Do large, fixed blades on a BH create drag (v. FP's)?

If they do....would it be unusual for your BH tipped arrows to impact lower than your FP tipped arrows at extended ydg's?

Does the length of the BH tipped arrow (v. FP tipped) have any effects on arrow flight?  If so...what would it be?

Thanks.

Drag is directly proportional to surface area. The larger the surface area of the head, the greater the amount of friction (drag) that is experienced. So yes, BH's will have more drag than FP's. That said, I highly doubt you would notice a difference even at extended yardage. Arrow tuning and mass are FAR greater factors in calculating trajectory.

I started by bare shaft tuning.  That got me close.

I then moved to about a 10' paper tuning session.  That got me dead-on....or so I think....or thought.

I'm getting perfect arrow flight with FP's and BH's....BUT...I'd be lying if I said they were impacting dead-on at 25-40yds.  My BH's are hitting just under my FP's.  

I was wondering if there were reasons "why"?  Can I attribute this to additioanl drag created by the blades of the BH (v. FP's)?

Does the length of the BH (v. FP's) affect arrow flight in this manner (can it)?

If gap shooting or referencing the shaft end in anyway Broadheads might be altering your sight picture. With them generally being longer this will cause you to hold slightly lower. It's not a drag factor but a visual difference.  

This is similar to having light shine on a front sight of a firearm. It can alter point of impact by making the edges of the sight look different

My point-on distance is shorter with broadheads, because the longer head causes me to hold the bow a tad lower. I don't think there's any real trajectory difference.

So....if there's no trajectory difference....are we to assume that the feathers create drag (thereby slowing down the arrow).....and the BH blades DON'T create more drag (which whould slow down the arrow) than FP's?

Just asking.  Do the blades on a large, fixed blade head create drag?  If so....at what distance would it become discernable?

Let's assume 170fps.

I think there would be a distinct difference at 146.532 yards.

...does that mean that my abowyer whitetails at .072 thick have twice the drag of my magnus I at .035 thick ? ...or would it be squared? ....single bevel vs double?

I suspect that the drag of the feathers overshadows any difference between point styles. I always figured a cutting-tip broadhead would have less drag than a field point, because of the sharp tip and gradual taper. It's all about disrupting air flow.

Anybody ever bare shafted a BH?

I'm thinking they (BH's) create drag.  If it isn't up to the level of a legitimate question for you guys.....I apologize.

George    

Jeff,

I know you are new to trad....and you've been around here asking questions for a few months....and that's great, as you've asked a lot of good questions that needed answers for a converter.  That's how we learn.

However,.....

The season is approaching, and its time to loose the field points and start shooting the Bheads exclusively. Its time to take what you have learned and put on your game face.

Every hear the expression...'Pickin flies outta poop'?

I think you are now over analyzing to the point  you are now pulling the wings off of the flies that are on the poop.

This is not a slam, but a reality check I'm giving ya...so please don't take offense.

Take a deep breath and slow down....Concentrate on your shooting and start scouting.

Best of luck to ya during your 1st season as a Trad Bowhunter.

   

I don't take that as anything but corrective criticism, Terry.  It's appreciated.

I'm an analytical SOB, though....and when something's occuring....I'm just one that needs to know "why".

I've bare shaft tuned.  And, with the aid of pebowbwnder, I paper tuned.  I've never been more confident in a setup.....compound or trad.

But...at distances beyond 25yds....the BH's are hitting a little lower than my FP's.  They just are.  I wanted to know "why".  I've been shooting BH's for several weeks, now....and you're right....it's time to simply lose the FP's.

I'll punt.  Good luck to all of you.  We open next Sat.

No worries Jeff....

BTW..be VERY carefull if you decide to Bare Shaft Bheads....                

And if they are flying fine, I sure wouldn't fool with anything this close to the opener but shootin and scouting.


Best of luck to ya Saturday and beyond.  

Oh I know better than that....lol.  I was trying to make a point (why you DON'T bare shaft BH's).

Thanks, again.

Terry's right, as a Detective I am often put in line by a statement my Crime Scene Investigator makes when I try to analyze the obvious. "Over analysis leads to paralysis"

Glad you are confident in your set-up amd best of luck. Oh yea if this phenomena occurs at greater than 25 yards just shoot em at 10

If your broadheads are flying great then shoot'em!!!
Good Luck and post pics...          

I think the BH's having 'more drag' are causing the elevation difference. You don't tell us how many inches "just under" really is.

Jeff, if you can download a copy of Easton's Tuning Guide and look at Fig. 20, it shows that one should  lower  their nocking point, if the broadheads are grouping below the field points.

If you have a brass nock set, you can open it slightly, then "screw" it up or down to make very small changes in nock set position. We're talking 1/32" change at a time here.

If the BH's are landing an inch or so lower at say 20 - 25 yards, I'd say STOP, listen to what others have said, and focus on what else needs to be done to have a successful hunt. You can always resume that fine-tuning quest after season's end, whilst shooting on a full belly of venison & Merlot    

Well.....honestly they're impacting 3-4" low at 26yds (where my BH target is from my shooting platform).  I have NO issues with lowering the nocking point....but I'll ask this.....

When I paper tuned (from 8-9') with FP's....we micro-tuned the nocking point.  I'm getting perfect tears from that distance.

Would you still attempt to lower it....knowing it would go against your paper tuning findings?

I appreciate this....honestly (the corrective criticism).

Thanks.

"Would you still attempt to lower it
....knowing it would go against your paper tuning findings?

Yes.

Paper-tuning is not a final absolute answer, especially at only 10 feet.

"...knowing it would go against your paper tuning findings", er, you may want to test that conclusion before arriving at it