What Is Your Arrow Doing Down Range? —
John Dudley, of Nock On Archery, recently posted a YouTube video asking viewers: What Is Your Arrow Doing Down Range?
Dudley questioned the validity of claims made by archers that increasing the Front Of Center weight of your arrow leads to better performance downrange for longer shots.
One of the things I have not liked that I’ve been seeing in forums, are the people that are saying that the heavier arrow is actually giving you tighter pins because it’s retaining it’s energy down range,” Dudley said. “That is not happening. I’m not here to argue whether higher FOC or higher weight is going to give you more momentum through a target, but there’s diminishing returns [in accuracy].”
Dudley illustrates this example by shooting four Easton AXIS arrows from 100 yards. These arrows all had different weights for comparison: 460 grains (6.2% FOC), 510 grains (10.3% FOC), 610 grains (14.7% FOC) & 685 grains (18% FOC). The results were a group that varied by about 6 inches horizontally, and about the same variance vertically. Dudley continues by pointing out the added loft needed for a shot with a much heavier arrow; something that can be an added challenge in a hunting situation.
Is the high FOC that you’re chasing, is that worth the amount of cast [of a heavier, slower-moving arrow]?” Dudley said. “This [685 grain] arrow is casting so high, that I had to trim my trees [to avoid hitting leaves]…Is that slower projectile that’s going to be hitting lower if you’re off on the yardage, is that worth it? Do you need to be able to find that much clearance?”
Dudley mentions that there are certain scenarios in which he would choose to shoot a heavier arrow: “If I was hunting a buffalo, cape buffalo, or any of the dangerous game animals; 100% [I would want a heavier arrow].”
Dudley concludes by suggesting that archers find something that gives you the ability to have some errors in your calculations, essentially a middle ground.
“When you’re asking: how do I get more distance on my bow? Lighter arrows give you tighter scales,” Dudley said. “Before you jump down a road of deciding that you want 200-300 grains in the front of your arrow, you should compare whatever your minimum and maximum pins are as a hunter, and compare to the heavy arrow.”
FULL VIDEO – WATCH NOW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05jwaPP4t6E
NOCK ON ARCHERY – YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/@nockonarchery/videos
EASTON ARCHERY – WEBSITE: https://eastonarchery.com/
