extra long arrow


elkoholic

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While watching the Outdoor Channel last night I heard Jack Brittingham say that he was using his extra long arrow for extra penetration. He was hunting wild boar in Texas and proceeded to shoot the front of the blind on his first shot grin.gif Later in the show he did mention that the extra length produced more weight, thus the extra penetration I suppose (would really need to factor in loss of velocity). At any rate, just using a heavier arrow of the proper length would have been a better idea. His statement still has me wondering, but then, maybe next time I will try my extra long arrow for extra penetration.

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Re: extra long arrow

Shooting the front of the blind on TV must have gained him alot of respect huh grin.gif

While I'm not the arrow expert here....I have to believe that the longer arrow does not help any in penetration.

Overall weight, diameter of the shaft, the speed at which the arrow enters an animal, the density of the flesh it contacts, the trajectory of the arrow through that flesh and the bones which it encounters, the sharpness of the broadhead, the durability of the broadhead, and probably a few others i have not mentioned here.......

My money goes on the sharpness of the leading edge.....the broadhead wink.gif

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Re: extra long arrow

Maybe easier to just add a few inches of arrow then to add weight to the arrows he is already shooting. When you start adding different dia. of arrows...depending on the setup, you maybe changing your rest as well. I for one would rather shoot a slower heavier arrow than a fast, light arrow.

You could add a few inches to the size of arrow you are already shooting and not effect your setup...but add alot more KE, thus giving you much more penetration.

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Re: extra long arrow

I agree with the heavier, slower arrow idea. There is a point where lost velocity due to weight comes in to play. I wonder if this could be a new trend, extra long arrows. I would think that increasing arrow length may result in two problems, the first being a need to go with a stiffer spined arrow (more weight?) and it would also shift the arrow balance point with a possible change in arrow flight. Also, depending on the grains per inch of your arrow, I hardly think that a few inches would make much difference in total KE. But, I am just guessing and the hunter on the show is a professional.

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Re: extra long arrow

You don't have to increase your arrows weight to increase KE. In fact, if you can lighten your arrow and at the same time increase your velocity, you will see a greater jump in KE than increasing your weight.

Shooting a heavier arrow will decrease your velocity. And while its true that both are in the KE forumula, velocity happens to be squared.

Here's an example:

2+3squared=11(you're set up now)

3+2squared=7(after adding weight and decreasing velocity)

1+4squared=9(after lightening arrow and increasing velocity)

In other words, don't mess with your set-up....grin.gif

Actually, in other words don't always associate added weight with higher KE. Velocity plays a big part.

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Re: extra long arrow

[ QUOTE ]

Actually, in other words don't always associate added weight with higher KE. Velocity plays a big part.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed...but there are alot of varibles here that we don't know. How long is the "extra long arrows"? If we were talking maybe 6" of arrow added...I'd say velocity has decrease some. If we are only adding 2" of arrow...won't even notice much of a velocity decrease, but def. added more grains of weight to the arrow.

It does take some of both...I personally would rather shoot a slower (quieter) bow with a heavy arrow than a fast (louder) with a light arrow. Been down that road before, and lost a buck because I was young and didn't know any better...I thought speed was the name of the game. frown.gif

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Re: extra long arrow

That's true. It's also true that sometimes when you decrease your arrow weight you are not necessarily increasing speed. Too light of an arrow will become unstable.

If you've got the time and the money you can optimize the KE on your set-up. There are two variables that you can control: Weight and Velocity. And there are several components to those variables: Arrow length and weight, broadhead weight, draw weight, stability of arrow...etc.

If you have all the equipment, it sure is fun to try.

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Guest gfourhunter

Re: extra long arrow

i dont know where he learned math at but

2+3=5

3+2=5

1+4=5

any way you look at it ITS ( 5 ) LOL, i know what you meen

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Re: extra long arrow

My finished arrow weight will probably be about 380 to 400 grains, depending on if it is a 55/75 or 75/95. I'm changing things up a bit this year. I'm cutting the arrow a bit shorter. It'll still have good weight to it, but if some calculations are correct, the 380 grain arrow would shoot about 285 FPS. cool.gif I think I'd be ok. I've never liked having my arrows cut long.

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Re: extra long arrow

[ QUOTE ]

You don't have to increase your arrows weight to increase KE. In fact, if you can lighten your arrow and at the same time increase your velocity, you will see a greater jump in KE than increasing your weight.

