Question about arrow penetration......

[slayer1]

I have made a conscious effort to practice this year at long ranges - 40, 50 and even out to 60. I am shooting a 56 lb long bow with a 505 grain arrow. I use a 160 grain land shark. When I used the wheel bow I killed many deer out to 40 yards.  The longest shot I have ever attempted with trad gear was at 23 yards on a doe. It was a complete pass through. My question is this: For those of you that have had experience with longer kill shots on deer, with my current set up how far out could I shoot and sill be effective if I could pull the shot off. I guess what I am saying is, if I hit the deer behind the shoulder, what would be the maximum distance that the arrow would still give me enough penetration to kill the animal humanly?

[KyleAllen]

Your tip toeing on a touchy subject there. However, i aint scared to answer, lol. Id say that you have killing power out to 50. Your shooting plenty of poundage and your arrow weight should retain kinetic nicely. Of course i am by no means recommending a shot that far...but if you feel froggy...
kyle

[slayer1]

Just for the record I would not take a shot I did not think I could make. It would have to be perfect conditions ie... no obstacles, no wind, having the confidence, deer standing completely broadside...etc. I was just more curious about how an arrow with my bow set up would perform at longer distances on an animal.

[wifishkiller]

You'll be fine, I’ve shot deer at 40 with a 55 lbs black widow and 480 grain arrows with 125 snuffers and they blew threw both times.  Im totally with you on practicing far, the one time you hit one back a little bit and he stops out there at 60 you'll be set!

[Chez]

I was wondering, what is the heaviest wood to make an arrow out of?

[Van/TX]

if I hit the deer behind the shoulder, what would be the maximum distance that the arrow would still give me enough penetration to kill the animal humanly?  

With the arrow in question it will kill the deer humanly as far as the arrow will shoot from your bow.  This could be 200 yards or whatever range. Doesn't take much force to penetrate both lungs.  Doesn't matter how fast the arrow is going when it penetrates both lungs either.  Slow, fast, it does the same damage    ...Van

[longbowman]

Like was mentioned earlier you're on the edge with a subject like this on this forum but I can tell you that Van is correct.  I shot my second whitetail with a 45# recurve at an honest 75+ yds and shot straight through its chest.  That was a whole bunch more coming down that it was going out!  That being said, it was in the 60's and I thought you were supposed to shoot first and worry later.  I know better now but live and learn.

[Naphtali]

Am I correct that you want to identify at what yardage, with your trad bow-arrow, you will obtain equivalent penetration that you get with your compound bow-arrow at 40 yards with comparable arrows? If YES,  . . . is it possible to create one or more types of penetration test targets?

Then shoot your compound at 40 yards. However much the arrow penetrates, that is your standard. You've told us that.

Using your trad bow-arrow on the same test targets, shoot for penetration. Move the target farther from you in increments until your arrow achieves identical, or nearly identical penetration. That's your trad bow maximum.

Since it's unlikely your test target will be a side of beef, hide on, you may want to consider "hard" and "soft" target tests. The main idea, though, is to identify "acceptable penetration" before you test the trad bow. And acceptable is whatever you say it is.

Just a thought.

[Faith In Flight]

Im with Van on this one. I had a debate over this with compounds. And the answer is pretty much as far as your bow can shoot. To get a super long shot not only the arrows energy but gravity is going to come into play. In my opinion, that arrow will be deadly until it hits the ground.

[mbbushman]

I agree with it being deadly the whole distance it flies. I am definitly not going to volunteer to let a sharp arrow land on me at any distance. I have no doubts at all about my 58 lb longbow and 610 gr arrrows being able to kill deer at 200 yards. Not that I would try, or am likely to hit one if did.

[John57]

I've often practiced too 70 yards with a 55lb longbow and my 2018 arrows are penetrating a large polystyrene block about 10 inches.
Just based on that I'd say,put a broadhead on it an it's going to blow through a deer like it was made of warm butter.
I've never had the opertunity to take a shot at a deer at that sort of distance,but if I did it certainly wouldn't be any worry about penetration that held me back.

[J-dog]

I agree w/the above as far as you can shoot it will kill.