Arrow Selection Tips
Finding new arrows can feel like an overwhelming challenge with so many different options available to traditional archers. Depending upon your needs there are a few ways to narrow down your arrow options. The basic steps for choosing an arrow are:
- Choose arrow material. Arrow material includes Wood, Carbon, Aluminium, or Fiberglass. Each has different benefits we will go into later.
- Choose arrow spine and arrow length. Arrow spine and length depends on which bow you are shooting the arrows from. You need to determine your draw length and the weight of your bow at your draw length. Then use a chart or arrow test kit to find what is the proper spine and arrow length for you.
- Choose your desired look. The look of your arrow could be a black shaft, camo shaft, wood grain shaft, or anything else that you can find on the market.
Wood Arrows
What makes each arrow material different? When you think traditional archery I'm sure wood arrows come to mind. They are one of the least expensive options, yet require constant maintenance to keep them in shooting condition. Often you must straighten the shafts due to impacts with other items, or after you miss the target and hit the ground. Wood arrows fly quieter than carbon and aluminium as they are made of a solid material and not hollow. Weight can vary depending upon what wood is used. Port Orford Cedar, known as POC, is the most popular wood arrow material. Light-to-Medium weight, they balance speed with knockdown power. Birch, Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, Bamboo, and Lodgepole Pine are some examples of woods that weigh differently and vary in strength and look when stained and sealed. Most wood arrows come in diameters of 5/16", 11/32", and 23/64". Be sure to use a test kit or at least use a spine chart when choosing spine. Wood arrows/shafts come in 5# spine groups as they can be a bit more "touchy" on getting the right spine.
Carbon Arrows
Tired of dealing with broken wood arrows? Carbon is a great solution, as they are straighter and more durable than wood. You don't need to worry about bends in the shaft; just check for the occasional crack. Carbon arrows are easily customized using different nocks, inserts, adapters, and weight systems. The carbon composite is very tough and known to take some abuse that would break other materials. Be sure to watch for cracks around the ends since when a carbon arrow does break it usually shatters, which can be dangerous. Also, if your carbon shaft breaks on impact with an animal, it is recommended that you cut out the meat around the impact area. The standard weight on carbons is normally lighter than wood. However, if you are looking for deeper penetration, there are many heavier carbon shafts on the market. Also, using weight tubes you can bump up the weight, turning a target arrow into a heavy-hitting hunting arrow without effecting arrow spine. Tuning an arrow to a bow is also much easier with a carbon arrow, as you can easily adjust point weight with different points and inserts (such as Brass Inserts) and different nocks to balance out point weight. Cutting a carbon arrow requires the right tools, as not any old saw blade will work. A cut-off saw is an easy and accurate tool for the job. Consistency and tight tolerances are a big advantage to using carbon. Once you find the proper set up of spine, length, and weight it is easier to match this when buying carbon arrows in the future. Most carbons only have a few spine options, as carbon arrows have faster in-flight recovery thus making them less touchy on being "right on" with spine. Diameters for carbon are most commonly 5/16", but many options are now available in larger and smaller diameters. The smaller diameters are rapidly growing in popularity as they have less wind drag and deeper penetration compared to arrows of the same weight. Many shafts are offered in a test kit of "bare shafts," (or shafts without fletching), allowing the archer to bare-shaft tune to see exactly how the arrow responds to the shooter without the help of feathers to correct the shaft in flight.
Aluminium Arrows
Some older archers will remember aluminum arrows. Heavier than wood and carbon, aluminum arrows offer great penetration, are affordable, and have tight tolerances that produce dependable performance time and time again. Though the selection of different aluminum shafts is small, they are tried and true. Offered in more spine groups than carbon arrows, aluminum arrows have more fine tuning options for the perfect arrow flight. Many offer bushings, allowing for the use of carbon nocks for improved accuracy. Aluminum is very tough, but will bend under too much stress. Once bent, they cannot be straightened. Very cost effective for those on a budget. Diameters vary from spine to spine, typically offered in 11/32", 5/16", and 9/32".
Fiberglass Arrows
Though not very common on the target range or in the woods, fiberglass can be a great shaft for bow fishing or youth archery. The big reason is they are extremely strong. The price can be more affordable than carbon or aluminum, and the weight is heaviest of all shafting options. In fact, fiberglass is so heavy it should not be used for ranges past 10 yards (depending upon bow weight, the less weight you have, the closer you should be). For young shooters the advantage is the durability. Other than loosing them, your young archers will be hard placed to break a fiberglass arrow under normal shooting conditions and bow weights. Most common sizes are 5/16" (bow fishing shafts) or 1/4" (youth arrows).
What are your Shooting Needs?
Are you planning on target shooting? Maybe your goal is to be a hunter? The answers to these questions can be a big influence on which material you should use. As a target shooter you may shoot longer distances, which means you'll want a lighter arrow with a flatter trajectory than a heavy arrow. Hunters should use a heavier weight arrow, as the more weight you put behind your broadhead, the deeper the penetration. Finding the perfect balance can take time, but it will be worth it. It is normally recommended for a traditional bowhunter to have 10 grains for every pound of pull. Example: 50# bow (at your draw) should be close to a 500 grain (finished weight) arrow. You can check with your bow manufacturer to see how light you can go, but if you can't find the information from them, then it is best to go no less than 8 grains per pound (50# would be 400 grains).
Another issue to consider is shaft diameter. The smaller diameter will offer better penetration on game. It will also provide better accuracy at distance target shots, as it will be less effected by wind. Make sure you have a field point or broadhead that is the same size or bigger than the shaft, as smaller heads will decrease penetration and can slightly diminish accuracy at longer ranges.
Finding the Right Spine and Arrow Length
Nothing can have a bigger impact on your shooting accuracy then the arrow spine. Spine is the measure of deflection of a shaft at a set weight measured to a set distance. Basically, it is how much the shaft bends. Shafts that bend more are better for lower weight bows, and "stiffer" spines are perfect for heavy weight bows. Be sure to use a test kit or at least a spine selection chart when choosing your arrow spine. A test kit is the best option as an archer's shooting style and bow may respond differently than what a chart would say. Actually shooting arrows and tuning them is the best method for pairing the right spine with your bow.
Now when it comes to picking the arrow length it is always best to have an arrow at least one inch longer than your draw length. The reason for this is that the point is always in front of the bow and cannot be caught up on the shelf, or worse. Your arrow can be longer than this too. Use the arrow length as a tuning feature. The longer an arrow is, the weaker the spine will be. Try not to go too long though, as it will be harder to transport your arrows.
What is Your Style of Arrow?
Cost may be the biggest factor when it comes to the look of an arrow. Wood arrows can be stained before being sealed. Fiberglass has limited color options such as white, black, or natural (a light brown). Carbon and Aluminum arrows have the most options and always seem to be changing from year to year. The least expensive is normally a black matte finish. Growing in popularity on the market are finishes in different camouflages, wood grain patterns, carbon weave, and a mix of any of the above. If you are willing to pay a little more for a look to fit your style, you should have no problems finding the right shaft for you.
Finally
In conclusion, choosing the right arrows can make a big difference in your shooting. Be sure to take the time to find the right arrow for your needs. If you have questions or need advice, please call the 3Rivers Archery tech crew. The Longbow and Recurve Experts are happy to help. You can reach them on the phone at 866-RECURVE (732-8783) or online at Info@3RiversArchery.com
|
