Speed is good, but whether shooting carbon arrows such as Beman's ICS Crossbow Hunter or Easton's Bloodline, XX75 aluminum or its . 1. The arrow speed calculator makes it easy to estimate the speed of an arrow! To make the change inarrow, I went back to ourArrow Efficiency Calculator. 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. . At the time lets call it the Round Cam Epoch the chase was for 200 fps. These are calculated as follows: Our arrow speed calculator converts the units automatically. Power stroke is the length between the crossbow's string in its full-draw position and at rest point. Please keep in mind that this approach will only give you close estimates, and that it becomes a less accurate the further out we go (I wouldnt suggest using it for anything beyond 70 yards, which is far beyond what youll be hunting from anyway). You decide to use 400 grain arrows, and using our FPS guide you calculate the point-blank speed of your arrow to be 240 FPS. Use the Arrow Efficiency Calculator to find the optimal arrow for your bowhunting setup. Here are the results of a research that compared the effect of a deer jumping the string when shot using bows with different speeds at different distances: For instance, we can see that at 30 yards, a shot deer would drop about 6 inches before an arrow reaches it, if said arrow travels at 258 FPS. The arrow speed calculator above provides a quick estimation. When it comes to how much an arrow's weight affects its speed, the consensus is that every additional 5 grains of arrow weight reduces arrow speed by an average of 2 fps. In the table below, you will see some base values there already, they are there to show you an example of a real-world situation with real values and what they look like when compared to a mid-range bow and mid-range set of arrows. I remember when I first started bowhunting; it was right around the time I became a teenager. These records provide information on the performance of different components in a computer system when running specific games or applications. You can also see how increasing your arrow weight will increase kinetic energy and momentum, but then decrease kinetic energy when the speed of your arrow decreases to the point where it can no longer provide the force necessary to increase your arrows lethality. Bow/Arrow Speed Calculator (Estimate from IBO/ATA) This calculator will estimate the speed of the bow/arrow based on the speed rating of the manufacturer and individual setup of the bow. Kinetic Energy & Momentum Calculator Find out the kinetic energy of your arrow or bolt using the following simple calculator. The same is true of a crossbow arrow. A longer draw length results in a longer power stroke than a shorter draw length, allowing the bow to store more energy that then is transferred to the arrow. You can assume, roughly, that an arrows kinetic energy is reduced by around 3-4% for every 10 yards it travels. Reduce the IBO speed until the calculator shows the verified speed of 315; in this case the correct IBO value would be 346 fps If this tool does not calculate, please refresh the page and try again. This is as close as it gets to what your arrows will deliver in the field, though keep in mind that our tests were conducted at an indoor range to avoid wind and weather fluctuations which can impact arrow behavior, so actual kinetic energy values in the field can and probably will vary slightly from what we arrived at in our tests. #2: Even a 50 FPS speed difference alters kinetic energy significantly. 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. 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. This calculator is based on average efficiency gains as arrow weight is increased from 5 grains per pound (IBO). As the arrow moves through space, the kinetic energy drops. 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. There are several factors that go into the arrow speed equation. fps. This calculator is based on average efficiency gains as arrow weight is increased from 5 grains per pound (IBO). We are working to correct this issue. The calculator uses this data, along with AI models, to predict the performance . We strongly advise that you stick with the recommended values to maintain lots of room for error, particularly if youre new to hunting. 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. We sometimes earn a small commission when you click through the affiliate links on our website. there is very little difference in trajectory when you sight in at the recommended distance that is supplied with most crossbows. Plan. Be careful with increasing string weight, as it is equally important to string the bow comfortably. The Doppler chronograph is fast and easy to use. Decide on the draw weight and the arrow weight. 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. You can measure arrow speed using optical chronographs, Doppler chronographs, or laptop-based audio applications. 