Weight matched wood arrows

[UrsusNil]

Greetings,

I've always shot wood, the shafts I order are spines but not weight matched. My maximum range is 15 yards. Would weight matched arrows offer much of an advantage over my current setup and range?

[fujimo]

i like to match mine as close as possible- within a few grains if i can- but i have been told that you wont tell a 50gr difference-
i dunno-
just gives me something to do- getting them matched as close as possible- and one less thing i can blame on something else for a poor shot   :D

[Grey Taylor]

I've seen some shaft bundles come from vendors that vary a whole lot on weight, way more than 50 grains. I feel that it is very possible for shafts like that to make a difference in our shooting.
I've seen at least one store claim that their shafts are weight matched. After weighing their shafts on my own scale I take claims like that with a pinch of salt. If the weight is not written on the end of the shaft I don't believe them.

Guy

[Scott E]

For me matching spine is more important than weight at trad ranges.

[njloco]

Unless your going to shoot at dots,  you won't notice the difference.

[BAK]

In a word, NO, not at that distance.

[mike g]

Buy a 100 shafts and weigh each one and keep the matches, sell the rest....
    That will give ya something to do....

[Gordon Jabben]

I think it would make a difference on game, especially small game.  I buy my shafts unweighed also and they can vary by more than a hundred grains.  Scales are cheap and I would at least group them to 30 grains or so.

[Orion]

I agree with Grey.  50 grains difference won't make a noticeable difference at hunting ranges, but i've seen weights vary by up to 100 grains in a dozen shafts that were supposed to be weight matched. That will make a noticeable difference.  

The only way to know for sure what you have is to weigh them yourself.  Electronic grain scales are relatively inexpensive.  Can get a good one for less than $20.

[Blackhawk]

I recall the Wensels addressing the weight issue and they tended to think that 20 gr. variance is just fine.  Other "pros" have said the same thing.

For most of us, 50 would be acceptable, but spine variance is more important IMO.

[SlowBowinMO]

I'll take spine matched over weight matched any day of the week and twice on Sunday, but I still wouldn't want more than 20-25 grains weight variation.

[Ray Lyon]

Originally posted by Braveheart Archery:
I'll take spine matched over weight matched any day of the week and twice on Sunday, but I still wouldn't want more than 20-25 grains weight variation.

Bingo.

[UrsusNil]

All good advice. I have a grain scale, will have to weigh what I have and see what I've got. Thanks!

[atatarpm]

If you choose you can change the weight or spine of wood arrows with sand paper. To change the  spine  you sand in the center  of the  shaft to change weight without changing spine you sand on the ends of the shaft. Paying attention to the balance of the shaft also.

[Blackhawk]

I have also changed the weight by changing the field points (100-160), but I believe this can adversly affect the spine (which is more important).

[hvyhitter]

At any given time I may have a few wood arrows from 3 or 4 different matched dozens in my back quiver. As long as they are all tuned to that bow I notice no real difference out to about 20-25 yards. There may be a 100gr difference in weight but it doesnt show till the shots get longer......... YMMV

[monterey]

I agree with everything said so far.  My self made shafts can vary a lot in weight, but once tuned to a bow, they are pretty consistent at my sideyard rang of 20 yards.

That said, you can get spine AND weight matched shafts from RMSG, and they Will be as labeled.

[UrsusNil]

I wonder how much weight can be adjusted by the amount if finish on the shaft. I use Tru Oil, so 3 coats vs 5 coats.

[M60gunner]

Weight matched shafts can be had but you will pay a price. Then if you add cap dip and finish they may not be matched. John Burns used to make matched woods for some serious target, 3D shooters in Ca. It took him hours and hours of hand work to get them matched in spine and weigth.
Some years ago there was for sale a gizzmo for adding weigth to wood shafts. But like was said in previous post it can change the spine. There are those arrow makers that will tell you that.

[Orion]

Ursus.  One coat of dipped finish is about 10 grains. I expect you would come pretty close to that with true oil, maybe a bit less.  As I said earlier, most of us probably wouldn't notice a 50 grain difference in weight at hunting distances, i.e., 20 yards and in. That being said, I match my woodies to within five grains.  Gives me peace of mind, if nothing else.  If I miss, I know it's not the arrow.