Choosing
arrows is a two-part process. First, decide what arrow weight you want to
shoot, which in effect helps determine the type of shaft you'll need.
Second, choose the correct shaft stiffness to complement your draw weight
and arrow length.
Determining weight and speed goals:
Not every bow hunter needs to shoot the lightest and fastest arrows
available. In fact, shooting feather-weights can damage your bow and
accessories. Light arrows don't soak up as much of the bow's energy as do
heavier ones, leaving more energy behind that has to be dissipated through
vibration. If your arrows are too light, your bow can literally be shaken
to pieces. The Archery Manufacturer's Organization (AMO) has proposed a
standard minimum arrow weight of roughly six grains for each pound of your
bow's maximum draw weight (60 pound bow = 360 grain arrow).
By today's standards, a heavy hunting arrow will weigh 8 to 10 grains per
pound. And, if you really want to go for all-out speed, the standard of 5
grains per pound set forth by the International Bow hunter's Organization
(IBO) for its sanctioned 3-D tournaments is as light as you dare go.
Heavy-weight
hunting arrows:
Arrows weighing 8 to 10 grains per pound of peak draw force will make
your bow fairly silent while soaking up a little extra penetration energy.
These weights correspond with full-length aluminum arrows having medium
thickness walls such as the 2115, 2215, 2315, 2314, 2216, 2317 and 2514.
Mid-weight hunting arrows:
Arrows weighing between 6 and 8 grains per pound offer a good compromise
between quiet shooting, long-term durability and flat trajectory. Consider
either of the following three options: the arrow sizes listed above cut
down for an overdraw, full-length thin-walled aluminum shafts such as 2212,
2213, 2312, 2413, 2512 and 2613, or all-carbon shafts.
Ultra-light hunting arrows:
If you want to push things to the limit for the flattest possible
trajectory, shoot arrows weighing 5 grains per pound of draw force. Two
shaft choices exist: the same thin-walled aluminum arrows listed above cut
down for an overdraw or full-length composite shafts made of aluminum and
carbon (Easton ACC's) and the current selection of internal component carbon
shafts such as the Beman ICS Hunter, Easton Evolution, Gold Tip and Carbon
Express among others.
Correct shaft stiffness:
Arrows released with fingers behave differently from those released with
a mechanical aid. A finger-released arrow must go through a series of
side-to-side oscillations called "paradox" which is started when the string
moves laterally to clear your fingers. The bending of the shaft must be
timed perfectly so that it passes cleanly around the bow without hitting the
riser or rest. To achieve good flight, your arrow shafts have to be an
exact match for your bow and your release style.
Since there is no sideways movement of the string, an arrow released with a
mechanical aid flexes much less as it leaves the bow. The flex that does
occur is generally confined to the vertical plane (up and down). When using
a release aid, you can get away with a wider range of shaft stiffness and
still enjoy good arrow flight. But to be on the safe side, it is best to
stick with the recommendations of the shaft selection chart put together by
each arrow manufacturer.
Because factors other than release style have a bearing on shaft stiffness,
(such as whether or not you shoot an overdraw, string material, bow style
and let off) you will have to work out a "calculated" bow weight for use
with these charts. If you request a brochure from an arrow manufacturer, it
will have this step-by-step calculation spelled out for you. Make sure to
work through it before referring to the shaft selection chart.
Point weight:
Point weight is also an important element of choosing the correct arrow
stiffness, especially if you release with fingers. Determine what broadhead
weight you will be hunting with before choosing your arrows, and then use
field points of the same weight for off-season practice.
Price vs. straightness:
Most arrows are manufactured in grades. This is little more than a
marketing ploy – a way to partition the market in order to charge more money
for the high-grade product. In most cases, there is only one difference
that separates the categories: straightness. Top grade arrows have
straightness tolerances of +/- .001 to +/- .002 inch. Lower grade arrows
have straightness tolerances of +/- .003 to +/- .006 inch. At most typical
whitetail hunting distances there is no difference in accuracy between the
various shaft grades. Unless you’re buying additional features (such as a
better nock system or a camo finish) there’s no reason to spend extra for
arrows that are only a few thousandths of an inch straighter. You won’t
notice the difference. At Archery Engineering we’re big fans of
value and when it comes to arrows the best value is found in Easton’s Yukon
aluminum shafts.
Shafts for whitetail hunters:
The average whitetail hunter takes shots from 10 to 30 yards – 20 yards
is about average. A mid-weight arrow will handle that challenge with ease.
A heavyweight arrow, being slower will require slightly better distance
judging ability past 20 yards, but will produce a quieter bow with maximum
penetration. The lightweight arrows are fun to zip on the range and on the
3-D course where shots are long and distances unknown. However, in a tree
stand they are typically not a necessity unless your hunting style routinely
requires shots past 25 yards. No matter what your goals, a little
experimentation will yield the perfect arrow.