Arrow weight and bow noise

[N2TRKYS]

We see/hear it said all the time: a heavier arrow will make your bow more quite.
How much change in arrow weight before you notice a change in your bow noise? Has it been the same on several bows or different weights for different bows?

 

[Ucsdryder]

The girlfriend got 2 shots on a bull this year. It’s all relative but a 425gr arrow out of a 24.5” draw and 38lbs makes for a very quiet bow. If you can test some arrows that’s your best bet as all setups are different. Btw, the bull took a giant leap forward and started looking around after the first shot hit a tree.

 

[N2TRKYS]

The girlfriend got 2 shots on a bull this year. It’s all relative but a 425gr arrow out of a 24.5” draw and 38lbs makes for a very quiet bow. If you can test some arrows that’s your best bet as all setups are different. Btw, the bull took a giant leap forward and started looking around after the first shot hit a tree.

That’s awesome! Congrats to her!!!

I shot some 408 grain and a 480 grain arrows yesterday for my Dad to listen to. He said he couldn’t tell any difference and that both sounded very quiet.

I know folks on here like to tinker and thought someone may have noticed a trend.

 

[Zac]

I shot a 650 our of an 82 lb Hoyt that was extremely quiet. My bow techs at the shop were very impressed by it. However it was a lincoln log to shoot.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I shot a 650 our of an 82 lb Hoyt that was extremely quiet. My bow techs at the shop were very impressed by it. However it was a lincoln log to shoot.

At what weight did you first start noticing a difference in sound?

 

[Billy Goat]

Every grain you add to your arrow will be a decrease in sound energy. Seems to me it's that 10 grain/# is when it really gets quiet, but it's not any single point that it suddenly does it.

 

[Zac]

At what weight did you first start noticing a difference in sound?

Around 600, after shooting 530.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Every grain you add to your arrow will be a decrease in sound energy. Seems to me it's that 10 grain/# is when it really gets quiet, but it's not any single point that it suddenly does it.

I suspected that it would take uber heavy arrows to notice a big difference.

Seems like yet another item you can scratch off the list.

 

[Archerichards]

Noticed a real difference moving from 430 grain arrow to about 500 this year. Not only does bow noise seem to be less volume, but also seems to be less sharp. Less of a "crack" and more of a "thunk".

 

[Billy Goat]

I suspected that it would take uber heavy arrows to notice a big difference.

Seems like yet another item you can scratch off the list.

I'm not following. Scratch off what list?


Bow noise is a product of excess energy. The heavier the arrow the more energy transferred. More transferred energy less, left in the bow to twang the string. It's not some magical point that suddenly a bow gets quiet, even if it was it would change depending on the setup, like several things for me seem to happen at 7 grains per pound or 10 grains per pound, probably cause of my 29ish draw length. Might happen different for someone with a 27 or 31 draw.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I'm not following. Scratch off what list?


Bow noise is a product of excess energy. The heavier the arrow the more energy transferred. More transferred energy less, left in the bow to twang the string. It's not some magical point that suddenly a bow gets quiet, even if it was it would change depending on the setup, like several things for me seem to happen at 7 grains per pound or 10 grains per pound, probably cause of my 29ish draw length. Might happen different for someone with a 27 or 31 draw.

The list of things that bowhunters do that we think that matters and probably really doesn’t.

 

[Billy Goat]

I didn't say where it did or didn't matter. It was your question.


My take is I'm a believer in a quiet arrow. Bow noise doesn't matter too much to me. I have dropped enough stuff out of treestands around deer, only thing I see them try to duck and spin is an arrow. Water bottle only makes them alert.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I didn't say where it did or didn't matter.

I didn’t say you did. I’m saying that it’s something probably not worth worrying about, unless you’re prepared to go uber heavy.

I hear it all the time that adding any weight to your arrow will make your bow quieter. Folks fall for that and go chasing something that in the end they don’t notice any difference in.

 

[Joe Holden]

Used a 450 grain arrow out of a 80# bow at 313 fps. Sounded like a pellet gun. Moved up to a 550 grain arrow @ 285 and it was noticeably more quiet.

Recently noticed a small difference between 450 (dk speed, assume around 270) and 475 (262) out of a 65# bow while shooting indoors.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Used a 450 grain arrow out of a 80# bow at 313 fps. Sounded like a pellet gun. Moved up to a 550 grain arrow @ 285 and it was noticeably more quiet.

Recently noticed a small difference between 450 (dk speed, assume around 270) and 475 (262) out of a 65# bow while shooting indoors.

Good info. Thanks

 

[Sled]

another thing to consider is your BH type. having been downrange when another archer took a shot at some deer i was watching...vented blades sure do whistle. almost got trampled after that shot by 11 bucks and one doe. several were wall hangers but i was after elk that day.

 

[SoDaky]

IMO it matters.With some bows a great deal.A 'twang' or 'crack' is bad.A 'thunk' is good.Truth based on many decades of hunting.

 

[N2TRKYS]

another thing to consider is your BH type. having been downrange when another archer took a shot at some deer i was watching...vented blades sure do whistle. almost got trampled after that shot by 11 bucks and one doe. several were wall hangers but i was after elk that day.

I referring to the bow noise, not the arrow noise.

 

[N2TRKYS]

IMO it matters.With some bows a great deal.A 'twang' or 'crack' is bad.A 'thunk' is good.Truth based on many decades of hunting.

At what weight do you start noticing a difference?

 

[Sled]

I referring to the bow noise, not the arrow noise.

I get that, just offering another consideration for your "list". I heard this arrow coming from a long ways off. Sounds very different from down range. Btw, I didn't hear the shot break so maybe he had a heavy arrow.

To add to your topic, my bows get a bit quieter for every 100 grains I go up. Starting with the right bow, in tune with all screws tight helps immensely. I had a very quiet matthews that shot 430gr arrows as quiet as another brand with 600gr arrows