Why speed?
 

Im just wondering, I know that speed is good, but how come everyone worries more about speed than accuracy?
My opinion, if you are worrying about shooting a deer with a bow, than I think making an accurate shot is more important than how fast the arrow is gonna get there.

RE: Why speed?
 

kreg,

I agree with you - accuracy is more important than speed. A fast shot that misses doesn't put any meat on the table. Too many animals are wounded with innacurate shots. However, enough speed is important too. Speed helps bows shoot flatter which also tends to increase shooting accuracy. Also, I have heard of animals "jumping the string" when the arrow doesn't reach them before they can react to the sound of the bowstring - leading to misses or wounded animals.

RE: Why speed?
 

It isnt neccesary to have 300fps or anwhere near that much speed to kill a deer or pretty much any big game animal. Speed is just an added bonus. Shot placement is the most important thing.

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RE: Why speed?
 

speed is only one part of the equation! Unfortunatly the bow manufactorers have made such a big hype on how 'fast', or lack there of a bow is/isnt, it is becoming the archery industries 'standard' and unfortunatly it is rolling over into the bowhunting side! Speed is definatly a good thing,(flatter trajectory makes judging distance that much simpler)! There are however other nuances that the archery industry cant sell.....momentum and arra flight to name two! It kinda goes back to the camo debate. Yup it works, but do you really think the new stuff is any better then the old stuff? Some, maybe but definatly not all of it is!

The faster things become in the archery world the more a 'redefinition' is going to be required to answer 'just what is' archery and where do ya draw the line!' Last I remember it is a close range sport. Unfortunatly this speed is making people think/believe they can and very much so will, take shots that dont belong in most bowhunters handbooks. I also understand the more you have the more complete you'll be but the more proficeint you are with what you have you will also be more complete! (hopes that one makes some sense)

Its one piece of the hole puzzle, hopefully folks will soon start accepting that for what it really is!

RE: Why speed?
 

If a bow is capable of more speed it is capable of providing more energy to blast thru deer or bigger game.The hard part is finding the happy medium between energy and accuracy.Accuracy isn't that hard to achieve with higher energy bows of today.A lot of bows have brace heights more than 6.5" capable of over 300 fps at 30".I like my 6.75" brace with a 38" a-a for hunting and can achieve 4" groups at 50 yards with hunting gear at the begining of the season,it will get larger as the season goes on because of a lack of practice but is still very good.


Just because a bow is capable of speed doesn't mean you need to get all of it that the bow can get.A little heavier arrow with good speed will do amazing things on animals.


Some mechanicals require speed to open quickly enough to be completely open upon entering an animal.


So you see it is not just an ego thing but is very usefull in the field as well.

RE: Why speed?
 

Why not both???? My bow is fast an accurate.

RE: Why speed?
 

Thats the thing. If you have a bow thats fast and shoots accurate for you then your in good shape. Fortunatly my bow is fast and I can shoot it accuratly.

RE: Why speed?
 

I have to agree with you, I do worry about my accuracy with a weapon. It seems that everyone is getting caught up in speed instead of accuracy. I like to try a bow before I buy because certain bows I don't feel comfortable with and at some speeds I don't feel comfortable shooting. In the end accuracy will get you farther.

RE: Why speed?
 

I don't really think everyone worries more about speed than accuracy. Accuracy for most of us is determined by skill level developed through practice and improving our natural talents. Some of us just aren't going to get any better. Some of us are just fine for what we do... shoot critters. We don't need to dot the eyes of gnats or split the hairs on a flea. We need to hit a rib cage. We like to be as good as we can but there's a point of enough is enough. Now speed.... it's a constant. You get a bow that rips them at 300fps it always will stay in that range... whether you practice or not. More speed means lower trajectory... which means nothing really in hunting terms. What's an inch at an unknown distance of 20 yards. The one thing speed does give you is a bow that may beat a jumping deer but it for sure gives you speed which is the quickest multiplier in the kenetic energy formula. That equates to penetrating, bone splitting, knock 'em dead stopping power.

<font size=4><font color=red>It's a MACHO THING too.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle></font id=red></font id=size4>

P.S. Besides that... if you follow this type of thread you'd get the opposite feedback. Everytime someone comes up with a speed thread about 10 folks jump into him with both feet about &quot;It's not how fast... It's where&quot;. Hey, it's been a long day.... who really gives a flip? You want accuracy.. PRACTICE. You want speed.... BUY IT&gt;

Edited by - davidmil on 01/10/2002 22:47:41

RE: Why speed?
 

beat a jumping deer? How about wound a jumping deer!

the last comment said it all...&quot;buy it&quot;!!!

Sorry Dave, just disagree with that!