[/ QUOTE ]

This may be true to a point, but I'd rather have a mosquito hit me at 10000 miles per hour than have a car hit me going 10 mph. smile.gif

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Re: extra long arrow

[ QUOTE ]

This may be true to a point, but I'd rather have a mosquito hit me at 10000 miles per hour than have a car hit me going 10 mph. smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How about this: Which would you rather have step on your foot? An elephant or a lady with high heels?? grin.gifgrin.gif

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Re: extra long arrow

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

This may be true to a point, but I'd rather have a mosquito hit me at 10000 miles per hour than have a car hit me going 10 mph. smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How about this: Which would you rather have step on your foot? An elephant or a lady with high heels?? grin.gifgrin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How big is the lady??? grin.gif

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Re: extra long arrow

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

This may be true to a point, but I'd rather have a mosquito hit me at 10000 miles per hour than have a car hit me going 10 mph. smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How about this: Which would you rather have step on your foot? An elephant or a lady with high heels?? grin.gifgrin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

How big is the lady??? grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Now that should get the Gold Medal for being the perfect response right there!!! cool.gif

I'm an admitted speed freak....I may be wrong on some occassions being so but thats me.

I had one deer step out of the way of an arrow @ 42 yards(an it happened to be a really nice buck

) and it was standing still when I shot. It stepped forward once and at the same time attempting to jump a fence. I would have been right behind the shoulder(where my arrow went) if the deer had stood still until the arrow got there. I have been a speed freak ever since.

Arrow length simply equates in slower speeds the longer they are. Therefore I shoot the shortest arrow I can while I remain near 8 grains per inch to keep the speed up.

I watched that same deer I missed get harvested the next week in rifle season....there is a picture of our hunting party around the lucky 16 year old who took him with a 270. everyone is looking at the camera...except me....I was busy looking at the deer's tail. The week earlier when I shot at that buck I clipped hair off the underside of his tail...On this deer there was a flat spot on the tail and the camera has me looking at the deer with the tail lifted up.

I'll remember that for the rest of my life...it was my first ever bow hunting season.

Thats why I'm a speed freak now and I seriouly dont believe I could ever think differently again.

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Re: extra long arrow

[ QUOTE ]

I had one deer step out of the way of an arrow @ 42 yards(an it happened to be a really nice buck

) and it was standing still when I shot. It stepped forward once and at the same time attempting to jump a fence. I would have been right behind the shoulder(where my arrow went) if the deer had stood still until the arrow got there.

[/ QUOTE ]

That was either one really fast deer or one REALLY slow bow. 42 yards is 126' the average hunting setup could put and arrow there prob. around 1/2 a second...and thats shooting a slow bow by todays standards.

Just guessing because I wasn't there, but I would bet he started the jump/step before you released...just prob. all happened pretty fast. wink.gif

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Re: extra long arrow

Snapper, I have no doubt thats what happened too. The bow I had at that time was shooting 224FPS. I know the facts show it can be done with that bow anyday of the week...I know this is the truth....I just cant convince myself that slower is better. Another thing that does not help me support shooting a slower bow are the reinforcements from hunters on video that say things like: "If I was just a few feet per second slower I'd of shot under that deer"-Michael Waddell (incase you were wondering).

Just trying to give a little insight to those wondering what goes into the making of a speed junkie in the bow world. We are not bad people just convinced of something different than other people. tongue.gif

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Re: extra long arrow

[ QUOTE ]

Just trying to give a little insight to those wondering what goes into the making of a speed junkie in the bow world. We are not bad people just convinced of something different than other people.

[/ QUOTE ]

LOL...actually I think the "slower" bow crowd are the ones that are different. New bows are geared towards speed more than anything. There is nothing wrong with shooting speed as long as you have a properly weighted arrow and can shoot it.

Its been my experiece that alot of people get caught up in how fast their bow is...but it just makes them miss faster. Most slow bows are quieter and more forgiving than fast bows. My buddy shoots a bowtech and shooting very fast...but he can shoot it well.

All comes back to knowing your equipment and how to use it. wink.gif

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Re: extra long arrow

[ QUOTE ]

And now that GW is shooting faster, he's missing faster too, LMAO.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is sometimes true...I stuck that one arrow half the way through the garage wall.

I have passed on a few chances but of the 3 animals I have shot at with the bow......3 died wink.gif

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