draw weight, and 350-grain arrow. *This Calculator Was Developed With The Help of The Ashby Bow Foundation*. Muley Short Sleeve T-shirt | Solids, Coues On Short Sleeve T-shirt | Black/Gray, Western Whitetail Multicam Flexfit Mesh Cap, +/- 1 inch change in draw length ~ +/-10 FPS, +/- 10 pound change in draw weight ~+/- 18 FPS, +/- 3 grain change in arrow weight ~ +/- 1 FPS, +/- 3 grain change in string weight ~ +/- 1 FPS. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Arrow drop test results 2022 Bear Alaskan Right-Handed 55-70 lb Model, Arrow Weight 423 grains (Easton Axis 5mm Arrows) , Additional Weight on Bowstring 20 grains. If youre planning on using 450 grain arrows, the information above suggests that your arrow will leave the crossbow at a speed of around 380 FPS (95% of 400). Do you really need a multi range sight for trajectory compensation. SHORT STROKES. The rule of thumb is that for every 10 lbs. Keep in mind that most IBO ratings are not real-world numbers. As of 2021, crossbow speeds range between 300 FPS and 500 FPS. If you open any online store that is selling them, you'd see that the speed of the arrows (measured in FPS or feet per second) that are launched by each listed model is their most prominent feature. Let us see how to use this tool: Begin by indicating the IBO rating in fps in the Bow IBO rating field. Now we have what we need to calculate KE: Arrow speed: 240 FPS Arrow weight: 400 grain The formula for calculating Kinetic Energy is: (Arrow weight) x (Arrow speed) x (Arrow speed) / 450,240 True Zero; True zero when sighting in a crossbow is the second point at which the line of sight intersects with the arrows path in the arrows trajectory arc. Reduce the IBO speed until the calculator shows the verified speed of 315; in this case, the correct IBO value would be 346 fps. Generally speaking, adding 20 grains of overall weight to the string will only deduct about 5 fps off the raw arrow speed. We shot 400 grain arrows from 9 different crossbows, achieving nine different initial speeds ranging from 200 to 400 FPS in 25 FPS increments. To achieve this the arrow will actually intersect with the line of sight twice, giving you a dead center hold on the target for many yards without hold-over or hold-under. When using the calculator above, input your values and then compare them to those values in the tables below. You should be able to successfully harvest For every inch of draw length under 30, subtract 10 feet per second (fps) from the IBO-rated speed value. Point Blank Range; Point blank range when sighting in a crossbow is the first point at which the line of sight intersects with the arrows path in the arrows trajectory arc. 2. This is because the large draw weight imparts more energy to the arrow. Every inch of draw length above 30 will add 10 feet per second to the IBO value. A heavy arrow will produce a great deal of arrow momentum even at the price of arrow speed, but will eventually go down as arrow speed decreases. Copyright 2023 The Everyday Bow Hunter. Granted, this is not as accurate as a chronograph, but it'll give you an idea. Power stroke is the distance, in inches, that the string accelerates an arrow down a crossbow's flight rail. The factors that impact the overall speed of your arrow are: In addition, it is important to understand that sometimes even minor changes to your draw length, draw weight, and arrow weight can seriously affect the speed, kinetic energy, and momentum of your arrows when they are shot from your bow. Sight compensation of trajectory. We strongly advise that you stick with the recommended values to maintain lots of room for error, particularly if youre new to hunting. Arrow flight time till impact at 44 yards, approximately 4/10 of a second. Try our arrow speed calculator below! FPS calculators (Frame per Second) work by using large databases of FPS records for various processors and graphic cards. As such we decided to use 400 grain arrows, as this was bound to yield results most closely resembling those that a new crossbow buyer will experience when shooting the arrows in their crossbow package. A feather traveling at 20 mph might sting, or might not even be felt, depending upon how it strikes. arrow weight can seriously affect the speed, Arrow Speed, Kinetic Energy, and Momentum (Penetration) Calculator, Draw Length Calculator: Get Accurate Results Fast, Arrow FOC Calculator: Measure & Calculate FOC Fast, How to Buy Arrows for a Compound Bow (The Right Way), Arrow Weight Calculator: Optimize Your Arrows for Hunting, Understanding Arrow Spine and Spine Deflection for Hunting, Large Game (elk, black bear, wild boar, etc. This arrow speed calculator allows you to accurately determine the speed of an arrow. For every inch you reduce, the draw length reduces around 10 fps of your bow speed. Arrow Speed Calculator Bow Manufacturer IBO Speed move slider or enter value ft/sec Draw Weight move slider or enter value lbs Draw Length move slider or enter value inches Arrow Weight move slider or enter value grains Weight Added to String (20gr=peep only, 45gr=peep and tube) move slider or enter value Arrow speed depends on several factors, including bow string weight, string length, string material, arrow weight, and weather conditions. In the calculator below, we measure this in slugs. Plan. In closing, using an arrow speed calculator will provide a solid estimate; however, you have to shoot your hunting weight arrow through a chronograph to know exactly how fast it is flying. Enter speed and arrow weight data into the calculator. 