Ferrule diameter vs arrow shaft diameter?

[GrampasGuns]

I am fairly "new" to archery,  I have been shooting a bow on and off my whole life, never too seriously.Mostly just messing around with old recurve my uncle gave me a million years ago. Only got serious about archery in the last 2-3 years, and only hunted archery this last season after tons of practice, with a new setup. I can shoot quite well, but am still learning the technical side of the sport and I hope I am using the right terms.

I shoot Easton FMJs, and not knowing much about broad heads I bought a pack of Muzzy 3 blade broadheads. They seemed to shoot pretty well in my setup but I feel could be much better. I noticed the shaft of the arrow is much much smaller than the diameter of the base of the broad head. Does this affect flight negatively?

My arrows are short, I have a 26.5in draw on my No Cam, shooting 70#, 400 fmj with 125grn muzzy 3 blade. It seems unbalanced to me? And go easy on me again, I am trying to learn.

Should I be paying attention to how the broadhead and shaft line up for the best shooting arrow? Really want to try some Savoras this season. They look much sturdier than most things I see at the shops, and I like the fmjs.

[lokidog]

Do you get enough arrow weight with those short arrows? I had a hard time when I was at 70# with a 29" arrow, but I only shot a 100gr BH.

To your question, I wouldn't worry about the size difference as the ferrule will make a larger hole than the shaft if anything.  IMO, it would be worse the other way.

[RadSav]

I will try to break this down as separate questions/answers.

I shoot Easton FMJs, and not knowing much about broad heads I bought a pack of Muzzy 3 blade broadheads. They seemed to shoot pretty well in my setup but I feel could be much better. I noticed the shaft of the arrow is much much smaller than the diameter of the base of the broad head. Does this affect flight negatively?

Smaller diameter shaft to ferrule diameter will not effect flight enough to ever tell a difference.  There are some benefits to it and some negatives.  The benefit is if you happen to strike the scapula or similar solid area.  Since the ferrule will make a larger hole than the shaft you usually get better penetration with a larger ferrule through that media.  You will see similar results if you shoot into an external media like plywood, thin grass bales or ethafoam.  This does not transfer with any degree of benefit when dealing with thick and/or lubricious media like meat shots even though the spin of Youtube experts and advertisers want you to believe it does.

The negative comes from making an air trap and a barb.  On non-fatal shots, without the benefit of a complete pass thru, the broadhead will be difficult to work it's way out of the animal unless you use a tapered collar to blend the ferrule to the shaft.  This is one of the reasons Easton manufactures broadhead adapter rings.  The air trap is probably the most legitimate negative from a terminal performance stand point.  As the flat surface followed by the thin shaft passes into a softer lubricious surface of the animal it creates a vacuum.  This pulls a surprising amount of oxygen into the wound channel.  Oxygen stimulates the blood platelets which bind together and attach to the fibrous walls of the channel.  In essence creating a net or spider web trap for white blood cells.  As the white cells are trapped another reaction occurs that pulls, or shrinks the net/web and helps close the wound.  Of course if the wound has cut enough major vessels the pressure of excavating fluid will break the web and the reaction will make very little difference.  But if the pressure is dumped into the chest instead of externally it can have an effect on how good your blood trail is.  This is why some blood trails are extremely hard to follow for a distance then you see a good number of blown out clots before a steady trail becomes available.  It is always preferred with an arrow kill to prolong coagulation as long as possible and not promote it.  This is also one of the reason's that solid blades or blades with small vents usually produce better blood trails than blades with larger vent holes even if the cutting width of that head is greater.

My arrows are short, I have a 26.5in draw on my No Cam, shooting 70#, 400 fmj with 125grn muzzy 3 blade. It seems unbalanced to me? And go easy on me again, I am trying to learn.

I'm not clear in what you are trying to say about "unbalanced".  If you are actually talking about where the arrow balances on a set point this is a good thing.  Assuming you are shooting Blazer vanes or similar with no wrap or lighted nock you look to be slightly forward of 13% FOC.  That's pretty darn good, if you ask me!!

If you are talking about how well that shaft fits that bow?  I agree, looks like you have a shaft that is too weak for that bow, point and poundage. That combination should be optimal at 62-64 pounds of draw weight.  The 340 spined shaft would be slightly stiff being that short.  But I would much rather have slightly stiff than seriously too weak.

Should I be paying attention to how the broadhead and shaft line up for the best shooting arrow?

You want to make sure you have no interference between the broadhead and the riser if you draw the head that close to the arrow rest.  And if you shoot without a sight or use the arrow point as any kind of visual reference you will want each to be the exact same.  However, if all you are talking about is how the arrow flies?  It makes zero difference what your blades orientation to the vanes are.  Doesn't really even make a difference if all your broadheads align in a similar manner...other than it seriously looks cool if they are all the same.

