grains/in question

[Jolten]

My girlfriend has taken in interest to hunting, however she wants to shoot a bow. Now not being a bow hunter I attempted to read the regulations... However I'm confused by this part. "Arrows must be at minimum 20" in length, and weighing at least 6gr/inch not to be less then 300gr. " is that just the arrow - the broad head? Or is that including the broad head?

[Rainier10]

That is everything, arrow shaft, insert, broadhead, vanes and nock.  Total arrow weight has to be at least 300 grains or 6grains for every pound of draw weight.  If she is pulling a 40 lb bow the total arrow weight has to be 300 grains, if she is pulling a 60 pound bow the total arrow weight has to be 360 grains.

[Jolten]

I see. So for example say she's shooting a 50lb bow her arrow set up needs to be 300gr. With a 22in arrow and a 125gr broad head she needs 175gr to come from the shaft/and other components.

[huntingaddiction]

Yea but find an arrow shaft weighing that and you'll be rich!

[Jolten]

How do you find arrow shaft weight?

[RadSav]

Here is an average of accessory weights;  Different styles and manufacture will vary a good amount
Insert = 18 grains
Nock = 10 grains
Vanes (Blazer) = 6X3=18 grains
Wrap (Blazer Carbon) = 5 grains

Total rounded weight = 50 grains
Then add your point weight and grains per inch of arrow shaft (listed on almost all mfg web pages) and you will be very close.  I do encourage you to exceed that 300 grain limit by at least 10% though!

If elk is on the menu I encourage arrow weight to meet or exceed 350 grains.  Seems to be some sort of threshold between inadequate and acceptable penetration on elk when you reach that 350 grain mark regardless of fps.  It's odd, but seems to have held true for the youth and ladies I've taken to kill elk.  I rarely ever see exit wounds on elk with draw weights under 55# even with the 350 grain weight.  Better penetration with two blade broadheads, but faster killing and superior blood trails with three blade heads.

Haven't seen any penetration issues on deer with any legal arrow weight/draw weight when broadhead diameter and blade angles have been chosen with common sense.  Even in years my wife shot around 45# with her 24.5" draw length we usually have a hard time finding arrows after the shot as most penetrate more than 10 yards past the point of impact.  Takes a dang big bone or a tremendous muledeer to stop those little arrows.

Oregon requires 40# for deer and 50# for elk.  I find that to be a pretty good rule.  Even with todays more efficient bows.

[Instinct]

How do you find arrow shaft weight?

Arrow shaft weight will read #gpi (grain per inch) on the side of the arrow shaft or if your ordering online look for the GPI.
My easton axis shafts reads 9.5gpi for my 340 spine.

[Jolten]

So she's got an 8.4gpi shaft. 20in long she should be safe using a 125gr broad head right? If I calculated that right its at 293gr and with RadSav's 50gr rule of thumb for the remaining components her total gr would be approximately 343gr in total.

[RadSav]

So she's got an 8.4gpi shaft. 20in long she should be safe using a 125gr broad head right? If I calculated that right its at 293gr and with RadSav's 50gr rule of thumb for the remaining components her total gr would be approximately 343gr in total.

I'd bet her arrow length will be longer than 20"!!

[Jolten]

I was going off what the local cabelas "expert" told her whem she bought them. How are they measured? Knock to blade tip?

[RadSav]

I was going off what the local cabelas "expert" told her whem she bought them. How are they measured? Knock to blade tip?

Arrows are measured from the bottom of the nock throat to the end of the insert.  Each arrow is unique to the draw length of the person and/or the bow.  For a person to have a 20# draw length they would stand about 4' 4-5" tall.

[Jolten]

Ok so I just measured with a measuring tape and got 25 5/16ths. So say 25 in. She should be safe with a 45lb draw for say deer? I'm getting 335gr with shaft and broad head. Yielding about 385 total grains.

[BULLBLASTER]

Do the arrows have a nock and vanes and insert? Or just carbon tube?

[Jolten]

Nock/vanes(3)/inserts are there.

[coachcw]

that will work