Wood Arrows...A New Ballgame.

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

Ok...I have my carbon arrows flying fantastic.  I have a slew of'em and am very happy with the tinkering and tuning I have been doing...high FOC (27.5%) great penetration and quiet.  I'm set.

But...

I REALLY want to shoot and hunt with wood arrows.  I am wanting to get a wood arrow setup that is just as good.  I know they won't have the same FOC, but I am wanting a nice heavy arrow setup (750-860grn) I just like heavy arrows and what they do.  I have been playing around with a couple of test arrows out of the bow in my sig, running them through the spine calculator I am only about 9.5% FOC.  Is this acceptable?  Too little?  I am a complete newbe at the wood arrow game.

What I am shooting is a 31" arrow, 75# spine, 11/32", 190grn point and 4x4 turkey fletch (860grn total arrow weight).  My other arrow is the same setup but a 68# spine (816 grn arrow).  I am noticing the wood arrows are more sensitive to my release...normal?

I guess what I am really wanting to know is, am I in the ballpark where I have started?  The arrow flight is ok...and better with the heavier arrow.  My carbons penetrate  better than the wood arrows but not by much.  Would really appreciate some input...I have only been shooting these wood testers for 4 days, so I am very new at this.

Bill-

[Biathlonman]

I would think you'd need more spine then #75.  I'm guessing 85 or 90 would be closer.

[Todd Cook]

I would think the opposite; that you need less spine. That super D is a Hill style, more or less, isn't it? I shoot some very similar setups, maybe an inch less draw length, and need a 65-70.

As far as sensitive to your release, I wouldn't think so if tuned to the bow. I get just as good if not better flight with wood than with carbon.

[Orion]

Given your arrow length, spine and arrow weight, my guess is you're shooting some sort of hard wood or maybe heavy Doug firs.  If you go to POC or Sitka spruce, you'll be able to up your Foc a few percentage points.

10% FOC is about normal for most POC arrows with 125-135 grain points.  The highest FOC I've been able to achieve with POC is about 19% with arrows cut 29 inches BOP.  That was with tapered back ends, wenge footed front ends and 160-175 grain glue on points.  

The problem with trying to achieve really high FOC with woodies is you run out of spine, i.e., you can't find woodies spined high enough to handle the additional front end weight.  This is particularly a problem if you're shooting a moderately heavy bow and/or have a moderately long draw length, and/or are shooting hardwoods instead of soft woods.

[WESTBROOK]

Not sure how close to center the shelf is cut on the Super D, but closer than the standard Hill style bow I'm sure.

If your shooting the same 190 pt on both arrows, try a 160 on the 75# arrow and see if it flies better. If so, you may need to jump up to 80-85# arrows.

Just figuring shaft length and the 190 pt bumps you up 25# above bow weight..80#+ spine.

Dont worry about FOC so much at this point, work on getting good arrow flight THEN you can add point weight and go up in spine as needed.

Eric

[atatarpm]

I shoot a birch arrow that is 31 long 785 grains and spined at 77lbs out of my 54 lbs @ 28 Blacktail. At my draw  the bow is pulling 62 lbs.

[Fletcher]

My Super D is cut just past center so the leather side plate brings it to center.  You won't likely get 27% FOC, but 200 + gr points and move you out there pretty good.

Figuring spine you can start with a basic formula:  50 lb + 10 lb for cut to center, add 5 lb per inch of shaft over 28, + 10 lb for a 200 gr point.  50+10+15+10= 85 This should get you pretty close.  You can also build the shelf out with velcro to lower your spine need or just for tuning.  PM me about some test arrows; I can probably help.

[CRS]

I think you are underspined also.

I would try some 145 or 125gr points,  then you can try some heavier spined arrows if you want the heavier points.

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

Thanks for the input everyone.  The arrows I am shooting are a hard wood.  Sounds like I will be doing more testing...which is good.  I will learn more from it.  Sounds like I need to get a test kit of field points for woodies as well...