Confusion about arrow weight

[pastorjosh44]

Couple arrow questions if you could be so kind.  How light of arrows is is too light if I am shooting a hickory  self bow at 50#?  I have heard some say that too light of an arrow will be like dry firing a bow, but how light is too light?  And when people speak of arrow weights, are they including the broadhead weight?  I have an arrow and broadhead combo that is around 400 total grains.  And could anyone recommend an article that explains some of the mystery of arrow spine and such.  Thank you so much for your help.  Blessings.

[reddogge]

I don't shoot selfbows but I probably would try to stick to something around 9-10 grains per pound so the total arrow weight including point would be 450-500 grains.

Here is a good primer on tuning from O.L. Adcock you may find usefull.

 http://www.acsbows.com/bowtuning.html

Here is an interactive spine calculator by Stu Miller which will give you both static and dynamic spine of the arrow needed. Spine is merely the stiffness of an arrow measured by calculating the deflection in inches of the arrow with a specific weight.

 http://www.heilakka.com/stumiller/

[pastorjosh44]

Thank you reddogge, that article was very helpful.  I'm still figuring out the spine calculator, but I'll get there.  Blessings!

[30coupe]

At 400 grains, you are on the light side for sure. Your bow will be much quieter and have less hand shock if you up your arrow weight to around 500 or a bit more. A hickory self-bow isn't going to be a speed demon anyway, so don't worry about losing a few FPS by going heavier. Your bow will also last a lot longer shooting heavier arrows because more of the energy is used to move the arrow instead of being dissipated by the limbs whipping back and forth after the arrow leaves.

Don't get too confused by the spine calculator. It will probably get you close, but you will still need to tune to your bow and your shooting form. Are you drawing 28"? The 50# at 28" doesn't mean that unless you draw 28". Personally, I like to paper tune, so I know what my arrows are doing when set up as I hunt with them (albeit without the broadhead). Then I confirm it by shooting an arrow with a broadhead and one or more with the field point I used. Others prefer bare shaft tuning, but I think you have to have very good form for it to work well.

Anyhow, welcome aboard. This is a great place to learn.

[reddogge]

That calculator is only a guideline and in not the be all in selecting an arrow. Lots of variables involved especially with a selfbow. I'd say something in the .500 or .600 spine in carbon would work or if shooting aluminum 1916, 2013. Don't know wood that well to suggest. Just buy full length and then tune according to the point or broadhead weight you want.

[Hud]

You did not say whether your arrows are wood, but assuming they are, you can trying adding a heavier point, if they are stiff enough. I agree  9 to 10 Gr/lb would probably be smoother shooting.