Wood Arrow Characteristics

[Kanuck]

I've been reading a lot on this site about FOC balance and how it seems the more the better.  Yet, Howard Hill indicated he didn't like arrows with much FOC balance, like too much was not a good thing because it caused the arrow to drop too much too soon.  He wrote that he used plain old cedar arrows with the rear tapered, and that the head used should be as light as possible.  That was quite a revelation to me, given the move to heavier and heavier broadheads I see.

So, how much FOC balance, in your opinion, is ideal for a hunting arrow?  What percentage of overall arrow weight should the broadhead represent?  I've seen a figure of no more than 25%, which seems reasonable.

[aromakr]

Kanuck:
Ideas on FOC have changed quite a bit over the years, especially as arrow materials have changed. Infact Howard used arrows that were high in FOC. His typical arrow was a 3/8" dia. shaft that was tapered from the point to the nockend at 5/16" and using a 160gr. broadhead.

I have friends using carbon shafts with 250 grains or more in point weight, mainly to make the spine usable, however arrow flight is excellent.
Bob

[Aeronut]

I have read that 15% - 18% FOC was the limit to stay in but like aromakr stated I have used full tapered shafts with spines up to 95# and 160 grain broadheads.  I shoot these from my homemade BBO that pulls 52@28 and they fly great.

Dennis

[Kanuck]

The reason I believe that Howard Hill's arrows weren't highly FOC balanced stems from comments he wrote about not liking footed shafts for hunting because they dropped too quickly.  He also said that broadheads should be as light as possible (160gr were pretty light compared to the "3/4 oz" heads that Saxton Pope wrote about using).  His arrows seemed to be on the light side too by today's standard.  He wrote about using 800gr (approximately - I'm working from memory) arrows from a 110lb bow that would have come to 7.27 gr/#.  Pretty light compared to Papa Bear's recommendation of 10gr/#.  I've read others on this site refer to 10-12gr/# as medium weight!  

Don't get me wrong; I like heavy as opposed to light arrows.  They seem to be more forgiving of my poor form and have been quieter out of my bows.  But then, I can't imagine taking 85yard shots at big game.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I've always gone light on FOC with 100 grain broadheds too....i was shooting wheelie bows at 300 FPS too....i actually had some arrows that were only 7% that shot like darts....the only thing i noticed is...the lighter the tip and FOC, the more critical your tailfeathers, or fletching is. spin balancing every arrow is a must too....i was only running 5.5 Gr. per# on those cruise missles, and had 81 pounds of KE....

the traditional philosophies on KE contadicts the speed bow shooters view in most cases. it gets way too technical to go into....bottom line is FOC with a heavier slower moving arrow would be most forgiving above 12 pecent. anything over 15% is going to drop noticably faster down range...Kirk