Does speed matter in archery?

Conclusion. Arrow speed is still a very important part of the overall success equation. I know bowhunters who would not ever consider hunting with a bow shooting less than 300 fps. I generally shoot around 285 to 290 fps.

How important is arrow speed?

An arrow speed increase of 60 fps increases your margin for error on 30-yard shots by more than 300 percent. Clearly, that extra speed can make a huge difference in the outcome of the hunt. And that added velocity becomes even more precious as you stretch the distance out to 40 yards.

Is a faster bow more accurate?

Most speed bows will shoot well as long as your shooting form is good. But when small form variations occur, accuracy suffers more than it would with a slower bow, which usually has a larger brace height (more forgiving) and is easier to draw (which makes it more fun).

What is the ideal bow speed for hunting?

280 FPS is optimal for most fixed heads...

What is a good speed for a compound bow?

Now that you understand the determining factors and how they can be changed to alter the total speed, we can say that today's compound bows shoot an average speed of between 300 and 340 FPS. The average adult hunter should have a perfectly sufficient compound bow if the IBO FPS speed is somewhere in that range.

Why Bow Speed Matters For Bowhunting

How fast does a 70 lb bow shoot?

If you are using a 70 lbs. draw weight, your compound bow would have a 270 FPS. And if your draw length is indeed 30″ (as it is during IBO testing), this number would be closer to 290 FPS.

Is 315 fps good for a bow?

315 ... Yes ,, as with any "weapon", proper shot placement is key, the users ability and/or limits should be considered as well ... Ten Point is a fine bow and 315 is a great speed for arrow consistency ...

Is a 500 grain arrow too heavy?

For reference, light arrows weigh about 350 grains, a typical arrow weighs 420 to 500 grains, and a heavy arrow weighs over 600 grains. Bentcik said few Americans use arrows weighing 700 grains or more unless they're shooting traditional equipment.

Does FPS matter bow hunting?

Conclusion. Arrow speed is still a very important part of the overall success equation. I know bowhunters who would not ever consider hunting with a bow shooting less than 300 fps. I generally shoot around 285 to 290 fps.

Is 550 grain arrow too heavy?

The happy medium weight is a range of 550 to 600 grains. In my experience, arrows in this range will be the easiest to tune and will deliver moderately flat flight out to, say, 45 yards depending on bow speed. This is where speed becomes a factor.

Is 300 fps good for a compound bow?

Anything in the 250-300fps range is perfect.

Is a 400 grain arrow good for hunting?

As long as you make a good shot, that is. According to Easton, a 400 grain arrow traveling at the glacial speed of 170 feet-per-second has sufficient energy to harvest a mature deer. Heck, many kids bows can easily shoot such a light arrow faster than 170 fps, and I've seen such rigs do pass-throughs on deer!

Do heavier arrows fly better?

So, as you can see, while a lighter, faster arrow shot from a modern compound bow produces significantly higher kinetic energy than a traditional bow shooting a much heavier arrow, the heavier arrow is actually carrying more momentum and, with all else equal, would be more likely to pass through the animal.

Is 260 fps good for a crossbow?

It's only from 300 FPS and up that you get enough kinetic energy at all feasible hunting distances (up to 50 yards) to be able to comfortably hunt elk. As such we recommend that elk hunters stick to 300 FPS or more. For whitetail deer this requirement is lower – any crossbow 250 FPS and up will be a safe pick.

Is 310 fps good for a compound bow?

Add two string silencers and peep sight, and you can expect to be down to 315 to 320 fps. Set your bow to 60 pounds instead of 70, and you'll likely land in the 300 to 310 fps. Of course, shooting a 400-grain arrow will reduce your speed well below 300 fps, likely in the 280- to 290-fps range.

How much speed does a grain arrow need?

For every five grains of arrow weight added, you will lose 1-1.5 fps in arrow speed. Yup, that seems about right!

How fast does a 40 lb bow shoot?

The nock attaches to the string and when you release the string, those 40 lbs are set free. The string launches the arrow forward and transfers the energy from the string to the arrow, which is now travelling at around 240+ fps. This is where the broadhead comes in.

What is the fastest arrow ever shot?

Lars Andersen (born 8 November 1964) is a Danish painter and archer. Claiming to hold a world record for speed, he is able to shoot 10 arrows in 4.9 seconds, or 3 arrows in 0.6 seconds. A private student of Otto Frello, Andersen graduated from School of Visual Art.

Is 290 fps fast?

Registered. Back on topic, 290 is great speed for hunting and plenty for 3D and way more then needed for spot shooting.

Are lighter arrows more accurate?

All factors remaining equal, heavy arrows always are more reliable, more durable, than lighter. More material, with additional layers of carbon material, equal more strength when subjected to abuse such as bone impacts or when shot into rocky ground or bounced off trees following misses.

Are shorter arrows more accurate?

So you know that the shorter and stiffer the arrow the better for speed and accuracy, the tradeoff against this is safety.

What is the ideal arrow weight?

A light arrow has a finished GPP of 5 to 6.5 grains for each pound of draw weight. A midweight arrow weighs between 6.5 and 8 grains. Heavy arrows weigh over 8 grains. This information can be important when shooting a recurve, barebow or compound.

Does draw length affect arrow speed?

The longer your draw length, the longer your bow's powerstroke will be - and the faster your bow will shoot. As a general rule, 1" of draw length is worth about 10 fps of arrow velocity.

How many FPS do you gain per pound of draw weight?

Registered. On average you will gain or lose 2.4 fps per pound change in draw weight. If you go lower you will lose, going higher you gain.

What does IBO mean archery?

IBO stands for the International Bowhunters Organization. The International Bowhunters Organization has created a standard for bows which is produced through a test. The IBO speed is obtained by shooting a bow with the maximum pull weight of 80 pounds +/- 2 pounds.