It is not easy to choose the right arrow, especially with such a vast array of options available in today’s market. While selecting an arrow you need to first know your requirements and then narrow down options accordingly. The lines below will help you choose the right arrow for your archery or bow hunting requirements.
Factors To Look Into While Choosing An Arrow:
Finding the right arrow requires detailed attention to the following factors-
- Arrow Material- Generally, arrows are made of wood, aluminum or carbon. Find out what material suits your shooting needs in the best possible manner.
- Length And Spine- The arrow length and spine are greatly dependent on the bow that is used for shooting the arrows. You also have to find out the draw length as well as the pull weight (at draw length) of the bow, as sometimes the draw length marked on your bow’s side might differ from the draw length specific to you. Use a selection chart (arrow) to help you determine the most appropriate arrow length and spine (specific to your bow).
- Shaft Pattern- Usually, both aluminum and carbon arrows come with wood grain, black or camo shaft pattern options. However, shaft patterns for the wood arrows come in various accent colors and strain colors such as a cresting and/or crown dip.
Different Arrow Materials:
Wood Arrow For Shooting:
Wood arrows are cost-effective, but they demand constant maintenance.
- They are made from solid material in comparison to the hollow aluminum or carbon ones and fly more quietly than the other two types.
- POC or Port Orford Cedar is commonly used for making wood arrows, and are usually lightweight or medium- weight arrows. Other wood types used for making wood arrows include Lodgepole Pine, Douglas Fir, Laminated Birch, Sitka Spruce, and Bamboo.
- Diameters of wood arrows generally include 5/16 inches, 11/32 inches, and 23/64 inches.
Carbon Arrow For Shooting:
Carbon arrows are more durable and straighter compared to wood arrows. You don’t have to bother about straightening shafts but may have to check these arrows for cracks.
- You can also customize carbon arrows by including various inserts, nocks, weight systems or adapters.
- While carbon arrows are durable, you need to double check these arrows as if one such arrow breaks; it completely shatters, putting you in danger.
- Grain weight on a carbon arrow is lighter compared to a wood arrow. Also, turning a carbon arrow to your bow is easy because you can adjust the point weight using various inserts, points, and nocks in order to balance the point weight.
- Common diameter in which carbon arrows come includes 5/16 inch; however, you can also look for carbon arrows with smaller or larger diameters.
Aluminum Arrow For Shooting:
Aluminum arrows are famous for providing greater penetration in comparison to carbon or wood arrows and are easily affordable. These are also highly tolerant and offer impressive performance for a long time.
- Options in fine-tuning are greater in aluminum arrows compared to carbon arrows. Several aluminum arrows come with nock bushings so that accuracy can be improved.
- These are extremely tough arrows but can be bent when they hit glancing or hard targets.
- Straightening aluminum arrows is not too difficult, but you can’t always salvage these arrows.
- Common diameters in which aluminum arrows are available include 11/32 inches, 5/16 inches, 9/32 inches and 21/64 inches.
Find Out What Shooting Requirements You Have:
You need to know what kind of shooting you plan to execute with the arrow you want to purchase. The material of arrow you choose will depend on your intention of use- be it for target shooting or for becoming a bow hunter.
For example, target shooting will require you to shoot over long distances, meaning you will need a light arrow that features flatter trajectory. On the other hand, bow hunting will require investing in heavy arrow because deeper penetration can be guaranteed only when the weight is more behind the broadhead.
Perfect balance can only be achieved with time. You need to spend more time on practicing and understanding the equipment better to select the right arrow for your shooting requirements.
In Conclusion:
Arrows are more important than you think, and any experienced archer will vouch for this fact. Experimentation along with recording your findings is the best way to gain expertise in finding the right arrows.