525 grain arrows will fly at ~87.8% of initial speed *NOTE: The calculator below will provide you with an estimate based on your inputs. When a crossbow is said to shoot at 300 FPS, that means that, when the arrow leaves the flight rail, it would travel 300 feet in the span of one second if it could constantly maintain its momentum and trajectory. Models at the high end of this spectrum tend to cost a lot so we should be pretty confident the top velocities bring equally impressive results before spending the cash. Execute. The chart below, and the research conducted is copyrighted material and is the property of BestCrossbowSource. Reduce the IBO speed until the calculator shows the verified speed of 315; in this case the correct IBO value would be 346 fps And of course, most of us operate within a more or less fixed budget and don't enjoy the idea of spending $3k-$4k on one of the latest and greatest models. But because these are rarely the conditions under which every archer will be using their bow, then comes the question: what the actual speed of my arrow is? That is defined by an arrows weight, broadhead, and momentum. You want to know the arrow's speed when you increase both the draw length and the arrow weight. Every bow gains efficiency a little differently. In the majority of cases once a peep is added the speed will only be a few fps off but the ratings of some bows are significantly off. The trick is to balance speed (and range finding forgiveness) with arrow mass and penetration potential. Not too long after that came the advent of the speed bow, and soon, almost every bow on the market was capable of hurling anarrowat 300 fps. Created by the International Bowhunter's Organization, the IBO speed is given as a speed value in feet per second (fps or ft/s), and the higher this number is, the higher the speed that could be achieved with that particular bow. And we purposefully say "speed that could be achieved" because these marked speeds are not usually the ones that an archer can attain while using his bow with his specific setup. Some of you might be in the position of owning an older model and wondering if upgrading to a 400 FPS+ model would have a great impact on your hunting experience. If you want to learn more about momentum and how to calculate it, we have a dedicated momentum calculator that you might enjoy! The rule of thumb was that for every added inch of draw length, you increase raw arrow speed by approximately 10-15 fps. Meaning that we can increase the speed by simply using a lighter shaft or broadhead, but that would actually reduce the penetration potential of the arrow because momentum is mostly affected by the weight of the projectile. If you use the chart above to compare kinetic energy between a 350 FPS and a 300 FPS crossbow, youll notice that the first one delivers significantly more KE at 50 yards, than the second crossbow does at even 10 yards! This calculator is based on average efficiency gains as arrow weight is increased from 5 grains per pound (IBO). What is important, is understanding how this impacts the arrow you choose to buy and use when hunting, along with the broadheads you use. Knowing the rough speed at which your arrow will fly, you can now use our kinetic energy calculator to quickly figure out your arrow's initial kinetic energy. . Which results in easier aiming and thus, in improved precision. Another common speed rating is the ATA rating, which uses a 30-inch draw length, 70 lb. If you know your arrow's weight (in grains) and your arrow's speed (Feet Per Second), then you can use our Kinetic Energy and Momentum calculator above to find out each! For more information on Kinetic Energy and Momentum, please see Kinetic Energy, Momentum and Arrows Enter the arrow weight (grains) Enter the arrow speed (fps) Momentum = Kinetic Energy = Archery Report Sites Archery Report Archery Calculator The crossbow community has been obsessed with velocity ever since the resurgence of the crossbow as a viable weapon for hunting. Its only from 300 FPS and up that you get enough kinetic energy at all feasible hunting distances (up to 50 yards) to be able to comfortably hunt elk. *Slugs can be converted to Pound-Seconds by multiplying the result from the above formula by 32.174. To properly calculate momentum, use the following formula: Mass (Arrow Weight in grains) x Velocity (Arrow Speed (in fps)) / 225218 The result of this formula is calculated in slugs. For example, a 500 spine arrow bends .5 inches when the weight is applied. I remember when I first started bowhunting; it was right around the time I became a teenager. So when you see a certain crossbow rated at 350 FPS, for example, this was most likely calculated using a 400, maybe 425 grain arrow. The momentum of an arrow is linked to arrow penetration. Bowstring weight: Adding weight to a bowstring (peep sight, string silencers, string loop) will affect raw speed, but not by much. Speed is good, but whether shooting carbon arrows such as Beman's ICS Crossbow Hunter or Easton's Bloodline, XX75 aluminum or its . If you try to do all of these calculations by hand, keep in mind what units you actually use! The arrow ballistics calculator below will help you determine your arrows vertical drop, speed, kinetic energy and momentum, for up to 70 yards out in 10 yard increments. