I think that Napthali is trying to get the best penatrating wood arrow that he can, 'cause the TRADTIONAL season requires wood arrows. (Right?)
Napthali, if you are looking for a good penatrating wood arrow, stay with something like ash or hickory, tapered and maybe footed. Some years ago, I used Forgewoods, as I wasn't real crazy about aluminum arrows, but now they are collectors items. For me carbon is the optimum arrow material.
Napthali, from reading all the postings over the years concerning higher than normal FOC, and using high FOC arrows for the past five years, I suspect that addtional testing will determine that the extreme FOC is less a universal solution or enhancement to the problem. Meaning that, the ability to concentrate the weight distribution where the intitial contact is made with the target, is possible with the specific properties of carbon arrows, but not the other commonly used shafting materials. This may be seen by watching some of the slow-motion videos of carbon and aluminum arrows hitting targets and seeing the difference in what has been called "noodling" between the two materials. This is the vibration that occurs in the arrow after the hit. Carbon seems to behave one way, aluminum another, wood another, etc. Additionally, all carbons are not equal, some are mostly fiberglass, very tough, heavier than other carbons, but tend to be more flexible and have a lesser density. Very much how woods are different . If you fish, think fishing rods.
The benefit of the high FOC arrow may be more pronounced with carbon arrows than say aluminum or the wood arrows.
Each material has it's strengths and weaknesses, which will become more and more apparent as more trials both informal and formal are performed.
Some years ago, on this boards first years, there was a lot of discussion on front weighted carbons and how remarkably they flew and how "hard" they hit, so for at least this board, it is not exactly a new idea.
If my opinion was asked for, I would suggest that you get a tapered, high quality wood arrow selection for your bow that you would use in the TRADITIONAL season, of moderate weight, spined properly, flying absolutely as good as it could (perfectly tuned arrow), a real sharp low profile broadhead, and put the broadhead where it can perform the best.
Define the criteria, define what the successful outcome is to be and provide yourself with the tools to best achieve that goal, with the limitations of the situation - i.e. wood arrows only.
Oh yeah, get the best carbon arrow that works for your bow and use it all the other times, if you want the highest performance. There is always the chance the wood arrow is the BEST performer, too.
Chuck
Topic: Is there such a thing as a wood Extreme FOC arrow? (Read 2217 times)
