I'm going old school this year. I'm gonna rock a 6 foot spear tipped with a cut on contact 300gr. Head. I am pushing 103fps and should be rockin over 300# KE and enough momentum to pin them to the ground. Never underestimate the power of the Neanderthal!
I stand corrected. KE is a measurement of force in lbs. You still cant do a comparable measurement with two different speeds. I still stand behind the fact that I was stating that the reason for a lighter arrow needing more speed is so that it will have as much if not more KE and momentum for that matter. It may take more to stop a heavier arrow but if that arrow isn't flying fast enough then the lighter arrow traveling at a faster rate of speed will carry more KE and momentum at a farther distance. 650gr @ 154fps momentum= 0.4440993788819876 KE=34.19565217391305 357 @ 280.5fps Momentum=0.4442701863354037 KE=62.30889363354037 As you can see the lighter arrow has to travel 126.5fps faster to have the same or close to the same amount of momentum. The KE is now close to double. The advantages to this seems to be farther distances, flatter trajectory and a greater distance covered in a shorter amount of time. To me that means the deer would have less time to react and if the hunter has practiced enough and prepared enough would equal less misses.
A lighter arrow will travel faster out of same bow than a heavy arrow by default but the heavy arrow will have more ke and momentum out of same bow. Where I kinda agree is that with traditional equipment,momentum is a way bigger factor due to the lower stored energy. Which equates to lower speeds and ke. But a good cut on contact head can make up for lower momentum and ke and a poor designed head can use it up. My sons arrows are in the 340 grain range and less than 200 fps and he has shot 2 deer with 2 passthroughs. Both were cut on contact heads.
An advantage is a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position. Flatter trajectory does neither. It does not help you hit your aim point any better. If you use the ol' standby that "I can thread it through branches better" then that can be negated by saying a bigger arc can go over branches that would be in the way otherwise. Another question: How much flatter is the trajectory out to 40 yards between an arrow at 200 fps than one at 300 fps?
Obviously arrow weight will determine your speeds down range, but we'll assume speed is a constant here. 300 FPS flight time@40: 4/10's of a second 200 FPS flight time@40: 6/10's of a second My guess would be approx 10-15 inches of drop distance. However, if they arrows are both getting there and hitting their marks.. Whats the difference?
My point with that question is not the amount of drop distance but the difference in the height of the arc at its highest point. If they are both hitting the same aim point then there is no drop distance, just a difference in arc height. The "flatter trajectory" of the 300 fps arrow is not all that flat . Yes, if they both hit their mark then flatter trajectory makes no difference or, is no advantage.
Sorry, I should have re-read the original post.. It was a long night and I got up early I agree with your statement that there is no huge advantage. One thing that I do like with a faster arrow, however, is yardage estimates. But I could always buy a rangefinder I used to get hung up on speed bad. Last year I upped arrow weight (420 grains) and got dismayed at the speed. I upped draw weight to 76#. That went fine for a year, was able to take a few animals. Then I got smart. My current set-up is 66# with a 416gr arrow going 260 fps. It's not "fast" by todays terms. But, I can hold my bow at full draw longer, I'm steadier on target, groups shrunk, and shoulder never gets sore. Best thing you can do; Build a set-up that is comfortable to YOU and don't worry about speed. People have been taking animals at 200 fps and under for years... Any more than that is just a luxury.
You heard your girlfriend SAID it... or YOU heard your girlfriend SAY it? HUGE difference... Pun not intended... :D