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. One thing to remember is that while kinetic energy provides the impact of your arrow on your intended target, what it doesnt necessarily provide is information on your arrows ability to penetrate and travel through your target. Power stroke is the length between the crossbow's string in its full-draw position and at rest point. It's also worth noting that these variables are affected not just by the arrow's speed vvv but also by its mass AAA. Mike is an avid archery hunter and brings a military methodology to his hunting and life. Mine hits dead nuts from 30 out to 135 yards. Momentum is often considered more important for hunting because it can help the arrow maintain its penetration potential. When you look at this and compare it to the table above, you can calculate what the right arrow can accomplish after you shoot it. The heavier the arrow is, the faster gravity will pull it toward the ground, but arrows or bolts do not have an even weight throughout. Every 3 grains of additional weight on the bow string will subtract 1 foot per second from the IBO value. Here is an example to demonstrate the use of the values above: Example: lets say you know your 400 grain arrow will fly at 350 FPS. And second, faster arrows leave less time for the animal to react to the shot sound. Be careful with increasing string weight, as it is equally important to string the bow comfortably. This calculator is based on average efficiency gains as arrow weight is increased from 5 grains per pound (IBO). Check out 25 similar kinematics calculators how things move , Understanding bow speed IBO specification. Anderson, SC, 2023 N1 Outdoors. When an arrow is shot from your bow, its impact, and ability to penetrate and make the kill is based not just on the speed of your bow. A 70#/29 bow thats rated at 350 fps is has been chronographed at 315 fps with a 400 grain arrow. They see a bows IBO speed rating listed, and assume they will get that raw arrow speed, or maybe a little better if they buy that bow. The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. By drawing your bow, you convert mechanical energy (ME) and store it as potential energy (PE) in the bow limbs. By simply indicating the particular values of some parameters, this tool will help you calculate an arrow fps speed. At the rated 350 fps IBO the speed should be 319 so we know that the IBO is slightly high. The same is true of a crossbow arrow. Note that the above is valid if speed is NOT increased at the expense of reduced arrow weight. For your reference, an estimated peep only weight is 20 grains, and a peep + tube is 45 total grains. A properly balanced arrow measurements of 7 to 15%. Actual ballistics data will vary slightly based on weather conditions and how high above sea level you are. But a bowling ball moving at the same speed is a whole different matter. Mid-Range Rise; Mid-range rise when sighting in a crossbow is the highest point in the arrows trajectory between the point blank range and the true zero point. 3. Kinetic energy (KE) is a measure of an arrows ability to transfer energy upon impact, and a higher KE can result in greater penetration and stopping power. Arrow speed Value must be between 100 and 500 Feet Per Second. We have not done very precise tests to figure this out (we will update this post when we do), however a very close estimate would be to assume the following. Privacy Policy, N1 Outdoors N-Tune Nock Tuning Reflective Arrow Wraps (various designs), N1 Outdoors Bowhunt Oh Yeah Bowhunting Tee, N1 Outdoors Just PassN Through Bowhunting Tee (Heather Royal), N1 Outdoors N-Tune Nock Tuning Reflective Arrow Tracers (24-pack), Just PassN Through Tee (featuring Magnus Black Hornet Ser-Razor Broadhead), Just PassN Through Tee (featuring Iron Will). In general, all three methods can be used with equal success as there is little difference in measured speed. Whitetail deer is particularly proficient at doing that. This tool should get you close to that. , which happens to be the most important factor in regard to hunting with archery equipment. Speed is needed to make the arrow arrive at its target quickly, but arrow speed is not what kills the animals you shoot with your bow. 13.6 320. The arrow weight in grains (includes fletchings, wraps, inserts and also. The IBO standard began as a means to regulate archery competitions, but the majority of bow companies have adopted its guidelines to standardize the measurement ofarrowspeed for the purposes of setting bow specifications. As such we recommend that elk hunters stick to 300 FPS or more. Light Blue: Range of efficient arrow weights. Moisture and rain will slow the arrow's flight. of draw weight your bow is reduced, raw arrow speed is reduced 15-20 fps. It will give you a rough idea of how fast an arrow travels after changing the bow from the recommended specifications. Once you have this figure, you can calculate the kinetic energy produced by your bow. Draw length LLL This is the distance that the string is pulled back. For every 3 grains of additional weight on the bowstring, subtract 1 ft/s from the IBO value. For every inch of draw length above 30, add 10 ft/s to the IBO value. If you're planning on using 450 grain arrows, the information above suggests that your arrow will leave the crossbow at a speed of around 380 FPS (95% of 400). We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. 4. While there are other factors to consider when setting up a compound bow for hunting, all bowhunters want to shoot as fast an arrow as they can with their bow setup. All Rights Reserved. You will need to provide total arrow weight and initial speed for the calculation to be effective, as well as some other optional info (see below).