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Arrow selection is the single most important part of your equipment set-up
consideration in archery/bowhunting. After all the arrow and its
components are the part of your equipment that you want hitting
the mark. It does not matter what equipment you use or how good
the set-up is or how perfect your shooting form. If you do not have the arrows matched to
your bow, you wont hit the intended target with the consistency
needed to either score well in tournament situations or to harvest
an animal with the exactness needed to dispatch it quickly. The
only major piece of equipment youre using that hits your intended
mark is the arrow. Here are some things that will help you choose
your arrows wisely.
What are the things to consider?
Arrow spine
Draw length
Wheels & Cams
Other variables
The easy way
What
are the things to consider?
What should be considered when making the arrow selection?
Making an arrow selection for the archer/bowhunter with a compound bow
is kind of like selecting the right cartridge for your favourite
hunting rifle.
This is made simple for the rifle owner since the make of the round is
marked on the cartridge and on the gun it is used in. If the cartridge
isnt the right one for the gun, dont shoot it. You wouldnt
shoot a .243, .270 or .308 bullet out of a .30-06 rifle. They
may seem to fit well in the chamber but shooting them in the gun
chambered for the .30/06 could have disastrous results.
In this regard the same holds true for the bows ammunition, the arrow.
The arrow must be the right spine for the bow to be an effective,
accurate and safe projectile. Arrows, whether aluminum, carbon
fibre or a aluminum/carbon bond, are made in varying diameters
and thickness and have to be cut to length to match the bow they
will be shot from.
We now assume the bow is the right draw length and draw
weight for the archer/bowhunter using it. This varies from person
to person so what fits you may well not fit your hunting buddy.
Compound bows dont come in different calibers that are clearly marked
so the archer/bowhunter can go to the bow shop and ask for 30,
50 or 70 lb. arrows and get what they want and needs. Most bows
have a weight range that is adjustable to fit the shooter. There
are various other things that have to be considered to obtain
the right combination of arrow to bow compatability.
The arrow, to match the bow must
be the right shaft length and matched to the bows draw weight,
the cams used and the point weight of the practice point or broadhead
used together with the draw length of the archer and the archer/bowhunters
shooting style (release or fingers).
These are all variables that must be checked before proper arrow selection
can be achieved. It is no longer the hit or miss proposition it
once was. With the technological advances we have now a days there
is no need for someone to shoot an arrow that is not matched to
their bow.
Arrow spine
If bows delivered arrows perfectly straight from the release of the arrow
to the intended target, the arrows stiffness would not matter.
Arrow spine matters because most arrows are not delivered perfectly straight
from the bow. If the arrow is too stiff it will tend to bounce
off the rest instead of flowing through the rest, and if the arrow
is to weak it will try to wrap itself
around the bow and be very erratic in flight.
When initially released the arrow absorbs a tremendous amount of potential
energy from the bow. The arrow has to be strong and flexible enough
so as not to break initially. That energy is so great that one
of two things has to happen so the arrow does not break at the
moment of release. It either fish tails, flexes from side to side,
when shot from a finger held bow or it porpoises, flexes up and
down, when shot from a release held bow. One, the other, or both,
happens each time an arrow is shot from a bow.
You would think an arrow is quite rigid but when viewing an arrow shot
from a bow with high-speed video you actually see the arrow flex
and warp from the force applied to it. Seeing this you would think
its as flexible as a piece of cooked spaghetti.
Spine is a term that comes up frequently when talking about archery/bowhunting
and shooting arrows. Arrow spine is determined by having the arrow
shaft supported at two points at a specified distance apart (26)
and with a specified weight (2 lb.) being hung at the mid-point.
The amount of deflection at the mid-point of the shaft from level
determines the shafts spine. The lower the stiffness of the
shaft the more it sags and the larger the measured deflection.
Since the support spacing and the weight hung remain the same, the spine
depends on the elasticity of the shaft materials and the materials
geometry. If you talk about multi-layered arrow shafts, (carbon/aluminum)
the stiffness also depends on the bonding between the different
layers. The spine (stiffness) of an arrow shaft never changes
unless the arrow material properties change (e.g. Aluminium arrows
stiffen over time and with use as the crystalline structure alters)
or when the shaft construction changes (cracks, de-bonding).
When selecting an arrow for hunting or target shooting there must be careful
consideration given to the stiffness or spine of the arrow needed
to correspond to the draw weight. Also noting the type of cams
on the bow you will be using along with other things mentioned
earlier. These variables will dictate which arrows will fly the
best and will be safe to use with your bow.
Draw length
When selecting an arrow for your bow, dont take the once often used old
time method of just picking an arrow regardless of the arrow spine
and cutting it one inch longer than your draw length. This, with
todays high-energy bows could be very dangerous.
The draw length of the archer/bowhunter is the main factor in determining
the minimal arrow length the archer can safely shoot. Whether
the archer/bowhunter has an overdraw
installed on the bow is a valid consideration to take into account
at this point. If the archer has no overdraw on the bow or there
is no arrow shelf stopping the point of the arrow from falling
onto the hand, the minimal length for the arrow should be 1 inch
past the riser with the bow at full draw. This is for safetys
sake whether it be recurve or compound
there is no difference here. It is a safety consideration.
