Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: HoorayHorace on December 31, 2014, 03:16:01 pm

Title: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: HoorayHorace on December 31, 2014, 03:16:01 pm
So it seems that in Medieval England, arrows used in war could be up to 1/4 of a pound in weight!  :o

I have a birch arrow with a big flint tip I made a while back from a 3/8 shaft and it came in at 1500 grains lol, but not quite a quarter of a pound. The thing fly's like a mortar round!  ::)

So it has me thinking, what kind of bow would be needed to get the maximum performance out of an arrow that heavy?
Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: JackCrafty on December 31, 2014, 04:25:02 pm
Four oz. is 1750 grains.  A 175lb bow would work.   >:D
Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: osage outlaw on December 31, 2014, 06:47:08 pm
1/4 lb arrow?   Sounds like one of Ozzy's  ;D   I'm pretty sure his arrows are fletched rebar. 
Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: HoorayHorace on January 01, 2015, 01:54:55 pm
Warbows are not the most efficient bow design, right
Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: adb on January 01, 2015, 09:53:43 pm
Warbows are plenty efficient at casting 1/4# arrows. Current EWBS record is around 240 yards I believe. If you don't think that sounds terribly impressive, go and give it a try. Getting a 1/4# arrow out to 200 yards is an accomplishment.

Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: HoorayHorace on January 03, 2015, 03:09:40 pm
So just over 1 and 1/2 football pitches  :o

I bet that has some energy coming down!
Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: adb on January 03, 2015, 03:36:15 pm
A football field is 100 yards, so 2 football fields and a bit. (I guess that depends on what type of football you're talking about).
Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: HoorayHorace on January 03, 2015, 05:41:06 pm
100 yards, my bad.


More of a ball fan  ;)
Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: Jodocus on January 08, 2015, 06:20:35 am
My brother shoots some from his yew warbows that are a bit over 100# and 32 draw. They fly further than I'd have expected. That kind of arrow is probably bringing home the biggest part of the work the archer put into drawing the bow and was certainly good to pierce a shield or armour. But from a hunting, flight or target archery perspective, they look pretty grotesque.  ???
Title: Re: Quater Pound Arrows
Post by: adb on January 08, 2015, 10:34:51 pm
1/4# arrows are pretty anemic until you get the draw weight up to around 120#, and then they start to become more impressive. With 120-130# at full draw, you can achieve 200 yards, which is an accomplishment.