I'm looking at making my arrow weight heavier that what it is now at 390 grains, what is a good arrow weight to be using. And i am shooting 70lbs at 28 inch draw it that helps at all.
Arrow weight
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Againstthewind
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https://www.avidarchers.com/arrow_weight_charts.htm
From the chart you are well above the minimum recommended. I sounds like heavier arrows will drop your speed and not have as flat a trajectory, but might have more Kinetic energy for penetration. I am not sure if just a different broadhead would have the same result but keep the trajectory and speed of the lighter arrow.
http://bowsite.com/bowsite/features/practical_bowhunter/penetration/ For the KE calcs. I guess you need the speed of the arrow, so you can compare that way. You can play with the calculator deal on this link, but if the heavier arrow drops your speed you end up with the same or less kinetic energy, but not as flat a trajectory, so no advantage. I am not really sure, just some stuff to look at. The arrow construction and stuff are some other things to look at it sounds like. It could be a good debate.
From the chart you are well above the minimum recommended. I sounds like heavier arrows will drop your speed and not have as flat a trajectory, but might have more Kinetic energy for penetration. I am not sure if just a different broadhead would have the same result but keep the trajectory and speed of the lighter arrow.
http://bowsite.com/bowsite/features/practical_bowhunter/penetration/ For the KE calcs. I guess you need the speed of the arrow, so you can compare that way. You can play with the calculator deal on this link, but if the heavier arrow drops your speed you end up with the same or less kinetic energy, but not as flat a trajectory, so no advantage. I am not really sure, just some stuff to look at. The arrow construction and stuff are some other things to look at it sounds like. It could be a good debate.
I'm shooting Beman ICS Hunter 300s. 65lb, 29.5" draw, 420 gr arrow. The latest Eastmans Bowhunter gave a recommendation that if shooting a fixed blade bd, you can shoot a stiffer spined (heavier) arrow. Shooting thru the conograph a few weeks ago my KE was 83.
OK right now i shoot the Easton axis 400. And i was thinking of trying to get a higher FOC by going to a stiffer spine 340 and either getting 125 grain broad head or adding two inserts up front?
Againstthewind
Very Active Member
Holy cow 83 ft-lbs? That is pretty good. I might be a little light on my arrows. Thanks for the topic. I might have to look at getting some stiffer spine jobbers myself. I prefer fixed blade, no good reason it just seems more sturdy to me. I figured my arrow to be (didn't have a scale, might go into the shop tomorrow) about 410 grains with 70# of pull and 31" draw length. I have never shot a chrono, though. Thanks
Might need to go .300 spine. I would say you are underspined with the 400 spine. I am shooting 72lbs and 27.5" draw and need to run a .300 spine arrow.
25contender
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- Mar 20, 2013
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I shoot a Mathews Z7, 70lbs, 28" draw and my arrow weighs in at around 475 grains. I shoot Easton pro hunter 340s 125 grain broadhead with blazer veins. I can post a video of me shooting them at 100 yds if you want. Truly a great arrow. Mark
tdcour
Veteran member
453 grains here with carbon express pile driver arrows cut to 27.5 inches at 70 pounds. 100 grain broadhead and 40 grain insert on the front... these things fly like darts! I'm shooting almost 290 fps and won't be changing my setup for elk this year
OK i just don't want to get to heavy of an arrow and have to slow of of an arrow. As long as i"m within 280 and 300 feet a second i'll be happy.
25contender
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Thats a tough one for others to figure out. What bow are you shooting? Speed isn't everything. In fact I have a short draw length and my setup shoots right around 285 fps. I like that speed, instead of the pins being stacked one on top of the other my pins have a little spacing between them. I would rather have the right arrow/bow combo that shots great than a fast arrow/bow combo that doesn't shoot well at all. The best thing you can do is go to a archery shop and shoot a few different arrow field tip combinations.
Elkhunter96
Active Member
I have had a pass through on elk everytime I have hit one broadside with my set up, and I shoot just regular Gold tip arrows. I shoot a 340 grain arrow with 100 grain slick tricks out of a 332 fps bow with a 30 inch draw. Granted, my actual speed is somewhere in the 305-310 range. I know my arrows are not as near as heavy as some, but my experience shows that I dont need any more weight. Plus, I like having the exra speed to keep my arrows from dropping as much further out. I would rather have a flat shooting arrow and be accurate as I can be...
I wouldnt add too much weight that causes you to lose too much speed. Broadheads will affect your pentration just as much as adding weight in my humble opinion.
I wouldnt add too much weight that causes you to lose too much speed. Broadheads will affect your pentration just as much as adding weight in my humble opinion.
Drhorsepower
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25contender
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I would have to agree that it is a good idea to lean on the heavy side on the arrow weight. Realistically how far are you going to shoot at a Elk? I hunted many years like others here with a turtle of a bow. I sighted that bow in just like I do the one I shoot now. If you know your yardage and If your bow is sighted in properly shooting a slow bow is really no different than shooting a fast bow. I really don't get the whole "I want to get 10 more fps out of my bow." discussions. It really doesn't make that huge of a difference. Light arrows have their own set of issues especially on big animals.
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Realistically i don't plan on shooting much past 50 yards maybe 60 yards if everything is just right.
I am shooting a total weight of 440 grains with my Slick Trick 100 Magnum broad head. My brother is shooting a 370 grain weight arrow with same broad head. Last, year, he shot a big bull slightly quarterly away and got terrible penetration. Shoot seemed perfect, penetration terrible. I ended up shooting a big bull and got pass through penetration. His shot was 25 yards and my shot was 35 yards. I have no idea how fast my Mathews Swithcback is pushing the 440 grain areas. My brothers bow is new and smoking fast, but something went wrong, hit a rib maybe and he did not get adequate penetration. Year before last with my exact same setup, I got complete pass through on another big bull at 30 yards and hit a rib.
Based on my experiences with elk, I prefer a little heavier arrow.
WillPower
Based on my experiences with elk, I prefer a little heavier arrow.
WillPower
Don't worry about speed. I am around 270-280 with my rigs and that's with my 463 grain arrow. I could go heavier. Next year maybe I will bump up the foc a touch with a 125 head and put me at 490. All I care about is momentum and KE. Speed is the last thing to care about.