My curisoty finally won over. You know the saying "be careful what you ask, you may not like the answer"

Well a couple friends of mine with different bows came over and used my scale for draw weight and my Chrono for speed.

Highest draw weight checked was 71lbs with a 30" draw and ICS 340 arows(to light IMO for this bow. 277fps

My bow 340/400 ICS hunters 28" long shooting 64lbs 255fps

My other bow, and oneida, 28" draw, 55lbs, ICS hunter arrows 231fps

Another fast bow, 69lbs 29" draw some kinda carbon arrows unknown brand. 100 gr tips. 279fps.

So I guess what I wonder is where are all these actual 300-340fps bows? These guys are good hunters and use good stuff. Nobody is actaully close to 300fps with an actual chronograph.

I understand that the IBO number is a joke, with the light weight shafts they base the speed on which if used would void the warranty of the bow!

However I had no idea it was this drastically different. My poor pathetic 255fps with a 448gr projectile seems rather sad by marketing standards today. However if I shot super light arrows how long would the limbs last and how deep would the arrows penetrate?

I'v Always used a 55lbs of KE number to determine minimums for all big game hunting (not africa thick skin). You can get there with speed, but shooting a moderate arrow with a decent speed gets 55lbs of KE pretty easy. I'm not saying KE has anything to do with killing power, it's just a baseline of data to see where your power level is at.

Vectrix, 28" draw, 70# pull, 420gn arrow, 282FPS. If I recall correctly, at 27" with the 450 grain arrow it's 263.

JJ,

You and I shoot similar set up's. I shoot a Matthews Outback, 28" draw, 62# dw, w/ 400 Easton Axis, and a 100gr head. Mine chrono'd a hair over 260.

These 300+ fps bows slow way down as soon as the chrony gets turned on. I am shooting a 27 1/5 in draw drenalin @ 60lbs with 100G broadhead. Actual speed is 255. It kills em dead.

Shooting a Bowtech Allegiance, 28 inch DL, 55#, Maxima Hunters, 100gr...it goes over at 271.....The girl has a Bowtech Equilizer shooting, 24 inch DL, 43#, Maxima 150's, 100gr...it goes over at 243 IIRC.....Yes these will kill....

I know there are bows which will push my set up around 300, but they aren't on every rack....and not near as much fun to shoot....

tzone, I'll bet if I dropped to 100 grain heads we would be at the same point!

I shoot a mathews DXT at 70 lbs with a 27" draw. I'm getting 268 with Carbon express maxima hunters with 100 gr heads. Not incredibly fast but the elk don't like it.

I use a parker hunter mag 64 lbs. easton st epic 340 arrowand 125 gr. heads, 258 f.p.s.

JJHack- all the speed quotes are IBO which is 5 grains per pound. I'd have to unscrew my tips to get that. The absolute lightest target arrows with glue in nib points and peanut vanes would be close. My birth certificate on my Bowtech 101st Airborne gives a speed of 323 fps. With my hunting arrows, which are 390 grains or 6.5 grains per inch, I get 280 fps. My bow with 70 pound limbs gave me 302 fps with 420 grain arrows. You'll never see the posted speeds on the bows unless you are shooting knitting needles! I shot Darton bows for many years and was pleased as punch with 260 fps. Today, I can shoot a bow at 10fps less and get 20 fps more. I am happy enough.

Archery Research AR31, 68 pounds, 29" draw with 388 grain arrows I'm getting 270-274 fps over a Chrony Beta and checked against a Pro Chrono.
Been thinking about a new bow but $1000 for maybe 20 fps.....Maybe not!

