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Arrow Weight and FOC

Crimson Arrows

Crimson Arrows

Well-Known Member
So I am playing with some new arrow options and was shooting a CX Maxima 350 ..354 grain arrow at about 300 fps. This gave me about 70 KE. I decided to try a 405 grain set up that now shoots 280 fps (unless the chrono was off) and this generates about the same KE. What woud you guys rather have? Momentum will go up with heavier weight and equal KE...no? I am not sure yet how much more drop I'll get with 20 fps less at say 30 yards? Too cold to experiment /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif Still thought 20 fps less was alot for 55 grains?

Also, Front of Center %...is it better to have closer to 12% or 8%..is higher better? If I add a 125 grain tip my arrow become a 430 grain and will probably drop to 270 fps..maybe? The KE will drop 1-2 ft/lbs but MOMENTUM should go up. The overall goal is to improve penetration on bigger game I plan on chasing next year. Any input or current set ups would help alot. Thank you.
 
I'd take a heavier arrow and higher FOC anyday. Bump that arrow up to about 575 grains or more and crush shoulder blades instead of worrying about them.

JMO /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
Always an interesting debate among bowhunters. I like your first setup the best because with a KE of 70.5, that's a combo with great knock down power for North American large game. BUT, it still maintains a good speed. So the million dollar question is which is more important? I say they're equally important...you want a KE that's capable while maintaining as flat a trajectory as possible via speed. Think about it, if you misrange arguably even a small amount with a fast dropping arrow, you're looking at a miss or poor shot placement. The most punch packing arrow on earth is of no benefit if it's hitting dirt. Zip them out there as quickly as you can and still be on the high end of the KE curve for the game you're after. JMO.
 
Physics tells me that KE = 1/2 mass X velocity squared. If you increase the velocity, the factor is squared; however if you increase the mass, the factor is only 1. Velocity will increase KE faster than anything.

p = m X v for momentum...simply take the mass times the velocity to get momentum. I'm not sure about momentum readings and how much that plays a part in it...

To me, if you can maintain 280 fps and still increase the mass of the arrow, I would do it. I agree that I like the smaller difference in drop with higher speeds at longer distances. If you can get that with a heavier arrow...awesome!

Always a good debate amongst hunters /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif but physics never lies!!

let us know what you do!
 
I think I will go with the 405 grain set up at 275-278. This gives me MORE momentum than the 354 and hopefully more penetration as its harder to STOP a larger object than a smaller one.Both KE approach 70 and if equal, I like a bit heavier arrow albeit a bit slow (15-20 fps). The bison showed me how speed and KE doesn't always mean it will penetrate as well as a heavier arrow. Granted, if speed is severely reduced it is a trade off but as IBT and G said, maybe the 405 @280ish is a great balance. I will use 100 grain heads as 125 with get me to 430 and may slow me down more than I like. Thanks guys.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Momentum will go up with heavier weight and equal KE...no? </div></div>

No, KE is the momentum. The flip side of your statement is: Momentum will go up with more speed and equal KE. Neither statement is true.

A slower but heavier arrow or a faster but lighter arrow with equal KE should have about equal penetration. One is driven more by the speed while the other is more by the weight.

Heavier usually has better control and quiets the bow better while speed has flatter trajectory.
 
I believe though that the "energy" is lost much faster with a light weiht and equal KE although I don't have the momemntum equation with me. I did som tests yesterday on the block with a 430 grain arrow at 270 and a 354 at 300. Penetration was 1/4" moe with the heavier one but it was negligible. I wonder though about tissue or ballistic gel?
 
Huntyak,
If penetration is your goal, try a cut on contact head at least to compare results. As you know, I'm a fan of Slick Tricks also and they work great for deer without changing sights. But for real big and tough hided game maybe COC is worth a look. Something like the Woodsman perhaps. They used to only make heavy grainage heads but they now have screw-in 125 grainers available. Just a thought, it'd be interesting to see how they do in a side by side penetration comparison. Check out the video below.

Woodsman Penetration
 
Thanks IBT..I go through phases where I try different things etc. It seems as my bows have gotten faster I have become "less ficused" on the 2-4 yard difference in yardage that before I realy believe made me a better hunter. I used to shoot one pin and it restricted my shots but now, the past couple years, my 300 fps seems to have made me less focused on range and I think..for me... that may be a bad thing. So, maybe going heavier and to a COC head like you said will make me a better shot as I need to be more focused on the yardage. Hope you know what I mean and I'll check out that site. Love the ST though!!!
 
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