Also speed may give you more KE but more KE in by itself means little to the hole penetration theory! There is more to it then just the KE, dont forget it! You will understand that later in life, fortunatly I understood it earlier by the likes of some great teachers!

Edited by - Lilhunter on 01/10/2002 23:11:17

RE: Why speed?
 

Speed is overrated. I have succumbed a little myself. Back when I shot fingers, wheels were round and dacron string was tops, I was just as successful hunting as I am now. Blew through deer just as easy too! The only thing increased speed has done is make judging distances less of an art. As a matter of fact I am thinking of going back to heavier aluminums.

RE: Why speed?
 

Speed is the very last thing I look at when buying a bow. I've got many other attributes that I feel are far more important than speed. How the bow feels, smoothness of the draw cycle, quietness, ease of tuning, how well it holds that tune, consistency... basically, just how pleasant is the bow to shoot?

Speed is okay, but it is more critical of tune and more prone to shoot itself out of tune, more critical of shooting form, more critical of broadhead alignment. In other words, too critical for my tastes.

I've played the game at 275-290 fps. I didn't enjoy it. I don't like the way a bow feels when shooting light arrows. Plus, I guess I saw too many bows explode and hurt people back in the early days of the speed craze. Bows are overbuilt now to handle the light arrows, but those memories still linger in my mind. It doesn't do your shooting any good when you pucker each time the release goes off!

My personal speed limit is 250. My 3D scores are HIGHER at the slower speeds. And it's slow and easy enough that I can shoot and relax. Too many people have gotten into the run-and-gun stuff and lost the relaxation and recreation elements of shooting a bow.

Besides, it's called ARCHery, not FLATtery.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Edited by - Arthur P on 01/11/2002 07:24:18

RE: Why speed?
 

Speed sells.

Give me a quiet setup. I'll work on the accuracy from there.

Gain speed and you lose silence. How many of you with those fast bows get a chance at a second shot if you miss?

Yardage estimation is a little more critical if you have a slower setup but, do your homework in advance and it won't be a problem.

When archery mfgrs come up with a setup that flings arrows at 1130fps+ then the noise will not be a factor.

RE: Why speed?
 

Why speed? I juat read an article that said if a bow shoots 230fps a deer can drop or move as much as 16&quot; before the arrow arives and if you shot 280fps it only can drop or move 9&quot;. If you can shoot it accuratly then speed is always a plus. As far as noise from a bow just because we can't hear it doesn't mean deer can't. But I do agree a quiet bow it good too.

RE: Why speed?
 

Ill have to agree speed is all hype.Manfactures wouldn't sell many bow's if their ad's stated,&quot;WE BUILD THE SLOWEST BOW&quot;S AROUND&quot;.Fast,Fastest are buzz word's,to the industry.Although some speed is desirable,It has gotten way out of hand.Ill take a more accurate arrow at moderate speed's anyday.

RE: Why speed?
 

LIL HUNTER: You misunderstood my post. First off I said a little more speed &quot;MAY&quot; beat a jumping deer. All depends on a lot of things. I AM NOT a speed freek. I have one bow that I shoot at 252 fps with a 525 grain arrow. My other shoots a 425 grain arrow at 263. And I said &quot;If YOU WANT IT.. BUY IT&quot;. I did NOT say you SHOULD buy it because it's the greatest. Third point.... how much later in life do I have to get than 58 with 31 years of bowhunting to pick up all this vast knowledge you seem to indicate I'm missing. I understand that K.E. is NOT the whole story, but it goes a LONG WAY to putting a deer on the ground. It is the one variable that we can do something about other than practicing more. It is the biggest part of penetration along with sharp broadheads. It includes speed, weight etc. I assume those of us talking on this forum understand the need for THE SHARPEST BROADHEAD we can get and putting it in the right place. How old do I have to be too become enlightened.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> You can wound a deer just as easily with a slow moving sharp broadhead as you can with a fast one. When I grow up I want to be............

P.S. I just read it again...&quot;You will understand this later in life&quot;. <font size=4><font color=red>GIVE ME A BREAK</font id=red></font id=size4> What a &quot;I am better than you attitude&quot;. You don't even know anything about my bowhunting. Sheesssssszzzz



Edited by - davidmil on 01/11/2002 10:42:03

RE: Why speed?
 

dawgnubit, the first 2 lines were ment for you Dave LOL! ....not making a judgement on your knowledge or others for that matter as I know we all just keep on a learnin! Just tired of Ke this Speed that Ke speed ke speed....we both know just wish others did!!!

ps, I am better then no one <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> and the only one I have to be better then is myself <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>! (still working on that one though LOL)

Edited by - Lilhunter on 01/11/2002 12:04:20

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RE: Why speed?
 

220 is ideal

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RE: Why speed?
 

