Weight or FOC

[Arraflinger]

[pdk25]

Agree with Richie.  Have you bareshafted any of your setups?  Everyone has a different bow, release, etc..., but I feel that I have a someone rough release and I shoot 300 spined axis arrows that are 30 3/4" long with 300 grains ups front out of an RER recurve that is cut 3/16 past center, drawing a little over 63# at a little over 29".  They fly like darts.  You know yor setp better than me, but it looks like you are pulling around 55# on a longbow that isn't cut as far past center.  I would think that you can get away with a little more weight up front.  Good luck

[Rob DiStefano]

for me, hunting broadhead arrows have features that work like this ...

1.  a small diameter, durable carbon arrow that's tuned to fly very well (out of one specific stick bow).

2.  a very sharp c-o-c broadhead that's close to 3:1 blade(s) ratio.

3a. an arrow with enuf mass gpp so that it stores energy well and  as quiet.

3b. along with the gpp, design the arrow's build so that the maximum amount of the mass weight is directed at the shaft's business end - i find this helps arrow flight and reduces the emphasis on shaft spine.
 
i like doc ashby's credo of a 'penetration-maximized' hunting arrow.

[xtrema312]

Thanks for that info Richie.  That was kind of what I was looking to find out.  It sounds looks like 525-600 gr. weight and FOC of 17-19 is all about the same for the intended use.

I am considering looking at some more FOC if possible.  I may cut down 1/2" and foot some 400 shafts to stiffen them, and then I will add more point weight.  That could be a good way to go, but I kind of want to keep all arrows as close as possible to the same length and I don't know that I want to foot hunting arrows unless I go internal.    

I have a good nunmber of heads 150 and under so unless I need to shoot something a lot bigger than deer I think I will keep with them and the 100 brass inserts for now.  That kind of limits me from just cutting down heavier spine shafts and loading more.

I have not tested these arrow designs.  That is next after I settle on a direction.  These numbers are based on Stu's calculator using base line known dynamic spines for these bows.  They do appears stiff, but I have run the point weights way up and tuned back down.  My base line dynamic spine is a couple # more than Stu's calculator says.  All my bows are cut to or a little past center with thin side plates.  They all shoot as hard or harder than the recurves I have had.  They all are quiet bows with 8 strand strings and minimal silencers.  These numbers in other arrows produce very straight flying bare shafts at long distance and into the group.  I shoot bullet holes in paper with them, and my arrow flight looks flawless.  25 gr. more point weight and I am for sure getting weak bare shaft flight.  I will probably go a hair lighter on spine than this and work with BH's to fine tune, but these should be in the ball park at least for general planning.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by xtrema312:
...

I am considering looking at some more FOC if possible.  I may cut down 1/2" and foot some 400 shafts to stiffen them, and then I will add more point weight.  That could be a good way to go, but I kind of want to keep all arrows as close as possible to the same length and I don't know that I want to foot hunting arrows unless I go internal.    

...

don't cut down - foot and/or add weight as is first.

[joevan125]

Great information guys and for someone thats new to trad archery this has helped me out a lot.

[tawmio]

I had to add this link to this discussion.

http://www.alaskabowhunting.com/Three-Darts-W13.aspx

Tommy

[Night Wing]

I shoot relatively light bows with long 32" (BOP) aluminum arrows. I have two 66" Blacktail TD recurve bows: 37# @ 30" and 42# @ 30". Both bows are have Dyna97 bowstrings and are cut 3/16" past center. They both shoot a variety of differently spined arrows with different point weights, but I finally settled on these two for both flat trajectory and penetration.

For the 37# @ 30": Easton 32", Eclipse 2212X7, 180 grain tip weight, 524 grain, 14.16 gpp, 17.1 FOC, 156 fps.

For the 42# @ 30": Easton 32", Camo Hunter 2213 XX75, 180 grain tip weight, 555 grain, 13.21 gpp,  16.2 FOC, 161 fps.

I'm going out later today to test a new arrow for my longbow.

[xtrema312]

Originally posted by tawmio:
I had to add this link to this discussion.

 http://www.alaskabowhunting.com/Three-Darts-W13.aspx  

Tommy

I did a lot of dart throwing in the old days.  That sure makes a lot of sense to me to a point.  Now if only I could launch an arrow from the front of the shaft and not the back.  I could put 400 gr. up front of a 600 spine shaft 31" long.  That would be great.

[Bruce Martin]

Agree with most of what's been said already: weight, FOC and excellent arrow flight is the desired combination. I am kind of cheap so I still look at 125 grain cut on contact broadheads that are purchased 6 to a pack for 25 bucks or so. These work great as long as they fly correctly. So, my field points are also 125 grain. Before cutting carbon arrows at all, I place the weight onto the front considering I want at least 10 gpp overall weight (I actually have over 11 now). For instance I have 125 gr point, 75 grain adapter, and 50 grain brass insert on a 35/55 gold tip traditional. Total arrow weight is 509.85 grains. Shooting 45 lb at 28 inches, so gpp is 11.33. This was achieved by cutting down gradually the bare shaft to get perfect bare shaft flight. Left an arrow 29.25 inches back of point, and balance point at 7.5 inches when fletched with 3 4 inch shield feathers. Using Rob's excel file calculator for ease gives me 24.36 FOC. That is a great setup for a 45 lb recurve I believe. If my broadheads are razor sharp (they are) it will shoot through anything I meet in the SC woods including most hogs.