Ultralight Arrows

[Brandon Pattison]

Has any of you went to a lighter weight shaft and heavier tip weight to increase your FOC? The link below is for some pretty light arrows. If anyone has any options or advice I am all ears. I am no pro but I think that you get more momentum, when you have two arrows that weigh the same, with the arrow with more FOC. In 300 spine, these are 7.2 GPI. Right now I am running Axis at 10.7 GPI. That is about 96 grains different for my length of arrow. I could shoot a 200 grain head and effectively have the same arrow speed.

http://www.victoryarchery.com/carbon-arrows/hunting/vforce-hv/

 

[justinspicher]

Light arrows won't work very well for me out of my recurve. I try to shoot at about ten grains per inch. I won't go too heavy up front because I don't like to compensate for the drop. I don't have much speed to start with either so I have a fine line to keep.

 

[rutfest]

Yes with that difference you could use a heavier point... However you still have to have the correct spine. If you went with 200 gr then you would most likely have to go to a 250 spine depending on the length of arrow. That being said I really like the higher FOC with my set up. I am currently shooting Black Eagle X - Impact 300's with the Firenock outsert, a deep 6 insert to add to the FOC and 125 grain solid S30V's. At 8.1 gpi I am right at 369 finished weight.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

Wow. That's light. I think mine are 452.

 

[rutfest]

Wow total typo!!! 469

 

[MattB]

I have a friend who went down this path by switching from Carbon Tech Whitetails to Cheetahs and using a brass inserts in place of aluminum - much higher FOC with approximately the same finished arrow weight. He came to the conclusion that higher FOC was not worth the tradeoff, as he started breaking shafts in situations where he never had before. Based on this he concluded that the high FOC arrow could ultimately lead to worse(and potentially much worse) rather than better penetration in some hunting situations.

The funny thing about it is that he never had issues with penetration before making the shift - probably like 95% of guys who have gotten sucked into the high FOC fad who unwittingly may be giving up an important aspect of arrow performance for one that is of marginal benefit.

 

[Aron Snyder]

Has any of you went to a lighter weight shaft and heavier tip weight to increase your FOC? The link below is for some pretty light arrows. If anyone has any options or advice I am all ears. I am no pro but I think that you get more momentum, when you have two arrows that weigh the same, with the arrow with more FOC. In 300 spine, these are 7.2 GPI. Right now I am running Axis at 10.7 GPI. That is about 96 grains different for my length of arrow. I could shoot a 200 grain head and effectively have the same arrow speed.

http://www.victoryarchery.com/carbon-arrows/hunting/vforce-hv/

I think this is piss poor advice for most hunting situations. ...I've tried it and epic failure would be a good description.

 

[BackcountryMT]

Yes with that difference you could use a heavier point... However you still have to have the correct spine. If you went with 200 gr then you would most likely have to go to a 250 spine depending on the length of arrow. That being said I really like the higher FOC with my set up. I am currently shooting Black Eagle X - Impact 300's with the Firenock outsert, a deep 6 insert to add to the FOC and 125 grain solid S30V's. At 8.1 gpi I am right at 369 finished weight.

How can you say that when you have no idea what is bow setup is?

I am currently shooting a Goldtip XT 7595 (.340" and 8.9 GPI) cut to 27.25". I run the standard insert with a 50grn brass insert and a 125grn head. This is finishing out at 476 grains@275 fps from my Agenda 6 with a FOC of 17.2%

I may switch to the Velocity XT this next fall for a small diameter shaft. For these, I will have to go with the .300 shaft and a 100grn brass insert and finish at almost 500 grains.

 

[tipsntails7]

Franklin that's not how momentum works. Now I will say I prefer a high foc for fixed broadheads. some where between 14-16%. My personal opinion is all of those shafts are to lite for me. I like to be 450-500 grains.

 

[Lukem]

How can you say that when you have no idea what is bow setup is?

I am currently shooting a Goldtip XT 7595 (.340" and 8.9 GPI) cut to 27.25". I run the standard insert with a 50grn brass insert and a 125grn head. This is finishing out at 476 grains@275 fps from my Agenda 6 with a FOC of 17.2%

I may switch to the Velocity XT this next fall for a small diameter shaft. For these, I will have to go with the .300 shaft and a 100grn brass insert and finish at almost 500 grains.

Velocities are basically the same diameter as the Hunters.

 

[OR Archer]

Most of the time these types of shafts have a very thin wall and are not a very strong shaft over all compared to others. I don't ever recommend these types of shafts for hunting. For deer size game you can get by with them but once you start getting into heavier boned animals you are putting yourself at a disadvantage in my opinion using such an arrow.

 

[5MilesBack]

Victory must have beefed up their HV's a "tad", I have some of their HV 300's from a few years ago and they are 6.9gpi. Having said that, they are very brittle arrows at that weight and thin walls. Putting 200gr up front would only make that worse. But when I'm shooting at 32 1/2" draw, everything seems just a bit more fragile and brittle and easier to destroy.

You're over-thinking it all.

 

[Xringer07]

I will add to what's been said already... I think by going with an ultralight arrow to boost FOC, you're losing so much wall thickness that strength is compromised. I can't think it's the fault of the higher FOC but rather the light, thin shaft. You'd be better off going with an Axis or something with thicker walls and using a combination of a brass insert and/or a heavier head, keeping in mind proper spine. You'll lose velocity with the heavier arrow, but the strength is going to increase ten fold over the toothpick arrows. You can still get 16-20% FOC with an Axis and a 75 gr insert and 125 gr head.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

I was trying to avoid loss of speed. I have been using Axis since the came out with green and orange labels. Great arrows, no doubt. I agree with the wall thickness thing. I shot some Injexions two seasons ago and shot a 6-point whitetail (I am a meat hunter) and he broke the last 3" of my 330 spine arrow off inside of him. I hit a shoulder blade (too much lead). All carbons will break. I shot a repaired foam target with a 300 spine Axis this winter and it hit on an angle (I was bare shaft tuning). Last week I shot an angled rock with my 400 spine Axis arrow out of my recurve and it hit it and broke just forward of the wrap due to the rear of the arrow hitting it on an angle. Have you guys noticed arrows breaking before the energy is used up limiting penetration on these thin-walled shafts? I am not trying to talk myself into them but merely wondering.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

You're over-thinking it all.

We had a personality test and training at work yesterday and the instructor said that I am like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. I never heard of the show so one of the guys that thought it was funny sent me a link and is telling me that is my new nickname. Okay, okay. I will settle down.

 

[jns9661]

i think backcountryMT meant kinetics not velocities i am shooting kinetic 300's 50 grain inserts and 125 out of my motive 6 at 296 506 grains 76 lbs works great. I have some 48 grain outserts coming for them then i think they will be bullet proof

 

[5MilesBack]

We had a personality test and training at work yesterday and the instructor said that I am like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. I never heard of the show so one of the guys that thought it was funny sent me a link and is telling me that is my new nickname. Okay, okay. I will settle down.

I'm about as anal and OCD as they come, but at some point you just have to find something that works and go with it. For me that is an extremely durable arrow that I don't have to worry about or baby in any way. I just make sure they shoot well, are accurate, and will survive most anything I put them through.

 

[Kawabunga]

Ive also played around with this but think im over it, he, he. Just a thought but wouldnt you want some weight behind the head pushing it through? A few negatives with superlite shafts were mentioned above, i think Tom Miranda mentioned he likes a well balanced shaft with some foc of course. I think he said it would be less prone to tail whip or something along those lines, made sense to me.