I will take smooth and quiet over speed any day.I shoot an old hoyt bow that has not let me down only because I limit my shots to no more then 30 yds and aim for the vitals and don't worry about deer jumping the string.I did go to an overdraw because of my draw length when I started it was 33in.I am sure the shorter arrows improved my speed but I think speed is over rated to where I have seen archers blow limbs off their bows using the wrong arrows either in length or spline to gain speed.Smooth and Quiet for me.

RE: Why speed?
 

More deer will be killed using a slower, quiet bow than using an ultra fast noisey bow.

RE: Why speed?
 

Duh...I must be missing something with the blazing speed of 170fps of my longbow.

Jack

RE: Why speed?
 

The faster the arrow the less drop the arrow has.

RE: Why speed?
 

I lOVE speed and my bow is pretty fast. Mine a Darton Maverick shoots a 400gr arrow at 292 fps. I will not buy another bow that doesn't shoot under 320 fps next. I know accurcy is important But remember that all bows a accurate for the most part its the person behind the bow that is the problem. I have no problems with shooting my bow accurately at all. I have all the confidence to shoot at deer at 40 to 45 yards. My first deer this year was taken at 35 yards and had complete pass through.

It really comes down to the hands of the archer. You have to be comfortable with your bow and if your not then you wont be any good. SO if the bow fits you and you are comfortable with it and its a fast bow you will be fine. As for me I like it fast.

Brian

RE: Why speed?
 

This might just be semantics, but isn’t all bows accurate if tune & shot properly. For hunting I prefer a bow, which is FORGIVING. I choose the Mathews MQ1 for just that reason, for me it gave me the level of forgiveness with reasonable speed. There is no single right answer, its just a matter of finding what feels comfortable which translates to confidence which interns translates in short blood trails. I had a PSE G-Force, which was a speed bow, but to me it was a very unforgiving bow and I quickly lost confidence that I could constantly put my broadhead exactly where I intended. But I know there are good many archers out there how probably could with that setup. Accuracy/confidence kills deer regardless how fast the arrow get there.

Tony


Edited by - DE bowhunter on 01/11/2002 18:51:57

RE: Why speed?
 

Vince,

Looking for it, cant find it! You talk even more odd....my ole man lives in Scandia just south of town on 205th street.....Dang dude! I'll find it and post for ya there...

RE: Why speed?
 

i think what cougar mag said is true. it's all overrated and its just another way to sell bows. i asked everyone i knew that bowhunts b4 i made sure i bought a bow n they said get a good shooting bow w/ minimal hand torque and speed isn't all that its cracked up 2 be. Just be accurate and u'll never go wrong.

RE: Why speed?
 

AAAAH&gt;&gt;where is this thread, the carbon arrow one Vince is talking about! I grew up out there, was born there LOL You talk SMAAAAAAAAAAAAL world, LOL! But dang it if I cant find it! if ya do, bump it to the top for me, thanks!

RE: Why speed?
 

well found it... alls I can say is WOW!!! You talk ODD!!! I posted for ya on the carbon arra thread Mr. K.!

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RE: Why speed?
 

Everyone knows that forgiving is the main thing and to me a bow that shoots 270 is much more forgiving to me than one shooting 220.Yardage is a small part but the main thing is I shoot better at 270 than any other speed.I feel it has to do with getting the arrow off the draw cycle quicker but the main thing is it shoots better.I don't like how you have to tune slow arrows either,you have to spin the heck out of them to get them to fly straight or put extremely heavy foc on them and that makes long shots impossible.Spinning the heck out of them drammatically decreases penetration.I can shoot my fast arrow with straight vanes and achieve the same or better flight and that will give me better penetration.

Speed is a relative term and isn't the same for everyone.A person that has a 30# draw can shoot 290 and still have a forgiving setup.Someone at a 28&quot; draw tries to shoot 290 will most likely have to use a bow that is raticall and it wouldn't be forgiving.My 28 1/2&quot; draw at 268 is one of the most forgiving setups I have ever used.My other bow that is for 3D is shooting 270 and is more forgiving,as a matter of fact it is quite awesome in that department.

I tried to take an indoor bow down to the 230 range and absolutely hated the way it shot but at 260 it shot better and I made more money with it on a 3d course than any other.


I really don't want to change the speed of my bows when I shoot everyday and I am used to it that way.

So please quit assuming that just because someone shoots a faster bow than yours that it is more critical,(that is just not true).

I also shoot some traditional bows with the 500 gr arrows and I understand the differences in the 2.I don't think I would try getting 220fps out of 1.That would be raticall to me.My 45# Kodiak would do some strange things at that speed.

The point I am making is don't look at someones speed and think that it is not the best for that person to kill animals with.


Not trying to offend anyone but look at things for what they are and not what they are for you.