Tip: Weight Matching Arrows

[ATL]

Thought this may help someone. When I build arrows I attempt to weight match components to get a smaller variation in final weight across the set. With a larger set, or shafts and components from different lots, I get variations I cannot manage all the time. I can usually get them within 2-3 grains for the set.

This season I weighed all the arrows prior to fletching. Based off the heaviest arrow, I weighed a section of tungsten putty (2-3 grains depending on the difference to match), and inserted it through the front of the each insert, and mashed it to the bottom with a small allen key. This brought all arrows to the same exact weight.

I use Loon Outdoors Deep Soft Weight tungsten putty. I borrowed it from my fly fishing kit. It is normally used to add small amounts of weight to a fishing leader. It is tacky, and when heated softens enough to mold to the shape you need, in this case it forms to the bottom of the insert.

I likely cannot see the difference in how I shoot, but I have confidence in my equipment knowing the arrows are matched in weight. For reference I use BE Spartan arrows, stock steel inserts and a 30 grains screw in weight. The insert is more than deep enough to accept 2-3 grains of tungsten putty. That space available may vary depending on different inserts.

 

[alexnelon]

Archery is a tinkerer's game, so I don't look down on any level of nerding out. I do want to emphasize that confidence in your equipment should come from your experience and skill, though, not just the uniformity of your equipment on paper.

You're right, you can't shoot the difference of 2-3 or even 10 grains, or an inch difference in arrow length, left or right helical fletchings, different brands of vanes on each arrow, none if it (even combined) introduces more variation shot-to-shot than your hands and arms do.

If someone asked me if they would benefit more from spending 15 minutes making sure every single arrow was exactly the same weight, or spending 15 minutes shooting the bow, there's only one answer. You get better at shooting by shooting.

 

[3forks]

Archery is a tinkerer's game, so I don't look down on any level of nerding out. I do want to emphasize that confidence in your equipment should come from your experience and skill, though, not just the uniformity of your equipment on paper.

You're right, you can't shoot the difference of 2-3 or even 10 grains, or an inch difference in arrow length, left or right helical fletchings, different brands of vanes on each arrow, none if it (even combined) introduces more variation shot-to-shot than your hands and arms do.

If someone asked me if they would benefit more from spending 15 minutes making sure every single arrow was exactly the same weight, or spending 15 minutes shooting the bow, there's only one answer. You get better at shooting by shooting.

I used to be meticulous about my arrows.

Now, I’ll shoot an arrow with vane that’s loose, with a hole or tear in it, or an arrow that I cut a quarter inch off and is now shorter than all the others of because of a splintered or busted end, and I’ll see no significant variation in point of impact on them compared to the others in my quiver.

I won’t do this for tournaments or my hunting arrows, but a few grains difference, slight bend in a field point, or janky vanes aren’t going to be that significant.