I've seen this tossed around as a minimum recommendation for arrows. Any other "rules of thumb" out there?
Heavy penetrates better than light.
Shoot what shoots best in your bow. Don't let rules of thumb rule your arrow selection. Having said that.
Heavier arrows make for a quieter shot.
I am shooting 10.5 gpp and find it a good compromise between speed and penetration.
I agree with Richie, personally I shoot about 9.5-10 gpp just cause that works really well out of my 60lb bows, as a general rule a well tuned heavier arrow does penetrate better. but I have never really liked a really heavy arrow, for me thats upper 600 and above.. but I am not huntin anything bigger than deer, bear, pigs etc...
I like to keep my arrows in the 9-11 gpp range,but don't like to shoot under 8 gpp..
Interesting info. How about point weight? Something like, "should be at least 200 grains total", or "doesn't matter as long as FOC is > xx percent".
Just looking for little words of wisdom that all bowhunters believe. :)
We could make something up :D
(Honestly, that's how most rules of thumb got started...)
How about "Point weight in grains = or > Draw weight in grains x 3"?
Huh... that actually kind of makes sense.
Nate
Point weight is relative to your spine, If you have good arrow flight, your arrow weight is where you think it should be,not a lot of noise.....leave it alone, your good, don't mess with it. Shoot and have fun!!
sharp point puncturing vitals = dead ;)
Point weight is totally dependant on your objective and the end result you want out of the arrow.
I think there are too many variable to have a rule of thumb.
As a rule I keep my thumb out of topics like this. H :jumper:
QuoteOriginally posted by jacobsladder:
sharp point puncturing vitals = dead ;)
I think this is the best so far. LOL
For grains per pound, just look at my signature. It tells what I prefer. Of course, I'm shooting light weight poundages and long BOP aluminum arrows.
Because my draw is on the short side (26") and my draw weights sort of light also (46-48 pounds) my arrows are are just a hair over 9 GPP. My arrows fly great with broadheads and field tips -- I've shot several broadheads from the same set-up: 2-BLade Magnus, 3-blade Montec, 2-Blade Bear RZHD, and even a Magnus Bullhead this week. I agree, with recurves (longbow too I guess but I have no LB experience) a heavy arrow is a good thing -- stable, quiet, and a penetrator. However, I'm not in a hurry to tinker with a set-up that hits where I'm looking -- when my mind doesn't wander, neither does my arrow.
to light of an arrow is bad for the bow...
Deadbolt, you sound like me. I may start with 10 but by the time I'm finished they seem to end up 12.
I'm gettin old and if they fly too fast, I can't watch'em. And if you can't enjoy watchin'em, well it's kinda like kissin your sister.
Quote...if they fly too fast, I can't watch'em.
Absolutley agree with that.
Quotewell it's kinda like kissin your sister.
As Dennis Miller said.."Unless you are little Jimmy Kournikova"
QuoteOriginally posted by Bowwild:
when my mind doesn't wander, neither does my arrow.
That should be in your signature! LOL
Beware the man with only one bow,,,,he probably knows how to use it.
You kiss your sister?.....
When someone has shot a dozen deer and and had complete penetration on three elk and pass throughs on two with a 52 pound @ 26" Schluz Legend using cedar arrows with 125 grain broadheads, a good rule of thumb is, don't tell him he has got it all wrong. Another one is don't offer him $200 for that 18 year old bow. I am not the one that told him he had it wrong, I am the one that offered $200 for the bow, either way I am lucky I did not lose any teeth.
QuoteJust looking for little words of wisdom that all bowhunters believe.
It's a very short list that
ALL believe.
Here it is:
1.
2.
Rules is hard
No matter what you do or how well you do it with what you use someone else will think there way is better.
That is the only truth I know about bowhunters. :D
As a rule of thumb I would not go under the 8 grains/lbs. Personally I think 8 grains will still be very light, possible shortening the life of your bow.
I would say somewhere between 9 and 10 grains/lbs would be a good compromis between speed and penetration.
I mostly aim at 9,5 grains/lbs. The outcome however is determined by bareshafting. During this proces you decide which point weights and shaftlenght gives you that perfect flight.
For my current setup I ended up with 9.4 grains/lbs and a FOC of 19%. My arrows fly with a speed of aprr. 190 fps.
Heavy doesn't always penetrate better....I found that lighter carbons out penetrate 100 grain heavier wood arrows years ago.
As stated earlier...too many variables to make a blanket statement.
I agree with Terry, but I have a terrible left shoulder and find that the heavier arrow allows me more shots while target shooting or stumping.
If I stick with 12gpp there seems to be an incredible difference.
The carbons that I still use from time to time are lighter than the woods and cane, but my shoulder takes a beating.
We just have to find what works best for us and run with it.
Do yourself & your Bow a favor and stay with the Heavier Arrow, your Bow will thank you for it ...
Best clarify....
I shoot 580 grain carbon arrows out of my 60-65# bows...and I don't consider that to be a 'light arrow'.......but they do penetrate better than the 680 grain compressed maples that I have.
So again, heavier doesn't always penetrate better.....that does not mean I was saying to shoot a 'light arrow'.