I know this has been talked about 1000 times on this site but i have to ask. Would you guys rather have speed or energy when hunting. I know they are tied together so let me give my arrow specs and tell me is you guys think i need more grains or less. Beman ICS hunter arrows 8.4 GPI, Muzzy MX-3 100 grain, 9 grain knocks, 13 grain blazers, 3 grain inserts. My total arrow weight is 344.5 grains, i am pulling 70#'s @ 28". I can get the Easton Bloodline arrows that would be 7.1 gpi but if you guys think what i am shooting is ok then i will not bother
I think you're too light.. but I'm old school and like momentum. I pull 40lbs and shoot a 368 grain arrow. That's 9.2 grains per lb of draw weight. If I were pulling 70.... that would mean a 644 grain arrow. :D
You are at 4.9 grains/lbs of DW. That is too light IMO. Typically they say the min. weight is 5 grains/lbs. Put it this way. I shoot 58 lbs and my arrow weight is around 430 grains. But that is just me.
You are lighter than I prefer. I am a believer in momentum and designing the arrow to perform even if a perfect shot is not achieved. You might find the studies done by Dr. Ed Ashby on arrow performance and penetration interesting. You can access them via Alaska Bowhunting .com
I am pulling 63# 28 in draw and shooting Easton flatline 400 7.4 gpi. with a cut on contact G5 Montec. They fly like missles and had a pass-through at 42 yds this year. I was shooting Carbon express Mayhem hunters 250 8.9 gpi, same broadhead. Eastons fly WAY better.
I am shooting 350gr @ 65lb. @ 304fps 72ft-lb of KE. Plenty for me. (speed and KE based on a calculator) That said I think you are too light now for your set up. 5gr x 70=350gr total. I think you should add some weight. I know there has been an on going debate about weight vs speed but, here is my personal take on it. Make my arrows weight 450gr, keep the bow set the same, I pick up 3ft-lb. Here is the kicker, I lose 30fps. Not worth it for me to go up in weight. Are you sure about that insert weight being 3gr? 8.4gpi*28"=235.2gr + 100gr field point + 9gr nock + 13gr vanes + 3gr inserts = total arrow weight of 360.2gr I calculated that 5 times to make sure I was right. That is given your arrows are 28". At that. I think you are good. Personal opinion though.
I'm ridiculously underspined but that's due to listening to everyone and getting sucked into the "speed is what kills" idea. Now I'm going up in arrow weight, making sure my dynamic spine is correct and should produce better energy transfer hence deeper penetration....I got more pass throughs back when I was shooting an ancient bow, with OLD aluminums arrows than with my "current" set up.
Good for you. That's the problem, most think speed or a high KE number is what they need. When talking about increasing weight they say it doesn't help KE but, what they don't know is that it helps momentum a great deal and momentum is what matters when puncturing animals with sharp sticks. Increasing weight will help energy transfer, that is why the bow quiets down, more of the energy is transferred to the arrow instead of transferred to vibration. Something else not considered but the increased weight will also add forgiveness and lessen the influence of outside forces. You should also think about your FOC and getting it in the 12%- 15% range.
This is just a question and not being a horses rear either. If an archery is using such broadhead as say myself, NAP Thunderhead Razor and staying @30yd and under, is more weight really that benificial? In my opinion it isn't but, I would like to hear what you think. I can see your point on outside forces also.
And what is that point? I have seen guys, on here even shooting 600gr+ arrows. Is that really necessary?
Not every shot Is the perfect shot. Where we hope to hit our animals Isn't always the case. Shoulder blades will get penetrated much better with more momentum. Squaring both ribs on a mature animal and still getting a complete pass through can be tough to achieve. Heavy arrows will out perform a lighter arrow any day of the week when talking penetration.
Necessary? No, not ALL the time. Does it increase your chances of getting lethal penetration or a full pass-through if you're shot placement is off and you make a less than perfect hit? Yes. I shoot 70#, 29" DL and my total arrow weight is 530 grains - Gold Tip Pro Hunter 7595's with a 125 grain Slick Trick and two 50 grain brass weights up front. The 25 yard shot on the last deer I killed was off to the left a bit and I hit the scapula. My arrow blew through her like nobody's business and was stuck in the dirt like so many other times.
If every shot on the animal is during a perfectly calm day with the archer flat on the ground, no twigs that may be in the way and all perfectly placed in the right spot then, no, it is not necessary.
What arrow length do you shoot? I'm also currently pulling 70# with nearly identical draw length and just switched to the Pro Hunter 7595's (28inches...but not cut yet and could go longer) and 125 grain BH's (still deciding between ST Magnums, Thunderhead Razors, Hellrazors or GR Hades)...my dillemma is trying to find how much weight I should be putting insert wise to the front of the arrow?
