Good Evening... well I added the heavier field points to the heavier arrows and from 40 yards there was no difference in arrow penetration OR arrow drop! Sooooooo, I backed up 10 yards. From 50 yards I started shooting the arrows. 355 grain arrows and 420 grain arrows.
There was no difference between the two sets of arrows when comparing arrow drop. BUT there was a difference in arrow penetration! At 50 yards the 420 grain arrows hit harder.
I will retry the test because I want to ensure I'm getting the best penetration for hunting. It really was surprising though to not have a difference in arrow drop.
Here is the Forward of Center (FOC) info I promised... http://www.gatewayfeathers.com/feathers.html
when you access the page scroll down the page a little bit for the FOC info. There is a great visual diagram for you to see here also. It's a little past 1/2 way down the page in the "How To" section.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Arrow Penetration
This evening I came home from work greeted the family, had dinner and then went out in the yard and started flinging arrows. I like to start further away when I am fresh then move in closer as the light fades. I went immediately to 40 yards and started shooting. Using groups of three 355 grain arrows and three 405 grain arrows the results were not what I expected.
The heavier arrows were only using an 85 grain point and didn't feel right in my hand. Go grab one of your arrows. Do you feel the front end weight of your arrow? You should! These heavier arrows felt weird in my hands. I need to figure out the Forward of Center percentage of these arrows because the heavier arrows were hitting higher than the lighter arrows. The heavier arrows not only have a lighter field point they also use the hidden insert which pushes the FOC further back toward the middle of the arrow. You should ensure your arrows have a FOC in 12% - 15% range. This allows the fletching end of the arrow to guide the arrow instead of the business end!
In the morning I will try the heavier arrows with a 100 grain field point just to see if an extra 75 grains does anything to arrow drop.
I also thought the heavier arrows would give me more penetration into the target. NOT SO. Overall all arrows penetrated the same.
As far as grouping of the different arrow weights.... well, for sure, the lighter arrows grouped better. I want to be sure on this test so, in the morning, I will redo the test with a little heavier field point and check the FOC of the both sets of arrows.
The bow I purchased is featured in this month's print edition of Bowhunt America. Here is the link
http://www.bowhuntamerica.com/blogs/pse-x-force-dream-season-evo-bow-report/ go read about what they say and then click on the link for the 2" Rayzr feathers and buy some to guide your arrows!
The heavier arrows were only using an 85 grain point and didn't feel right in my hand. Go grab one of your arrows. Do you feel the front end weight of your arrow? You should! These heavier arrows felt weird in my hands. I need to figure out the Forward of Center percentage of these arrows because the heavier arrows were hitting higher than the lighter arrows. The heavier arrows not only have a lighter field point they also use the hidden insert which pushes the FOC further back toward the middle of the arrow. You should ensure your arrows have a FOC in 12% - 15% range. This allows the fletching end of the arrow to guide the arrow instead of the business end!
In the morning I will try the heavier arrows with a 100 grain field point just to see if an extra 75 grains does anything to arrow drop.
I also thought the heavier arrows would give me more penetration into the target. NOT SO. Overall all arrows penetrated the same.
As far as grouping of the different arrow weights.... well, for sure, the lighter arrows grouped better. I want to be sure on this test so, in the morning, I will redo the test with a little heavier field point and check the FOC of the both sets of arrows.
The bow I purchased is featured in this month's print edition of Bowhunt America. Here is the link
http://www.bowhuntamerica.com/blogs/pse-x-force-dream-season-evo-bow-report/ go read about what they say and then click on the link for the 2" Rayzr feathers and buy some to guide your arrows!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Chronograph Testing
First and foremost my heart aches for the folks and critters in the White Mountains of Arizona. The 2011 Memorial Day weekend has started one of the worst fires in AZ history. The Wallow fire is consuming huge stands of Ponderosa Pines and destroying a lot of prime habitat for Arizona wildlife. We all need to pray for rain.
I was up near this area scouting for my elk hunt. It really does break my heart. But life goes on and this area will recover, eventually.
I took my bow back to PSE over the weekend. I wanted them to add a couple of pounds to my draw weight and look into a "creaking" noise from the upper limbs. Zack and the staff at PSE were very helpful in explaining how the creak was a limb binding issue. They are going to order the parts and take care of it in a simple 1/2 hour procedure next week.
They added the 2 1/2 lbs to my draw weight so I'm now pulling 65 pounds. I set up a chronograph to shoot arrows through in order to understand my arrow speed. Right now my target arrows average 355 grains including a 125 grain field point. The hunting arrows I am considering are 405 grains with a 100 grain field point.
I shot from 10 yards through the chronograph and had speeds of 298 f.p.s. for the 355 grain arrows and 282 f.p.s. for the 405 grain arrows. Online I found some Kinetic Energy Charts http://www.redhawk-archery.com/ke.php and plugged in my arrow weight and speed and found the 355 grain arrows produce around 70 foot pounds of energy. The 405 grain arrows approximately 71.5 lbs of energy.
Not much difference is there? I need to shoot at distance to see the arrow drop for a 50 grain heavier arrow when held at the same point. Overall I am very happy with my bow and my shooting!
I was up near this area scouting for my elk hunt. It really does break my heart. But life goes on and this area will recover, eventually.
I took my bow back to PSE over the weekend. I wanted them to add a couple of pounds to my draw weight and look into a "creaking" noise from the upper limbs. Zack and the staff at PSE were very helpful in explaining how the creak was a limb binding issue. They are going to order the parts and take care of it in a simple 1/2 hour procedure next week.
They added the 2 1/2 lbs to my draw weight so I'm now pulling 65 pounds. I set up a chronograph to shoot arrows through in order to understand my arrow speed. Right now my target arrows average 355 grains including a 125 grain field point. The hunting arrows I am considering are 405 grains with a 100 grain field point.
I shot from 10 yards through the chronograph and had speeds of 298 f.p.s. for the 355 grain arrows and 282 f.p.s. for the 405 grain arrows. Online I found some Kinetic Energy Charts http://www.redhawk-archery.com/ke.php and plugged in my arrow weight and speed and found the 355 grain arrows produce around 70 foot pounds of energy. The 405 grain arrows approximately 71.5 lbs of energy.
Not much difference is there? I need to shoot at distance to see the arrow drop for a 50 grain heavier arrow when held at the same point. Overall I am very happy with my bow and my shooting!
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