Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Archery Gear => Topic started by: ArcheryMan on October 10, 2012, 04:39:12 PM

Title: Arrow weight?
Post by: ArcheryMan on October 10, 2012, 04:39:12 PM: I've been reading the reg book for sometime now and not to clear on the weight of the arrows im from ohio by the way. Right now I'm shooting 350gr total weight with broadhead. In Ohio they don't care how heavy or light your arrow is. So my question is are they talking about just the arrow by itself or total weight with broadhead? Example the arrow has to be 350 then add the 100gr broadhead which then I have to shoot 450gr total?
Title: Re: Arrow weight?
Post by: Holg3107 on October 10, 2012, 04:41:02 PM: Total weight with broadhead, fletchings ect....

what draw length and poundage do you shoot?
Title: Re: Arrow weight?
Post by: ArcheryMan on October 10, 2012, 04:45:32 PM: my setup is 70lb 28" out of a mathews monster mr6.
Title: Re: Arrow weight?
Post by: Holg3107 on October 10, 2012, 05:14:36 PM: At 70# you will need a total arrow weight of 420 grains since the regs require 6 grains per pound of draw weight.
Title: Re: Arrow weight?
Post by: ArcheryMan on October 10, 2012, 05:23:29 PM: good to know. thanks for the info
Title: Re: Arrow weight?
Post by: colockumelk on October 13, 2012, 12:30:33 AM: A heavier arrow will give you more penetration. With that light of an arrow your bow isn't able to transfer all of its available stored up energy, thus you are losing alot of energy. There have been a few tests done that show an arrow weight of 6.5-6.7 grains per pound of draw weight will give you the optimum amount of penetration. These studies also showed that with two arrow that weighed the exact same, the one with the higher front of center % (15%) out penetrated the one with the lower FOC% (10%)

Here is the specs for your bow with a few different weights of arrows. As you can see the 469 grain arrow produces the most energy and penetration (momentum) and this is at point blank range. At 40 yds that heavier arrow will carry its energy down range much much better than the lighter arrow will and will way way way out penetrate the lighter one. Also your bow will be much quieter and much smoother when you shoot since the heavier arrow will be able to absorb ALL of the energy transferred from your bow.

gpp= grains per pound of draw weight.
350 grain/5 gpp 420 grain/6 gpp 455 grain/6.5 gpp 469 grains/6.7 gpp
331 FPS 308 FPS 296 fps 292 FPS
85.06 KE 88.38 KE 88.43 KE 88.70 KE
0.51 Momentum 0.57 momentum 0.59 momentum 0.60 momentum
Title: Re: Arrow weight?
Post by: ArcheryMan on October 13, 2012, 04:19:58 PM: I'll try out a few arrows and weight to see what setup I like most. I just want to make sure I can still get good shots out to 60-70 yards.
Title: Re: Arrow weight?
Post by: colockumelk on October 16, 2012, 06:35:26 AM: At 69yds a 350 grain arrow will get weak penetration on an elk, none if it hits a shoulder blade. A 450 grain arrow will pass through an elk at 60yds and penetrate the lungs if it hits the shoulder.

Compare the two arrows to a tennis ball and a baseball. At 60yds which do you want to get hit by. That lighter arrow starts off faster but also bleeds off speed pretty quick. The 450 grain arrow starts off slower but bleeds off that speed and energy alot slower. By Tue time the arrows get to 60yds they are moving about the same speed. The only difference is one is like being hit by a Prius and the other is like being hit by a dump truck.

As far as shooting longer distances at big game I can't think of a single reason why you would want to shoot a super light setup. There's no benefit especially with the range finders that are out today.

That being said. Any legal arrow for you (420 grains or more) will kill any big game creature in WA.
Title: Re: Arrow weight?
Post by: coachcw on October 16, 2012, 06:41:59 AM: you will find that the hevier arrow will have a more consistant pin gap out past fourty . the only advantage of light arrows is a very tight pin gap out to fourty and the abillity to be of five yards and still hit the kill . btw good example clock .