I’m curious if other than single pin shooting and or pin gapping, is it really that big of a deal? I not positive but aren’t most trad shooters sub 200 and those guys kill a ton of animals?
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FPS really that important?
- Thread starter Thetrueredneck
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It's all about energy at the impact. Hit by a pencil eraser, or hit by bowling ball. Bowling ball still going slow hurts. Eraser needs to be trucking. Some deer duck. Some deer don't. You have to decided how your hunting.
Yazoo Hntr
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This is a good article to read.
blog.gritroutdoors.com
Understanding Kinetic Energy and Momentum in Arrows
Dive into the physics of archery. Understand the role of kinetic energy and momentum in choosing the right arrow for hunting.
blog.gritroutdoors.com
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Same knife. No eraser and bowling ball. Same knife.
Which penetrates deeper, a high velocity or low velocity jab?
We know it's the high velocity jab.
Where it gets complicated is a bow can only produce so much force. P=mv. F=ma. K=.5mv. However you cut it, decisions have to be made, but fps IS a factor.
So math was never my strongest but, I probably should have asked a more specific question regarding FPS. Like at what point should you change decrease ToW or increase DW to increase FPS? what is acceptable for ethical shooting of a deer sized animal 150fps? 200?
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That depends. How far you shooting? and how do you feel about the sacred cow of the capatalistic dollar vote, lol?
Are you trying to come up with a low draw weight rig?
I’d play around with some numbers using online bow calculators. There’s several free ones! But I think there’s a happy medium between speed and arrow weight and maybe some situations you may lean one way or another.
30 years hunting with archery gear never shot beyond 25yds. So I’d say < 30yrd just for the sake of asking
Yes I have went to a much light weight do to shoulder and back injuries.
jonkytron
Active Member
imo - it all depends on your hunt and what you prefer.. a 200 fps bow w/ 700 grain arrows can kill deer just fine. 320 fps bow w/ 450 grain arrow can kill a deer just fine. Fixed blades kill. Mechanicals kill. do you want to shoot long distance? or close? Want a back up plan for too far front shot or a too far back? its like asking what car is best. Do you want a corvette or a pick up truck? everyone has a different opinion.. my 75# bow shoots 265 FPS with a 650 grain arrow with 20% FOC. I have a three pin sliding dial with 20/30 (90% of my kills) and 40 (the farthest id ever shoot) and I have a sliding sight for 40-80 yds if I ever need a follow up shot hail Mary, or just for shooting targets long range for fun. I could go lighter arrow and shoot 300 FPS, but I dont think I need it.
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flat trajectory makes hits at unknown yardages way easier
having smaller holds over/under or easier pin gaps is a big deal when hunting
That's the way I look at it.....IMO fps isn't every important. I'd bet a dollar my arrows sub 200 and even I managed to kill a couple....
To be honest, I think the relatively slow arrows we trad guys shoot HELPS us, at least the instinctive folks. I can see where speed would help a gapper, though. For me at least, being able to watch an arrow fly ingrains that trajectory at various distances. I had a Morrison Dakota once; absolutely beautiful, real quiet and a screamer. Never could get right with that bow; always high or low...sold it. Never chronoed anything I have, but I'm guessing maybe 160 fps with the 11+ gr/lb arrows I use. The bows are real quiet, stable and shoot flat enough for me, and the arrows penetrate great. Flat trajectory isn't always the be all/end all...the best jump-shooters are usually (always) the guys with the high arcs.
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I shoot a single pin set at about 25 yards. My compound is set just a bit under 60# and my arrows weight 650 grains with 29% FOC. I have no trouble hunting within 30 yards. I like my shots to be well under 25 and my 4-year average shot distance is 16 yards. I'm sure I'm at or under 200 fps. At home I practice longer shots for fun and in the event I had a follow up shot at longer range on a previously wounded animal.
To me, bowhunting is about getting close. That's the game. It's about imposing limitations on myself that will make me a better hunter.
To me, bowhunting is about getting close. That's the game. It's about imposing limitations on myself that will make me a better hunter.
Petrichor
Well-Known Member
Yes us trad shooters are almost all below 200. I think my arrow speed is 180ish. But you won’t really find many trad people that care. Arrows kill by cutting, and it takes very little energy with a cut on contact broadhead to cut through deer hide. However many people shoot decently heavy arrows especially when compared to compound arrows.
As for your killing question. We definitely have some members that drop em on the regular. Trad is fun and how quiet the bows can be is incredible. You should drop by the trad forum. Many never look back.
As for your killing question. We definitely have some members that drop em on the regular. Trad is fun and how quiet the bows can be is incredible. You should drop by the trad forum. Many never look back.
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Maybe if you share your setup (bow/poundage/draw length) folks can help with a more specific minimum recommendation. I'm sure they'll be willing to offer their ideal recommendation as well.
If your shooting a modern compound, tuned properly, razor sharp broadhead, placed some where in the vital Regin is dead. If your shooting 160FPS or 300FPS. I would say you have to experiment some with your bow. But don't be afraid to see how it goes. See what the trajectory is. If you turn it down some, you could try to get that lighter arrow and bump your FOC some. Michigan says you only need to draw 40LBS. So if you are shooting 45LBS, maybe you can shoot a lighter arrow, get that 17-18% FOC and keep a decent group up and down. Depends on the bow and you. But you need to see what works. So don't be afraid to tinker.
There is no one answer to your question IMHO. There are some scenarios where you learn not to care about certain aspects or label them as 'good enough'. This is especially true in regards to compound and traditional. Trad don't care about FPS as much because they get in close and under 20 yards the FPS advantage is not as profound. Compound care less about (not that they don't) perfect arrow setup because drop away rest can overcome imperfect spine setup. My compound shoot the same arrow perfectly straight with 100-200 gr broadheads with fletched, no way can my trad bow do that.
I agree, shoot the lowest poundage you can with any gears you are using. But you need more FOC for trads, FPS for compound helps.
I agree, shoot the lowest poundage you can with any gears you are using. But you need more FOC for trads, FPS for compound helps.
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yeah, i've shot compounds and recurves both a good bit, and it is an apples to oranges comparison
a closer range, instinctive shooter isn't impacted by speed differences nearly as much as a compound shooter with sights and the ability to potentially shoot at extended ranges much more easily
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Faster speeds allow a little more leeway in range estimation . In my neck of the woods they now allow anyone to use a crossbow and I my opinion in many cases the sheer speed they offer has caused some to take some pretty marginal shots resulting in wounding. While a moderaely fast bow with a descent weight arrow will blow through most animals I think the aspect of getting close has been lost with the advent of shooting light arrows really fast. I have friends out west that by necessity need to take some pretty long shots because of terrain and so forth but where I hunt trees are pretty thick so my shots are less than 30 yards. Let's not forget how fast game can react while arrow is still in flight. Best combo in my opinion would be as much poundage you can draw after 4 hrs @20 degreesF in an awkward position with a moderately heavy arrow that flies perfectly. More important than bow speed would be accuracy but that is just me.