Making the lightest arrow

[richpierce]

Phragmites do make super-light arrows.  Shooting for distance, they easily out-shoot anything else I have tried.  Nock inserts are required as are foreshaft inserts.  Harvest the thickest, straightest ones you can find, before first frost if possible.

[david w.]

David, if you are going to shoot primarily targets and 3-D then lighter arrows will give you flatter trajectory.   I shoot the same arrows whether I'm shooting 3-D or hunting so my knowledge of the arrow's trajectory is implanted in my mind. It doesn't matter how flat your arrows fly as long as you can put them where you want them. I believe you complicate your shooting by shooting different arrows for target and different arrows for hunting.    Pat
 

the bow i will be using is only for targets.  Its a very light weight longbbow I wouldnt want to hunt deer with it.

[jamie]

also if using phragmites , find them as straight as possible. they dont like to be starightened. if the bend is too much you'll just crush the walls and ruin the shaft when bending.

[xin]

B and Destructo, You both know your bows and arrows well, for a couple of kids; but, you've got a few years to pack on before you can lay claim to the "coveted" title "Old Men".  You guys finish your Gerbers while I top the mourning with  some milk, natures way  of keeping the spine in your arrow.

[El Destructo]

                                                                                 T.M.I.

                                                                                 

[Franklyn A]

Another vote here for Sitka Spruce as a nice. light, rugged arrow material

[xin]

Destructo, chronically bad but not rising to the level of evil.  K.B.Z.E.R.  Go play with the  other kids and stop calling people names or you won't get dessert.

[Pat B]

Hey guys, lets keep this about "lightest arrows" and not personalities.      Pat

[xin]

B'ster, relax , I'm just having fun and I think Destruto was also.  A little levity never hurts anything or anybody. Relax , smooth out.

[El Destructo]

B'ster, relax , I'm just having fun and I think Destruto was also.  A little levity never hurts anything or anybody. Relax , smooth out.

I'll bite....what is K.B.Z.E.R    If it's not appropriate...please PM me......OK...........

[Pat B]

Xin, I'm about as smooth as it gets.   My job is to stop the snowball before it gets too far down the hill.       Pat

[xin]

Destructo,  K.B.Z.E.R. is just jibberish in response to your T.M.I., which I suppose is too much information.   As I pointed out in an earlier post, this is all in fun which I think you realized, but I'm not so sure The B'ster did.  Any way , If you or the B'ster were offended, I apologize for  repartee which obviously was misconstrued.  There  is no snowball to stop.   Both of you fellows post some really nice bows and arrows. Destructo , your knives are real works of  art  and I really like your Wampanoag style bows.   

[El Destructo]

  Tanks a Lot Eh!!! I can take da joke ot ya know....cause I'm a Yooper....and We does allot a jokin bouts ourselves ya know....

All kidding aside....I think I like making Knives as much or maybe more than Bows..... But when I am building Bows....I sure have a preference to Native Bows over .....Recurves........

[Pat B]

I'm not offended...only trying to prevent possible problems. That's why I suggested you guys keep it on topic.         Pat

[xin]

Destructo,  I've been bowyering, fletching, and knapping for 15 years.  All of my bows,except for one , have been some sort of N.A. reproduction with the Wampanoag being my favorite, even paid a visit to it at Harvard Peabody museum.   My knapping has only been sporatic over the last 15yrs, but the last year I have been concentrating on breaking rocks.  I've got a long way to go before I'm as good as you.  The bow making thing is a lot easier than knapping.  Any rock over 2inches, will soon be a broken rock if I'm knapping it.  Really frustrating to get a good Clovis goiing only to snap it in half as you flute it.   B'ster, I'll do my best to stay on topic,but sometimes a little drift off course can break the monotony..  I've been reading PA magazine since around the first year it was published and have been lurking around this website almost as long as it has lbeen up, even through the period when it was almost nonfunctional.  I find both informative and entertaining, although both can at times can use a little mirth.  Any  attempts on my part to introduce levity will not be mean spirited.