How fast is fast enough?

[WhistlingBadger]

I was curious about this new, 40#, sinew backed juniper I just finished.  So I ordered a cheapo Chrono off Amazon and tried it out.  I'm shooting 750 grain arrows, keep in mind.

My favorite hunting bow, a 57#@27" hickory flat bow, was hitting 137 fps.  The 40# sinew backed was shooting those heavies around 120-125.  I've been reading that a lot of people are achieving 180 fps or more with a self bow, but with arrows that are a lot lighter, and probably with bows that are designed to be fast rather than to be able to hold up banging around in the rocks and timber.

I figured if the lighter bow was as fast as the heavy, I'd hunt with it, but I'm reluctant to go any slower than I already am. 

Thoughts?  It isn't something I'm too worried about.  Just kind of interesting. 

[Mad Max]

With a Chronograph you should use 10 grains per pound, so 400 grain arrow would show you something.
750 grain seems heavy to me for 40#

my 2 cents

[sleek]

I'd certainly say, I'd not like to be hit by that arrow. It would help if you gave us numbers we compare typically, like close to 10gpp. Your arrow moving at 137fps has 32 foot pounds of energy. An arrow weighing 570 grains would have the same energy at 160fps.

[superdav95]

Good point Kevin.  I’d say it’s plenty fast to hunt with.  It’s more about accuracy really more than anything to a point.  I would deer hunt that 40# bow with a 500-550 grain arrow if I could hit what I’m aiming at without worry. 

[WhistlingBadger]

Interesting.  I use those heavy arrows because I'm mostly hunting elk, but for jumpy antelope and deer (my most likely target with the 40#) a 500 grain should be plenty.  I'll see if I can get a few 500 and 600 grain arrows whipped up over the weekend and see how they do.  I've never had a Chrono before.  Kind of fun to play around with.  And hey, I've put a dozen arrows through it and haven't shot the thing yet.

[bentstick54]

I could definitely hit what I was aiming at easier with a 10 gpp arrow than an 18.75 gpp arrow. I restrict my shots on deer to 15 yards maximum, and most are under 10 yards. My bows seem to average 160 fps to 170 fps with 9 to 11 gpp arrows.

[Pappy]

That should do it, Bows and Boyer's are getting much better, I am kind of old school and for years my rule of thumb was 3x bow weight with a 10gpp arrow, was a pretty good bow, so a 50lb bow with a 500 grain arrow about 150 fps that is still what I judge my bows at.
 Pappy

[pierce_schmeichel]

I would say no slower than 130fps. 150fps is ideal. Deer and antelope are quick and they can sometimes jump the string

[Selfbowman]

I got 12-14” penetration on this wildebeest. 50 # bow 572 gr.