Arrow question

[Daniel75]

I know this has been debated and talked about ad nauseum but I have a question about arrows, actually 2 questions:

1. What are the advantages of more speed in an arrow vs KE? Which is better, more speed in a lighter arrow or more KE?
2. When people talk about their arrow weight, are they referring to the weight PLUS the field tip/broadhead, so total weight of the arrow?

The reason I ask is I have Gold Tip Expedition Hunters 5575's. I am shooting an Alphamax 32, 60# with a 28"DL. I haven't chrono'd the arrows but the guess at CCR was around 250-260. If I went with Easton Flatline arrows, I'm assuming I could get more FPS but am I losing KE to the point of diminishing returns? Will they still be spined correctly and be stable? They say you can raise your FPS with the Flatlines by 20-30 FPS. My cousin got some and his POI raised by about 3-4 inches at 20 yards so I know they're faster.

I have an extra $50 of store credit and thought about trying a half dozen and see what the results are but if they're going to fly faster but not benefit in a hunting/penetration situation, I don't see a point other than maybe getting there a little quicker so maybe the animal doesn't have as much time to duck the arrow?

[dangerous dan]

Either arrow will kill a deer. Dont think you will see a huge amount of speed distance unless the flatlines are a whole lot lighter(20+grains)

[Daniel75]

It says they come in 340 or 400 grains, I assume the 340's would have to be the one. Although I programmed my specs into the calculator and the Flatlines didn't come up so maybe they're incompatible with my bow setup.

[DrenalinJunkie]

Personally I would rather have the thump than speed. My 468g FMJ's get there faster than I can so that's fast enough for me.

[Daniel75]

Personally I would rather have the thump than speed. My 468g FMJ's get there faster than I can so that's fast enough for me.

I'm not a speed demon either and there's no way I can crank my bow up to 70#'s yet either.

[bowhuntntxn]

340 and 400 have NOTHING to do with the grain weight of the arrow, other than GPI. That is a spine rating. You can make a 400 spine arrow weight a lot more than a 340 depending on the tip weight, wraps and vane selection. You will need an arrow that spines out correctly, based on your draw weight, draw length, and total arrow length. The 340 will probably be too stiff, unless you shoot a 125gr+ BH. The 400s will spine better, and give you a wider range of arrow length to choose from and still stay shootable. There will always be a point of diminishing returns when you give up arrow weight for speed, but it is all your choice. A deer shot with a 500+gr arrow moving at about 180 FPS out of a recurve will be just as dead as the carbon missile shot at 311fps if they hit the vital kill area.

As far as animals having time to duck the arrow, that is unmeasurable, and IMO not worth worrying about when setting up a bow for hunting. The heavier the set up, the quieter it will be. And then you dont have to worry about the animal ducking the arrow, because they never heard it coming. If you have some store credit, BUY BROADHEADS with it, and not arrows. It is trickier sometimes to find a BH that your bow likes to shoot, more so than arrows.

[DrenalinJunkie]

I'm not a speed demon either and there's no way I can crank my bow up to 70#'s yet either.

No eed to crank it to 70# more animals than any of us can count have been killed with 55#. Shot the weight you can shoot comfortably and go with it.

Try this.... Sit in a chair, feet flat on the floor. I you can draw your bow without "sky drawing" or any other excessive movement... Your good. If not...... Drop your draw weight.

Just because you can draw 70# doesn't mean you can shoot it well.

[dangerous dan]

It says they come in 340 or 400 grains, I assume the 340's would have to be the one. Although I programmed my specs into the calculator and the Flatlines didn't come up so maybe they're incompatible with my bow setup.

the 340 and 400 is the spine not the grains. GT 5575(400 spine) are 8.2 gpi or 237.8 grains for a 29 inch arrow shaft only. The Flatlines are 7.4 grains per inch for a 400 spine or 214.6 grains for a 29 inch arrow. The flatlines would be 23.2 grains lighter. So you would be approx 8-10 fps faster.

[Daniel75]

340 and 400 have NOTHING to do with the grain weight of the arrow, other than GPI. That is a spine rating. You can make a 400 spine arrow weight a lot more than a 340 depending on the tip weight, wraps and vane selection. You will need an arrow that spines out correctly, based on your draw weight, draw length, and total arrow length. The 340 will probably be too stiff, unless you shoot a 125gr+ BH. The 400s will spine better, and give you a wider range of arrow length to choose from and still stay shootable. There will always be a point of diminishing returns when you give up arrow weight for speed, but it is all your choice. A deer shot with a 500+gr arrow moving at about 180 FPS out of a recurve will be just as dead as the carbon missile shot at 311fps if they hit the vital kill area.

As far as animals having time to duck the arrow, that is unmeasurable, and IMO not worth worrying about when setting up a bow for hunting. The heavier the set up, the quieter it will be. And then you dont have to worry about the animal ducking the arrow, because they never heard it coming. If you have some store credit, BUY BROADHEADS with it, and not arrows. It is trickier sometimes to find a BH that your bow likes to shoot, more so than arrows.

That is EXACTLY the kind of answer I was looking for! Thanks man...that cleared up alot and I appreciate the time you took to answer it, I'm sure that took awhile to type all that.

[Daniel75]

the 340 and 400 is the spine not the grains. GT 5575(400 spine) are 8.2 gpi or 237.8 grains for a 29 inch arrow shaft only. The Flatlines are 7.4 grains per inch for a 400 spine or 214.6 grains for a 29 inch arrow. The flatlines would be 23.2 grains lighter. So you would be approx 8-10 fps faster.

Not worth it then. I'll buy broadheads.