I just watched the Mythbusters show on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CWr...6DD8ADFE&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=24 where they try to figure out why indians went to all the trouble of making stone arrow heads instead of just sharpening the shaft. I was thinking that a sharpened shaft looked a lot like a target arrow and the one with the stone head looked like a hunting arrow. I kept wondering why they didn't just ask a modern bow hunter why you wouldn't hunt with a target arrow. They never did. So why is an arrow head so important and why wouldn't you hunt with a target arrow?
An arrowhead/broadhead has cutting surfaces which cause a great deal more damage than a sharpened point and that is the whole purpose, to cause massive damage and a humane death.
The added weight at the front gives the arrow a more stable flight as well as a cutting surface. I'll have to catch that episode on re-runs
The broadhead does more damage because there is more cutting surface. The more damage = quicker and more humane kill. As Bruce stated above you should be shooting broadheads and field tips that weigh the same and not change the weight of the arrow. If you shot different weights the bow/arrow would no longer be in tune.
I think the OP was referring to just sharpening the arrow, rather than putting a tip on the arrow, which is what Fitz was likely responding to. I doubt the Indians were as much concerned about HUMANE deaths as they were about the increased "killing ability" of an arrow with a sharp stone attached to the forend of it. I know for me, the shorter period I have to track an animal the better off I think I am, and the shorter distance lots of times I'll have to drag that animal..... As Fitz said, adding weight to the FRONT of an arrow makes it a better flying projective, and also give the arrow a bit more momentum. I know for me personally, I can notice a difference shooting 100 vs. 125gr arrows, especially at longer distance. To the OP, I suspect you're likely not a hunter, just a person coming here posing a question, but for most of us "modern" bowhunters, the Broadhead on the forend of our arrow is on there because we personally believe it will result in a quicker and more humane death, while also making our equipment more efficient at ending the animals lives we end. Most of the deer I've killed with a bow died more quickly than those I've killed with guns, because of that sharpened piece of steel attached to the forend of my arrow...While Fieldpoints may yield killing shots as well, the will not result in near the efficiency and humane kills that a well place Broadhead will.
