Chronographed 20+ bows today

[buckster]

Played around with several of my toys today and thought it might be interesting to take note of the speed.

I shot 3 arrows to determine the average speed. I draw about 27 1/2" and fletch my arrows to where the back of the fletching touches the tip of my nose, as an consistent indicator.  

I shot my hunting arrows  >>>>>------------>> Arrow Dynamics Trad Lights 28.5" long, with a 145 grain point, weighing 480 grains.  

Here are the results:

BOW                 SPECS               FPS

Tall Tines TD RC    58" 51@28           163
Hornes/ME LB kit bow 60" 48@28          150
Bob Lee TD LB       58" 50@28           152
Zipper TD RC        60" 50@28           159
Treadaway Blk Rock TD LB 58" 50@28      148
Reflex Nomad TD RC   60" 50@28"         158
RER TD RC            60" 55@28"         162
Brack Quest TD RC    62" 51@28 3/4"     158
Black Creek Banshee TD 60" 45@28"       143
R. Welch Dakota TD RC 60" 45@28"        150
DAS Elite TD RC       62" 50@28"        159
Rampart TD RC         60" 48@28"        151
DAS Daala TD RC       58" 50@28"        161
Morrison ILF (carbon) 56" 52@28"        158
Samick Stingray       58" 50@28"        142
Quinn Stingray TD     60" 50@28"        154
Kodiak MAG            52" 45@28"        145
Lewis Hollow Hyansanti 62" 50@28"       152
Morrison Dakota TD     60" 49@28"       161
Kota Arch Royal        62" 51@28"       146

A few of my bows like the Black Creek Banshee had a lot of "junk" on the string, so I think that they came in a few FPS slower.  The Kodiak had a dacron string, vrs fast flight on all the others.  Yes... I know I need serious    

[Flying Dutchman]

I don't see the result?

[buckster]

Dutch,
I hit enter permaturely, check it out now buddy!

[cacciatore]

Thanks for your review,good comparison.

[pdk25]

Hey Barry.  I'm not sure that your result on the Tall Tines bow is reliable.  Sent it to me, and I'll test it myself.  Anything for science.  

[Matty]

Cool, Ive done this before as well on my own, it's Kinda fun

[BOWMARKS]

I dont see why you need help? Looks like your doing pretty good on your own with that collection!!  
     

[Steve O]

Buckster--too bad you are left handed    

When I chrono'd my TallTines with a few other big name wood handled bows, I got similar results...an extra 10fps.

[Bjorn]

Hey that's great data! If you remove the Samic and the Kota, they are all within a coupla' FPS allowing for #. The Kodiak is really up there once you adjust for # and that B50 string.
Good stuff!

[stickbowmaniac]

Man thats a bunch of bows.Thanks for posting.Great information.

[A.S.]

Good info Barry! I did some similar shooting with my old Bear Hunter. It is 3#'s lighter than most of my bows, and has a Dacron string...and still shot within 10 fps of my new high performance bows!

Gotta love them old bows!!

[Whip]

Very interesting stuff Barry.  Did you by chance verify the draw weights of the various bows?  I'd be curious to see what your measured draw weights are in comparision to the marked weights on that sample of bows.  I've been finding quite a variation between what is marked and what is measured, and that could certainly account for some differences in speed.

[Bowferd]

I like the info, and it just shows me that if a particular bow fits and feels good, the final result would be deadly no matter which you decided to take with you.
As long as your broadheads are sharp, you're arrows are properly tuned, and you're on your game plan, You got'em.

[Jack Whitmire Jr]

What I've thought/said forever, not much difference in any of them. Just shoot what feels good and you have confidence in .


Jack

[Zradix]

Enlightening!!! Thanks

[eric-thor]

hummmm kinda slow accross the board huh? must be because of the shorter draw. my 60@30 thomahawk thunderstorm shoots 602gr. 181fps and 830gr at 161fps .

[Bow man]

Nice Collection

[Rob DiStefano]

though i used to be somewhat concerned about it, i no longer see any need for technically checking bow speed.  

since you need to have a bow to chrono it, it's lots easier and more meaningful to just shoot it at 15-20 yards to know what kinda arc you'll get with a specific arrow weight.  

for the most part, with about the same weight bows 'n' arrows, there ain't much speed difference at the distances we hunt at.  yes, some bows will just be faster - then one needs to assess and compare other features such as stability, pointability and what happens with the bow as the arrow passes the riser (movement, shock, etc.).  ymmv.

[buckster]

Whip,

You observation is indeed a good one.  No, although I haven't yet verified the draw weights on most my bows.  I bet if I did so, I would find that about 1/2 would be off a few lbs either way.  Guess this will give me another idea for my next post when I get another boring Saturday???  He He Haw Haw.

Rob,
You are on right,this experiment proofs that... I just kinda did this for grins since I was caught up on my honey-do list.        

As others have mentioned, there isn't too much variance in most of the "current" bows out there, or for that matter the old Bear bows of yesteryear; when coupled with a FF string.

Eric,

A 30" draw is like a turbo charger for your arrows, I would love to see you guys post some results.

[kennym]

"A 30" draw is like a turbo charger for your arrows, I would love to see you guys post some results."


Yep, I did a bit of testing for fun yesterday.

On the one test,from 28" to 30",same bow,same arrow, off shootin machine made 18 fps!   :eek:  

So, a feller might as well get a bow he can handle and crank er clear back as one 10 # too heavy and shortdraw it! You'll get the same speed and a lot more accuracy!