Arrow Penetration tests

[onesharpbroadhead]

Here are a few videos of testing that I did to try and find out for myself what the truth is regarding arrow penetration:

Arrow Penetration part 1 of 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4RGcyZ_gJY

Arrow Penetration part 2 of 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAfK0sBsZBw

Supplement to the above videos in bone:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vKslydefg0

I hope that these tests are helpful and encourage others to test for themselves and perhaps video their results.

[bjorn]

Personally I have been in the 'heavier' camp 10gn+, and do like seeing quality testing and reporting whether it supports my thoughts or not. There's lots of room here and no point in all of us thinking the same way, OSB you have done a good job here and presented it very well.
Bjorn

[onesharpbroadhead]

Thanks - After doing testing - I personally don't think one is any better than the other regarding penetration - I think whatever you gain in penetration by going fast and light - you lose by the reduction in weight and whatever you gain in penetration by going heavy - you lose by the reduction in velocity. Half dozen of one and six of the other

[JoshT.]

Be cool to see the test repeated using a standard broadhead.... say a snuffer or 2-blade Zwicky.....

[onesharpbroadhead]

Josh - I thought about doing the tests with broadheads, but that is another variable and I just wanted to measure which arrow (if either) had the most ability to penetrate or penetrating energy.

To my thinking - I am satisified that there is not a hill of beans of difference between a slower heavy arrow or a faster light arrow in the ability to penetrate.

I think we should use the lightest arrow that is still quiet and will not damage the bow we use. For must that is between 7 & 9 gpp of draw

[Coaster500]

Most of my arrows fall into the 10 to 11gr range but it was not a target weight rather the point where the arrows shot the best and my bows became much quieter on release... truthfully as little as I knew then, I was probably just lucky, but it's working so I probably won't fix it

Thank you for sharing your findings and video documentation...

[onesharpbroadhead]

Coaster500 I agree 100% with the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" - some guys are forever tinkering and trying new things - new bows, new arrows, new aiming methods, new gloves, tabs, rests, etc... I guess if that is what they enjoy - that is all that matters.

I am slow to change. I have been shooting trad for a long time and started out not even knowing what my arrows weighed and didn't care. Over the years I tried the heavier arrows - 10 - 12 gpp and shot them for many years and had good success with them.

As I started shooting more seriously and really getting into it and enjoying it - i sort of hit a plateau and was holding the same average for a few years in a row - not improving and not getting worse.

I started to note what the really good shots were shooting and noticed that they all shot arrows on the lighter side - so I started experimenting and found that out of my hunting weight bow I could not get much lighter than 7gpp and found that the bow was still plenty quiet and shot a lot faster - and my scores showed that the faster arrow allowed me to shoot more accurately - in a significant way too - average scores going up over 20 pts.

So while I don't change things up too much in my set up - I do keep my mind open to new things - especially when I see awesome shooters that shoot better than me - I take notice to what they do and their set up.

[AWPForester]

I gotta agree. I think the penetration will equal out on smaller less heavly muscled animals. I do believe that one can go to heavy and hurt penetration as well as too light proved by Crossbow bolts. I think if you stay anywhere in the range that your bow tells you to, meaning how it sounds feels and reacts to the weight of tyour arrow you will be just fine on about anything except a hippo, Elephnat, or some form of big Buffalo.

I most certainly agrre that the best is somewhere in the middle od the hheaviest and Lightest. Some guys scream heavy is better. there are just so many things that affect penetration and bow performance other than arrow weight. I used to be on the heavier side and lately I am somewhere around 8.5 gpp thanks to Larry Altizer and OSB. Shoots pretty good trajectory wise and still wallops the target enough to kill easily, ecspecially when put where it belongs.

[bjorn]

Putting it where it belongs is key.....shoot the set up that gives you the greatest confidence-in my own case I have noticed that going over a certain weight gives me high-low errors beyond 25 yds and useful penetration has a lot to do with shot placement.

[Venator]

this is a good thread, I enjoy reading the different opinions regarding this topic, thanks guys. At this current time none of my setups go below 550 grains, most of my bows are around 58 to 60 pounds depending on which one I am shooting. However, I do notice a significant drop in my arrow flight after 30 yards. I am sure that I could improve my 3D scores by using a lighter arrow. On the other hand these are also my hunting setups and I do not plan shooting over 20 yards.

I agree with AWP and Bjorn that putting it on target is key and having a properly sharpened broadhead. My feelings are that more people add and add weight trying to get a heavy setup without putting forth the time to properly tune the arrow in the first place, especially with all the stuff that has been written regarding heavy arrows. It really doesn't matter how much or how little weight you have if the arrow isn't properly tuned and doesn't fly straight and true.

At the end of the day, if the arrow is properly tuned, the broadhead is sharp, and you don't shoot outside of your accurate distance you should be good to go.