Despite the rise in popularity of crossbow hunting and an increase in the number of hunting crossbows available in the marketplace, a lot of confusion still exists about crossbow speeds, crossbow arrow weights, and how to choose the best crossbow arrow weight for hunting crossbows.. A reader recently submitted this GREAT question: âEvery crossbow has different draw weights/FPS ratings. draw weight compound (like the ones used during IBO tests) is not possible. This helps to kill your prey easily. At best, an extremely powerful bow (75lbs, 350IBO bow, 500gr arrow) will spit an arrow out with 100 ft/lbs of energy and a velocity of 300 feet per second. A midweight arrow weighs between 6.5 and 8 grains. Is that true? Hereâs a summary of the key factors before we dive into each below: Phew! +/- 10 pound change in draw weight ~ +/- 18 FPS +/- 3 grain change in arrow weight ~ +/- 1 FPS +/- 3 grain change in string weight ~ +/- 1 FPS; The Importance of Arrow Weight Estimation & Arrow Weight Build Your Arrow for Success. Wind drift is directly related to the total surface area of the arrow. Thereâs a term for that retained energy: momentum. However, no discussion on the perfect hunting arrow would be complete without mentioning this most important of arrow components. Manufacturers provide details about the arrowâs GPI on their website and product packaging.Using GPI calculations, a light shaft weighs This way you bend the arrow just enough to get plenty of range but not too much that it strays off course. The less turbulence you create on the front of the arrow, the less steering you need on the back of the arrow. While most people have heard of spine (aka how stiff your arrow is), they donât realize that spines can have wide tolerances even in the same batch of arrows! If an arrow hits outside the group consistently, rotate the nock to the next fletching and see if that brings it back into the group. Like straightness, most manufacturers have different weight tolerances that generally vary from +/-0.5gr to +/-2gr and are paired with straightness grades. My daughter shoots 32 lbs, 417 gr arrow and 26" draw. If it’s in your budget, start with at least a dozen brand new arrows. When it comes to draw weights for whitetail excessive weight is not necessary but the more weight you can shoot comfortably and accurately the better. Iâd argue that neither is necessarily better than the other and it totally depends on your setup. If you do practice out to 100 yards (which I often do, even though Iâd never shoot an animal that far) you will start to notice a big difference as trajectory really drops off. 2) Drawing weight also matters when it comes to bow hunting. range. Not surprisingly, Iâm not alone here: Easton recommends that range and so do big names like John Dudley/Aron Snyder (who have a great podcast on FOC here if you really want to go deep). Those inconsistencies can lead to inaccurate arrows and tuning headaches since youâre essentially trying to get two different arrows to act the same way. You can see fur marks if, Two weeks and weâre back in the presence of maje, For me, hunting is about being so deeply engaged w. Just a lady and her fly rod, somewhere in Wyoming. Youâll have to trust me on this one: Iâve put in the time testing different arrows and itâs pretty obvious which ones work well. draw compound bow, youâre in for a treat with this GPP 30â model. A 1 ⅛” two blade w/ bleeder is a great choice. bow, you should use and arrow of not less than 300 grains). Elk are very different animals than deer: theyâre far bigger, their hide and bones are tougher, and theyâre strong enough to go long distances when wounded. No matter how precise the components, youâll still have to mark + align outserts (by rotating them) before you glue them into the arrow. One way to overcome this is to quiet your bow but it turns out that arrows also make a lot of noise traveling through the air. The nock needs to be strong enough to withstand the force of a high poundage hunting bow (almost all currently available nocks available are strong enough). Arrows are made by wrapping carbon cloth around a metal mandrel like rolling a carpet around a pole. The game cam says itâs almost game time... just, 25 days. High Power. Number each arrow. Here's how to increase your effectiveness this fall. Lastly, assuming you shoot the same weight bow, when you shoot a slower arrow it will maintain more kinetic energy and momentum downrange than a lighter, faster arrow. Unfortunately most factory made arrows donât come with helical or offset so youâll have to pony up for a custom arrows or build your own set if you want those advantages. Most of this hinges off the research of Dr. Ed Ashby who used a traditional bow which typically uses extremely heavy arrows at short ranges. Here’s a simple question with a complex answer. The FOC (front of center) is simply a calculation of how far the the balance point of the arrow is away from the physical center of the completed arrow. and finally run arrows that have a minimum weight of 490 grains. A 10 grain difference is only good for about an inch or so at that range. Itâs well worth building your own