I know Hoyt's will get near or better than thier IBO ratings. What you have to know is the rating is taken at 70# 30" Draw with a 5gr/lb arrow and nothing on the string (loop, peep, etc.). In reality not many shoot a bow that long with an arrow that light. For instance my Ultratec is rated at 308 IBO - However I shoot it at 60# (Loss of 20 fps) and use 6.5gr/lb arrows (loss of 22 fps) with a peep and loop (loss of 2 fps) for a total loss of 44 fps. 308-44=264 fps. Within 2 fps from my Chronograph. Here's a link to a calculator that's pretty slick. http://www.backcountrybowhunting.com/articles/tools.php

My last few bows:

(all 70lbs with 30" draw)

Switchback XT 295fps(400grn arrow)
LX 305fps(400grn arrow)
Bow Tech Patriot 305fps(400grn arrow)
Pearson Spoiler Split limb 275(400grn)304fps with GT ULs
Pearson 440 Quad 275(400grn) The Quad and Spoiler were identicle bows with the same cams.
High Country Phantom II 245 fps(ICS 340s at 28" with 100grn tips, never weighed them)

I like a 400grn total weight arrow for deer hunting. Most of those chronoed speeds(except for the High Country) were with GT XTs cut at 28" and using 100grn heads. I also have some older PSE Carbon Force Extreme 300s(weigh the same as the XTs).

I usually get within 20fps of the IBO using a 400grn arrow with my 30" draw.

Draw length helps a ton. I sold the Quad to a friend of mine and installed a 27" DL mod, that dropped the speed 30 fps(about 10fps per inch seems to be the norm).

Going from the LX to the XT I only lost 10fps, but with the 295, she's still humming. I prefer something in the 300fps neighborhood as I use 1 pin out to 30yds and it allows me to be within 2" in trajectory. When the High Country was my primary bow, I always had to aim low from tree stands on close range shots due to the arc of the slower velocity. The faster bows eliminate trajectory issues at all practical ranges(less than 30) simply due to the speed and flat trajectory.

I've tinkered with the Chrono and various equipment. Everything you add to the bow seems to slow it a bit. Most of the above bows had peeps with tubes, string leeches, limb savers, WB rest, and loops. All of those slightly reduced the speeds, but those are the speeds they were while rigged out for hunting. On a hunting rig, I could care less how much speed I lose for the minimum of having: loop, peep w/ tube, limbsavers, string leeches, and a Wisker Biscuit rest. Those are my stubborn requirements on any hunting bow as they just plain work.


Have a Good One,

loder

I am shooting a Bowtech Air Raid at 64 lbs with a 396 gr carbon express arrow, 100 gr head, 29.5 in draw and it is shooting 315 fps w/factory string set up. I added some catwiskers and it now chrono's at 305 fps and is dead quiet. Not a speed freak, it is just that this set up shoots very well for me with expanding broadheads. Normally I hunt around the 275 to 280 fbs and all is well. This thing is so accurate that I hate to change a thing on it.

Hoyt Cybertec @ 74 lbs 28.5 draw length
Easton st axis with 100 grain slicktriks weighing 412 grains
289 fps over a chrony

Bowtech guardian 29" 70 # with a 28.5" goldtip 55/70 and 100 grain head. I think it weighs about 390 now, used to be 400 but I went to the smaller veins. Mine clocks 296 fps. I shot a mulie buck with it last month. It was facing me looking over a brush from 40 yards and I shot him through the neck with a shuttle T. It worked.

Bb

PSE Vengence 30" draw, 70 lbs. 450 grain arrow 275 fps. I am tickled pink! I liken it to all the Ammo manufactures ballistics on the shell boxes that are completely inflated. Oh, and the loading manuals aren't much better. I love winning bets at the rifle ranges on what a guys "hand loads" are really shooting vs. what the book says he is shooting. Same goes with factory wizz bang factory ammo. It's an easy sure thing bet that the velocities aren't even close to advertised. IBO is a flippen joke and needs to be done away with. It doesn't mean a dog gone thing. Flinch

Mathews LX 28" draw, 60 lbs., 378 gr arrow at 269 fps. Good enough to shoot 3 pins out to 50 yds. Killed a doe this year with Slick Tricks at 37 yds and it went thru her so fast I thought I missed when I heard it hit a tree behind her. I don't need anyting faster for the hunting I do.

mathews switchback xt 29" 62# with
carbon express 3d select 200's
350gr arrow weight --------- 274fps
easton axis 340's
450gr arrow weight --------- 256fps

if i do my part both are deadly

For perspective my recurves, 53 lb and 58 lb limbs on a Bruin bow with 480-gr arrows and a 62 lb Fedora Hunter with 520-gr arrows run 195 to 202 fps.

