Arrow stops dead

[bow101]

  Made a Mickey Mouse arrow from a dowel, just a temp one untill I make some good ones or buy some. I added somew weight with a 6d nail. Made some makeshift fletching from Duck tape..
At any rate I built a Xbow 6" draw 70# prod. When I shoot the arrow goes like mad for about 30 feet then dies in mid air..?
What gives..?

[Bevan R.]

Sounds like you made a duct tape flu-flu.
Just to prove it is or is not that. shot it without fletching.

[bow101]

Ok makes sense. What if it still dies short..? I thought the fletching made it go further by adding a little spin..? That is Proper fletching of course. The Duck tape was just a test..

[Bevan R.]

Fletching controls flight by spinning the arrow. This takes away some of the energy causing it to stop sooner. flight arrows (shot for distance) have very tinny fletching. Flu-Flu are used to keep the arrow from going a long distance. Say you were shooting up into a tree at a squirrel or shooting at a flying bird. You want your arrow to stop sooner than a regular hunting arrow.

[bowtarist]

Like Bevan said, fletching helps to stabilize the arrow.  The more the arrow is tuned to your bow, the less fletching is needed.  Some times we just use two feathers to fletch with even.  Try cutting your tape down to about 5/8" or so and shoot it again.  Probably doesn't need to be more than 5" long either.  I like a FluFlu too, though.  Tape causes a little more drag on the arrow too.  Feathers are soft and plyable, not so w/ duct tape.  Keep it up Bud, you'll work it out. dpgratz

oh...6" draw? 

[Lee Slikkers]

Any chance you can toss up some pics of the bolt and the bow/prod?  might help us answer your issue...

[crooketarrow]

  A light arrow cupped with duck tape fletching. Both would cause your arrow to slow down both dobbles the affect.

[bow101]

Thanks for all your help guys..!
Other thing what exactly is Arrow grain....what Grain would I  need using a 14" arrow or bolt. and pulling 70#.

I found the info online I was looking for. It states this...................
One grain is equal to about 64 milligrams.
At least 6 grains per pound of bow strength, that would be a light wieght arrow....go about 9 to 10 grains per pound for heavier weight..!
Good site for conversions. http://www.convert-me.com/en/