Legal Arrow Weight...

[Bscman]

Just curious what everyone's arrow weights are for hunting.
(And throw in speed if you've chrono'd)

I'm drawing 67lbs and shooting a  Carbon Express Terminator Lite Hunter (9.8gpi) w/ a 100gr tip that works out to 423grs all made up...

Obviously,
We are all responsible hunters here...obeying WA's ruling that our arrows much weigh at least 6grs per pound of draw weight, with a minimum of 300grs.

Unfortunately,
I've run in to more than one fellow shooter at the local range who was "Preparing for _______ season" and shooting VERY light arrows...closer to 5gpp simply for the added speed.
To be completely honest, I don't have a big problem with this since todays bows make EXCESSIVE energy for the most part...but it could still result in a fine.

Anyone ever had their archery gear checked?
I had my first bow checked for draw weight many years ago...but not once since.

[demontang]

I got checked this year, everything passed better safe then sorry.

[Crunchy]

Never been checked but try to stay legal.  424 and I pull 71

[SCRUBS]

I  am right at the legal limit. I think the 6 gr per lb rule is foolish, but the law is the law.JMHO

[Bscman]

I  am right at the legal limit. I think the 6 gr per lb rule is foolish, but the law is the law.JMHO

In all honesty, with todays "excessive power bows," and awesome broadhead design...I agree.

[X-Force]

70lbs pull and 447gran arrow... i havent killed anything with it yet tho...

[merlo105]

I think that law is crap. Im pulling 70 pounds, shooting beeman ics hunters 400 and there at 8.4 gpi. I try to go light if Im hunting in eastern WA for the fact that I could be shooting 70 80 Yd's. I like to stay around that 5.3, But we all know 6g is the Law so yeah, Never been checked all my stuff is legal.

[Fullabull]

I shoot Axis arrows which weight in at about 415grms. I think the law is good, arrows that are to light are not going to get as good penetration at distance which can lead to a lost animal even with a decent shot. You need the weight for better KE.

My father shoots about the same weight arrow as me but has a larger diameter arrow. I always get better penetration then he does on our target so he's thinking of going to the smaller diameter arrows as well.

But that's just my 2c.

Fulla

[billythekidrock]

I try to go light if Im hunting in eastern WA for the fact that I could be shooting 70 80 Yd's.

 

[archery288]

I try to go light if Im hunting in eastern WA for the fact that I could be shooting 70 80 Yd's.

 

X2....   If I was shooting longer distances I would want a heavier arrow to carry the kinetic energy down range.   I stress keeping my arrows to atleast 400 grains, but usually closer to 420 grains.  Lighter arrows may be faster at first, but down range since they are lighter they loose speed quicker and have less energy when it gets there.  A heavier arrow is like shooting a bowling ball...  It keeps going, may not be quite as fast, but it's sure not gonna slow down easily!  Light arrows are like shooting a pencil - fast at first, but they hit and bounce off because there is nothing behind them. 

Trust me on the light arrow thing... I have seen some really good professional archers and hunters shoot at animals around 50 yards with a 72 lb draw weight and a 30" draw with a 350 or so grain arrow close to 290 fps... And DOINK!  It hit the animal and bounced right off of it!  So the use of the light arrow and he was using an expandable broadhead which takes more kinetic energy to use in the first place, definetly isn't a good combintion..  Needless to say after we jumped on his case for not only doing it once but twice in the same trip, he went home and we hooked him up with some heavier arrows and fixed blade broadheads and he is now a firm believer in the heavier arrow for more kinetic energy.  He is a whitetail guy from back east and that's the set up they use, light arrows and expandables and at 20 yards it awesome, but any longer than that it sucks!  Something to keep in mind...

[bow4elk]

It's all about KE (Kinetic Energy).  Use this forumla: http://www.bowhuntingsafari.com/html/kinetic_energy_calculator.htm

Also, Mark Timney wrote a good article on the subject on the Bowsite: http://bowsite.com/bowsite/features/practical_bowhunter/penetration/index.cfm

Above all, SHOT PLACEMENT and knowing your own personal limitations, guided by a high standard of ethics.

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

Kinetic energy is the key, but I would like to see any broadhead and arrow not kill a deer at 50+ yrds with a well placed shot.. its much more about shot placement then KE or FPS..... that stuff only comes into play on a questionable hit.... as for me.. im shooting the new infused axis with muzzy mx4 at 28 in.. or 416grains at 60lbs from my trykon xl at 265 fps.......... passed clean thorugh both shoulders and 10ft out the other side on a doe last year at 52yrds.... she went 25 ft......

[BULLBLASTER]

500 grains here, i like my bow smooth and quiet... shooting 290 fps

[bow4elk]

500 grains here, i like my bow smooth and quiet... shooting 290 fps

...smooth, quiet, and packin' some punch.  I'm with you.  All these hyper-fast, hyper-sensitive set-ups are WAY overrated for general hunting conditions.  Most guys (me included) can't shoot well enough under the norms of hunting (cold, hot, sucking wind, fatigued, etc) to justify the means of fast arrows velocity.  Trajectory is a mute point if you can't shoot consistently well, regardless of your effective range.