Wood arrow weights

[WestTnMan]

Anybody have an idea of where to find out the approzimate weights of different wood arrows? I wanted to mabey try some out. Currently shoot a 47# bow with 490 gr arrow. Arrow is 29.5. Didn't really want an arrow much heavier that that. Could I find a wood arrow that is 5/16's and spined for my draw of 47# @ 28"? Just don't really want to shoot the really large diameter shafts.

[Bjorn]

When you order the shafting ask the supplier for POC or Spruce weighing no more than 330 full length. Unless your bow is a self bow you will need higher spine than 5/16 will yield-11/32 is not much fatter. Describe your set up including string type to the supplier (or us) and he should be able to get you close. Get tapered shafting for lower weight and stick to a 100 gn point. Use something like Tru Oil as a finish-3 coats-it won't increase shaft weight very much at all. You should be able to get under your current arrow weight. Ted at Raptor Archery will fix you up.

[Fletcher]

Keeping your arrow under 500 grains won't be a problem, but finding 5/16 shafts that are stiff and light enuf may be.  The normal soft woods, POC, fir and spruce, will be 11/32 at your spine, and average around 11-13 gr/in.  Hardwoods like ramin can get you the spine, but are going to finish out at more than 500 gr, esp in a 29.5" arrow.

If you have been shooting carbons for a while, and 11/32 wood shaft is going to look a little different, but you will get used to it quickly.  Have them tapered to 5'16 and your nocks will be about the same.  Wood arrows have been serving archers very well for many years, long before alum or carbon were even a twinkle in an engineer's eye.  

[WestTnMan]

Yea, I got a new longbow and wanted to try some out in it. It's a 62" Robertson Purist and I have been shooting my carbons from it fine. I bought some wood arrows once before from a local man and they flew fine but the trajectory was so bad from the weight of the arrows I never consicered them again. I draw 28 mabey 28 1/2"  and my bow is 47# @ 28". Can't say I even know what wood was used or what the shaft diameter was in the old batch, all I know is they flew like a telephone pole. Appreciate the help.

[Orion]

The heaviest spined 5/16 arrows about 50-55# should fly well out of your set up, and they should weigh in the 500 grain range with a 125 grain point.  If you get wood spined and weighted the same as carbons, they'll fly the same.  If your others flew like telephone poles, they were probably a lot heavier.  There's more to wood than just buying some and shooting them.  Good luck.