60# Silvertip recurve 579 grain arrow= 182 fps for me.

60# 29" draw PSE Omen with a 323gr arrow gets me 332 fps

That's the highest speed ever recorded for a 60# draw weight, Don't ever sell that one!

Everybody likes a fast bow. It seems like they are faster in theory than they are over a chronograph. I have a Matthews Drenalin set at 66# and 28 1/2 inch draw. with my Goldtip arrows and a 100 grain broad head, I can get about 272 FPS.

I tried the new Matthews "Monster" and had it set at 66#, 28 1/2 inch draw and compared it to the Drenalin. With both bows sighted in at 20 yards, I moved back and shot them both at 40 yards using the 20 yard pin. The Monster was about 2 1/2 inches higher all things being equal.

I kept the Drenalin, seeing no significant improvement in trajectory, and the pull on the single cam bow is much more pleasant.

My equalizer is set at 54# and it killed my spike dead!~ Never found the arrow - - it flew out the other side and went bye bye.

Really have seen more bows and guns for that matter sold because the owner found out the real speed they were getting.The fast bows are rated at 30" which really helps pick up the speed.

My Deathwish take down recurve, 58# limbs, 510 grain arrow gives me around 180 or so if I pull to 28". Highly unlikely after several hours in the tree stand in mid Nov......

I'm currently shooting a Victory VForce HV3 arrow with 350 spine that weighs 6.4 grains per inch.

My 29" arrows with 2" Blazers and 100 gr. tips total about 336 grains.

Arrow - 29" x 6.4 = 186 grs.
Point - 100
Nock - 14
2" Blazers - 12
Insert - 24
---------
Total 336 grs.

My Elite Synergy set at 58 lbs and a 28" draw chronos about 287 fps. with these arrows.

Also, at 58 lbs., the 336 grain arrow is well above the 5 gr./lb, IBO minimum of 290 grains.

At 287 fps these arrows produce about 61 lbs. of KE while at the same time providing a pretty flat trajectory out to 50 yards.

I'm also getting excellent penetration with the Victory's and have obtained pass thru's on every deer I've shot with them.

As the saying goes........."speed kills" and that is certainly true when it comes to the modern compound bow.

A light draw weight with a fast arrow is my idea of an excellent hunting combination and the faster the bow, the better I like it.

JMHO

Good luck to all this season...........may all your blood trails be pink and frothy.

Mathews drenalin @ 72lbs 29.5" draw with beman ics 300 and a 100 grain tip= 295fps. I got 302fps with cx 400 arrows.
I regularly set up my chrony at the archery range. The looks of dismay are priceless when guys see what their bows are really doing.

Not meaning to critizice but isn't "the need for speed" here in bow hunting a kind of missing the point?

Never owned a chronograph. Probably never will. Don't need it.

I shot my Darton Lightning through a chronograph at a pro shop once. Draw weight 55 lbs, 29-inch Easton 2312, 75 grain head, 4-inch plastic vanes, 255 fps.

When the Darton Lightning came on the market about 1979, the other manufacturers criticized it's "flat-top" force/draw curve. Today, all the new bows have a flat-top curve and almost no valley to maximize area under the curve. For a dinosaur like me, these new bows take some getting used to.

-

I don't like the draw curve on most new bows. It's a joint wrecking tendon ripping nightmare. I like to shoot a lot, with many of the new dual am bows you simply cannot shoot much without feeling it later.

I guess I have stopped looking for the latest trends and hype with speed and now want something that just works and is fun again. I love shooting, and the more I shoot the greater the confidence is. It's just hard to shoot 70lbs a lot with the dual cam draw curves today.