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. The arrow speed calculator makes it easy to estimate the speed of an arrow! ), Any additional weight on your bowstring (nock loop, peep, etc.). Simply put, many of the best crossbows available on the market nowadays (2015) receive their speed ratings based on arrows weighing roughly 400 grain. For example, if you increase the draw weight by 5 pounds the speed of your arrows can increase by 10 fps. If you were to shoot a 500 grain arrow from the exact same crossbow, its initial speed would be roughly 90% of 350, or around 315 FPS. When you pull the trigger most of that PE is transferred to the arrow and converted to kinetic energy (KE), which propels it downrange. In short, you need as much FPS as possible without sacrificing the other parameters of a crossbow to values that make such trade-off unworthy. Arrow Speed Calculator. This specification determines the arrow speed, provided that you keep the following parameters: If you deviate from these parameters, the arrow speed will not equal the one given by the specification. Welcome to our Arrow Speed, Kinetic Energy, and Momentum Calculator, where you can easily calculate your arrows speed, kinetic energy, and momentum based on the IBO speed of your compound bow, your draw weight, draw length, and arrow weight. Anderson, SC, 2023 N1 Outdoors. Arrow Ballistics Calculator Kinetic Energy, Drop, Speed, Momentum, Crossbow Kinetic Energy Chart, Calculations, Hunting Requirements, Crossbow Arrow Drop Charted Test Results. , because of the higher momentum at the moment of impact. At the rated 350 fps IBO the speed should be 319 so we know that the IBO is slightly high. Draw length: A longer draw length creates a longer power stroke than a shorter draw length, allowing the bow to store more energy. In the calculator below, we measure this in slugs. - 400 F.P.S. Heavy arrows, coupled with the right speed for your target animal, optimized by a high FOC, can accomplish a lot more than a light, fast arrow. For every inch of draw length above 30, add 10 fps to the IBO value. The results suggested a weight between 400- and 428-grains. *Slugs can be converted to Pound-Seconds by multiplying the result from the above formula by 32.174. . Note that the above is valid if speed is NOT increased at the expense of reduced arrow weight. Light Blue: Range of efficient arrow weights. If it doesn't, adjust your 50-yard pin until it centers on the 50-yard bullseye when you're at full draw. Because there is a huge difference between shooting a deer with a 300 FPS crossbow and a 400 FPS (or faster) model. Fast-flying arrows have flatter flight trajectories and less deviation from the wind. Kinetic Energy: 5.55 foot-pounds. You can obtain this value with this formula: An arrow's kinetic energy is determined as: Keep in mind that the arrow loses speed as it travels. Your arrows kinetic energy will depend on its speed. 2. 4. High Velocity; 325 - 375 feet per second arrow speed crossbows. ), Toughest Game (cape buffalo, grizzly, musk ox, etc. The second conclusion is that this drawback of shooting slow weapons can be remedied to a good extent by simply reducing the distance we attempt shots at. Arrow speed Value must be between 100 and 500 Feet Per Second. This is because the large draw weight imparts more energy to the arrow. A lighter arrow produces more arrow speed, but an increase in arrow weight (incremented by 25 grains) can increase and eventually decrease arrow kinetic energy. 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 Practice has proved that shooting with a faster crossbow reduces or entirely eliminates the probability of this. Which means that if you want to be able to reliably hit live targets at 40 yards, you better have a crossbow that is able to launch arrows at 400 FPS or more. To calculate arrow speed, measure the distance in inches between the two groups of arrows you shot from 20 and 40 yards. In arrow flight, trajectory refers to the exact arcing path the arrow travels from the crossbow to the target downrange, as soon as the arrow leaves the power of the bowstring it is subjected to atmosheric drag (slowing it down) and gravity (pulling the arrow down to earth). FPS calculators (Frame per Second) work by using large databases of FPS records for various processors and graphic cards. This is what we included: The IBO speed is used as a standardized speed rating for bows. The values in the table below come from the following bow and its associated settings. 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. For the most accurate results, it is best to use a known speed and known arrow weight under 6 grain per pound to determine your corrected IBO value. 500 grain arrows will fly at ~90% of initial speed Similar in design, the 35 3/4-inch-long Horton Storm RDX attains 370 fps from a 16 1/2-inch power stroke and 165-pound draw weight. The rule of thumb is that for every 10 lbs. Do 100 FPS make such an impactful difference? Here are a few rules of thumb to remember: The Kinetic Energy and Momentum Calculators here use the gravitational constant to give you the best results for kinetic energy and momentum. Remember, the speed of your arrow is at the point of the shot. Arrow speed specification. You can check this calculator to see how fast the arrows lose height at different flight speeds. The overall weight of the weapon, its balance, arrow weight, ease of cocking, and precision are also important. For every inch you reduce, the draw length reduces around 10 fps of your bow speed. Copyright 2023 The Everyday Bow Hunter. Ever wonder exactly how much kinetic energy is released by an arrow, based on its initial speed and distance traveled? 