Arrow Weight: Grains not Grams

Not only will you need to determine the proper length of your arrows, but you'll also need to know something about arrow weight. Depending on their length, type, tip weight, fletching options, etc., arrows can dramatically vary in weight. How heavy should your arrows be? Well....let's start at the top.

First thing. The weight of an arrow is customarily measured in GRAINS. Grains (gr) and grams (g) are totally different units of measure. The grain is a British system unit - based on the weight of a grain of barley. A gram is a metric unit of weight. So don't confuse them. A gram is a lot heavier than a grain. A 350 grain (gr) arrow weighs only 22.75 grams (g). But since archers measure in grains, let's just try to just forget about grams for now.

Given how tiny a grain is (only 1/7000th of a pound), your kitchen diet scale won't help at all. If you would like to have the ability to accurately weigh your own arrows without the need for conversion tables and a calculator, you can purchase an archer's scale that's specifically calibrated in grains.

Arrow Weight: Is Lighter Better?

This is a hotly debated topic. But the fact is, lighter arrows fly faster with less loss of trajectory. A faster arrow won't necessarily penetrate better, but it will make it to the target more quickly. For some bowhunters and 3D shooters, this is a great benefit. A bow that shoots very fast is often described as "shooting flat". The "flat" part is a reference to the natural rainbow-shaped parabolic flight-path that all arrows invariably take. A faster arrow travels with less perceptible arc, so it is described as shooting "flat". And this seems to be a characteristic that many shooters seek in a bowhunting or 3D rig.

In the current archery market, speed sells. Right or wrong, it's a fact. Like in many industries, archery manufacturers are under constant pressure to make things go faster. As a result, each year brings a new bumper-crop of even lighter arrow shafts, better string materials, more efficient bow designs, friction-reducing components, etc. Again, there is some disagreement on this issue but the main idea is, lighter arrows go faster - sometimes dramatically faster. Heavy arrows go slower. So if you want your bow to shoot "flat", lightweight arrows are going to be a must.

Arrow Weight: How Light is TOO Light?

Shooting an arrow that is too light can be dangerous, both to you and your expensive compound bow. Shooting an underweight arrow has a similar effect as dry-firing your bow. Without sufficient arrow weight, the string and limbs of your compound bow move too quickly and violently. It's like putting your car in neutral and flooring the gas pedal. The bow needs the resistance of the arrow just as the engine needs the resistance of the car's drive train.

Of course, an underweight arrow will fly like a rocket - generating unbelievable speeds. But anyone who does this is just asking for trouble. Modern compound bows aren't toys. They generate a tremendous amount of energy and should be treated with the same respect you would give any dangerous weapon. The vast majority of serious compound bow failures are not caused by manufacturer defects, but rather by dry-firing the bow or shooting dramatically underweight arrows. For your personal safety, and the longevity of your bow, we most strongly recommend you follow the IBO or AMO Standard regarding minimum arrow weight.

The International Bowhunting Organization (IBO) sets a 5 grains per pound as standard. A 60# bow should shoot no less than a 300 (5 x 60) grain arrow. Simple enough! Another authority in the archery industry, the Archery Trade Association (formerly the AMO), also publishes an arrow weight recommendation chart called the AMO Minimum Arrow Weight Chart. The AMO chart is a bit more complex and takes more variables into account (brace height, bow efficiency, cam design, draw length, etc.), but it is less widely used. Some manufacturers ask you follow one standard, some the other. And depending upon your particular bow setup, the IBO and AMO recommendations may or may not be the same. Check the literature that came with your bow to find which standard you should follow.

However, since the IBO Standard applies at most 3D courses, many competitive shooters setup their arrows to weigh exactly 5 grains per pound. This keeps them just within the rules while providing the fastest possible arrow speeds. However, bowhunters usually choose arrow weights between 5 and 9 grains per pound.

Arrow Weight: Laws & Warranties

CHECK THE LAW

Years ago, when carbon arrows were first introduced in the archery market, their critics (mainly competing manufacturers who didn't make carbon arrows at the time) launched anti-carbon arrow advertising campaigns to dissuade archers from giving up their heavy aluminum arrows for lightweight carbon shafts. These ad campaigns claimed carbon arrows were dangerous, they would splinter and break, they were inaccurate, wouldn't penetrate well, they would ruin your meat, they could cut your hands during field dressing, etc. Of course, as we soon learned, all that corporate blathering was a distortion of the truth - and today carbon arrows continue to command an increasingly dominant share of the hunting arrow market. And in fact, the same manufacturers who once attacked the carbon arrow concept NOW make their own carbon arrow shafts to sell.

Fortunately, the carbon arrow concept has prevailed, but there have been casualties in the Aluminum vs. Carbon War. Several states still have hunting laws that reflect the early misconceptions about using lightweight carbon arrows for big game hunting. For example: Washington State bowhunters must shoot arrows that weigh at least 6 grains per pound (rather than the 5 gr/p/p recommended by the IBO), Alabama bowhunters must shoot at least 100 grain tips in their arrows, and Connecticut bowhunters must use arrows that weigh at least 400 grains regardless of their bow's draw weight. And while these antiquated restrictions may not exactly warrant an uprising, they are a part of each state's effort to ensure ethical bowhunting practices. So we strongly suggest you check your state regulations before ordering your hunting arrows, and respect your state's rules and regulations. And be advised that your state's rules and regulations may change from year to year. As a sportsman, it's your responsibility to know the law and be sure your equipment is in compliance from season to season.

WARRANTY SNAFU