[GrampasGuns]

Radsav, I really gotta thank you for the response. Super informative, thank you for taking the time to respond. Im not the best at forming my questions with the limited archery vocabulary, but you hit the nail on the head.

I weighed my arrows and they came in at 445gn. I want to be a informed archer and im getting there bit by bit. Have my eye one some seriously monster muleys on my dads property and I want to be my best if that day ever comes where its time to draw on a deer.

In order to make arrow weight I have to shoot 125's, Radsav which Savora would you recommend for my setup?

Thanks again for the input guys. The wealth of knowledge on this site is humbling

[RadSav]

Well if you stay with that 400 spine FMJ you would still be legal with a 100 grain broadhead as 6X70=420.  But your FOC would drop to nearly 7.5%.  One of the big issues of short arrows and this ridiculous Washington State 6 grain rule.  It really shows a large prejudice against any archer that doesn't fit the prototypical mold.  It is one of the most lopsided, absurd and completely asinine rules ever put before hunting archers.  Though I guess it is better than the rule that proceeded it which was completely unfair to women, children, disabled and the elderly.

Personally I would keep the arrow you have and drop poundage to 64#.  Will likely give you the same speed as you would at 70# with the 340 spine FMJ.  Benefit being you should shoot the 64#/400 spine better and easier than the heavier poundage.  Dropping that six pounds sure helped me shoot better!

As for which Savora by RAD brand head?  Six of one/half dozen of the other.  For 2016 we will have five different 125 grain heads.  Three titanium ferrules (49.99/3pk)- TiCon, Vandyke and DelMastro high profile.  One standard aluminum (34.99/5pk)- UltraCon.  And a new crossbow head called the "UltraCon X" ($34.99/5pk) that can be fitted with a standard 9/32" 15 grain collar.  The UltraCon X is a hybrid between the standard UltraCon and the Madman series. (picture is up on the website under Video/Media - Brand Media).  I have killed the majority of my animals with either the TiCon or the UltraCon.  But the VanDyke might be equally effective especially if there is a lot of wind where you hunt.  Whatever flavor rocks your boat should be good.

P.S. - If you need someone to come over and show you how to kill one of those Monster Mulies...I suppose I could be talked into shooting one for your educational purposes!

[lokidog]

I want in on that, I spoke up first.....      

[Jolten]

I would trade in a OIL tag to learn everything RadSav knows about archery. He's been a tremendous help to everyone that has had a question about anything he has knowledge of. If the man ever writes a book I'm buying one. Really love that he breaks down the question into the simplest ways to understand. I owe that man a bar tab if I ever run into him.  good sir!

[724wd]

which Savora would you recommend for my setup?

I'm not RAD, but i shot the Triple Sec LPS this year (100 grain) and I don't think you'll find a sharper, more concentric broad head.  They spun PERFECTLY and are EXTREMELY sharp!  Previously I used G5 Strykers and only two of the 3 spun true.  they were sharp, but not Savora sharp!  the Shuttle-T heads I shot before that spun good, but aren't really all that sharp. 

[coachcw]

look at the vaps . small diameter with tapered farrules . benefit off weight forward and penetration .

[shootnrun]

As for which Savora by RAD brand head?  Six of one/half dozen of the other.  For 2016 we will have five different 125 grain heads.  Three titanium ferrules (49.99/3pk)- TiCon, Vandyke and DelMastro high profile.  One standard aluminum (34.99/5pk)- UltraCon.  And a new crossbow head called the "UltraCon X" ($34.99/5pk) that can be fitted with a standard 9/32" 15 grain collar.  The UltraCon X is a hybrid between the standard UltraCon and the Madman series. (picture is up on the website under Video/Media - Brand Media).  I have killed the majority of my animals with either the TiCon or the UltraCon.  But the VanDyke might be equally effective especially if there is a lot of wind where you hunt.  Whatever flavor rocks your boat should be good.

P.S. - If you need someone to come over and show you how to kill one of those Monster Mulies...I suppose I could be talked into shooting one for your educational purposes!

Hey Rad, when/where can we find the 125 Del Mastros? I would like to have some up and running for turkey and was hoping to get some ordered here right quick. But they were definitely going to be my go to next September.   

[RadSav]

Send a message to dfry@radicalarchery.com.  Ask when the 125 grain DelMastro will be available.  That might light a fire under my brothers bum.

I do have Ti-Con 125's here and ready to ship.  Call or text JPhelps or Carpsniper and they can get things moving asap.

[MLBowhunting]

I have tested and put these heads through everything imaginable.  One thing I have noticed is the blades are by far the most secure locking system I have used.  I am gonna be using the UltraCon this season and maybe the new MadMan.