I'm gonna buy a new bow here before too long. I wanna have a "plan b" if something goes wrong with my legacy. I have this fear something will crap out on my bow the week before a hunt and now what? So a "plan b" is in the works.

What I'm looking for is a softer draw cycle and 250plus... ish ... fps with a 375- 400 grain arrow. Pearson makes a bow called the blackhawk that is suppose to be really great for the smooth easy shooting draw curve, The Switchback may have been one of the all time great draw curve bows. And the Martin Moab is also said to have the most comfortable draw curve available. So I don't know what I'll choose but the hype over velocity is not the direction I wanna go.

With a range finder and an adjustable single pin sight does velocity matter that much? With a 400 grain "spear" and an accurate shot the game is over when shooting under 40 yards anyway. Bow hunting is an intimate event, shooting long range shots it shooting, not "bow hunting" anyway. Better to boast about how well you hunt and how close you get, then how far you can shoot!

I'll take a fun to shoot bow and a rangefinder any day over those brutal double cam bows that shoot flat to mile or so!

Wow, I'd have never guessed so many shot over a chrono and know all the pertinent data.

I don't know that I"ve ever run over a chrono for a bow. I just pick the right arrow and head for the task, tune and zero and go from there.

I don't remember if the Switchback had the same cam as my '96 Conquest Pro(MaxCam) but I do know that,having shot both,they were similar in their drawing/breakover characteristics. Mathews still offers the Conquest using the MaxCam:
http://mathewsinc.com/mathews-bows-11255-44-ViewProduct-1386-324.asp
Being a fingers shooter I opted for 65% let-off as,at least for me,80% let-off was too much. I shoot right at 60#(bow max's out at 63#)w/a 27.5" draw length. With a 361.2gr arrow I chrono 265fps at 56.3 ft.lb. I certainly don't see why at 70# and shooting a 375-400gr arrow you couldn't achieve the speed/energy you want with a Conquest 4. Plus at 5.4-5.8 gr per lb the bow would be quiet. I use no stabilizer and a small puff ball at the cam end of my bow and it is QUIET.
I just thought that since you liked the Switchback so much I'd pass this info along.

Mathews Drenalin, 29", 64#, with 372 gr. Gold Tip Hunter 5575 arrow- 276 fps

Mathews Reezen, 29", 64#, with 415 gr. Beman ICS Hunter 300 arrow- 285 fps

You pretty much defined my attitude toward bow hunting also 'though I translated it to traditional archery, a 53 lb recurve which at my draw length goes about 55 lbs. With a 480-gr arrow, as I mentioned, and at 190+fps the game is simplicity itself to 20 yds, almost to 25 yds and very doable to 30 yds.

No pins, cables, extraneous noises, or even range finders. There's no doubt the present day compounds are pretty nifty machines and can be shot accurately much quicker, much further, with the same investment of time than any recurve. If shooting a recurve is like throwing a baseball, shooting a compound is like a pitching machine hurling the same baseball.

While I admire the shots a finely tuned compound with a practiced archer can make, I also admire the simplicity, the geometry, and the warmth of a beautiful recurve. Speed ain't everything.

I too grew up with recurves and hunted til I was about 25 or so with nothing else.

I had an accident dislocating my Elbow which reduced my ability to shoot my bow. It was suggested that I switch to a compound to reduce the stress to my right elbow/joint. I bought a Martin Warthog and thought I had died and gone to archery heaven. However it soon began taking it's toll on my stretched and screwed up joint.

I again gave up on archery until I met the guys from Mathews in Africa. When the hunt was over one of the guys about my size left me his legacy. It was the first experience I had with a trigger release. I've been shooting this ever since.


Now I long for an easy to draw bow like my oneida osprey. Probably not gonna find one with that exact draw curve but I'm gonna see what's out there.

