I'm puzzled.

[DRT]

I bought some Easton ST Epics 340s. 10.2gpi and I had them cut to 27.5" for my son to shoot. Unfortunately he isn't. So I took them out and shot them.

I normally shoot Easton St Excel 400s. 8.6gpi at 26.5". I have never been happy with the noise by bow makes even with all the rubber attachments.

It was quieter and hits the same POI as my regular arrows out to 40 yards. I haven't shot it further yet. I would have figured some more drop into it for one thing.

4" vanes on the Epics and 2" Blazers on the Excels. Same weight field points.

Alright, tell me what I'm missing.

[Destry]

That doesn't make any sense to me considering the epics are 1.6 gpi heavier and 1" longer

[Tex21]

My setup is exactly the same as yours if you are shooting 70lbs and 28.5 draw but I had goldtip ultralights at 8.5 grains with blazers and I had to resight so maybe the longer vanes are holding it up longer.... BTW i thought 340s were 9.5 grains an inch>

[clffrdfdge]

Heavier arrows will make your bow quieter, but when it is heaver it shouldn't shoot the same point of impact as the lighter ones. Should be lower especially at 30-40 yards.

[BTLowry]

Laws of Physics (heavier arrow carrie speed further, resulting in arrows maintaining speed which offsets gravity?) and possibly your 400 spines not being stiff enough for your setup. Plus ~60gr is not that much if you spread it out vs all being added to the point.

Pretty sure someone who knows more than me will have a better answer as I am just guessing

Is your son sooting more weight than you?

[DRT]

Son was shooting less weight but he is a big ole kid and I figured in time his draw length and strength would increase so I planned ahead. He just hasn't shown any interest so no sense letting good arrows go to waste. And as for weight I just know what it says on the arrow. I'm at 73 pounds and a 26.5" draw.

[Destry]

I'm at 73 pounds and a 26.5" draw.

i'm glad to see i'm not the only short DL i also shoot 26.5"

[BTLowry]

If your son is shooting less weight, he needs to be shooting the weaker spined arrows I would think, but I guess it does not matter if he is not going to shoot

[ccwilder3]

The 340 spined arrow is slightly larger in diameter therefore the center line of the arrow is slightly high as it sets on the rest. Also the stiffer spine may be helping.

[DRT]

It's working so . . .

[agtex42]

Are these the Camo Epics by any chance? The camo finish adds a little extra weight to the arrow (10.2 vs 9.5 gpi). It's possible that you might be getting fletching contact, could be one, the other, or both. Either way it's possible to get two arrows to have the same poi despite being spined/weighted differently, especially if they're contacting your cable/shelf/rest after release.

Have you shot broadheads with both arrows, how about bareshaft testing? Either will show you quickly which arrow is better suited for your bow, in fact you might find that the 340s are easier to tune to your setup or vice versa. I highly recommend you bareshaft both arrows and play around with your tip weight to see which one will group the best with your fletched arrows.

It seems like you might be one of those archers that's in that gray area between spines where you could go one way or the other depending on how short the shafts are cut and how much weight you put on the front of them. Get yourself a field tip test kit and spend the afternoon experimenting, you'll learn something in the process and better yet you'll end up with an arrow that's fine tuned to your bow

[keep]

There just isn't that much of a difference at only 40yds. Push it out to 60 and you will see the difference. At 40 I bet there isn't but 2-3in difference and you could be subconsciously adjusting for that by aiming at the top of the bullseye instead of the center. Most hunters don't know if 2 inches at 40yds is them or the setup.
The quietness is the heavier arrow, one of the big benefits along with the downrange KE it carries. (or momentum depending on which side of the argument you fall on)

[DRT]

Heck at 40 yards I'm subconcious period. After 20 years I'm pretty sure I'm doing it right. And I've gotten the same results in three evenings.

"The 340 spined arrow is slightly larger in diameter therefore the center line of the arrow is slightly high as it sets on the rest. Also the stiffer spine may be helping."

This is the most correct possibility I would think. But I also think you are right about the longer ranges. Fortunately for me I don't shoot at animals at longer ranges.

I will find out the weekend of the 24th at Three Fingers Bowhunting.