ORIGINAL: brucelanthier
ORIGINAL: HuntingBry
ORIGINAL: brucelanthier
There is no downside to using a heavier arrow.
I'd have to disagree with that. For guys out west they need a balance of good weight to maintain momentum and decent speed since shots tend to be longer. If an arrow is extremely heavy the drop on from 40 to 45 yards will be significant. Having a flatter trajectory could be the difference between a clean kill or a clean miss.
My reply was more in line with hunting in the eastern woods so I can't speak for out west. But, if you can hit your spot with a heavy arrow at 45 yards what difference does the trajectory make? I would also say, based on comments by very experienced archers/hunters, that the heavier arrow will be carrying more momentum at a longer range and thus have better penetration.
I hunt out west, andhunt with the heavy arrow. I would prefer a clean miss, than a hit with aflat trajectory arrow,
if that arrow lacked sufficient momentum to get the job done. My hunting arrow is afeatheredArrow Dynamics Big Game shaft, tipped with a 220 grain Muzzy SS - total arrow weight, 544 grains. A little on the light side for some, others would ask 'what am I hunting? Godzilla?' So - arrow selection is something of (perphaps the very definition of) a personal matter. Yes, heavier arrows are quieter off the bow,
maintain momentumbetter (they
maintain velocity better as well),and havegreater
potential for pentration (among other things) than its twin in a lighter version - but on the other hand, it (the heavy arrow) is slower off the bow andwilldrop more rapidly (among other things)....