What about low FOC ?

[Knawbone]

Were any less animals killed when the only arrow material choice was wood?  I think not. A well tuned arrow in the right spot should do the job.

[Northwest_Bowhunter]

Originally posted by Kirkll:
....for guys that are just hunting with these EFOC arrows at short range, its all about penetration as arrow flight and flat trajectory is rarely an issue at close range.... for guys who want good arrow flight at long distances there are definite advantages to a lower foc balance. other things that effect arrow flight are arrow length, fletching size, and the amount of helical used which add more or less spin to the arrow.... getting the right combination can make a huge difference....


How many pro target shooters do you see who use EFOC arrows?

LOL Ok I see what you are talking about and why this was so confusing to me.  This is a hunting forum and what you call "short range" is hunting range.  So if I give a rip about putting arrow point through paper for its own sake EFOC is ok... right?  

I mean if my goal is to dispatch an animal in the most humane way and EFOC isn't going to ruin my arrows flight in the first 25 yards but will penetrate deeper causing more soft tissue damage and help the beast expire faster, that is probably what I should be shooting?

Isn't it?

[Terry Green]

With Bheads....12-15% Is a safe place for a stable front end driven  arrow.....8% WITH bhead would be cutting it close....I would not go that low.  JMO

I average around 18% probably.

[JamesKerr]

Originally posted by Kirkll:
 

Originally posted by Northwest_Bowhunter:
I am probably ignorant on this subject but why would you be trying to use low FOC arrows, is there a trade off of benefits?  I have read a few things by Dr. Ashby and from his perspective, not just high but extreemly high FOC seems to be a better big game killer. Is there another school of thought I am missing?

The school of thought you are missing is called aerodynamics.... the guys that say its not rocket science are wrong.... these are exactly what we are dealing with here are little rockets....

for guys that are just hunting with these EFOC arrows at short range, its all about penetration as arrow flight and flat trajectory is rarely an issue at close range.... for guys who want good arrow flight at long distances there are definite advantages to a lower foc balance. other things that effect arrow flight are arrow length, fletching size, and the amount of helical used which add more or less spin to the arrow.... getting the right combination can make a huge difference....


How many pro target shooters do you see who use EFOC arrows? [/b]

Not many "Pro" s use even 15% foc arrows but watch what happens when the wind blows their arrows drift half a foot from their target at 25 and 30 yards. Ever watch an Olympic shooter and see how far the wind blows their arrows off or should I say "on" to their target. Higher foc arrows are superior in flight because they have a longer tail section to steer them in case of a bad release or poor form. This is the reason why many high foc arrows require less fletching or if fletched the same as a lower foc arrow exhibit better flight in bad conditions. I have shot some high foc arrows out to 40 and 50 yards and compared to an arrow that weighs close to the same but with lower foc, the flight and arc to the target are nearly identical.

[swamp donkey]

I hunted with 2219 aluminums that were swagged for years. That eliminates the arrows insert and the broadhead insert and with a 150gn point makes for a very low foc. I've blown thru most of the elk I've shot with em and a couple moose. The ones that didn't go all the way thru still broke thru the flesh on the far side. In the old days no one worried about foc and did just fine, you will too.

[Knawbone]

Looks like part of the equation for high foc vs. low foc is where you hunt! If you hunt where you have to deal with a lot of wind, an efoc arrow or hfoc arrow is preferable. If you live in the woods like I do, then a low foc arrow is sufficient.I live in the hilly wooded north east and seldom if ever is wind a factor to consider where my arrow is concerned. If you live and hunt in the mid west or west then the opposite is true.

[Northwest_Bowhunter]

Knawbone,
Are you saying you don't think a higher foc can give you better penitration on impact?  Or is over all weight of an arrow really enough?

[JamesKerr]

All else being equal it has been proven in the Ashby studies that the higher the FOC an arrow has if it is the same overall weight as another arrow the higher foc arrow will out penetrate the other arrow set up.

[Knawbone]

Northwest BH, No thats not at all what I said. All I was saying is for were and what I hunt, a LFOC arrow with good flight characteristics is all I need. If your ref. things Iv' said in the past, then overall arrow weight with perfect flight CAN out penitrate an arrow with HFOC weight. It all depends on the circumstances. ie ( distance, wind, GPP vs. bow cast }  I only shoot wood, so my experiences with carbon or alum. shafting is limited. With that said, whether or not EFOC arrows out penitrate a LFOC really doesn;t concern me as much as  shooting an arrow of sufficient weight with good flight. Put in the right spot with a sharp BH will get it done every time. Dead is dead !

[Prairie Drifter]

Oh well, I hoped this wouldn't turn into a high versus low foc argument. I have hunted w/ efoc(22%) and low foc(10% as I said). I wanted ACTUAL experiences w/ sub 10% foc on wood arrows on elk sized game. Thanks to those that answered my question.

[Knawbone]

Sorry Prairie Drifter not trying to argue, just answering a question asked of me. Sometimes we get off base.Human nature I suppose. I think Terry answered the question quite well. Going below a 10% foc with wood fringes on unstable flight ect.

[Knawbone]

PS, I didn't see an argument but a clerification. Thanks for posting!

[Northwest_Bowhunter]

Knawbone,

Thanks for clearing that up.