I wondered about this. In my brief foray back into bowhunting three years ago, MY PSE Bruin was rated at around 295 fps. The sub 400 grain arrow went 250 fps with a 28" draw and about 65 lbs draw weight. I guess my bow isn't messed up...........

I hope you can shoot and enjoy archery for a long time.

Funny how the elbow works. I can draw the bow with a release and the ligaments that connect on the back of the forearm to joint are not used. However with fingers they are. These connections at the elbow from my fingers/wrist are what get my joint all swollen and make it feel as if it's gonna pop loose again.

I can shoot with fingers for about 2 days in a week, maybe 60-100 shots which puts me right at the point of inflammation and problems. If I shoot 20-30 arrows a day for a day or two a week then it's okay, or if I shoot the Oneida Osprey all I want it's okay. Guess I have not found the limit with the Oneida yet. I shoot fish with it all summer and never have a problem.

When I learned of the trigger releases and shot with them, I found I could shoot all I want and never had a problem. I have gone back to the Martin Bow with fingers and tried again thinking I must be cured and this would be good again. However within a few days, actually within a few dozen shots, I could feel the difference in my elbow and had to stop.

So Archery is good again but I gotta shoot the release or the oneida. Now if only there was a kinder gentler cam design that crossed the span between todays harsh wicked hard double cams and the Oneida lever limb draw curve?

I laugh at the punks on Archery talk that have the newest speed bows, are shooting 28" draw length at 60 lbs. and think they are getting 320 fps. They claim they are the smoothest shooting bows they have ever shot. Well, they have never shot any other bow, so how would they know? Shooting a speed bow for any amount of time down right tiring. I feel it from my toe nails to my hair follicles. I will take a smooth shooting bow ANY day, compared to the new speed bows. When the weather is cold or these punks have been sitting in a blind for a while and mr. big shows up, there is no way in heck they are going to be able to pull their bows. Been there done that. I will take smooth and forgiving. Flinch

I always told folks if you want to know if you shoot to much weight or aggresive cams(vs draw cycle smoothness) then stand facing the target, both legs together with feet touching side by side, like at attention basically, push the bow out in front of you and attempt to draw it.... weeds out lots of problems and yep, BTDT on draw weight, something much different when you have sat and are cool/cold and not stretched. ITs also anotehr reason I try to draw my bow every 30 minutes or so if possible. Or if not stand hunting but chasing elk and the like I'll shoot a blunt tip at something now and then.

Blunts rock!

I set out at random distance one gallon laundry detergent jugs filled with sand, and one quart plastic oil bottles filled with sand. Then walk off and hit them. Amazing how well blunts fly for me, better then some broadheads.

Hitting these at 30-40 yards plus is entertaining to say the least. The thump they make is also impressive, and seeing a blunt penetrate these one gallon jugs leaves you in awe with the power these arrows must have. There is no doubt that a blunt from a 65lb bow could penetrate a human torso or head!

No wonder broadheads zip through so fast and leave you wondering if it was a miss at times!

Parker makes some very smooth bows. A friend shot one for a few years before buying a crossbow.

JJ,

From all your posts it sounds like you have what you need in the Oneida Osprey and the mechanical release aid. Why do you need anything else?

If you want or need a different bow, you can get a smooth, older, used bow for a lot less money than any new bow. I have an Oneida Aeroforce X80 I bought new in 1996. It is smooth and fast, and the letoff is selectable between 65% and 80% with draw modules. Older bows with the round eccentrics are silky-smooth shooting, and a lot of game was killed with them before folks decided they need 300 fps. Many used bows with a lot of life left in them can be had for $100 or less.

BTW, make sure you read the manual thoroughly before attempting to work on an Oneida bow. They are WAY different than any other bow.

-

I think I'd like to find the right length onieda for bowfishing... don't see many used ones here though.

I don't like the oneida for hunting big game. That lower limb snapping forward has banged off of way to much stuff for me to use while spot and stalk hunting, or from a blind. It's the "perfect" bowfishing tool, but not interested in using it for my big game hunting.

