is 20” and the other is 22”, the 22” should control a broadhead better as it gives the fletchings a longer lever arm to correct the broadhead.
@@draggindeeroutdoors ok excellent, my Tenpoint recommends 22 inch arrows, I went with 20 inch 400gr arrows and shooting 125gr ironwills and they are hitting a foot lower then field points, you think the 2 inch will help with that ?
Have you tried removing the domed aluminum nocks on the swat xp arrows? I’m trying to help my friend put in heavier inserts. I can’t get the nocks out to knock the insert out.
Boiling water and a pair of pliers with some tape on the teeth (so you don’t etch the nock). It’s not easy but can be done.
@@draggindeeroutdoors yeah I got one out for him but it ate the nock up pretty good.
I shoot a Wicked Ridge/TenPoint bow that requires a proprietary nock. Can I get these without a nock? I can buy the nocks and inserts from TenPoint and use/build the bolts myself.
Where do you order your 110 gr inserts for crossbow bolts?
Hey Kelvin. The Sirius Phoenix come standard with 110 gr. SS inserts. If you want just inserts, Ethics Archery makes SS ones. Or, you can find 110 gr brass inserts on Amazon. I’ve used both, both work great! Hope that helps 👍
I bought 6 Sirius Phoenix arrows fully assembled for $110 shipped...For 3 of the Ten Point center punch arrows that my crossbow manufacturer recommends are 109.99 at cabelas. The sirius arrows arr far superior and HALF the price
Phoenix arrows are 🔥 you’ll love em!
I need advice this will be my 1st year hog hunting with a crossbow. My bolt is 548 gr. 26 foc. Broadheads grizzly samari 200gr overkill. Speed is appropriately 260ish. My last boar weight was 225 on the scales shot with rifle at feeder. The question I have is do I need this heavy bolt/foc to get pass thru on hogs? Will 500gr do the job and give me a little more speed? Does it matter under 30 yards?
You should shoot the heaviest setup possible that still shoots perfect through paper / achieves perfect bolt flight.
Have you ever tried 200 gr fixed on your crossbow?
Hey man.. what’s the difference between having the insert or just having a 200 grain broadhead to get your weight up to 500 grains? Cheers!
No difference, you’re achieving the same thing. Only downside to using a 200+ grain broadhead is a more limited broadhead selection.
@@draggindeeroutdoors thanks mate. Ive got a Ranch Fairy 200 grain 3 blade from Sirius enroute as we speak! So glad I haven’t fecked that up lol. Wasn’t sure if it was a balance thing of having the weight creep back from the tip. Cheers!
Great info! Any chance you've shot, or know those who have shot those exact bolts thru a raven crossbow? I do not know the model and that may matter, but in general. As I am recommending this to a friend just getting into bow hunting. Went thru all the ranch fairy set up stuff to him, and then found you with what Ranch fairy would call the "easy button" and for a beginner who doesn't necessarily want to put in the effort of bareshafting and all that, that's perfect! I hunt with a compound so my knowledge on the crossbow is super limited but I want to help him out! any info would be super helpful and I'd be very grateful.
I have not shot this bolt out of a Ravin. Shoot me an email, draggindeer@gmail.com and we can do some digging to see if these are compatible with your buddy's Ravin.
@@draggindeeroutdoors Thanks! Email sent! Subject says bolt compatibility with Ravin
Could you share the outcome of this, as I shoot a Ravin R10 I'm curious. Thanks
@draggindeeroutdoors I have a R10 as well and I'm very curious if they will work
Okay guys…now what? I’ve got the Sirius Phoenix Bolts with the 110grain inserts with 200grain field points. I’m shooting a Wicked Ridge NXT 400 crossbow so I’m using the proprietary Ten Point Lighted Alpha Knocks.
I knock tuned them and I’m absolutely shooting clock hands out to 45yards.
Then I screw in the 200grain Cutthroat Broadheads and now I’m 3” left and 6” low with arrow #3… 3” left with arrow #2…and 3” right with arrow #1. How am I ever going to get them shooting straight?
This is a bit different setup than what I have experience with. But, there may be a few things that can help. To not make this a giant comment, shoot me an email at draggindeer@gmail.com. I have a few questions for ya and hopefully a few suggestions that may help!
I had the same issue shooting 200 grain VPAs in 20 inch Phoenix with 110 gr inserts from my Killer Instinct Speed 425.
All six bolts with 200 grain field points were in a small 3 inch group at 20 yards. All on the odd fletch! Who needs to knock tune, right?
Stretched the range out to 40 and I was good to go.
Broadheads came in and i'm all over the place. I could see my arrows weeble-wobbling to the target in flight.
I'm tuning down to 150 grain field points and broadheads and going from there.
How about 200 gn points
Try it!
Maybe I should have went with these instead of Black Eagle Executioners, only the 100gr point is shooting well. But 426gr at like 340fps isn't bad.
You certainly didn't make a poor choice, Black Eagle makes great stuff too! The Phoenix is my personal favorite though.
22in?
Yes, the weights described in the video are for the 22" Phoenix. You can however get them cut to whatever length you want from Sirius.
@@draggindeeroutdoors how much is the grain with a 20 inch bolt and 150 broadhead and 110 insert?
@@tyrant357. 20 grains less than what he said. They're 9.5 grains per inch
Thanks @Mike Guy. @Thai Lor, 512 grains.
I’m running 150gn RMS cutthroats. Is there an insert that doesn’t have a hard step between the broadhead and bolt or do we just have to live with it on our larger diameter crossbow shafts?
I don't know of an insert to help what you are describing, there may be one out there though. There are however broadheads with bigger ferrules to better match your bolts OD.
I started out with the Phoenix at 20 inches with 110 inserts and 200 grain field points and VPA single bevel. Fires from a Killer Instinct speed 425, it had me around 320 fps.
All six field points landed in a good tight group. Broadheads went wonky with a lot of visible flex to the target.
Got 6 more phoenix bolts in today and going to start by papering with 150 grain field tips and going from there. New bolts do not have components installed, so I can tune a bit more if needed.
There's a lot more that goes into this than I first thought.
By the way, how is everyone getting the target residue off their bolts and arrows without messing up the carbon shafts? I'm about to start using some sort of arrow lube so that should help.
Cheaper than 10 point bolts. Those are outrageously expensive.
The Phoenix are worth every penny!
20"? or 22". I'm shooting 22 inch Piledrivers. They are reasonably Priced. Built Well. Heavier beefy shaft. Long Vanes with good twist for Good Broadhead Control. 479 grains with a 100 grain Broadhead out of the box. Like 50 grains heavier than the manufacturers suggested Headhunter. I'm not into slow Crossbows. If, You want Straight. Go Aluminum. Your Heavy FOC isn't making any notable difference. There's is no notable KE change. You are slowing the bolt down into Slower Compound Speeds which will make ranging harder. Approach a string jump with a fast Bow. Not a slow lobber.
If you don’t think adding weight increases KE (and momentum)…take a peak at this video: th-cam.com/video/bNWO14LvWuA/w-d-xo.htmlsi=nL_CpPxzkA5pdgkq
I Shoot Bow Bullets. I don't have Time for Your Slow Nonsense. .@@draggindeeroutdoors