Why such a heavy arrow?

[SirRobin77]

Hey guys ive noticed that traditional shooters tend to use a real heavy arrow compared to compound bow guys.Why is that?
  Like ive seen guys shooting a 50# recurve use  a 500 grain arrow but guys with a 60# compound they are useing 350 grain arrow. Why?

[VA Bowbender]

10 grs per pound is a good starting formula for trad bows.  The bows we shoot are slower and we need more kinetic energy for better penetration.

Others will join in to explain it better than I can.

[L82HUNT]

A heavier arrow will out penerate a light arrow.  With a compound they have high speed so a light arrow will work (still not best).

[Killdeer]

There are several reasons for this. First off, we are not shooting superfast bows. We penetrate game through the weight of our arrows, not the speed. Sorta like a .45 ACP compared to a 9mm, if you follow firearms.

Many bowyers specify that their warranties are void if you shoot less than so-many grains per pound as well. The lighter arrows fly off the shelf without absorbing all the energy that the bow's limbs can give them. The energy has to go somewhere, and the limbs pay the price.

You can get a lot of insight into arrow weight, penetration, and broadhead design by reading Dr. Ashby's reports onsite here.

Killdeer  

[SteveB]

More then a few have no problems hunting with 8gr/lb out of 50# plus bows for North American game.
Great trajectory when shooting at unknown (most hunting) distances.

Steve

[Shaun]

Its the old Kenetic Energy (KE) versus Momentum (MO) story. KE is squared by speed. That is... a lot of speed means high KE. However, KE gives up real quick when it connects with flesh and bone. Mr MO keeps right on trucking.

A heavy arrow with a graceful arc is a thing of beauty and not only penetrates like a spear instead of a soda straw, but is quiet and transfers more of the bow energy.

Most folks with trad gear end up with 9-13 grains per pound of draw weight for hunting arrows.

[Rico]

I believe it has been determined that 10gpp to be the weight that a traditional bow best transfers its energy. You can shoot a heavier arrow or lighter arrow and get the job done depending on the game but you will not get as much efficiency from your bow

[**DONOTDELETE**]

what everyone else said. The only thing I will add is ... My bows love heavy arrows

Plus it makes your bow way quieter
;

[George D. Stout]

Traditional shooters have historically used arrows of 9 to 10 grains per pound of bow weight.   As mentioned above, it lends to a very efficient and quiet arrow delivered effectively.

Sometimes watch how little penetration those fellers get with their high-speed and mechanical heads.  Most times they do not get pass through shots even on thin skinned whitetails.  Traditional shooters commonly shoot through whitetails and bigger critters with heavier but slower arrows.

[aromakr]

Steve:
I agree with you, that more than a few hunt with 8 grs/#, however when they hit something a great deal of them are not too happy, you only need to watch a few of the wackem and stackem shows on TV and see very poor penetration to understand what I'm talking about. Arrow ballistics are not much different than bullet ballistics (In how they work). both trad guys and compounders tout how fast their equipment is through a chronograph, and fail too take into account that a heavier arrow will retain its velocity longer than a light one. I did some tests several years ago using a 57# recurve and a shooting maching and two different arrows properly spined for the bow. I shot each through two chrono's 10 times then reversed the chrono's and repeated the test. the arrow weights were 450 grains and 620 grains. the 450 grain arrow lost 14% of its velocity in 16 yards and the 620 grain lost 7% of its velocity in the same distance.
I don't have the figures in front of me, but I believe at 23 or 24 yards the velocity was so close to each other its not worth mentioning, and there's 170 grains difference. Another advantage to arrow weight is it quiets a bow down.
I do however believe there is a point where too much arrow weight you loose efficiency.
Bob

[SirRobin77]

I will be using a 45# bow recurve so i need a 450 grn arrow?

[Rico]

You will increase penetration with a heavier arrow after 10 and will also increase speed below 10 but at a greater trade off  penetration over trajectory. Good post aromakr

[L82HUNT]

Get some 2016's.  150 grain magnus stingers and you will be good to go

[SteveB]

aromkr - I guess I should have added the word successfully. I thought by saying having no problems made that clear.

Successfully/no problems means pass thru's and recovery's.

%'s mean little in tthe comparisons you offered - JMO. Actual numbers would be much more meaninful.

Also the energy left with the lighter arrow at 25 yds is still more then marginal to ensure a broadhead buried in the dirt.

Not saying heavy doesn't work - just saying 8gr/lb ain't light and works too.

Steve

[Gehrke145]

I shoot around 450 grain arrow out of my mid 50s and it works great.  Deer, bear, buffalo, dont seem to like them though and im sure elk will feel the same here in a few weeks.

[larry]

SirRobin, all my bows draw between 43-49 lbs at 28". I shoot axis 500's. Having said that, not all my arrows are the same length for each bow, and neither are my point weights.

What you NEED to do is tune your arrows to the bow, so you are getting perfect flight AND have a bow that is reasonably quiet with little shock and vibration. Then go ahead and weigh your arrows, odds are good you're going to find that they weigh between 8-11 grains per lb of draw.

My primary concern is to have an arrow that flies perfect and let the weight fall where it may. Which for me always seems to end up between 8.5 and 11 grains per lb.

[texbow2]

Kinda agree with SteveB here. I hunt mostly small whitetails in texas. Once I have met a weight I feel meets the penetration requirements I would rather have gains in trajectory over penetration. If a 450 gr arrow (what I set as a min weight)is deadly out of a 45#, it will be even more deadly out of a 55# bow...and alot flatter. For elk/moose i would set my min at 600gr

[3blades]

I am a newbie as well and have been using a carbon shaft 6075 with 125gr points and just today used some older 2413 aluminum xx75 gamegetter with 125 grain points. The gamegetters seem to be more accurate and have a heavier smack when they hit the target. I am shooting a Bear cub recrve at 29draw and 45 pull. So I should be using the 2413s then right? For you experienced guys.

[texbow2]

the louder smack with the 2413's may just be the larger diameter shaft making loader sound hitting the target...do they go in deeper than the carbons? Like Larry I shoot axis 400s and 500's (mostly 500's) out of my bows from 45 to 55. All my arrows are cut to 28( i draw 27) and I tune with point weight from 125 up to 250.

[DesertDude]

Well for the first time in 20 years I'm going the other way.  For years I shot 2219, 2317, and 2419. Now enter the carbon world, 530gr-600gr. I shoot a 55# recurve at 28.5". This year I'm going to shoot a 440gr arrow (8gr per pound)with a 125gr 4bld stinger. I have perfect arrow flight, bow is still quite, and it shoots alot flatter.  Out here in the West desert 25-30 yards is a close shot. I'm hunting desert mulies and Texas hill country white tails. I feel alot of the wheel guys that shoot light arrows you see getting poor penetration, are shooting mech BH. If they were using a cut on contact type of BH there results might be different.