RE: FOC Field Application?
 

I'm not so sure it works that way. A fair number of people online talk about it, but relatively few of the total bowhunters seem to know anything at all about it. Just look at how little involvement the technical forum gets compared to the "bowhunting stories" forum, and one gets a feel for the lack of interest in this type of thing. Certainly, less than 1% of bowhunters have ever read Ashby's studies involving FOC and only a portion of those believe what he has concluded.

Is it a big deal? Well, I doubt a 1-2% increase in FOC will make much of a difference, unless it just happens to get your arrow out of a super unstable range. However, when you get into the extreme increase range, then the difference is profound in my opinion. Still, how many people have even experimented with 250 grains on the tip? I'm including bow shop owners in this. I'll bet 90% of those haven't even tried it, much less studied the available data on it.

You also have to know how to arrive at proper spine when using heaving weight on the front. You can't just add the weight to an arrow and expect it to work. Most don't know this. They go to a chart, read the variables and choose the recommended head. They don't even know how inaccurate those charts can be, and the charts typically don't go past 125 grains. Heck, none of the charts even take into account the difference between draw length and arrow length when determing spine.

In my opinion, the bowhunting public has a long way to go before a majority understand what proper arrow design consists of. Bowhunters tend to be wrapped up in annecdotal evidence - 'light-weight, low FOC worked for me, so why change?' The bow industry will have to make a change towards promoting stable arrow flight, vs 'this is the fastest bow on the planet'. I don't see this happening anytime soon. At this time, the industry seems to be predicated on what bow manufacturers do - and they promote faster bows than the 'other guy' has.

RE: FOC Field Application?
 

Straightarrow,
And to think that a few months ago when I was asking all of the technical questions, I was told that I was being too technical, both by the archery shop owner and some of the members here. I didn't stop learning, though. I just stopped talking about it. I'm one of those guys who isn't satisfied that it works.... I want to know how and whyit works.

RE: FOC Field Application?
 

I'd really like to experiment with light arrow shafts and ultra high FOC's but that right there is what keeps me from it. My arrows are too long (32"). Even at 125 grains, the charts show me needing a shaft with .300 spine deflection. That's pretty much as stiff as it gets with carbon. At least, so far as I'm aware.

Maybe I just need to break down and find myself an overdraw so I can shorten up my arrows.

RE: FOC Field Application?
 

Great discussion guys. I really have to agree with Straightarrow when he talks about how the vast majority of bowhunters really have no clue what should be taken into consideration when building a shaft. Whether it is for 3-D, Hunting, Target, etc.

While I am just starting to get into bowhunting, and have a long ways to go, I learned quickly on the affect a poorly "thought-out" arrow and how broadhead flight can be dramatically affected.

Just look at the forums right before hunting season. Tell me what you see. Many are left with poor broadhead flight due to poor tuning (both bow and arrow).

While I have no dabbled into 125 grain heads, through this discussion, I am thinking about setting up arrows for both 100 grain heads and 125 grain heads to really dig deeper into trying to find better accuracy and penetration.

RE: FOC Field Application?
 

Arthur, I think guys like yourself can dabble a bit in the extreme FOC arrows under some situations. There's always the option of the arrows like Carbon Express' Maxima arrows with the built-in FOC, but if you're like me, you want the extra weight of the heavy tip on a carbon arrow. I personally have little interest in a light weight arrow, so I'm staying away from the tapered shafts.

Gold Tip's Big Game 100 arrow has a .280 spine. If you're willing to shoot it at around 45-50 lbs, I'd bet you could get somewhere in the 200-250 gr weight on the tip on a full length arrow. Lower draw weights are not a big drawback for guys like yourself. Your arrow has so much power that I'd bet most big game would fall if you were shooting 35 lbs. I'm using this arrow with my compound at 62 lbs at around 31" with 250 grains on the tip. My draw length is only 29", but like I said, if you get down into the lower draw weight ranges, it should work just fine.

You don't need all that extra power anyway. ;)