True, but I’m not a great shot and I can use all the help I can get

 

I used to shoot 3-d nationally and my hunting set ups were just about as accurate as my target arrows. If you can hit a tennis ball sized target at normal hunting ranges FOC won't make much difference! Killed dozens of deer and all were pass throughs. except for a spine hit. It's nice to talk FOC and how much KE your set up has but the deer don't feel any difference if you hit where you aim!

 

That's funny because until recently, target archers are the only guys I've heard talking about the importance of FOC and arrow accuracy.
Also, just to be clear, everyone acknowledges that this heavier FOC is "mostly" a non issue when the arrow hits the animal in the 10-12 ring.......that's why they are labeled "Plan B" arrows.

 

28 1/2 inch arrows.. 62 lbs, 29 in draw. Totally arrow weight is 401. New Brunswick bear, Wyoming Elk, and a load of PA Whitetales.

 

Built my first arrow tonight. 28.75” black eagle carnivore 300, 225 grains up front including broadhead. Runs a hair over 500 grains total weight, didn’t calculate FOC. Spin test looked good. Can’t wait to let it rip tomorrow and see how it does. First time fletching an arrow, hope I did ok. Guess I’ll find out.

 

^ Yup very cool watch.

Like I said I went down the “heavier” arrow road this year with two different fixed blade head options, even a single bevel. I am very pleased with my build, however I really don’t think I need 22% foc and a 700 grain arrow. I’m good at 14% and 525, as long as I reach my goal of pass throughs out to 41/42 yards.

 

An interesting watch. Troy (Ranch Fairy) with the Hunting Public guys.

 

Weight is key. Would you want to get hit with a baseball or a bowling ball going 15fps slower. Its a combination of weight and speed that gives you penetration, especially if you hit a rib or shoulder. Thus in my humble opinion it is best to choose the best compromise of weight and speed with myself erring more on the side of more weight. Also as a second thought once you get a heavier arrow going it takes it longer to slow down than a lighter arrow therefore if you were able to set up a chronograph at say 40 yds you would probably find that the heavier arrow is most likely going as fast or faster than the lighter arrow out there. Long range rifle shooters know all about this as you see most of them using bullets that are on the heavier side for the caliber they are using. As a disclaimer this is only MHO.

 

a slower heavier arrow will out penetrate a lighter fast moving arrow. Fred Bear recommends an arrow weight of 9 grains for every pound of draw weight. that means a 65 pound bow should have an arrow weight of 585 grains. he shot that from a recurve and killed everything in North America and several continents as well.

BUT...with todays technology i guess lighter is good too. the only advantage speed gives a person is flatter trajectory which is helpful when you misjudge the distance. use a range finder and range the areas around you before the deer arrive. shoot 3 d courses all summer and dont use the range finder until after you "guess" the distance. i did this when i shot a recurve and i would be in the same + or - of 2 yards of the range finder by the time archery season got here. groundhogs make great practice too. shot several of those critters at 30 yards with a recurve shooting instinctively.

just my 2 cents for what its worth.

 

I put a couple different broadheads on last night, and had great flight and accuracy, I am very pleased so far

 

Bowtech realm ss @ 63#. Easton hexx 330 spine, 442 grains 30" shaft, 3" fusion X ll with 50 grain brass insert, 100 grain, 280fps. 2nd favorite Easton axis 300 spine. 470 grain 30" shaft, 3" fusion X ll with 50 grain brass insert. 100 grain point. all with onestringer arrow wraps. Did not chrono that set up. Did not have time at the moment, but the axis sinks in the target couple inch's deeper than the Hexx. Even though the hexx has a little over 14% foc where the axis has a 11% foc.They both shoot awesome.

I tried the gold tip 340 hunter pro with 50 grain alum. insert 490 grain shaft that was a disappointment. I could not get the foc past 10% and Penetration it wasn't there, arrow hits the target you can hear a pin drop. The eastons hit the bag target sounding like stick of dynomite went off.

