How heavy is to heavy when it comes to arrow weight? I'm shooting about 43 pounds right now and am wanting to try new set ups, I was thinking around 500 grains would be good but was curious as to what would be to heavy. Thanks guys!

Im shooting 48# at my draw and my hunting setup is 596.

I shoot from 65-90 and I have no arrow lighter than 1000 grains.  Some top 1700.  You're fine.

That set-up would put you at about 11.6 grains/pound. LOTS of successful set-ups in that range. I don't remember the exact number, but I was thinking that one of the Ashby reports said that you don't start having a diminishing return (in Kinetic Energy) until you hit around 12 or 13 GPP. I'm sure that someone more well versed in these studies (and physics in general) will come along and correct me where I'm wrong.

Hope that helps some, anyway.

I was looking at some heavy hunters and that'd put my weight around 675 and just seems like a lot, didn't know if the loss of velocity would be to much and hurt penetration. I love/hate this new arrow game lol

The 675 gn. arrows would put you at around 15.69 GPP. FWIW.

QuoteOriginally posted by Fattony77:
The 675 gn. arrows would put you at around 15.69 GPP. FWIW.

Yeah I thought it was insanely heavy and was going to stick around 11 gpp but it made me think how heavies to heavy. I'm looking at the carbon expresses as there at 10 gpi and seem like a good arrow. I've got a lot to learn in this trad thing, as always thanks guys

If they are starting to have a noticeable arc at 20 yards your probably too heavy. I try not to go over 12gpp

I've tested numerous sets to see where the break point in KE as well as Momentum lies.

There is a break point in every setup where the KE reaches a point of starting to decrease.

If I remember right, it's around the 13GPI

Even though momentum never stops gaining, it does reach a point of demenishing return. In other words the gain really isn't worth it.

That point is around 16GPI.

Interesting thread. I just got a scale from 3 rivers and measured my wood arrows they weighed in around 332 grains and with a 125 grain broadhead it puts me around 457 grains for a hunting arrow. My arrows are 30 inches. That puts me around 15.2 grains per inch I believe. I see that it is close to the point of diminishing return. This set up should be fine to hunt turkey and whitetails as long as shots are kept to 15-20 yards, I would appreciate any thoughts or feedback. I'm really interested in shooting wooden arrows this year and want to make sure my set up would be fine at these yard ages. Thanks

Shooting woodies, and do well with 10-12gpp. 10-11 preferred; don't like going over 12.

Shooting woodies, and do well with 10-12gpp. 10-11 preferred; don't like going over 12. These are with bows 40-48#'s.

My bows are 43 45# . Just wondering if my arrows at that weight would be detrimental to penetration? Really interested on feedback on this. Thanks in advance

Homey. .  don't confuse "grains per inch"  with "grains (of total arrow weight) per pound (of bow draw).  Your set up should work very well.

ChuckC

Thanks chuck greatly appreciated.

I'm shooting 46 lb at my draw and a 705 gr 30% foc arrow for 15.3 gr/lb. This combo works great for the way I shoot. It wouldn't work for someone who gaps and may not work well for someone shooting instinctive. But the arc matches my point at the spot method so I don't have to adjust or know the distance from 5 to 25 yards.

I think that anything over 12 grains per pound of bow weight is a bit much for hunting whitetails. I am not saying it will not work because it's too heavy to shoot well but rather that the heavier the arrow is the slower it is. Now I know and I stress speed doesn't kill but a heavy arrow also doesn't do any good if the deer is gone by the time the arrow gets there. I try to keep my arrows between 10 and 11 grains per pound because it helps keep my bows quiet, the arrows are plenty heavy, and I don't lose enough arrow speed from an approximately 600 grain arrow from my 55 and 60 pound hybrids to worry over. I see guys on here post set ups shooting a 700 grain arrow for a 50 lb or lighter bow and I am not knocking them, I just know that for where I hunt and how I hunt that set up probably wouldn't work to well. I want a pretty heavy arrow but not so heavy that it gives the deer more time to get out of the way.

I'm not sure about arrows but i know after this winter I'm feeling a little too heavy.

I look at it a little differently.  If my reading of Ashby is correct about 650gr is where you see reliable bone penetration.  I figure, except in a few dangerous game situations, is about as heavy as an arrow needs to be.

Arrow weight can also be influenced by bow design.  ELB and some Asian types don't get efficient till about 15gpp.  Only you know what is too much for your situation.