Since most shots on deer sized animals are close it really don't matter.A heavier arrow will retain more energy longer but most stickbow shoots don't take many long shots so does that really matter?I do feel if shooting a large broadhead a heavier arrow helps compensate for the extra drag of the bigger head or multiblades but since most that go for the heavy arrows tend to shoot skinnt little two blades it is just a waste of what could be used to get a flatter trajectory.Personall I like big blades so will shoot heavier arrows for that reason or to quiter a noisy bow.If a bow is quiet enough with lighter arrows and I am shooting a skinny two blade there is no way I want to shoot a heavy arrow for no good reason.jmo of course.  

i think TNstickn has got something with his comments, and his explanation also explains why the higher the FOC the better the penetration, the less weight to oscillate and the more energy transfer into the animal.

When you do try it on MEAT, Please "DONT" shoot the neighbors "DOG"... But anyway, Good Post !!

What kind of arrows?

Howdy Jeff,
I'm shooting CX's Heritage 90's at full length. They fly great with the 250 up front. Alittle stiff with 125's. I think CX arrows with the buff tuff finish is hard to beat in my opinion. I've shot these arrows into concrete slabs with no damage. Tough tough tough.......Anyways, thanks guys HH

Plywood is a wonderful thing.  If you do the same test using blunts, it is very likely the blunt will out penetrate the field point and the broadhead.

Maybe we should be using blunts on big game ?
ChuckC

X = down range = depth of peneration    

in several of the older  ( years back ) discussion it has been shown that a heavy arrow gets much more increase in peneration than a light arrow. Now speed ( light arrow ) will have a flat projection from the bow to the target. The heavy arrow will be more like a bell curve, the longer the target to the shot of the bow the higher will be the aim point.

Now what that means to me using carbon arrows at 530 gr, my poor ability  as a archer is I will keep the shot to under 20 yards...pick a spot

Bill

HH, DO THIS..

FASTEN THE PLYWOOD IN A WAY WHERE IT IS SOLID AND CANNOT MOVE

DO THE TEST AGAIN !

Fast arrows have an advantage when the target is fairly lightweight and moveable can be "pushed" back by the arrow.

Let us know

Jacob

I would like to see the results with about 6" of foam glued to the back of the board, for continued resistance after penetration.

Eric

Any test can be changed until it yeilds the desired results.

The only test that will ever answer the light/heavy/speed question for HUNTING penetration will come after a test medium is found that will replicate a living animals ribcage/lungs.

Until then, these "tests" are interesting but will never yield conclusive results.

Steve

I don't have any good foam or I'd had already tried this behind the board. I looked around prior to the test and didn't have any. What I'd like to do is shoot an animal with a rifle and then set it back up quickly and hit it with broadheads with different weights behind em. HOWEVER, I cannot do that at this point. I also have another set up that is a 650 grain arrow out of a 55lb long bow, strickly a 15 yard and under arrow. I shot this rig (different bow and arrow) into that same board from the same distance and it had very little penetration. However the shaft size is a bit larger which automatically makes for less penetration. BUT MY GOSH, that's a heavy set up out of a decent weight bow. I saw a kill picture once of a young woman who killed a medium sized pig with a 25 lbs recurve. She used a 650 grn arrow. SO, I think both are set ups are probably lethal "enough".....but I'd like to know which is "better" then the other..........tough call.

Thanks fellows and keep um coming.....HH

HH

FASTEN THE BOARD !

Whump Sez; beats me dude--I can shoot light arrows into styrofoam and heavy arrows into the same foam and the heavy will out penetrate the light arrows every time. Your acid test will be on game---if the light set up works for you I see no reason to over do it on weight. However weighter set ups are usually a lot quieter. Some things are stranger than fact but I can't see how a well tuned heavy set up is getting less penetration than a well tuned light set up, unless your heavy set up is not out of paradox when reaching the board.       Hunt safe.

Howdy Whump,
That makes sense if the arrow is still in paradox that it'd lose penetration. Thank bud!

J, I have had a wisdom tooth removed and won't be up to shooting for a day or two I imagine. BUT, when I get a chance I will fasten the board.

Hope you have a quick recovery HumbleHunter, Look foward to these test!

Here are some basic generalizations.

These are based on changing one thing at a time keeping everything else equal except for the one thing changed.

If you want to increase your penetrating capability.

In no specific order.

#1. Use a heavier arrow.
#2. Increase your arrow's speed.
#3. Choose a broadhead that has less blades and has near a 3 to 1 ratio (make sure it's very sharp).
#4. Increase your arrow's FOC.
#5. Choose an arrow with a smaller diameter.
#6. Utilize a broadhead that matches your helical or off-set of your feathers.
#7. Teflon coat your broadhead and arrow.

Those are just a few that come to mind.

And the easiest and most important aspect that an bowhunter can do to increase his arrow's penetrating potential...is to tune your equipment for as near perfect arrow flight as you are personally capable of doing.

Ray  

IMO it's about trajectory and arrow paradox on impact w/ this test.The arro w/ the most arch in his trajectory will have greater paradox at impact,causing more friction when striking a flat surface.Take a arro and push it from the knock into a hard surface at a horizonal.Then take the same arro and add some angle to that plane and the arro will flex easier in one direction.
With game being of different medium and not a flat surface,reducing deflection IMO is the key to heavier arros for penatration.Just my thinking.

makes sense guys, thank ya!

Thanks TNstickn, I appreciate it!