 

Here is how I got to my current set up-- 65#- 28" draw length Carbon Spyder 34. Was shooting Flatline D.O.A.'s with regular inserts, 340 spine, 28" carbon to carbon length, 100 grain tip. Came in around 380 gr. Speed was in the upper 280's-290 fps. Decided to try a different arrow- went to Carbon Express Maxima Red- 350's - regular insert- flew like lawn darts and tuned fantastic-- came in around 404 gr. and flew around 280 fps. Then decided I wanted heavier up front, went with the Carbon EXpress Maxima Red SD- with the 45 gr. in/out insert. Stayed with the 350's and length. Flew better than the regular Maxima Reds, speed dropped to 270-275, but the arrow came in around 440 grains. Decided that the cost of the CE arrows were getting too much, went to Easton FMJ 6MM- got the 390 spine and put 50 gr brass insert in the front. Arrow came in at 450 grain, speed was in the upper 260's, but tuning was a real problem. This year I went to the 320 spine, with the regular insert for the FMJ- arrow is 460 and they tuned just as well as the CE. My f.o.c. isn't as high, but they fly great, group well. Yesterday I wasted one shooting a group at 40 yards. Figured with my aging eyes, my groups of tennis ball size would be ok. WRONG-- robin hooded one. Oh well, never did do well with 12 arrows. Only other change has been to add the RX-1- same poundage. I tuned both bows to the same arrow so if I have a major break down, there is no new in season tuning necessary. I want momentum over speed.

 

I’m considering the exact thing right now. I also shoot gold tip 400’s @ 28.5” with normal inserts and 100 grain heads. I’m right around 380 grains as well, 28.5” dl 60#. I plan to go to a 340 or 300 spine at 29 - 29.5” arrow length, at least 75 grain brass insert and 100-125 grain fixed blade head depending on what the shop has in stock.

Are you making up your arrows yourself? I would like to just for times sake because the local shop is a madhouse, but I have never done it and don’t really know how, or have the jigs to do it.

 

I’m considering the exact thing right now. I also shoot gold tip 400’s @ 28.5” with normal inserts and 100 grain heads. I’m right around 380 grains as well, 28.5” dl 60#. I plan to go to a 340 or 300 spine at 29 - 29.5” arrow length, at least 75 grain brass insert and 100-125 grain fixed blade head depending on what the shop has in stock.

Are you making up your arrows yourself? I would like to just for times sake because the local shop is a madhouse, but I have never done it and don’t really know how, or have the jigs to do it.

Do it, you won't be sorry.
I went from a 28.5" 340 shaft with 100 grain head (total arrow weight of around 430 grains) to a 300 spine Gold Tip, 150 grain brass insert and 100 grain heads for a total arrow weight of 562 grains, but more importantly than the weight is the FOC which is over 18%. Shot at 65 lbs. they fly line a laser beam and hit like a ton of bricks and my already quite bow hardly makes a sound.

You can easily do all this stuff yourself....as a matter of fact, you kind of have to do it yourself to know what flies best for you. It helps if your bow if already tuned.
Best advice I can give you is go on YouTube and watch the Ranch Fairy. He has a bunch of videos explaining everything.

 

[QUOTE="Tuna

Do not worry about speed, just arrow flight
[/QUOTE]

Absolutely! And get it tuned up for same POI for target tips and you choice of broadhead. Mine shoots aluminum XX75 a little slower, but much better than carbon, something else to think about.

 

I kind of went the same direction this year as well. Seems like a lot of guys doing the same. I went from a 380->525 gr arrow.

What is your arrow length? Sounds like you should be fine with 350 sp at 65 lbs as long as your arrow is under 29”. If you add even more weight up front though I think you may need a heavier Spine. If your happy with how they are shooting, and a fixed blade Can stack close to field points then your about done IMO.

Do not worry about speed, just arrow flight