FMJ dangerous game 300 test

[52 bow]

guys,I used brand new bales and set one vertically so arrows would hit in center, not close to wires.At 25yds.I could see clearly that the heavy 300 shafts were flying perfect, slower so my old eyes could see.Before rain yesterday I tried same test but on a new broadhead target and got same results-lighter shafts penetrated 2" better than heavy ones at 20 yds.both seemed to fly perfect and as stated, I could see the slower heavy ones better.Glad you guys took an interest in my ramblings!By the way my 340 fmj have taken 18 deer and two coyoes and have only kept 4 shafts in the animals-two opposite side shoulder hits, one behind ribs and a head shot coyote!

[Don Stokes]

My experience has been that longbows shoot heavier arrows better than recurves. I think the break point where performance suffers is around 12 g/# with recurves, closer to 15 with longbows.

So many variables...

[J-dog]

you seem to listen alot to guys experiences on here and it is always great info but in the end you have to try a few different arrow set up out of your bows and see what works best. I have tried a bunch and know what works for me but I still try others for fun. Agree with elknut there has to be a breakign point of diminished returns when it comes to weight. 10-12gpi seems to work for me. as has been said.

J

[huntindad]

I think the guys who say tuning or improper spine are correct.I am sure there is a point of diminishing returns but as stated above it is not going to be a wall where 10 grs. is perfect and 10.4 is lousy it will be a gradual effect that would not be reached without going to extremely heavy arrows.Poorly tuned arrows are not efficient!   Bill

[Brian Krebs]

When I started bowhunting; you went to the store and bought arrows; and then you shot them to see where they hit. I remember marking arrows 1L meant it shot 'perfect' but to the left. 1R meant it shot 'perfect' but to the right. 2x meant it shot high but 'true'; and -2 meant it shot low.
 And I would compensate.

Arrow weight? I still don't know what I am shooting.
 I shoot best- either 'Orton specials' ( ask him) or the old reliable for me; 2216 aluminums with long broadhead adapters; 5 inch fletch or 5 1/2 inch - 31 inches long from the inner part of the nock to the end of the arrow shaft. I have shot Zwickey deltas at 135 grains. That is with a 60 pound at 28 inch bows drawn back almost to the broadhead. Both recurve and longbows - D and reflex.

 With that I have had complete pass through shots on elk; both through the chest and the neck; pass through shots on bears; pass through shots on dozens of deer- yet... half sticking out on both sides on dozens of woodchucks.  

 How ever many grains per inch I shoot- the arrows shoot straight and zip through unless they hit bone.

 So when I read this thread I have to wonder- you tell me...am I finding perfection with not enough arrow weight; or too much; or just the perfect amount?

 IF the person shooting different weight arrows was videoed - would the form be the same with the different weight arrows? I used to compensate with wood arrows - are people mentally compensating with either their release; or their draw length or some other factor?

 I truly believe that the best way to find the "perfect arrow" is to go to a trad shoot and try everyones arrows that will allow and see which shoot the best from your bow with your form; your anchor; your release.

 ? thoughts ?

[James Wrenn]

Well regardless of the cause in your bow with you doing the shooting the lighter arrows are working better.Better stick with them.Calculators and oppionions often don't line up with what happens in the real world when one person is pulling the string instead of another.Numbers are fun but seeing is believing and you should have seen enough to make a good decision on what to use. jmo

[SELFBOW19953]

Didn't Monty Browning shoot solid fiberglass fish arrows when deer hunting, using 80 or so pound longbows?  Any idea what the grain per inch weight would be for them?

[James Wrenn]

Well Howard Hill believed in light fast arrows to get the cast he wanted.His heavy bear arrows were 700gns shot from a 110lb bow.If you do the math he always shot arrows in the 6.5-7gn/lb range for most all his hunting.He did not seem to have any trouble killing stuff.  

[Jeff Strubberg]

When you get results that are exactly opposite those arrived at by many, many other testers, it's a good idea to go back and see if you missed something.

[J-dog]

never heard such a solid piece of advice Jeff!