I have a slightly different approach to the Heavy Vs. Light arrow battle that has been raging in this board lately.

I have been shooting an arrow velocity of around 270 to 275fps for quite some time now. The reason is I like the trajectory and flight characteristics I get from an arrow in that velocity range and with a FOC of around 12%. I have done a lot of testing with different setups with a shooting machine and have discovered FOR MYSELF that this setup works best for my tastes. The great thing about Technology in the archery industry is I can shoot a shoot a heavier arrow at the same velocity thus giving me more KE and Momentum. I could shoot a faster lighter arrow, or a slower heavier arrow but I would rather shoot an arrow in that velocity range because I now how it is going to react. That is my preference.

For the most part the argument of a “slow heavy arrow” and a “fast light arrow” is moot. By most of you’re own addmitions you consider a long shot to be 30 yards. Most of you don’t consider taking a shot at an animal past 25yd (do a search on those type of threads to prove my point). At those ranges the difference in arrow flight between the “Heavy” and “Light” arrows can be measured in fractions of an inch. With that being said WHAT THE HELL IS THE BIG DEAL??? Am I missing something here?

Why spend all this time and effort in name calling and flaming when it doesn’t really matter to begin with. If you are happy with the performance of you’re setup and you can kill what you intend to than shutup and hunt.

Here are some steps to success.

1) Get a bow- don’t be persuaded by what everybody else is shooting. Shoot as many as you can for yourself and find the bow that fits YOU the best. All major manufactures these days are producing a quality product.
2) Get a PROPERLY SPINED arrow for you’re setup- It doesn’t matter if it is a slow heavy XX78 or a screaming light weight carbon shaft. Those decisions should be made up to you’re personal preferences. A
3) Make sure you’re setup is well tuned- tune the bow and arrow combination to perfection.
4) PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
5) HUNT

Let’s quit the childish bickering and name-calling and get back to answering questions and helping one another.


Andrew

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Well said!

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

I think I was kinda the one that started this thing, with a post on the tech forum. Where it lead me was to take a hard look at what I wanted to accomplish.

To illustrate what AC is saying, I computed the trajectory of two arrows, one a 332 grain flying at 318 fps and one a 542 grain at 252 fps. A dramatic difference. How much difference do you think there is at 30 yards?

Less than 1 inch above (mid-point) and only 1&quot; below at 30 yards. Both arrows provide right around 75# of ke, plenty no matter how you look at it for whitetails with whatever head you want to use. As a bonus, the heavier arrow will have gads more momentum in the event of a non-perfect shot (can you say shoulder blade?).

I'm currently flinging a 332 grain arrow at +300 fps. Makes you think...

Ac,we use almost the same criteria.I like to shoot around 270 and I shoot it all year.Why would I change to 290 for hunting or 220.It is where I do my best shooting and have won many tournaments at that speed.I also blow thru deer with my setup.That is my main concern.


I also like 12 % foc.


I have said it here before.If you stay with what the manufacturers have set for your spine range in hunting arrows you should have enough weight to kill a deer.Passthru's will be determined by draw length,poundage and the tune of the bow.As well as shot placement.

TFOX
I shoot my setup all year as well. I used to be into the indoor thing in winter to get as much shooting in as possible. I had an Ultra tech set up with some 2512's, scope and the whole nine. I then had a Pro38 &quot;3D&quot; setup to squeeze as much speed as humanly possible to kill that pesky foam in the spring. Then there was the hunting setup I shot in the fall. Last year I sold both the &quot;indoor&quot; and &quot;3d&quot; setups and just concentrated on my Hunting setup. My indoor score went down a little last winter and I didn't win as many 3D shoots this summer as I did in years past, but I am more confident im my bow than ever before. The time spent tinkering with the other bows has been put into my hunting bow and it shows. One thing I overlooked in the past was tuning my arrows. I learned it from a Bowtech pro shooter(who's dad is a major part of Winners Choice.) He and his dad showed me how to tune my arrows. I have gotten 10 of my 12 arrows to hit in the same hole at 20yd. The bow will shoot a dime size group(out of the machine) at 60 yd. Talk about a confidence booster.

I am not advocating spending all spare time and effort in playing with you're setup like I have. I do however believe people should spend more time shooting and getting familiar with there equipment than cutting down others for not shooting what they are.

Andrew

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Ac,we are very similar.I still use the scope and all the little gadgets for 3-d but I shoot it at 278 for 3-d and 268 for hunting.They are actually the same arrows and the foc is the same for both.The difference is fletching,wraps,and the point weight goes up for the foc.I could get a little more but I really like that spot.

I also have my bow tuned with a machine and it does give you an extreme confidence boost knowing your setup can do things that we as shooters can really only dream about.I have had days with it that most would call me a liar if I said what I was able to do with it.I finished the 3-d year shooting a 294 out of a possible 300 with my hunting setup on a course for hunters.That is a real boost going into the season.


The guy that tunes mine does talk directly with Spott Hogg on their machine and they pass notes.He has actually tuned 3 world record holding bows and coached a few in his day.I can tune a bow but with people like this at your disposal,why not pick their brains to the fullest.

I tune my own but if I had a guy around like TFOX I would use him.
I shoot a &quot;blazing&quot; 250ish with full lenght arrows and get a bullet hole at any yardage.
My field points and Muzzys will hit the same spot and I love my slow heavy QUIET set-up.
I shoot a Keller pendulem sight and will not shoot over 30 yards and unless it is an ideal shot no over 20.
I will shoot mine and you guys shoot what you like and let's not fight with each other as PETA and the other tree hugging yahoos need no more ammo than we give them now.
Good luck to all this year no matter if you shoot fast, slow, compound, recurve, longbow, crossbow, or throw rocks.
To each his own.
SF

Sprintflyer,I also have an arrow that weighs in around 440 gr and travels about 245 fps.I use this in the thick cover and it is built just like the rest of my arrows and only shoots 1 1/2&quot; low at 30 yards so I guess that I am on both sides of the fence.Not saying to shoot thru brush but there may be a twig that is not seen.

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Why spend all this time and effort in name calling and flaming when it doesn’t really matter to begin with. If you are happy with the performance of you’re setup and you can kill what you intend to than shutup and hunt.



Andrew

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Well said!!! You should have T-shirts made up , I'd buy one<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


&quot;Nocked,cocked & ready to rock&quot;

BOWFANATIC: not a bad idea. My favorite hunting T-shirt reads

Vegetarian- An old Indian word meaning Bad Hunter!

Cracks me up.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Andrew

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