Arrow speed, arrow weight, accuracy, and penetration

By John Dudley John Dudley argues that broadheads should be used at relatively slow speeds under 280 fps. A heavier, slower-flying arrow makes for good accuracy, he says, and if the bow-arrow combination is well tuned, the arrow will have more penetrating power than a lighter, faster arrow. compact or large-cut. I have done independent testing on countless numbers of broadheads, arrows, vanes, bows, etc. Without going through all the thousands of variables, I will tell you this: a lot of the time, a fixed-blade broadhead will be most effective if the speed is kept under 280 fps. Like I said, the factors that affect this are countless. Factually stated, arrows under 280 fps tend to be much more likely to group above expectation, and they are amazingly effective. An important factor in this is most obviously the type of broadhead you choose. Without being biased, I can tell you that the best-grouping heads I have shot to date include Shuttle T-Lock, G5 Striker and the Rocket Bacon Skinner. I am not going to say these are the only three fixed heads that perform well, because I havent tried everything on the market and at times other brands have shot well. However, all things factored in, those three gave the most consistent grouping. As for durability, I would rate these heads in the same order as above with the Shuttle being the best, due to the blade design and how it fits in the ferrule. If you arent shooting a fixed-blade broadhead, then obviously you are shooting a mechanical-deployment broadhead. In my opinion this is a much better option if you are only concerned with shooting very fast speed. There are many goodlooking mechanical heads on the market, and for speeds over 280 fps these simply perform the best regardless of vanes, shaft selection, distance shot, etc... The argument of fixed blades vs. mechanical heads can go on forever and ever. Each has its benefits, without a doubt. Only you yourself will know what suits your application in hunting and equipment choice. I am not here to tell you which one to use, I am only here to tell you that with all market BS to the side, you need to know that your choice in speed should also determine your choice in heads. I personally see a fixed-blade broadhead to be a better choice, after factoring in all things, for 80% of my hunting applications. So for the most part this article will be geared to those readers who favour a fixed-blade broadhead. Arrow education Just like fast bows, there are also arrows that are marketed for speed. For some applications a fast, light arrow can be advantageous. I have used them myself in the past for pronghorn

n the fast-moving field of archery we consumers are constantly being hit with new, improved products. It seems that the demand for speed continuously drives the manufacturers and buyers to develop new technology. Its nature, I guess, that we like to have the fastest and highest-performing product we can get our hands on, and the bottom line is that speed still sells. Equally noticeable to me is that in some countries -- like the USA, Africa, Australia -- that have large game animals, people are electing to have high-poundage hunting bows. Fast designs and heavy pulls can definitely have their advantages, but many people who arent educated on speed and heavy pulls dont realise the effect it has on arrows tipped with certain broadheads. In my opinion marketing is a powerful tool to any company as long as education goes along with it! Most people simply believe what they read or what is advertised and never actually test the claims for themselves. Truth is, our industry is filled with misleading ads and marketing. However, if you are smart to your set-up, you can still come out way ahead of past performances with this high-tech equipment. Dont get me wrong, I am thankful to the innovative companies and their new products because speed is valuable, heavier poundage is valuable, but so is proper education. There are several benefits to speed and also to heavy poundage, and by the end of this article I believe that you will be a lot smarter about how to configure your bow for the best combination of speed and poundage. Consider what is up front Speed is a touchy subject for hunters because the biggest problem in this equation is broadheads. When deciding the speed of your set-up, you need to first consider the broadhead you are going to use, whether it is fixed-blade or mechanical, and

The Axis FMJ DG Gunmetal arrow, 300 grains.

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A BFM of the Alpha Max 35 and an FMJ Dangerous Game arrow.

antelope, impala or European roe deer. When hunting animals that I know to have quick reflexes I tend to choose a faster arrow. I do this to try to minimise the opportunity for the animals vitals to change location from where they were when I shot. However, when I am shooting very fast I know that it also means shooting a mechanical broadhead. This is not always my preference. The trade-off for a lightweight arrow is a lower impact force when hitting dense bone. When you combine less kinetic impact with a mechanical head then you tend to minimise penetration potential. That is why I use light, fast arrows only for smaller game animals. In opposition to the lighter arrows on the market there are also arrows that have a higher mass/weight rating per inch of arrow shaft. In years past, heavier arrows usually meant they were massive in diameter as well. Nowadays though you can get heavier arrows that are still small in shaft diameter. This is important because the weight is needed for energy, and the small diameter is needed for maximum penetration and minimal air drag. Heavier arrows have many benefits but most people are detoured to do a slower speed. I believe people tend to think that a lighter, faster arrow is more effective than a slower arrow. That is only true if the arrows in the equation are the same weight. For example, a 400-grain arrow at 300 fps would be more effective than a 400-grain arrow traveling more slowly. Here in the States many hunters do not know this. They believe faster means harder-hitting. In Africa though I think bowhunters are much better educated on the benefits of a heavier arrow and its importance to penetration and kinetic energy. Do you think a lighter arrow going 325 feet per second would have more impact than a heavy arrow going 258 feet per second? To prove this point, here are some factual numbers for you to think about. These are actual numbers taken directly from my personal bow, the Hoyt Alpha Max 35, set at 80 pounds peak weight. My draw length is 31 inches: A 400-grain arrow will shoot at 325 feet per second. A 700-grain arrow will shoot at 258 feet per second. To calculate kinetic energy you need to use this formula: 0,5 x mass x velocity x velocity = kinetic energy The factors that I have from my Alpha Max show that the 400grain arrow produces 93.84 pounds of kinetic force out of the bow. The 700-grain arrow produces 103.49 pounds of kinetic force out of the same bow! The same bow with an arrow that is 67 feet per second slower out of the bow produces nearly 10

