My understanding is that the AMO minimums vary greatly depending on draw length, draw weight, point weight, cam style, etc...?
Yes indeed, sometimes going below 5 grains per pound for short draw/low weight/low efficiency bows. Sometimes going over 7 grains per pound for a long draw on a heavy, hard cam bow.
Are our members aware of the specs? The AMO chart is posted on the bulletin board, so they should be. They are definitely aware of the IBO and ASA rules. Plus, most of our members have a good dose of common sense. I don't think we'd have a problem among our membership. Frankly, with the encroachment of development around our range, the ASA rules are looking better than IBO rules. Limiting arrow speeds might help eliminate the chances of a stray arrow leaving club property. But I guarantee anyone comes through the gate shooting an HCA bow or Carbon Revolution arrows will be checked.
Don't you think the AMO minimum arrow weight recommendations are a little outdated considering the new materials/designs used in limbs, strings, etc..?
Do I think the chart is out of date? No. It has not been updated since the day they put it out, but why should they update? Designs have changed, but they're still using the same materials in bows today that we had 15 years ago when the mfrs wouldn't warranty less than 6 grains per pound.
Since people bitched that the mfrs would advertise IBO speeds but wouldn't warranty their bows at 5 grains per pound, the mfrs had to beef the bows up a bit in order to withstand 5 grains per pound. But the materials they're using haven't changed dramatically, if at all. With, of course, the exception of carbon risers and I'm not all that convinced HCA's on solid footing with their claims about arrow weights.
And to the idea that --- "if the manufacturers warrant 5 grains per pound, then there has to be a safety factor figured in, so the bow must be able to shoot X grains per pound and not blow up." That may be so, but that means you KNOW you're into no-man's land and into the safety bumper. Problem is, there is no line to let you know when you've gone too damn far. Like a heroin junky wanting to get as high as he can... He did a little more and lived. A little more and lived. Then, a little more wound up being a little too much and he's on a slab at the morgue.
Where will YOUR bow blow up? 2.7 grains per pound or 4.1 grains per pound? YOU DON'T KNOW. Just like the junky that didn't know when to quit.
Besides, I do not understand WHY we need to go lighter than 5 grains per pound. Extremely fast arrow, yes. But, as pointed out, illegal to shoot in sanctioned tournaments. As a hunting arrow?? They've got to be kidding.[>:]