arrows to get some helical twist but it wonât make or break your arrow. Just be sure to reset your pins and you should be good to go. The Axis SPT is a 5mm micro-diameter carbon shaft, meaning it delivers on two key ingredients needed for a high-performance hunting arrow. The Spine number in the intersecting cell is the required Spine for your set-up. For example, a bow listed at 40Lbs (28″). I believe a higher FOC makes the arrow penetrate better and group better. As we’ve said before, it takes much less fletching to spin a small diameter shaft than it does to spin a large diameter shaft. The smaller these turbulence-creating arrow accessories are, the quieter the arrow will be in flight. If an arrow goes too slow, it drops very quickly which can lead to less margin for error for range estimation. Another, maybe more familiar way to consider arrow weight is in grains per inch of shaft. In my opinion, there are several qualities needed in an elk hunting arrow. A small diameter carbon shaft has a surface area only half that of the larger diameter shafts. However, my setups have been getting slower and slower over the past 15 years (even though I’m shooting the same draw weight and shooting bows that are ever-more efficient). The Ranch Fairy takes a logical approach to Elk Arrows, because elk are MUCH BIGGER THAN DEER. Thatâs half the energy and ¼ the speed of a .22 rimfire cartridge, which is better known for killing for squirrels, not elk! When you are setting up archery equipment for elk, think accuracy and penetration⦠A 60-70 lbs. Adding another 50 grains of arrow weight boosts KE only slightly, but momentum increases by an additional 6%, while the velocity slows another 5% to 257 fps. 6 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight for bows in the 70-lb. So how do you know? At 40 yards, small diameter arrows lose much less of their initial speed than a larger diameter arrow. That thickness means durability and strength when you need it most, Less wind resistance also means less arrow drop over distance. Personally, I think this is to light for Elk. A calf is the same size as a whitetail. The higher the quality of your arrows, the fewer fliers you’ll have. bow and easily take down deer and maybe even elk if your draw length and the weight of arrows used are right for the job. Mass produced micro diameter arrows often ship with misaligned outserts. In all the testing I’ve seen, small diameter arrows penetrate better than larger diameter arrows of the same weight. Without a doubt, choosing the right arrow is the most difficult task in all of archery, and it’s ESPECIALLY difficult for beginners. The GPI number does not include the nock, insert, point or fletchings. Shaft: Easton Injexion 340, 28 inches long. You probably donât need it. Second, when shooting broadheads, my arrow groups tighten up measurably when I shoot arrows that are slightly “stiff” for my draw weight and draw length. draw length. With this drawing strength, the bow will pierce elkâs body and go deep into it. compound bow which has a recommended value of around 480 grains. If youâve got plenty of power (70lbs) itâs fine to be closer to 7 GPP. If possible try upping your arrow weight to a 125 grain broadhead if you're not already. Although bows are becoming more efficient and lower-poundage bows are capable of taking down big game, higher poundage will certainly help you on large game animals. 50-60lb draw weight, 27-29” draw, 315 to 330fps IBO; Avoid wider broadheads, many blades, or aggressive blade angles. I don't try to get to 5gr/lb, 350 just happens to be the weight of what I chose. Most hunters come from a firearms background where speed and kinetic energy are touted as the most important projectile measurements. Based on feedback I'm getting I'll probably stick with the lighter arrows this year since I'm familiar with them. I actually use a shooting machine to do this because it takes out the human error. Heavy arrows lose relatively less speed and energy at long ranges compared to light arrows (think high ballistic coefficients [âBCâs] in bullets). 2) Drawing weight also matters when it comes to bow hunting. I think the argument is moot – that is if you do as I said before and use a little common sense when choosing your arrow weight. A beginner will likely go for a 60 lbs. A lot of whitetail hunters are used to animals âjumping the stringâ and moving before an arrow has time to impact its intended target. If you follow that advice Iâm confident youâll end up with a phenomenal elk arrow. I’ve heard they are no longer available, is this correct? A common misconception is that you need a light arrow to shoot long distances. draw weight and accurately shooting 40 yards consistently. I hunt elk with 60 pounds plus of draw weight and I am 67 years old. at 29″. My arrow speed is approximately 280FPS. Yes and no, just donât let the thought of bringing down an elk with a stick and string psych you out! Try for 7-10 grains of arrow weight per pound of bow draw weight (GPP) For example, a 480 grain arrow divided by a 60 lb bow = 8 grains per pound. Don’t look at the numbers as you shoot the arrows. 