Bowhunting Accuracy: Arrow Speed vs. Weight

fmarrs3

Lil-Rokslider
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May 1, 2021
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@Billy Goat How do you think about trade-offs with the other sometimes touted benefits of heavier arrows, such as resistance to wind drift and quiet-ness? These are certain kinds of "forgiveness" that heavier arrows offer, and should they be balanced with range / group size forgiveness of a lighter arrow?
 
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@Billy Goat How do you think about trade-offs with the other sometimes touted benefits of heavier arrows, such as resistance to wind drift and quiet-ness? These are certain kinds of "forgiveness" that heavier arrows offer, and should they be balanced with range / group size forgiveness of a lighter arrow?

I think a lot of arrows are more similar instead of more different. Arrows drift in the wind, only so much you can do to minimize it. Yeah, 27's with big fletching are going to drift a lot more in 10 mph than a .204 or a .165 shaft, but with hunting arrows, there's only so much you can do. I have tried small fletch, even in a 4 fletch and it's not a forgiving setup with a broadhead. You need at least a .4" tall vane at minimum in my opinion, that's where you are going to catch the wind drift. A heavier shaft is spending more time in flight, so I think it largely negates the benefits it has with wind resistance. Meaning, for a half second in the wind, a heavier shaft might drift 6" instead of 8", but it's in the air 10% longer say. I'm making those numbers up, can sit down later and actually work it out better.

But I don't notice huge differences with what would be a hunting setup.
 
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