Kinetic Energy...Changing arrows??

[BassBow]

I am thinking about trying to build a heavier hunting arrow for my setup. Currently, I use Trad Only 500's with hundred grain tips, 360 grain total with 36.2 of KE according to Stu's calculator.

If I went to a 55/75 GT Trad @ 445gr. my KE would be 35.8?

My question is: My end goal is the KE right? If I have more KE with my setup now, why change? Will the heavier arrow penetration be similiar because the KE is the same? Thanks!

[ChuckC]

there are a lot of talks about this subject in days gone by.  I am pretty certain you can find several discussions with a search.  Look at momentum as well as KE.  Compounders like to talk KE.  There is more to the game.

Also. .  you are currently shooting arrows that weigh out at 7.2 gn/lb, which is pretty light.  450 gns would be much kinder to your bow, me thinks.  Probably quieter too.

ChuckC

[T Lail]

It was explained to me this way........light and fast versus slower and heavier.....ping pong ball,golf ball, same size differant weight....which hurts worst when thrown at you ????? I know ,very simple...lots left out, but....I all ways go with heavier arrow weight vs light arrow weight when it comes to trad bows and trad shot distances.....somebody chime in on this one ......

[Tav]

For kinetic energy the velocity is squared in the equation so the formula is skewed towards velocity.  For momentum the velocity is not squared so the mass plays more of a factor in that equation.

[Shawn Leonard]

Bassbow, you could get that Das to tune much better by just adding more point weight. I shoot .500s off most of my bows from 51-54#s and draw 28.5"s and shoot a 29.5" arrow BOP and use point weights from  175-225 grains and get perfect flight. Those 55/75s would be way to stiff. I agree you should shoot at least 8gpp. out of most bows. I shoot mostly right at or close to 9gpp. and have no problem with penetration. Just try adding another 75 grains of point weight to what you are shooting and you may be surprised. Shawn

[BassBow]

Thanks guys! Super helpful!!!

[Mitch H]

BassBow, it is my opinion that momentum is much more important than KE where hunting is concerned.

That said, while calculators are great, there is no substitute for a quality chronograph and grain scale.

To date, all of my testing, and I have done a LOT of it, has been with compound bows. I will get around to doing a bunch of testing with trad bows since that is all I shoot now, but I am already confident that the results will be the same.......

As long as the arrows of varying weights are tuned for your bow, heavier will ALWAYS yield more KE and momentum.

I have never found a single instance where a heavier yet slower arrow made less KE than a lighter/faster arrow.

[JimB]

http://www.africanarcher.com/momentumKENETICS.html
http://www.tuffhead.com/education/formulas_momentum.html