415 grain arrow would help your setup out a little better for elk. Youâll notice a big difference between a standard and small diameter shaft but you wonât notice as much difference between a small and micro option. You might notice a small difference at 80-100 yards if youâre a phenomenal shot, but hopefully your just practicing at those ranges anyway. The less the fletchings weigh, the higher the FOC. It’s not nearly as important to shoot a fast arrow if you know the distance to the target. Proponents claim that FOC makes arrows more accurate and penetrate far better. And, most importantly, group your arrows to make sure they all shoot the same. So, you can use smaller fletching on small diameter shafts, further decreasing the arrow’s total surface area. Usually, the straighter the arrow, the more expensive it will be. So, 50 pounds of draw weight would need arrows that weight 250 to 300 grain for target shooting … Learn more here: Your email address will not be published. As a general rule 45 pounds is a good point to start. I fall in the middle: Itâs important, but not nearly as important as people make it out to be. I’ll list these characteristics and discuss them one by one and as you’ll see, many are interrelated. In summary, set up your archery equipment understanding that momentum is more important than speed. Otherwise youâll have a straight arrow shaft that still has a wobbly point! So, you have to balance broadhead control with these other factors. This is why heavy draw bows such as 60-70 lb. DDave Fletch: I use 4 fletch, 1.6 inch AAE Plastifletch Max (a very small, stiff fletching – I wouldn’t recommend fletching this small for any but the most streamline mechanicals). As draw weights decrease, so must the arrowâs stiffness. If the balance point is 3 inches in front of the center of the shaft on a 30-inch arrow, the FOC would be 10%. There are so many factors involved—straightness, spine, weight (and the idea of grains confuses the heck out of some people), the weight of the broadhead, and so on—it can be a lot to figure out. A big bull is the same size as a small moose. Speed is important to be able to reach out to the longer ranges, but arrow mass is essential to lethality and wind drift resistance. Letâs dive deep on the key factors that make a great elk arrow⦠donât say I didnât warn you! As draw weight increases, so should arrow rigidity (spine). So, use the smallest diameter arrows you can get away with. Itâs important to know that arrows of different grades are actually made the exact same way and with the exact same materials. Look at that photo! Also, don’t use broadheads that rattle in the quiver. It’s also important for your arrow to be quiet in flight, because elk will “jump the string” just like a whitetail deer (unfortunately, I know this from a lot of personal experience). There are so many factors that go into it. Thatâs hard since most manufacturers donât list a spine tolerance and spine testing machines cost hundreds of dollars. The hunt for elk is always a fun challenge. The best arrow for elk hunting have extremely strong components, so do your research. And for the same reason, use the smallest fletching and the smallest broadhead that will get the job done well. Those rods are then sorted by straightness and sold by grade. By switching from large diameter arrows to small diameter arrows with smaller fletching, you can cut your wind drift by more than half on longer shots. of reduction in draw weight, expect to lose around 15-20 FPS. Despite the rise in popularity of crossbow hunting and an increase in the number of hunting crossbows available in the marketplace, a lot of confusion still exists about crossbow speeds, crossbow arrow weights, and how to choose the best crossbow arrow weight for hunting crossbows.. A reader recently submitted this GREAT question: “Every crossbow has different draw weights/FPS ratings. For most archers (27 to 30 inch draw length and 60 to 70 pound draw out of a modern compound bow), an arrow weighing between 420 to 450 grain tends to lead to a great balance of speed and energy to be effective for hunting. Itâs a bit heavy for a 60 lb. While your bow may be your most important piece of equipment, the arrow is your only physical contact you have with the elk in the field. Itâs not uncommon to only get one shot at an elk (if youâre lucky) and your arrow is the only piece of gear that actually does the work. The best advice is trai⦠Momentum and kinetic energy are directly related to an arrow’s speed and its weight. by WesternHunter | Gear, Gear, Tips from the Field. most have not killed an elk and will sell you what most people buy. The next factor we will discuss is arrow length. Elk are nowhere near as jumpy as whitetails but every now and then you can get a situation where one is fully alert. A beginner will likely go for a 60 lbs. Whether you are tracking down game or waiting patiently for an animal to walk near your blind, taking aim and shooting is a pure adrenaline rush. They are also quieter in flight and require less fletching and less energy (when compared to a larger diameter shaft) to get them spinning. Here are two good general rules: There are exceptions to every