Easton's new HIT brass insert weighs 75 grains, but a break-off section allows reduction of the weight to 50 grains.

pounds more kinetic energy! Also keep in mind that this is the speed out of the bow. The equation would favour the heavier arrow even more farther down range. This is because the heavier-weight arrow will retain its energy better than a lighter arrow the farther it travels. It is simple physics of mass in motion. Now that you know the factors of mass, weight and speed, you have a lot more to think about. If you are shooting animals that have fast reflexes or are in a hunting situation where you have to make quick shots at unknown distances, then speed can be advantageous. However, if those factors are not relevant then a heavier arrow will be a better choice. Heavier arrows have more kinetic impact and better penetration, and the higher kinetic energy allows for the use of larger cutting-diameter broadheads. Earlier I talked about speed and that a slower arrow tipped with a broadhead is more stable than a faster arrow. This is very true. An easy way to think on this is to think about the last time you were in a car driving with your hand out the window. If you point your hand forward and move it slightly up and down you will quickly see that it is much easier to control when you are driving slowly than when you are going faster. The faster you drive, the faster the air takes your hand in one direction or the other. This is the same principle that restricts most people from getting broadheads to group consistently with field points. A bladed tip is easier to control at a lower speed. Let high performance help you, not hurt you Now that you have all this new information about speed and energy, lets put it to good use. Bows are getting faster and faster. Speed is valuable, but like I said: let it help you. I personally believe that todays hunters would be much wiser to select a heavier design of arrow shaft to go with the high speeds that are being achieved. By selecting a heavier arrow, you will benefit by reducing the velocity of the shaft to a more manageable speed, which will make it group better and also achieve better penetration. So if you are shooting a heavy-weight bow or a bow that is screaming fast out of the box, using a fixed-blade broadhead, then I would highly recommend that you try to find as heavy an arrow as possible to get the speed under that 280fps mark. I think you will be much happier with the results! To aid heavy arrows, Easton also came out with a very cool accessory. This year they introduced a new brass HIT insert. This insert is designed to fit any of the Easton shafts that allow

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for the HIT system. The brass insert is 75 grains in weight, but has a break-off section that allows for reducing the weight to 50 grains. This heavy insert is valuable in many ways other than just adding total mass. For example, in order for arrows to fly well it is important to have a high percentage of FOC or frontof-center meaning the heavier the weight in the front part of the arrow, the higher the FOC. If the FOC is high (over 13%) then the ability of the arrow to fly true is much better. Here is how I used this new insert system for my personal bows. For my dangerous-game arrows I used the 75-grain insert and was able to get a 700-grain arrow with a 125-grain broadhead. Again, I shoot the 700-grain arrow out of my 80-pound Alpha Max at 258 fps. However, when I shoot my Alpha Max 35 at 70 pounds, I use the 50-grain inserts inside a standard FMJ 300. This arrow weighs nearly 500 grains and shoots at around 280 fps. What I like about the 50-grain insert for the lighter arrow is that it allows me to shoot a 100-grain broadhead while still having 150 grains of total weight in the front of the arrow. So I have great FOC and also have good arrow flight, since the 100-grain head is more compact then the 125. I think these heavy arrows and heavy inserts have been needed for a long time. I am a firm believer in innovation and improvement. Archery gear constantly improves and changes, and it is great when the improvements help the person using the product. But sometimes technological advancements reduce the outcome for the user. Bows that are fast definitely have their advantages, but only if used correctly. I believe that using the speed of the bows to allow for using heavier arrows is the biggest advantage. A perfectly placed arrow results in death within seconds. A poorly placed arrow is exactly the opposite. I know that most of you out there are no different than I am. You spend a lot of time working hard to save to hunt. Then you schedule a

trip and eagerly anticipate it for months before it comes. The biggest reward is being successful on that hunt. The worst feeling is coming home empty-handed. Be wise about your equipment and make sure that your bow and arrow set-up is shooting as well as you are capable of. You will enjoy shooting and be more successful when hunting when you have a bow that is forgiving and enjoyable to shoot. It will also boost your confidence and put more arrows in the vitals. Before you head out to the bush with the fastest arrow in camp, make sure that a slower, heavier arrow wouldnt have been the better choice. You wont know if you wont try. I know I personally have weighted it all out and the best thing about the fast bows is that I can finally shoot seriously heavyweight and destructive arrows while maintaining high performance. T Best of luck in the field!

Action of Axis' Bone Crusher.

The author with the moose he bagged using a Hoyt Alpha Max bow, set at 80 pounds, and an Easton FMJ Dangerous Game arrow.

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