All this momentum vs ke has me thinking

[BAD007]

What i find interesting is guys like to always say it is shot placement to help justify their light arrow usage. We as archers all know kids can shoot thru the midsection of North American game with light arrows and low poundage using a quality fixed blade head. But what most of us really are wanting is a set up that will penentrate heavy bone hits when the marginal shot is made. Anyone that bow hunts will eventually have that marginal hit that results in bone contact and we want to be able to overcome the marginal hit. So what gives us the best chance of doing that? It will come down to two very important things. Weight of the arrow/broadhead setup. And the type broadhead used. I don't want to get into the open on impact debate in this thread so forget about them for now. A cut on contact head like the Silverflames will ALWAYS penetrate better than bullet point heads. And two baldes are better than three or four. And certain bevel cut two blade heads are better than others. My point being her in North America we don't have to get that carried away to be highly successful for what we hunt. The debate over total weight can go on forever but the guys that hunt big African game and the guys that have done real life testing all have drawn the same conclusion and that is heavier is better when busting thru bone. And there are some pluses and minuses for light vs heavy arrows but for penetration heavy is better without a doubt. I always try to get new archery hunters to shoot around 450 grain arrows. I can honestly say i have never heard anyone say they wish they would have been shooting a lighter arrow when a marginal hit was made.

[woodbooger]

Ive had rib bones deflect a light arrow-360 still got my pass through but it came out the hind quater. thats not what Im after. when I aim its about where the exit hole will be. thats just me. good debate! over 400grn for me speed and momentum! most use range finders now so distance to game has become a little easier. at 35yds even a bow at 300+fps on an alert animal the game can still move enough to cause a marginal hit.with that being said, we do love are speed! it all personal what is enough? for me 260fps gets it done

[IRISH66]

QUOTE=BAD007;381035]What i find interesting is guys like to always say it is shot placement to help justify their light arrow usage. We as archers all know kids can shoot thru the midsection of North American game with light arrows and low poundage using a quality fixed blade head. But what most of us really are wanting is a set up that will penentrate heavy bone hits when the marginal shot is made. Anyone that bow hunts will eventually have that marginal hit that results in bone contact and we want to be able to overcome the marginal hit. So what gives us the best chance of doing that? It will come down to two very important things. Weight of the arrow/broadhead setup. And the type broadhead used. I don't want to get into the open on impact debate in this thread so forget about them for now. A cut on contact head like the Silverflames will ALWAYS penetrate better than bullet point heads. And two baldes are better than three or four. And certain bevel cut two blade heads are better than others. My point being her in North America we don't have to get that carried away to be highly successful for what we hpunt. The debate over total weight can go on forever but the guys that hunt big African game and the guys that have done real life testing all have drawn the same conclusion d that is heavier is better when busting thru bone. And there are some pluses and minuses for light vs heavy arrows but for penetration heavy is better without a doubt. I always try to get new archery hunters to shoot around 450 grain arrows. I can honestly say i have never heard anyone say they wish they would have been shooting a lighter arrow when a marginal hit was made. This is really what my goal is, to get the most out of my setup and if that shot is not perfect then I know I have the best chance

[ontarget7]

QUOTE=BAD007;381035]What i find interesting is guys like to always say it is shot placement to help justify their light arrow usage. We as archers all know kids can shoot thru the midsection of North American game with light arrows and low poundage using a quality fixed blade head. But what most of us really are wanting is a set up that will penentrate heavy bone hits when the marginal shot is made. Anyone that bow hunts will eventually have that marginal hit that results in bone contact and we want to be able to overcome the marginal hit. So what gives us the best chance of doing that? It will come down to two very important things. Weight of the arrow/broadhead setup. And the type broadhead used. I don't want to get into the open on impact debate in this thread so forget about them for now. A cut on contact head like the Silverflames will ALWAYS penetrate better than bullet point heads. And two baldes are better than three or four. And certain bevel cut two blade heads are better than others. My point being her in North America we don't have to get that carried away to be highly successful for what we hpunt. The debate over total weight can go on forever but the guys that hunt big African game and the guys that have done real life testing all have drawn the same conclusion d that is heavier is better when busting thru bone. And there are some pluses and minuses for light vs heavy arrows but for penetration heavy is better without a doubt. I always try to get new archery hunters to shoot around 450 grain arrows. I can honestly say i have never heard anyone say they wish they would have been shooting a lighter arrow when a marginal hit was made. This is really what my goal is, to get the most out of my setup and if that shot is not perfect then I know I have the best chance

I personally dont take it that some people are justifying there set up. We as archer's should try to be as efficient as possible and this includes shot placement. Regardless what grain of arrow we shoot. I understand where you are coming from in your observation but I wouldn't want a heavy arrow making us feel comfortable about marginal shots. I know plenty of hunters that have made marginal shots with heavy arrows and still couldn't recover the animal. I would have to disagree being efficient with your equipment including shot placement is the key to a archers success regardless what weight of arrow we shoot. Don't get me wrong I have shot heavy and light arrows and both have done the job quite well. Most important thing to me is shot placement and thats not trying to justify any set up I have had over the years. Just sound belief in making the best shot possible.

[BAD007]

I personally dont take it that some people are justifying there set up. We as archer's should try to be as efficient as possible and this includes shot placement. Regardless what grain of arrow we shoot. I understand where you are coming from in your observation but I wouldn't want a heavy arrow making us feel comfortable about marginal shots. I know plenty of hunters that have made marginal shots with heavy arrows and still couldn't recover the animal. I would have to disagree being efficient with your equipment including shot placement is the key to a archers success regardless what weight of arrow we shoot. Don't get me wrong I have shot heavy and light arrows and both have done the job quite well. Most important thing to me is shot placement and thats not trying to justify any set up I have had over the years. Just sound belief in making the best shot possible.

So when you hit bone do you want a light or heavy arrow? I already stated the obvious. A kid with light poundage and a good cut on contact head will get pass thrus on well placed shots.

[TEXAS 10PT]

Many of us will agree to disagree on this topic and its nice to see its been very civil. I will agree with Brad on this one. One of the reasons I shoot heavy arrows and Silver Flames....just in case I'm not perfect.

TEXAS

[ontarget7]

So when you hit bone do you want a light or heavy arrow? I already stated the obvious. A kid with light poundage and a good cut on contact head will get pass thrus on well placed shots.

It honestly doesn't matter for me. I have had equal success with both. I usually find myself between 375gr to 425gr.

[IRISH66]

Thanks guy's... like 10pt said "its nice to see everyone civil on this"

I appreciate all the different views and again, all I want to do is get all I can from my specific set up.

BTW... I was not trying to start anything here. just a normal guy trying to learn more about this sport and this is a great place to do it!

[longbow42]

I prefer heavy arrows as I have been a traditional bowhunter for many years. My longbows are all in the low 60#, but because of my 32" DL and 700-800 grain arrows, I have always had complete pass throughs on most of my animals up to moose. I believe it is because of the increased momentum from my DL. Even with my compound, I shoot 550 grain arrows. I like the efficiency that I get as well as the quietness. Penetration is never a problem due to plus 100# KE. This year, I hit a deer in center of the spine, completely severing it and the arrow was stuck so hard in the dirt, that I could hardly pull it out (hit a root).