What's your FPS?

[crwjr]

I got a new toy in the mail (more for my reloading but it works great for my bows) a chronograph!! I know this site is primitive but I'm sure some have shot through one?!?! Well here are my stats. My first bow is a Hickory boardbow and it is shooting 160fps on avg. my second bow is a meager 135fps. But it is a fun bow to shoot! What would a respectable speed be for defferent style bows?

[Del the cat]

I have heard the rule of thumb 100+ the draw weight as an fps. I think it's a tad low, but it gives some sort of guide.
I'd expect maybe 110 + draw weight.
Del

[artcher1]

I know a few folks frown on chronographs when it comes to wood bows but I personally think they're a fun and useful tool.

Soooooooooo many variables involved in comparing stats. Heck, temperature, humidity, M/C , actually bow weight, type string w/wo silencers, hunting or target setup and many other variables. New bows vs broke-in bows speeds are quite different. Just the different numbers from a set of wood arrows is an eye opener.

For example, I first tested a 40# Osage @24" (FF string) draw with two different arrows. One aspen (24" 5" parabolic cut feathers 377grs) and one cedar (24" 5" shield cut 382gr). Bow is well shot in and I averaged 160 fps. Now with a 28" hunting cedar arrow w/5  1/2" turkey feathers weighing 488gr I averaged 169fps. Same set of arrows but 522 grain cedar arrow, speed averaged 164fps.

So as you can see, actually arrow weight is meaningless unless the arrow likes your bow . Art B

[Squirrelslayer]

My 10# hickory bow shoots 125 fps. SS

[mikekeswick]

When used properly and everything is taken into account I think chrono's are very useful things.
Shooting a bow and then describing how it feels, how fast the arrows are etc are subjective things but a chrono just tells it how it is 
I've used a chrono for years now and just recently I decided to speed check all my 'personal' bows, when I finished I realised that all my fastest bows have one thing in common - they shoot like nothing has happened when you let go of the string...I guess what i'm trying to say is that what you feel in your hand when shooting tells you a lot.

Anyway to answer your question! My best speed so far is 212 fps with an 8.8 gpp arrow. 51lb @ 26 bow
I've shot that bow quite a bit now and it hasn't lost any speed.

[crwjr]

Art I agree some will frown, but I plan on building a hunting bow and I like to know my speed and weight to get a good penetrating set up for human kills. I'm going for a double lung pass through
So I have no problem using one for some good ol info.

[crwjr]

When used properly and everything is taken into account I think chrono's are very useful things.
Shooting a bow and then describing how it feels, how fast the arrows are etc are subjective things but a chrono just tells it how it is 
I've used a chrono for years now and just recently I decided to speed check all my 'personal' bows, when I finished I realised that all my fastest bows have one thing in common - they shoot like nothing has happened when you let go of the string...I guess what i'm trying to say is that what you feel in your hand when shooting tells you a lot.
Agree!!! And I think if you hit 200 that's something to smile about congrats on that!!
And Squirrel that's impressive for that bow!!

Anyway to answer your question! My best speed so far is 212 fps with an 8.8 gpp arrow. 51lb @ 26 bow
I've shot that bow quite a bit now and it hasn't lost any speed.

[Cardboard_Duck]

Art I agree some will frown, but I plan on building a hunting bow and I like to know my speed and weight to get a good penetrating set up for human kills. I'm going for a double lung pass through
So I have no problem using one for some good ol info.

Human kills ROFL     

Remind me to stay away from you 

[crwjr]

You got me Duck lol, I'll make the excuse that it was my autocorrect iPhone    you know what I meant (humane) lol

[Cardboard_Duck]

I knew what you meant, I just can't stop laughing at it  the whole thing is worded too perfect for human(e) hunting

[JW_Halverson]

My 10# hickory bow shoots 125 fps. SS

Check your facts.


The thing I took away from playing with a chronograph, a bow, and a set of carefully matched arrows....just how bloody dang important good releases are for consistency.  It's easy to see 15-20 fps difference between a good release and a bad release. 

[SLIMBOB]

I read the whole "human kills" thing earlier......Kept thinkin' wtf?  A joke maybe, but the timing was all wrong or something. Or maybe he is some kind of phsyco who just revealed himself...... Laughing out loud right now!

[Pappy]

Usually 3 time draw weight is a about average and what I go by when I decide to test one, I can usually tell if they are fast enough for me when I shoot them.100 + draw weight is what a lot use as has been said. Anything in the 150s-160s fps for a 50 lb bow ant bad at all. 212 on the other hand is not normal. 
Not saying it ant so but I would need to see a 50lb self bow drawn at 26 inches with a 450-500 grain arrow do it. fastest I have ever see with them stats was average 181 and it was screaming.
   Pappy

[Squirrelslayer]

My 10# hickory bow shoots 125 fps. SS

Check your facts.


The thing I took away from playing with a chronograph, a bow, and a set of carefully matched arrows....just how bloody dang important good releases are for consistency.  It's easy to see 15-20 fps difference between a good release and a bad release.

is 125 good or bad for a 10-15# bow? i rechecked draw weight and it is acctually 15#. ill go down to the club and use the chronograph agian when i get the chance. SS

[Pappy]

125 is very very good for that weight, 
   Pappy