Bow manufacturers recomend 5 grains per inch / at 70 lbs would be 350 grains.
Does this include vanes, nocks, inserts, heads, ect.
I shoot much heavier and won't change but I was just curious.

Yep, total weight.

Fritz

That is the IBO standard. It is fine to shoot lighter arrows, but not too light.

I disagrree with Zak123 here...5 grains/inch is already bordering on too light IMO. My PSE bow for example says the lightest arrow taht should go through it is 360grains, and the bow is a 60# draw. I would reccomend staying around 400 grains at the lighter end.

I don't want to start a fight here but I do have a PSE bow and the sticker says 360 lbs also. I took it to the bow shop and they said, "That is the IBO standard. You won't find much heavier arrows arround here to match that with your draw length."

Also a pro archer shoots super light arrows, around 250 grains, out of his 63 pound bow. I brought my 325 and 369 grain arrows over there and he goes, " Geez, these are heavy."

I would believe the bow shop and a pro archer mainly because I have been using arrows under 360 grains.

i would stick around 400gr for hunting, but i also have to agree with zak if your going to be target shooting you can go with lighter arrows, but yes ibo standards are 5 grains/inch

Dave, the manufacturers don't "recommend 5 grains per inch". However, most will void your warranty if you shoot less then that. I'm quite sure that all manufacturers hope you shoot a heavier arrow. Heavier means less vibration, less noise, longer life for the limb, riser, accessories and string. Overall the shooting experience is more pleasant with heavier arrows and it's easier on the bow. Heavier arrows also transfer more of the bow's potential energy to the arrow. Hunters like this.

The only benefit I can think of, for light arrows, is increased speed. Increase speed can be a small benefit with 3D and some hunting situations, if you can retain the same accuracy level, and that's a big "IF".

Maybe I am missing something here but there is a significant difference between "5 grains per inch" and "5 grains per pound". The IBO "standard" that everyone has been going by was 5 grains per pound of draw weight which it sounds like everyone has been discussing here.

However, High Country and their carbon arrows are touting "5 grains per inch" in their advertising slogans. 5 grains per inch of arrow length is significantly less than 5 grains per pound of arrow weight. A 30 inch shaft would weigh 150 grains. Throw in a 100 grain point, some four inch vanes, insert, nock, etc... would be less than 350 grains.

Take a good look at that "High Grade Carbon" advertisement and look at their total arrow weights in comparison to some of the other carbons on the market and you will see what I am referring to.

That's one heavy bow Zak!!

PABowhntr is right...What I meant to say was not to go under the IBO minimum, which in the case of my bow is 6grains per pound of draw weight. Sure you can shoot lighter, and you'll find 3d shooters doing this, but you're more likely to wear your bow out with all the excess vibration you'll get. I have a short draw lenght, and if I went with 5 grains/inch I'd be shooting nearly a 250g arrow! Yikes... (~26.5 draw).

I'm confused. I meant 5 grains per pound of pull for IBO standards and I have a 360 min grain arrow for my bow for IBO.