As noted earlier - any speed gain will come from a reduction in total arrow weight.

There are several ways to cut arrow weight:
[ul][*]Go to a lighter fletching (feather)[*]Swap out the components (insert, nock bushing) for lighter pieces[*]Go to a lighter head[*]Scrap the whole thing, and look for a lighter shaft.[/ul]
The rub with going light in the shaft is that you still need the spine. Most light shafts just won't have enough spine for a heavy hunting setup. Another point of concern is dipping below the 5 gpp warranty limit on your bow. It's just not safe to go beyond the warranty specs on the bow.

To illustrate: If you shoot 70# draw weight, you should shoot an arrow that weighs at least 350 grains (70 x 5).
** that figure includes head, fletchings, nock, insert, etc...**

If you're going to play the speed game, you've got to understand spine stiffness, and have a good grip on what your bow can handle. It's a fine line that you'll be walking, but the technology is out there for the average consumer to put together one whale of a fast bow - so long as he's smart about it.


For example: Last year, I went out and bought a High Country Iron Mace. This bow has the best limbs on the market, and is the only bow available that is warranted down to 3 grains per pound (not 5). Then, I put together a dozen Carbon Revolution 5.5 gpi ultra stiff shafts. The key here is the stiffness. The spine in these arrows is rated for up to 75# on 30" draw - but they only weigh about half of what similarly-spined arrows from the major manufacturers weigh.

Generally, if you're looking for a spine stiff enough for 75#, 30" draw, you're looking at a 9.5-12 gpi shaft. These ones weigh in at 5.5 gpi.Insanely light.

So, I built a 250 grain arrow to shoot out of a 70# bow at 29# draw, which is 100 grains under normal warranty spec, but was inside the HCA warranty. This is what I got.





This bow is an absolute rocket, and I have 100% confidence in the arrows. And I could make it go faster if I tweaked some things.

The key here is pushing the limits of archery science without overstressing any particular part of your shooting system. Finding a light arrow that retains enough spine tomeetyour draw length/weight requirements is the key.

There are only a few options out there right now:
[ul][*]Carbon Revolution (High Country) makes a 5.5 and 6.2 gpi shaft[*]Victory has a new line of HV arrows that are spined stiff and ultralight[*]Easton Lightspeeds are pretty light[*]Gold Tip has an Ultralight series of shafts now available.[/ul]
Any q's regarding anything more specific, just hit me up.