I get tired of transporting guns and archery back and forth to RSA every season. Not to mention the huge expense now in additional baggage on the airlines. I wanna leave a bow in RSA and have another here. I am also paranoid that something will crap out on the bow I have here the week before I need it. So a "plan B" bow is in the works for a backup.

I shoot fingers (no glove) with the Ospery, and I must use a Release for a conventional Compound bow. I don't work on bow repair or setup beyond minor stuff.

There are two people who fix watches..... watchmakers and fools. I know my limitations!

My older bow a Mathews Switchback XT set @ 62 lbs.using a 28" Beeman #400 ICS Hunter with 100gr tip, Blazer vanes clocks 275 FPS consistently through my Chrony. Weighed arrow and it's 420grs. Also have a new Rezen 7.0 shooting same weight, 62 lbs. using 28" Beeman #340 ICS Camo Hunter with 100gr tip, Fusion Vanes approx weight 442 grs and clocked through Chrony @ 274 consistently. Go figure. if you read the IBO rule it has to be a full weight of 70 lbs, 30" arrow/draw and weigh 350 gr's to obtain the advertized speed they claim the bow will do. Do i have this right or did i miss something. Same bow but different guy using 350 gr LiteSpeed arrows 100gr tip , 28" chronyed 305 at the pro shop same day i was testing my bow. Go figure.

If I were in your shoes with the Africa stuff and all, I'd find a used older bow that worked well for me, then buy 3 of them cheaply. Keep one here, ship two to Africa... much easier to have the backup there, getting parts or such would be easier for the single here.

The guy's 350 gr. LiteSpeeds weighed 92 grs. less than your 442 gr. Beeman's.

You lose about 1 fps for every 3 grs. of additional arrow weight.

So....

442 grs. minus 350 grs. = 92 grs.

92/3 = 30 fps.

LiteSpeed velocity = 305 fps
Beeman velocity = 274 fps

difference = 31 fps

Guess what............... "it figures".......


Footnote:
In my opinion, the evolution to high speed bows is similar to the transition that has taken place with respect to side lock vs in-line muzzleloaders.

I personally think that it's great that both options are available.

For those hunters that prefer the "traditional approach" there are stick bows and flintlocks.

For those who prefer extreme accuracy and reliability there are the modern compounds and the in-lines.

However, I do feel that once you make the transition to the compound bow, you should try to take advantage of the latest technology that is available.

For example, there are many new compounds out there now that will produce speeds in excess of 275 fps with a light weight arrow and sub 60lb. draw weights.

For example, my Elite Synergy set at 58lbs chronos 284 fps with a 335 gr. arrow and still produces about 61 lbs. of K.E.

For those sore shouldered guys out there........58lbs. is sure sweet and in a hunting situation, you can hold it all day if you have to.

Just saying......

I am shooting a Predator recurve (50lb @ 28) with a 30 inch draw. my arrow is an easton 2413 with a 100 grain Magnus two blade. the total arrow weight is about 510 grains. i have no idea what my speed is (it seems to me you can time it with a calendar) but it shoots so sweet i just ain't gonna mess with it. i have yet to take a deer with it, but i am sure it will do the job here in VA.

i had to give up the compound due to target panic. going to a recurve solved it for me.

interesting post.

Pretty close to one I have, arrow and broadhead too; I can tell you without a doubt that if you put that arrow into the chest of a whitetail you'll have your deer without knowing that it doesn't get to 200 fps. You're pulling about 56 lbs. at your draw length which will even do for elk with a good, close broadside chest shot.

An even better test to see if you are pulling too much weight/too long of draw curv is: Put both feet together, push the bow out in front of you, aim at the ground (like shooting out of a tree stand) and try to draw the bow slow and easy with very little movement, as if a trophy deer was close at hand. This weeds out nearly all speed bow shooters in a hurry. If you can't draw slow and quiet, you're in trouble. Flinch

Dang, I thought thats exactly mostly what I'd said.. I probably worded mine wrong, I know the feet together and straight out weeds em out in a hurry, you can't do that SLOW and smooth if you have a lot of weight typically.

