how light is too light.
11-04-2005, 04:54 AM
#24
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 2,413
RE: how light is too light.
You will GAIN ke by lossing the mass
Bows transfer their energy more efficiently to a heavier arrow. A heavier arrow also is less affected by wind resistance, therefore downrange the lighter arrow is losing it's K.E. at a faster rate. Add in the fact that heavier arrows have greater momentum which is more important once the arrow has hit hide, muscle and bone that can and will deflect it's energy easier with a lighter arrow. Add all this up and you will get many hunters defending the advantages of shooting a heavier arrow.
All that aside, with his set-up, K.E. is not a problem at any arrow weight. What he needs is an arrow that ends up where he's aiming. I suggest that this will be more easily accomplished by concentrating on proper tuning and making sure the F.O.C. is high (I'd shoot for at least 11-12% for most people). Picking an arrow because it's light is the wrong way to go about choosing a good bowhunting set-up. Out of that bow, he can shoot a log and be shooting plenty "flat" out to 30 yards.
I think that the average hunter will be more successful by concentrating on acheiving a high FOC while making sure the arrow is stiff enough to handle the extra tip weight at his arrow length and draw weight. Throw some helical fletching into the formula and you have a deer killing arrow. Speed does not kill. A sharp broadhead hitting a vital area with a least the minimum amount of energy and momentum to penetrate to the vitals, is what kills.
11-04-2005, 08:00 AM
#25
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
RE: how light is too light.
[quote]Add in the fact that heavier arrows have greater momentum which is more important once the arrow has hit hide, muscle and bone that can and will deflect it's energy easier with a lighter arrow.[quote]
Gain in KE is the wrong word. YOU WILL GAIN PENETRATION!!!
This is reality - theory is proven in the math.
Straightarrow -you are not considering the amount of surface area on the projectile.
Reality is the WELL KNOWN fact that smaller diameter carbons penetrate farther than my fat alluminums. I have ridden both sides of this fence - I switched to carbons when the first came out. Back to alluminum because of the durability factor of the early carbons. After 10 years of that I'm back on carbons because of the REALITY of the physics involved.
- A heavier arrow with THE SAME DIAMETER is less affected by the wind. If you really believe that a lighter arrow is lossing it's KE at a faster rate you need to study the charts a little bit more. FACT - a smaller diameter shaft is LESS affected by the wind = SURFACE AREA. The small difference in weight DOES NOT offset the larger surface area variable - which is what is considered when thinking about crosswinds!!!!
I know this has been beat to death so I will quit here - but you really should take a look at the math involved and then sink some carbons next to your fat alluminums out of the same setup.
YOU will have a REALITY CHECK.
Theory is great, but reality is better.
This is reality - theory is proven in the math.
Straightarrow -you are not considering the amount of surface area on the projectile.
Reality is the WELL KNOWN fact that smaller diameter carbons penetrate farther than my fat alluminums. I have ridden both sides of this fence - I switched to carbons when the first came out. Back to alluminum because of the durability factor of the early carbons. After 10 years of that I'm back on carbons because of the REALITY of the physics involved.
A heavier arrow also is less affected by wind resistance, therefore downrange the lighter arrow is losing it's K.E. at a faster rate.
I know this has been beat to death so I will quit here - but you really should take a look at the math involved and then sink some carbons next to your fat alluminums out of the same setup.
YOU will have a REALITY CHECK.
11-04-2005, 08:41 AM
#26
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 2
RE: how light is too light.
All that aside, with his set-up, K.E. is not a problem at any arrow weight. What he needs is an arrow that ends up where he's aiming.
And what he really needs is an arrow that ends up where he's aiming.
Why then, would you suggest "rainbowing one in there"????
I completely agree with you on the FOC discussion. It is a fine line to drop some weight but can be done on most setups with a lot of research, simple calculations, and experimenting.
Go Fast - Go Flat - You have plenty of KE and with the smaller surface area you WILL GAIN PENETRATION.
At some point I'm going to sit down with CADD and determine the actual surface area on different diameters AND surface area on different broadheads. I feel this is completely overlooked and a VERY important variable when considering penetration. Like I said - go sink some small, light carbons into the same target, out of the same setup v.s. heavy "logs".
Would love to hear your results - I know what mine have shown(REALITY)
Good luck to all!!!!
11-04-2005, 09:04 AM
#27
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 2,413
RE: how light is too light.
A heavier arrow with THE SAME DIAMETER is less affected by the wind. If you really believe that a lighter arrow is lossing it's KE at a faster rate you need to study the charts a little bit more. FACT - a smaller diameter shaft is LESS affected by the wind = SURFACE AREA. The small difference in weight DOES NOT offset the larger surface area variable - which is what is considered when thinking about crosswinds!!!!
Why then, would you suggest "rainbowing one in there"????
but you really should take a look at the math involved and then sink some carbons next to your fat alluminums out of the same setup.
My recomendation is still, pay no attention to speed. Look carefully at the factors that cause a broadhead to fly well, and take whatever speed results.
11-04-2005, 04:15 PM
#28
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 105
RE: how light is too light.
heres my thinking on this, i am bringing my bow in after nov 15 since gun seasons starts then. I am having my bow completley cleaned and inspected and then fix my draw lenght, maybe even my let off. But will letoff change this whole setup and everything. Then i am planning on cutting aleast an inch of my CX's, will this change my F.O.C.? I know it will take weight off but they will still be fine since there in the 500 neighborhood now. Then I am going to get some thin shafted carbons or aluminuns (cant decide yet) that are on the light side. That way I can pick my personal preference. How do i know what shaft stiffness to get in either aluminun or carbon. What would change if i went back to finger shooting. I was always a finger shooter until i got this bow, and i have a huge problem with "trigger punching". what do you guys think, oh and no reason to fight!!
11-05-2005, 08:26 AM
#30
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 48
RE: how light is too light.
I also thought you gain kinetic energy, with heavier arrows. I know when i was younger my friends and i were shooting like and i know its not legal, at least not in pa, but he got a deer shooting 27 pounds. I just think if you place your shot, no matter how much weight, you'll be able to bring down a deer.(Not less than 27 though,lol)