If the archer/bowhunter has an overdraw the minimal
arrow length should be 1 inch past the point where the arrow rest
supports the arrow. The arrow shelf on the overdraw
is there to protect the archers hand should the broadhead tipped
arrow fall off the rest while at full draw.
This does not mean you cant have a longer arrow. This is only a starting
point. You may want an arrow that extends 2 inches past your riser
or the pivot point of the arrow rest. Thats entirely up to you
but the arrow still has to have the right spine.
Wheels
& Cams
Many years ago when manufacturers started
to produce the compound bows and they became popular, the wheels
(cams) they used were round. This advance in technology went on
for quite a few years then manufacturers found they could get
more speed and get more let-off. They started to use what are
now call soft cams extensively.
It became evident then that the technology was changing as fast as the
bows were sold and about 10 - 15 years ago they came out with
what are now known as the medium cams. These were no longer
round but more egg shaped than their predecessor, the round wheel.
Another few years went by and then in the early to mid 90s they came out
with the hard cams or hatchet cams. These were even more advanced
versions of the medium cam and their claim to fame was the blistering
speed shooters could attaining with arrows shot from bows with
these cams. Most of the cams made today are either medium cams,
hard cams with high let-off or variations thereof or the single
cams with high let-off on hunting bows with only a few exceptions.
This is another place where the process of arrow selection has to be looked
at. Leaving the draw weight of the bow the same and only using
only different cams on the same bow, the bow would be pushing
arrows out at different speeds. The cam selection changes the
set-up of the bow as much as draw weight and arrow length affect
the spine of the arrow but to a varying degree.
Other variables
Usually, when using the right arrow for your set-up,
that means having an arrow with the right spine and changing
nothing but point weight you will usually have to do one of two
things.
Example: If you add 25grains to the point (go from a 100gr to a 125gr point)
you will have to shorten your arrow by 1 inch or decrease the
bow draw poundage by 5 pounds for the arrow to regain the right
spine and to fly properly. If you did this without dropping the
bow weight or without shortening your arrow length you would have
an arrow that has too weak a spine for the set-ups draw weight.
Example: If you were to take 25
grains from the point (go from a 125gr to a 100gr point) you would
either have to get the same size arrows that are 1 inch longer
or add 5 pounds to your bow weight. This would have to be done
for the arrows to regain the right spine and to fly properly.
If you did this without upping the bow weight 5 lbs or without
using an arrow the same size but 1 inch longer you would have
an arrow that is too heavy a spine for the set-ups draw weight.
Another thing to consider when you buy arrows. Make sure you get the practice points the
same size and weight you intend to use for your broadheads. This
will eliminate hassles for you in the fall if you have to change
from a 3-D set-up to your bowhunting set-up.
The arrow does not have to be bigger to be stiffer. The reverse could hold
true. You could use a smaller diameter aluminum arrow with a heavier
wall thickness to get a stiffer arrow. The arrow may be smaller
if using carbon or carbon/aluminum arrows to replace aluminum
arrows and can be the right spine for the bow used.
Along with all these variables, the use of a release
or shooting with fingers are also important considerations
when selecting an arrow for your bow. They all come back to using
the right spine arrow for your bow.
With all things considered you will probably, after some experimentation
come to the conclusion that there has to be a better way to figure
all these things out than what we have gone through here. Well
there is.
The
easy way
Today there are very efficient methods of arrow selection, which will greatly
improve the accuracy of your archery set-up. The easiest way you
can do is to go to your local archery pro-shop. This person should,
with your help, be able to give you the information you need to
make the right arrow selection to match your bow and your needs
whether it be for hunting or for target shooting.
A good archery dealer will ask you a lot of questions. What is you draw
length? What is your bow draw weight? What type cams are on your
bow? Will you be shooting with fingers or a release? Will you
be using an overdraw on your bow? What
weight field points and broadheads will you be using? What animals
will you be hunting?
The best thing for you to do is bring your bow along with you when you
go there. There may be some answers to their questions you will
not be sure about. Having the bow there will make things a lot
easier for both of you.
With this information the archery pro-shop can suggest an arrow
size and weight that will fit your archery/bowhunting needs and
your set-up. There should be at least four or five different arrow
sizes at your needed arrow length that will correspond to the
bow set-up you have, so you will have a choice as to which arrow
you will inevitably use.
Another method is to go to an arrow selection web site such as the one
at http://www.martinarchery.com/easton/eastchrt.html
and check things out for yourself. The
charts there will give you from 5-8 different arrow sizes and
type combinations to use with the arrow length, draw weight, point
weight, cams and shooting style you are using. If you already
have arrows for your bow this will tell you if they are right
for your needs. If not then you will have something help you select
the right combination when you visit your archery pro-shop.
WARNING- Please, do not use a tubing cutter to cut your aluminum, aluminum carbon
composite and carbon arrows. This may damage the arrow shaft especially
on carbon and composite arrows. Your archery pro-shop will cut
the arrows to the required length with an arrow cut-off saw and
also reinstall your inserts at a minimal charge.
Wait!!! The ethical shot may just present itself if you wait for it.
Wait!!! The recommended time before pursuing
the game animal.
Check your equipment, be prepared and hunt safe.
Wear your fall restraint while hunting from an elevated stand.
Good hunting.
Ricky Comeau
"An archer wants to see how far away
from the target he can get and still hit it.
A bowhunter wants to see how close he can get to his target before
he shoots."
Dr. Mark Timney
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