rule, so comment below if you have odd draw weights or draw lengths. Penetration vs. arrow speed: Most bowhunters over-emphasize the impact small changes in arrow weight have on penetration energy. See my point? If you made it this far I congratulate you! There are many options of compound bows available for the modern day bowhunter; from youth to seasoned hunter, short or tall, young and old.Archers who shoot bows with a draw weight of 50-pounds or more and with a draw length of 27 inches or more have unlimited options in rests, arrows, and broadhead selections. range 8 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight for bows in the 60-lb. They have a bad habit of bending, breaking, or just pulling out the arrow. The lightweight arrow from the same bow now carries 7.5 to 9% less energy than the heavy arrow. “Note: This chart is to be used for shooters using a 100 grain tip/point weight. But is it worth it? The laws regarding bow draw weight are set in place to ensure that the deer are killed in a humane manner. Straightness correlates to spine consistency but they donât always run together. Today’s smallest diameter carbon hunting arrows are very skinny when compared to some of the popular aluminum arrows or large diameter, thin-walled carbon shafts. Start with a clean target and put field points on your arrows. Penetration is directly related to momentum and kinetic energy. Donât believe me? Sometimes it all works out. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%;}
We discussed broadheads in a previous column, so I won’t go into too much detail here. If you want to fully understand the âwhyâ just keep reading! Thatâs usually not a problem, as long as you donât confuse arrow weight with arrow spine. I prefer to use a relatively heavy arrow for elk. While thatâs not much difference in straightness, there is certainly a big difference in cost: for example, Gold Tip Hunter shafts sell at $190 for âHunter Proâ, $160 for âHunter XTâ, and $110 for âHunterâ shafts. Also—I’m happy that the author included that bit about the surface area of the fletching—it makes a big difference to the accuracy of your shot, especially when there’s wind, and I think a lot of bowhunters overlook that aspect of arrow selection. version. to be more specific, i would start with the Beman MFX Classic. This means being able to have 60-70 lbs. First, make sure your broadhead blades are solid, not vented. As draw weight increases, so should arrow rigidity (spine). I insist on fletching my own arrows to ensure that they are perfect – and you should too! However, if you’re shooting arrows that are on the borderline of spine strength for your draw weight, you may need to move up a notch. We both use fixed blade 125 gr. Many new archers in traditional archery donât know how to figure out the weight of a hunting arrow needed because they have yet to figure out their proper draw weight and draw length. I experimented a ton with FOC and concluded that I had great results with âstandardâ 125gr points on arrows that ended up in the 10-15% FOC range. You need to test, test, test until you get it right, because as the author says, you’re usually only going to get one shot. Matching the right amount of fletching surface area to your broadhead is important. How you do it (3 fletch, 4 fletch, long/short vanes) isnât really. Archers can use this calculator to get an approximate idea of how changing the bow from IBO/ATA specifications (30â³ draw length, 70 lb. So if youâre going to be shooting hardcore target archery in practice or competitions, go for a higher grade. version. Increasing arrow weight from 325-grains to 425-grains decreases velocity by almost 10% to 271 fps, but increases both KE by 6.6% and momentum by 18%! For example, a 480 grain arrow divided by a 60 lb bow = 8 grains per pound. Low Poundage Bow Hunting Considerations . range 8 grains of arrow weight per pound of draw weight for bows in the 60-lb. Shoot all your arrows at a paper target at your maximum accurate range. One thing that does make a big difference in accuracy is the helical or offset of the vanes. Try to buy the straightest arrow you can afford. would draw approximately 42 1/2-43Lbs. The ideal arrow weight for you will depend on your draw weight and draw length. Another benefit of an arrow with minimal surface area is that it maintains its speed better downrange, which means more energy at the target and less downrange drop. Typically, changing from a 100 to a 125 grain broadhead will not significantly affect arrow flight. However, the longer and taller your fletching (more surface area), the more your arrow will drift in the wind, the faster it will lose speed downrange, and the more noise it will make flying through the air. range In summary, set up your archery equipment understanding that momentum is more important than speed. To top it off, the spine of an individual arrow changes depending on how itâs rotated. Obviously, fletching must also be added to the total surface area. Bear draw weight Michael, AMO standards for listing draw weights are to list the weight of a bow when drawn to 28″.
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