I was going to relate this story to Aussie last weekend at the show, but we kept getting interrupted by folks wanting to look at bows. The nerve of some people!

I learned about this difference in downrange performance a long time ago. I'd decided I wanted flatter trajectory to make it easier to hit that 70 and 80 yard target (NFAA Bowhunter Freestyle Limited class), so I put on a 5" overdraw to shorten my arrow to 29", enough to get from 2216's to 2213's. This is obviously PC - pre carbon. [8D]

I cut down some of my 2216's to tide me over until my new arrows were ready. I did have to close in with my 50 and 60 pins a little, but I expected that because taking the length down lightened them some. Made sense, lighter arrows/flatter trajectory, right?

Took my 2213's out when I got 'em, made a couple of slight tuning adjustments and sighted them in. My pin gaps between 20-40 tightened up considerably. But there was a huge gap between 40 and 50.[:-] The distance between my 50 and 60 pin was wider than it had ever been before.

With the full length 2216's, my pins measured 1 1/16" from the 20 to the 60. With the short 2213's, they measured 1 1/2". Not what I'd expected. Lighter arrows, flatter trajectory???? Something's not right.

Went over to the 80 yard target, did my normal pin stacking to get my aim point and I was horrified. My arrow didn't hit the spot. Didn't even hit the target. It stuck in the dirt 2 yards short of the target. I shot another 3 arrows, just to make sure. I had a nice 4 arrow group in that spot, 2 yards in front of the target.

Went back to the truck and got my shortened 2216's and went right back to the 80. Didn't move the sights. First arrow cleared the top of the target by a good amount. Changed to my 70 yard gap. Arrow stuck in the top 4 ring. Changed to my 65 yard gap. Spot! Spot! Spot!

Went and gathered up all my arrows, hauled my buns to the practice range and re-tuned/re-sighted for the 2216's and put a For Sale sign for a dozen 2213's on the club house.

The heavier 2216's shot a lot flatter at 80 yards, where I needed the flatter trajectory. My pins measured an even inch after I'd sighted back in with them. They were also evenly spaced instead of being real close for the first 3 pins and real wide for the last 2. Eventually I took off the long overdraw because it was a little too critical to shoot well with fingers and settled on a 2" overdraw.

That little experience is what got me really into this arrow weight/momentum/downrange energy retention stuff.