Ethical Arrow Weight
09-08-2008, 11:24 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 314
Ethical Arrow Weight
I tried a search on this topic with no results, so bear with me...
Using a very general assumption, I wouldsay most on here shoot bows with somewhere between 275 and 315 fps. At those speeds, what do you consider an ethical arrow weight?
Same question presented another way - when selecting shafts and broadheads, do you begin the process with a target minimum of kinetic energy in mind, say 85 or 95 ft. lbs. and so on?
Using a very general assumption, I wouldsay most on here shoot bows with somewhere between 275 and 315 fps. At those speeds, what do you consider an ethical arrow weight?
Same question presented another way - when selecting shafts and broadheads, do you begin the process with a target minimum of kinetic energy in mind, say 85 or 95 ft. lbs. and so on?
09-08-2008, 11:37 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,363
RE: Ethical Arrow Weight
Crow,
I select my arrows and then I will add weight with different weight tubes tillI get the most KE my bow will produce. I have been doing it this way for so many years it just seems like second nature. I just recently did this and would up with 3gr tubes to get the best KE my set up will produce. However with today's newer bows this probably isn't all that necessary but I still like aheavier arrow for hunting. I go light and fastwith my 3-D set up's though.....
I select my arrows and then I will add weight with different weight tubes tillI get the most KE my bow will produce. I have been doing it this way for so many years it just seems like second nature. I just recently did this and would up with 3gr tubes to get the best KE my set up will produce. However with today's newer bows this probably isn't all that necessary but I still like aheavier arrow for hunting. I go light and fastwith my 3-D set up's though.....
09-09-2008, 08:37 AM
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Location: StL, MO
Posts: 745
RE: Ethical Arrow Weight
Not sure I understand what arrow weight has to do with ethics...
If you are shooting an arrow heavy enough for your bow to handle without it blowing up on you...it is gonna be fine to shoot a deer with. Not to say you can't mess with some weights to maximize your setup for the best combo of speed and KE, but, when talking about deer...they are not hard to shoot thru. If in doubt, lean towards the heavier side. I never choose my setup with any KE in mind...the resulting KE is what it is and I know it will be fine. If/when I go to africa or after moose, then I will make sure my chosen setup is producing the needed KE. The 85 and 90 ft/lbs you mentioned is no where near target KE...those #'s are very high.
When it comes to broadheads, IMO, leaning towards the heavy side is always going to benefit you.A higher FOC is going to provide you a more stable arrow flight and thus, an easier time getting good broadhead flight.
If you are shooting an arrow heavy enough for your bow to handle without it blowing up on you...it is gonna be fine to shoot a deer with. Not to say you can't mess with some weights to maximize your setup for the best combo of speed and KE, but, when talking about deer...they are not hard to shoot thru. If in doubt, lean towards the heavier side. I never choose my setup with any KE in mind...the resulting KE is what it is and I know it will be fine. If/when I go to africa or after moose, then I will make sure my chosen setup is producing the needed KE. The 85 and 90 ft/lbs you mentioned is no where near target KE...those #'s are very high.
When it comes to broadheads, IMO, leaning towards the heavy side is always going to benefit you.A higher FOC is going to provide you a more stable arrow flight and thus, an easier time getting good broadhead flight.
09-09-2008, 08:54 AM
#5
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 314
RE: Ethical Arrow Weight
ORIGINAL: buttonbuckmaster
Ethical arrow weight? You've got to be kidding me. Whats next? Ethical arrow wrap colors? Theword ethicalgets used WAY too much IMO.
Ethical arrow weight? You've got to be kidding me. Whats next? Ethical arrow wrap colors? Theword ethicalgets used WAY too much IMO.
What I was trying to get at was - is there a minimum arrow weight you try to obtain for your hunting arrows? That's all.
And Robin, I was basing my KE measurement on a calculation I made onan assumed shooting scenario.Assuming total arrow weight is 395 gr. and is moving at 315 fps. Using the calculator at http://www.bowhuntinginfo.com/Kinetic%20Energy%20Calculator.htmkinetic energy is roughly 87 ft. lbs.
09-09-2008, 09:39 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,363
RE: Ethical Arrow Weight
Crow,
To answer your question and not ridicule your wording, your bow manufacturer sets a minimum arrow weight to 5grains of arrow weight for every pound of draw weight ie. a 70# bow should not have a arrow weight of less than 350gr. That is the lightest arrow they recommend and also they will void warranty if you use anything lighter. As for KE the common denominator generally used is anything over 45#'s of KE will harvest most north american game. However, if you are using a large cutting dia. mechanical that number does not apply, you would need to be in the 60#+ range IMO, If you use a COC Bh then it would apply. Like I stated earlier and as Robin stated, I try to tweak mine to gain the best combination of speed and KE....Also as Robin stated a KE of 80+ is not very common but with some bows is achievable. Most of my set up's over the last10-12 years have produced 70#'s+/- of KE (which I feel is necessary with the BH I use)and that has proven to work well for ME and my set up.I hear a lot of guys on here talking of an animal running offwith an arrowstill in itand personally I have never had this happen, I have found all my arrows on the other side of the animal after passing completely through them. To some that may not be important but I put ahigh emphasis on thatwith my set up's. Which is why I try to get the best combination with my set up's every time.
To answer your question and not ridicule your wording, your bow manufacturer sets a minimum arrow weight to 5grains of arrow weight for every pound of draw weight ie. a 70# bow should not have a arrow weight of less than 350gr. That is the lightest arrow they recommend and also they will void warranty if you use anything lighter. As for KE the common denominator generally used is anything over 45#'s of KE will harvest most north american game. However, if you are using a large cutting dia. mechanical that number does not apply, you would need to be in the 60#+ range IMO, If you use a COC Bh then it would apply. Like I stated earlier and as Robin stated, I try to tweak mine to gain the best combination of speed and KE....Also as Robin stated a KE of 80+ is not very common but with some bows is achievable. Most of my set up's over the last10-12 years have produced 70#'s+/- of KE (which I feel is necessary with the BH I use)and that has proven to work well for ME and my set up.I hear a lot of guys on here talking of an animal running offwith an arrowstill in itand personally I have never had this happen, I have found all my arrows on the other side of the animal after passing completely through them. To some that may not be important but I put ahigh emphasis on thatwith my set up's. Which is why I try to get the best combination with my set up's every time.
09-09-2008, 09:47 AM
#9
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 314
RE: Ethical Arrow Weight
Texas,
Thank you for the straight-forward answer.Youransweris exactly thetype of guidanceI was looking for. This year I have been trying to better understand the technicalaspects of bow hunting and one arethat has been particularly foggy for me in the past has been kinetic energy.
Thank you for the straight-forward answer.Youransweris exactly thetype of guidanceI was looking for. This year I have been trying to better understand the technicalaspects of bow hunting and one arethat has been particularly foggy for me in the past has been kinetic energy.
09-09-2008, 09:54 AM
#10
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Ethical Arrow Weight
To answer your question and not ridicule your wording, your bow manufacturer sets a minimum arrow weight to 5grains of arrow weight for every pound of draw weight
Do you have access to a local bowhsop? They should have a chrono you can shoot through and a digital scale (to measure the weight of your arrows). In the absence of a digital scale.....you can look up the various components that make up your arrow, online, and come up with a guesstimate on total arrow weight.
That's all you need. Arrow weight (total) and arrow speed to figure KE.