small bow and a BIG arrow

[khardrunner]

I shoot a 50# Windwalker TD longbow and I fully understand the physics behind momentum, penetration, and heavy arrows (I'm a certifiable physics nut/teacher to be).

My question is, how much do you sacrifice trajectory for arrow mass?

When I shoot at even 20 yds I have to compensate for significant (at least 6-8 inches or more)drop in my arrow flight. I am shooting 675grn ash arrows that are flying fairly well out of the bow. Also, I do have some tuning to do still to get optimum flight. Granted, I am not pulling a heavy bow, nor is it the fastest/most efficient bow out there. BUT it seems like it may be too much to expect for my little bow to fling a heavy arrow.

Any thoughts??

[Bowmania]

What are you hunting?  I see no need for an arrow anywhere near 600 grs. for whitetails.  I'm shooting 51 lbs and 450 gr carbons with a 160 gr Snuffer.  Next year for elk I'll take off the Snuffer and put on a 160 gr STOS.

Two years ago a friend shot a 325 inch elk (double lung) with 49 lbs and a 2114 with a 125 Zwickey.  Treadway shot an elk with very light poundage.

AIM and you don't have to worry about penetration.

This will be a minority opinion, but I'll let you know when I don't double lung something.

Bowmania

[mike g]

10 grains per pound of Bow is plenty for North America....
Good arrow flight and shot placement with Sharp Brodhead to finish the equasion....

[SteveB]

Trajectory is never an issue IF you know the tardage. Its with unknown yardage in unfamiliar terrain where it can become a hugh issue and the difference between kill,oops missed again, or a wound.

I shoot setups in the 190fps range - its what works for me.

Steve

[NorthShoreLB]

BOWMANIA  

"aim and you don't have to worry about penetration ?"

In a perfect world where you shaft slips in between bones and just touches flesh, it will do, ...but we don't quite live in a perfect world.

I wouldn't repeat that statement to often.

[mcgroundstalker]

Betca your bow shoots REAL QUIET with that heavy arrow. That's good. After all it's a huntin' bow right? If you have close to perfect arrow flight you should get deep penetration on game. Trajectory will be learned with the right practice. Give it some time. Keep your shots at live game close..... That's what trad archery is all about.

Best of Luck

... mike ...

[khardrunner]

I won't hunt anything too big...turkey, maybe pigs and deer with them. They are darn near unbreakable though...just ask the cinder block wall!

I think I might stick it out with the heavy arrows, and work at becoming a better stalker. In my mind it's more fun that way.

[Richie Nell]

Ata boy KHardrunner....That sounds like a traditional bowhunter to me!!

[Al Dean]

I shoot 10 1/2 to 12 gr per pound.  It seems like the closer I get to 12 the quieter, sweeter, smoother and more accurate the bow gets.  But over 12 I start to loose some sweetness and accuracy.  I figure yours at 13 1/2.  Probably all in my head.

[ChuckC]

Kyle, the secret is to shoot that set up only.  Get used to it and you won't even have to think about the trajectory, you will just do it.  BTW.. as I recall  Browning uses 1500 grain arrows and although he shoots a heavy bow, it is not 150 pounds.  He does OK.
ChuckC

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have found the long bow handles a heavier arrow much better than the recuve of same poundage. i like about 10-12 grains per pound on the LB, and 8-9 grains per pounds on the recuve....but to each his own.....Kirk

[Bowmania]

Northshore

I'm pretty sure the catch all phrase the EVERYONE uses - "pick a spot" would mean AIM.  Plus any legal bow with a cut on contact broadhead doesn't have to slip between ribs, they go right through or they wouldn't be legal.

SteveB,

I think the great thing about being instinctive, gapping, secondary vision, ect. is not having to know the distance.  OR at least put a numerical value on the distance.  That's the way I was taught 45 years ago.

Bowmania

[Jeremy]

My LB is a little heavier than yours, but so are my arrows     I'm shooting a little over 12 gr/lb and like Chuck said, if that's all you shoot the fuzzy computer on your shoulders won't have a problem at all.

[Doc Nock]

I shoot all bows in the 48# to 51# range. I also shoot all weighted carbons that weight either at or slightly above 600 gr. (605-615gr).

I've shot 2018 for years and while they get there faster, they don't penetrate as well...

I shoot the faster/lighter ones at shoots and then get serious w/ the heavier carbons w/ 160 gr. points for the last 2 months before the season, and I don't find my point of impact changing much.

Jay Kidwell says the only TRULY "instinctive" arrow we shoot is the first one in a weight range...after that, if you allow it, the mind remembers the trajectory of the arrow and will automatically compensate.  

ah, yes... I keep striving for that day!