Heavier Arrows or More FPS?

[Cougar125]

Just curious here guys.  My bow is a Diamond Razor Edge set at 24.5", 60lb draw.  The bow has a 308 IBO.  http://compoundbowchoice.com/brands/diamond/razor-edge/specs/

I took my deer with a Carbon Express Terminator Hunter 4560 32" (8.9gr/in), 20gr lighted nock, 100gr broadhead.  I figure roughly 404.8 grains/arrow.  Using an online calculator I figured it shoots at 217.9 fps. http://archerycalculator.com/estimate-bow-speed/

The question:  When shooting game larger than a deer, i.e. elk, what is more important?  Speed or weight? 

Some of the reading I've done leads me to believe a heavier arrow is better because it is slower and quieter whereas a lighter arrow is faster and noisier. 

[jdb]

Weight every day

[Brad Harshman]

So how did your arrow perform on your deer?  Why do you want to change your setup?
There are so many variables it's hard to even know where to begin. 
Tell us a little more...

[Cougar125]

So how did your arrow perform on your deer?

It performed alright I guess.Other than shooting the foam target in my yard I have nothing really to compare it to.  From the point of impact the deer made it 50 yards.  There is a picture of the heart in another thread in this same sub-forum.  I've been using the same arrows for awhile (Walmart clearance section) and used 100gr practice points.  I recently added the lighted nocks to help with arrow recovery.

Why do you want to change your setup?

I'm still new to archery hunting (despite having bought the bow on Black Friday in 2010) and have been doing a lot of reading on different things regarding arrow weights, fine tuning, etc.  I think I would try to relate it to a 30 caliber bullet.  Would a 130 grain bullet, which works fine for deer, have the same performance when using it on an elk or would you use a heavier bullet, such as a 180gr.

There are so many variables it's hard to even know where to begin. 
Tell us a little more...

Not sure what you want to know so here is what I think may help:

100 gr Rage 2 Blade SC Broadhead


20 gr Nock Out Lighted Nock


Carbon Express Terminator Hunter 4560 (not lite...I mistake it earlier).  30"


60# Diamond Razor Edge Bow with a 24.5" draw.

[Johnb317]

I don't think the arrow sound is that different between 200 and 270 fps.
The difference is arrow trajectory, with a slower arrow your estimate of distance to the animal is more critical.  A 60 lb compound shooting a legal arrow 360 gr should have enough KE for a full pass through on a deer or elk inside 30 yards

( I shoot 68lbs / 420 gr. and my first Elk at 35-40 yds was a full pass through.)

[Pigfuz]

Ultimately shot placement and a sharp broad head are the most important. 

[Cougar125]

I don't think the arrow sound is that different between 200 and 270 fps.
The difference is arrow trajectory, with a slower arrow your estimate of distance to the animal is more critical.  A 60 lb compound shooting a legal arrow 360 gr should have enough KE for a full pass through on a deer or elk inside 30 yards

( I shoot 68lbs / 420 gr. and my first Elk at 35-40 yds was a full pass through.)

I estimated my shot was about 10-25 yards.  The shot connected a little lower than I had aimed with my 20 yard pin but it was probably me.  The arrow was 10 yards along the path the deer ran from the point of impact but I think that had something to do with the bad deploying and cutting through a rib on the way through.

[Idighuntin]

You have a draw length of 24.5" but your arrows are 30" plus. If you cut 5" off your arrows you would be just over the legal 360 grain limit but you would go from 217 fps to 230 fps. That was using a arrow calculator online. Just a thought.

[Cougar125]

I think I'll be going to the bow shop and spending some time there again.

[Reidus]

Ultimately shot placement and a sharp broad head are the most important.

[ridgefire]

Heavier arrow and a coc head.

[jstone]

My arrows are 428 grn. 125 gn tip at 29.5 in drw. at 70 pounds. Very deadly I have smoked the last 4 deer i shot with this set up any where from 20-50 yards I havent shot an elk in 4 years so when i go out this weekend for elk i hope i can see what the new set up does to elk. I used to shoot 100 gn montecs then i trimmed the arrow length and then put the 125 gn Montecs on. I like it better seems to hit hard.

[Greg Mullins]

Go heavy...Im using a 300 spine FMJ at 29.5 inchs with  125 grain T @282 fps.

[ridgefire]

I would suggest going heavy. Real close range and it won't be a big difference but at further ranges the heavier arrow will give you better penetration. I would also suggest a coc head.

[huntingbaldguy]

I've been going through this with my wife's arrow setup.  She shoots 23", 45 lbs and i was told the heavier the arrow the better, so i ended up with a pretty heavy setup, 470 grains.  I achieved it with 500 spine Easton FMJ's, a 75 grain brass insert, and a 125 grain broadhead.  Her penetration was terrible, but did the job.  It still bugged me, because it went right between 2 ribs and only penetrated about 6".  The doe went down 100 yards away or so.  A friend of mine that's been archery hunting for 20 years basically told me her arrow is too heavy.  Conversations with Radsav got me thinking that as well.  So i'm going to try and pick up some fps (which in this case really seems to increase the KE as well based on calc numbers) by dropping down to between 380 and 400 grains with the same arrow, and lighter insert and broadhead.  The breakdown of numbers i'm pulling off archerycalculator.com are:

Current 470 grain arrow: 148 fps, 23 KE, .309 momentum

Lighter 390 grain arrow: 175 fps, 26.5 KE, .303 momentum

Hoping next year to get her up to 50 lbs draw and get the extra out of it, and possibly buy her a faster bow.  Looking at a Mathews Jewel which could push her up to over 200 fps and almost 35 KE at 50 lbs.

Of course, she shot her deer at 4 yards, so that's not a lot of time for the spine to straighten out and gather energy.

[highside74]

The question:  When shooting game larger than a deer, i.e. elk, what is more important?  Speed or weight? 

Some of the reading I've done leads me to believe a heavier arrow is better because it is slower and quieter whereas a lighter arrow is faster and noisier.

It's not about speed or noise it is about energy down range.

Swing a plastic bat fast and hit a baseball. Then swing a wood bat slow and hit that same baseball. The heavier bat even though moving slower carries more energy. Same with arrows. Heavier is always better at slow speeds such as your 217fps. When the arrow gets to its target you want as much energy stored as possible. When you start gaining speeds above 270 or so fps then you can mess with lighter vs heavier but not now.   

[tgomez]

I wouldn't want a heavier arrow if my set up was only 217fps. A heavy arrow out of a slow bow will drop like a rock. For instance take your bow and look at your pin gaps, then take a fast bow and look at the pin gaps. Once you get past 40 yards your gap will get greater and greater. I preffer speed over weight, but to each there own. 24.5 inch draw is a short draw length, so your speed will suffer a little. Just know your effective range with your set-up and don't press the issue whether you choose speed or weight. Best of luck to you.

[dreamunelk]

I prefer a heavier FOC.  That said there is a lot on information and opinions on the web.  I would change to a higher quality arrow and then shoot for a FOC of 12-15%.  You are shooting slow so a little more will make a difference down range. 
I also suggest you do some research and go with what you think you will be comfortable with.  It really comes down to what your personal choice and ethics. 

[coachcw]

About balance and pin gap . 420_460 ,grains 270/290 fps should be a sweet spot