huntingbry...

Hell these guys know me.....and they aren't fearing for a deer's ife past 25 yds

Also.....shouldn't heavier = quieter?

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.

Yes, it does. It also utilizes the enrgy of your bow more efficiently, one reason it = quieter.

If your using 125 up front, then a 3-71 would be the right spine for you. You won't be at 475, I am guessing 430ish total.

one with a slick trick on the tip

Add me a 6" reflective wrap......3 Blazers.....a lumenok "to go", RJ. You're better at math, than me!

What's that gonna register?

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 (theymaintain 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)....

Bruce and bow hunter44 I agree with your points about penetration. From my original post:

It's a balancing act for some guys to have good weight for penetration, yet not sacrifice too much speed by lobbing logs. For some it is just as bow hunter said, "personal preference" to go lighter or heavier. And when I was referring to lighter arrows I meant in the 450 grain range. My arrows I consider to be very light, but with my short draw and arrow selection that is what I have. I've looked into heavier arrows, but don't want to get away from ACCs.

And as the others have said, yes a heavier arrow will absorb the energy more efficiently and be quieter.

Dang it you guys, now you got me wanting to get heavier arrows.[:@] The wife is not going to like that.

LOL They never do .

The arrow I am shooting now and will be using this fall is 534 grains. Itwill havea 220 gr muzzy phantom, blazers, 17% FOC and I get about 236FPS. Kinetic energy runs about 66 according to the software. At 40 yards it hits the target and sounds like someone is punching it. I also made some arrows with a heavy insert (same shaft)so that I could use different 125 gr broadheads (slick trick and crimson talon). These are fun arrows .