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Arrowhead Weight and Draw Weight
JackCrafty:
Lately I've been making lots of stone hunting points and the most common question I get is, "How heavy do you think the arrowhead should be?" The lightest stone hunting point I make (1" wide) is around 35 grains. The heaviest is around 85 grains.
So, I propose the following rule of thumb: The weight of the arrowhead (in grains) should be no more than your draw weight. For example: Draw weight of 50# means an arrowhead no more than 50 grains.
What do you guys think?
JackCrafty:
If one of you has already proposed this idea, I apologize for not seeing it. I've not been reading much lately. :-\
Chippintuff:
That's a good question. The point weight would also affect the spine strength. I would like to see what the archers think.
WA
JackCrafty:
OK, it looks like this thread will die an early death (40 views and no responses), so I will add some more of my thoughts in an attempt to rescue it.
The vast majority of the people I talk to about arrowheads are familiar with steel broadheads and the typical weight increments. Most will say they are accustomed to 100 grains or 150 grains or whatever. Some will say they have friends that use 150 grain stone points and are very successful. Some know all about the way foreshafts work, how a longer arrow affects spine, how the arrowhead weight affects spine, and so on. And some are completely in the dark about using stone points (or even steel broadheads) for hunting.
Many people I talk to have read the many posts on here about using stone arrowheads and they say they understand the concept but are unclear about what is best. They ask me if I know what is best. I tell them I'll point them in the right direction but they will have to experiment on their own to find what's best. (not really what they want to hear)
So, my goal is to decrease the learning curve and save the "experimentation" phase. This means that I will need to take all the information I've got floating around in my head and nail down a quick and easy solution.
I think I have come up with a solution but it may go against what many archers have come to accept as a "tried and true" system. Namely, that broadheads are broadheads regardless of material (talking about two-edged blades). They all basically work the same. They all basically look the same. And they all basically conform to the principles laid down by archers who were there at the beginning of the modern archery "revival".
Anyway, to make my point, I think most "traditional" thought on stone broadheads is garbage. Bottom line: stone broadheads for arrows should be light in weight and thin in cross section. They should be 1" wide (or whatever) when required by law but not any wider. And they should be made to have a minimal effect on arrow flight. This means that the weight of the arrow should be in the shafting and not in the point.
OK, that's it.
JackCrafty:
Thanks Chip. You responded while I was writing... ;D
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