4mm VS 5mm VS 6mm

[SippyCup]

I’ve gone from 80# to 70# draw weight and need to get some softer spined arrows. I only have experience with 6mm and 5mm arrows, and honestly there isn’t a noticeable difference between the two. I keep hearing that 4mm buck the wind better but I cannot find any hard data proving the performance increase. Something comparable to a ballistic chart similar to the 6.5 CM to a 308 would be sweet to look at.
Has anyone found any data like this?

 

[Bump79]

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[Joe Holden]

If you want a chart, what's posted above is probably the most referenced one. Also brings a conversation about vanes into play as well.

In my opinion (which no one asked for), it really depends on how far you're planning on killing something. Inside a certain range on days you're comfortable shooting max killing distance, they all work with 4mm/5mm/6mm/6.5mm being less prone to wind in that order.

 

[fatlander]

If the wind is blowing hard enough that the slight increase in wind resistance becomes significant with respect to the archers natural margin of error, I can’t imagine the archer can hold their bow well enough to even get a confident shot off at the distance required to matter.

4mm arrows are 3-5x as much as 6.5mm arrows

5mm arrows are 2-3x as much 6.5 mm arrows.

Neither of them are more than ~.10x better in performance out of a shooting machine.

I’ve shot them all a bunch and I can’t find any reason beyond you want to spend more money because you can.


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[SippyCup]

Thanks fellas. I’ll dive into that article this evening.

 

[sodaksooner]

Ive thought about 4mm, but like 5's as I can still use inserts. Not that outserts are bad, have shot them before, but I think 5's are a good compromise. They have done well at long distance, TAC style events, although I would never shoot game at some of those distances. I do hold off some on long crosswind shots though, like 80 to 130 yards. Normal game ranges, 50 and under, not sure that makes a ton of difference, but I don't have any emprical data to support that. 4mm are cool though.

 

[fatlander]

Ive thought about 4mm, but like 5's as I can still use inserts. Not that outserts are bad, have shot them before, but I think 5's are a good compromise. They have done well at long distance, TAC style events, although I would never shoot game at some of those distances. I do hold off some on long crosswind shots though, like 80 to 130 yards. Normal game ranges, 50 and under, not sure that makes a ton of difference, but I don't have any emprical data to support that. 4mm are cool though.

The components for 4mm have come a long ways. The stock ones still suck, as a whole.

The aftermarket outserts are much much better than they were in the not so distant past. They’re daggum expensive though.

I’ve got a set of 4mm arrows I built last fall because that’s all I could build to get the exact arrow weight (speed) I wanted in the spine I needed. Long story short. They’ve been great, but they’re not noticeably better than 6.5mm arrows. They’re definitely not 3-5x better.


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[sodaksooner]

The components for 4mm have come a long ways. The stock ones still suck, as a whole.

The aftermarket outserts are much much better than they were in the not so distant past. They’re daggum expensive though.

I’ve got a set of 4mm arrows I built last fall because that’s all I could build to get the exact arrow weight (speed) I wanted in the spine I needed. Long story short. They’ve been great, but they’re not noticeably better than 6.5mm arrows. They’re definitely not 3-5x better.


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ive not had as much with lighter 4mm shaft availability. Ive been using Altras for the last few years in 5mm, but they just came out with a lighter 4mm. Ive been tempted but not really wanting to change my setup. That said, I shot 6.5mm fmj's for years and they shot well too.

 

[SippyCup]

Yeah now that iron will has the snydercore and evolution has glue in points that’s the only reason I was considering 4mm. I haven’t looked at arrows in 3-4 years and have been completely happy with my black eagle Spartans and Renegades. But when you go on anyone’s website they’re all about the micros. I didn’t know if it was for a good reason or if it’s just the trendy new thing to do.

 

[Joe Holden]

Yeah now that iron will has the snydercore and evolution has glue in points that’s the only reason I was considering 4mm. I haven’t looked at arrows in 3-4 years and have been completely happy with my black eagle Spartans and Renegades. But when you go on anyone’s website they’re all about the micros. I didn’t know if it was for a good reason or if it’s just the trendy new thing to do.

I'm sure there's merit at some level. On surface, a lot of it is creating the product and sell the urgency/coolness factor. Then lock you into only those products instead of widespread screw in points.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

But when you go on anyone’s website they’re all about the micros. I didn’t know if it was for a good reason or if it’s just the trendy new thing to do.

For the $$$

 

[S.Clancy]

I'm considering going back to 6mm arrow (from 5mm) because they are cheaper and, IME, I believe they shoot better. My best shooting was with 6mm Beman arrows. My next dozen will be some Easton Sonic 250's.

I would never consider 4mm due to cost, fragility, components, etc.