too much arrow weight?

[blacktailchaser]

so i know  there can be too much arrow weight..and i want to make this simple...i just got a new bear grizzly at 45#...and i have been shooting a 612 grain arrow out of it with no trouble...out to 20yrds...SO,i was thinking to myself am i pushing the bow to much is the arrow to heavy...even though it shoots fine or at least it looks fine..thanks for the help...

[Bisch]

If it tunes well, and you can live with the trajectory, it's not too heavy.

Bisch

[Flbowhunter]

What Bisch said. I like a heavier arrow. As soon as the arrow leaves the bow it's losing speed, the only thing it ain't losing is weight. Now only if I could find a deer to help me prove my theory

[KentuckyWolf]

There is a point of diminishing returns with arrow weight. There is a section in one of the "Traditional Bowyers Bible".....done remember which one. It's a point where adding more weight doesn't really increase momentum, it basically flat lines, while speed and thus trajectory drop like a rock.

This point was different for different styles of bow....recurve vs longbow, etc.

[5deer]

 

[BUCKY]

Your at 13.6 gpp. Im shooting 560 at 40lbs. Thats 14gpp. Dont worry

[Friend]

You should be in great shape.

[McDave]

so i know  there can be too much arrow weight..and i want to make this simple...i just got a new bear grizzly at 45#...and i have been shooting a 612 grain arrow out of it with no trouble...out to 20yrds...SO,i was thinking to myself am i pushing the bow to much is the arrow to heavy...even though it shoots fine or at least it looks fine..thanks for the help...

You're definitely not pushing the bow too much.  The bow loves all that weight.  What would damage the bow is too little weight.  The only question is, can you hit your target?

[JamesD]

I shoot heavy arrows out of bows in the 40's. 700-800 grains. My bows range from 42# to 47.5# at my draw length. Anything under 800 grains is not too much arrow for a 45# bow. 612 is a light arrow to some of us.

[mnbwhtr]

How are you achiving that weight? and what spine arrow are you shooting? Thanks

[JamesD]

Mnbwhtr,
     I am shooting Douglas fir arrows from Surewood shafts. Depending upon the bow, I am shooting spines of 65/70, 70/75, and 75/80. These arrows will show up unfinished at 390 - 510 grains. Once finished, between woody weight and broadhead, I will have between 250 and 300 grains up front. I have a 30.5" draw, so 19% FOC is about the best I can do with wood arrows. If I were shooting carbon arrows in a 340 or 400 spine, I would be high 600s to low 700s in weight.

[Pat B]

2x what Bisch said.   

[dnovo]

I prefer a compromise between weight and trajectory. I'm shooting a 49# longbow and I like my arrows to be right around 550 grains. That's close to 11 gpp.  Much heavier drops too fast and I get good penetration.

[trad_bowhunter1965]

I shoot a heavy arrow between 580 and 600 grains in my 64"47@27 Longbow and they are quite bows I am with every one not pushing the bow.

[GCook]

Too much?  Guess it depends on your point of view.  They put V6 engines in pick ups to save gas.  Trouble is when you load up the truck or tow with it gas mileage is horrible compared to the V8s they replaced. 
In any machine there is a point where you have more machine than the work or visa versa.  If you have more work than the machine can handle sooner or later the machine breaks down.  Now the bow may not break down but you dang sure aren't being efficient with it ifn' ya over load it.

[George Tsoukalas]

Personal preference. I prefer 9-12 gpp. Jawge

[Bill from NJ]

I recently increased my arrow weight and specs to:

Easton Axis Traditional 400
Arrow Length 27"
Point weight: 225 grains
Insert weight: 175 grains
Total weigh up front: 400 grains
Nock weight w/wraps: 15 grains
Leon Stewart 45# R&D 62" longbow @ 28"
Actual draw length 27"
Arrow Total Weight (grains) Actual weight; Low 700 grains
Arrow Specific Weight (GPP) 16.3
Front of Center (FOC) % 27.5
Arrow Speed (ft/sec) 142.6
Arrow Energy (ft-lbs). 31.3

Last deer taken 2 weeks ago, arrow blew through deer completely at a very tight quarter away shot, and the arrow lodged into the dirt.
I am very satisfied with my heavy weight set up, I feel extremely confident taking either deer or Black Bear at my personal favorite distance of 20 yards or less.
I enjoy getting very close to the quarry.

[A Lex]

Like Bucky said, "Your at 13.6 GPP".

I've been using arrows around that 13 to 13-1/2 GPP for a long time, and they suit me and the way I shoot just fine. They are very quiet, and I've never really found their trajectory to be an issue at my normal hunting type ranges.

I've even gone a fair bit heavier a few times with no dramas either.

So I agree wholeheartedly with what Bisch said, "If it tunes well, and you can live with the trajectory, it's not too heavy".

Go hunting and enjoy 

Best
Lex

[fisherick]

If I remember correctly Fred Bear used and recommended 10-12 GPP arrows for his bows for hunting or targets.

[JamesD]

Here is a link to an article written by Fred Bear concerning arrow weight and penetration performance of various arrow weights. Trajectory was Fred's main concern with arrows heavier than 10 gpp, not anything that would be damaging to a bow. Bisch nailed it in his post, if you can stand the trajectory of the heavier arrow, then shoot it!

https://tmuss.tripod.com/shotfrompast/bear.htm