AR 34, Cam and 1/2. 61 lbs, 400 grain arrow, 29 inch draw. 270 fps

There is a big differnce between what you can draw and what you should draw!~

Make it even harder, draw while sitting down with the bow pointed as if in a tree stand.

I've probably killed more sitting than standing as you just never know when they'll show in the brushy areas around here. I like to practice both sitting and standing.

loder

Just bought more arrows 2 weeks ago and shot over the chrono. Bowtech 82nd Airborne at 64lbs shooting a 420gr Easton Axis Nano at 301fps. That is more than enough in my book.

My current;

Mathews Switchback XT 30" draw @ 71 lbs. with a 417 grain arrow.

299-300 fps depending on arrow.

Old setup;

Mathews Blackmax2 30" draw @71 lbs (50% turbo cam) with a 385 grain arrow.

329 fps.

Both bows get consistant blowthroughs but my XT is a bit more accurate.



Imagine that

Tom, That's a hella powerful setup there! I cannot imagine any north American game short of Bison and Alaskan moose that would have a chance at stopping those arrows. Without hitting bone and under 30 yards, it would likely whistle through them as well!

300fps with a 400plus grain arrow equals a lot of penetration!

Yes it does.

Of all the animals I have shot with my bows I can only think of 2 that I did not get a pass through, one a Illinois 8 pt whitetail and I shot him down from atop though the shoulder blades and the other a bull elk at 10 yds..as he spun around to run the arrow was dangling out the other side by the fletchings and nock...it fell out shortly thereafter.

I was at the pro shop today and checked my Mathews Rezen 7.0 again today on there cronograph and the speed was 264 for 4 arrows. This was with the ICS Camo Hunter/340, 100gr tip with Fusion vanes. If you ask me that's plenty fast enough to nail down a deer at 20-30 yards and pertty flat shooting to boot. It's been said that once you go over 300 fps the arrow flight can really get finicky. Suppose to be to much power starts to unstablize the arrow flight being there is just to much power for the shaft to handel. Just something i read in one of the major bow magazines.

agreed, a good friend of mine is a very archery savvy hunter. He told me that he has never had more trouble then when he started shooting broadheads over 300fps. It was his feeling that the faster over 300fps the more strange things began to happen with consistant flight, adding to this shots over 40 yards also became more erratic.

I'm sure things can be done to solve this stuff, but it was his opinion that speeds close to, but under 300fps were far more stable for use with broadheads in general. I've never owned a bow that shot hunting weight arrows faster then 300fps, the best I've ever had was about 275fps. I've had no struggle killing anything up to elk size in North America and up to Kudu size in Africa. Rare to have an arrow remain inside game as well.

Have you ever seen "Family Traditions" with Haley Heath? She is shooting 47lbs and zips arrows through about everything she shoots. She is a hella good bow shot and using what most macho guys would laugh at. It's impressive to watch her and see how great such a low power bow works when used at "hunting" range by a great shot.

Penetration can have a LOT to do with choice of arrow weight and a ton to do with broadhead choice, correct choice there can make up for weight issues quickly...

As to 300 and above, sure it gets squirrely, and its NOT new either, just the speed issue is a bit new, we used to do it way back trying to shoot light enough arrows to bump speed.... found out that penetration was lost, the ping pong/vs golf ball thing, and that it got really squirrely spine wise vs accuracy. Same thing goes on there in high speed, IMHO, you have to have X bow, and X arrow and if you have trouble, simply get more spine via more arrow weight, you solve the problem but also drop below 300 most likely.

The other issue involved is that until arrows are around 1200 fps there will always be the noise factor... that noise factor cries for closer shots to be sure, not the 30-50 yard flings I see on TV a lot. Most every one of those deer is moving before the arrow hits, WHY take the chance?