600 grain arrows will fly at ~82.5% of initial speed. What is the maximum range for a crossbow? 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. Enter speed and arrow weight data into the calculator. Let's consider the following example: you are analyzing the bow of IBO 300. The size of the heart/lung area is around 8 inches on a average size deer weighing 120 pounds. Bowstring weight WWW Adding accessories to a bowstring impacts its speed; for every 3 grains of extra weight on the bowstring, deduct 1 fps from the IBO number. of draw weight your bow is reduced, raw arrow speed is reduced 15-20 fps. High Velocity Crossbows. 1 slug equals 32.174 ft-lbs. 15.5 300. Spine is measured by the number of inches a shaft deflects (bends) X 1000. For whitetail deer this requirement is lower any crossbow 250 FPS and up will be a safe pick. For every 3 grains of total arrow weight above draw weight multiplied by 5, subtract 1 ft/s from the IBO value. It's measured by applying an 880-gram weight to the arrow, suspended from the center of the shaft. An arrows momentum is defined by how much force is required to stop an object. To correctly calculate kinetic energy, use the following formula: 1/2 Mass (Arrow Weight in grains divided by 2) x Velocity squared (Arrow Speed x Arrow Speed (in fps from the above formula)) / 225218 The result of this formula is calculated in foot-pounds (ft-lbs). To exaggerate to make a point, a one-pound arrow would plummet to the ground the minute it left your barrel. For your reference, an estimated peep only weight is 20 grains, and a peep + tube is 45 total grains. To calculate your arrow's kinetic energy you need to know two variables: 1) your total finished arrow weight in grains, and 2) the velocity of your arrow. The gravitational constant (g) is the acceleration due to gravity, which is 32.174 feet per second per second at sea level. 1. . There are a few more things that impact how fast your arrow is traveling after you shoot. Keep reading to learn how to use our calculator and how to optimize your arrow for your hunting needs. 475 grain arrows will fly at ~92.3% of initial speed Arrow Velocity Arrow Mass Your kinetic energy is 0 foot pounds, and your momentum is 0 slug FPS. Heavy longbow arrows will move slower due to their weight. This is where this bow speed calculator comes in handy; it allows you to examine how the arrow will behave under a different bow setting. You are welcome to share it, as long as you mention www.bestcrossbowsource.com as the original source of the data / research. Let us see how to use this tool: Begin by indicating the IBO rating in fps in the Bow IBO rating field. #3:Notall crossbows are suitable for hunting. Confirm the zero by shooting a . A properly balanced arrow measurements of 7 to 15%. At the rated 350 fps IBO the speed should be 319 so we know that the IBO is slightly high. Total string accessory weights in grains (peep, tube, silencers, etc.). While it is based on the bow speed IBO specification, you can input the individual settings of your bow. 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). Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. Finally, using our arrow ballistics calculator (which requires that both arrow speed and mass are known) we determined the values plotted in the chart below. *NOTE: The calculator below will provide you with an estimate based on your inputs. Execute. How far will it penetrate? Notice that at 250 FPS this value cannot be achieved. As the arrow travels downrange it is constantly slowing down and dropping toward the ground, the further it travels, the faster it falls to the ground. Calculations are largely based on the Exterior Ballistics of Bows and Arrows paper. With having said that lets sight these crossbows with a maximum point blank range drop of 3 inches and a mid-range rise of 3 inches. Bow Manufacturer IBO Speed (ft/sec) Draw Weight (lbs) Draw Length (inches) Arrow Weight (grains) Weight Added to String (grains) (20gr = peep only, 45gr = peep and tube) Arrow Speed 0 ft/sec 0 mph Arrow Kinetic Energy 0 ft-lbs. When shooting a compound bow, all things being equal, they are: Many bowhunters dont quite understand the complexity behind bow speeds. Every inch of draw length under 30 will subtract 10 ft per second from the IBO value. 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. And remember, in bowhunting speed is good but it is far from everything. Then, the more draw weight you use to pull, the quicker an arrow will fly and the more kinetic energy it will have. Try our arrow speed calculator below! By simply indicating the particular values of some parameters, this tool will help you calculate an arrow fps speed. 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) / 450,240 450 grain arrows will fly at ~95% of initial speed So let's focus on that. All Rights Reserved. At the rated 350 fps IBO the speed should be 319 so we know that the IBO is slightly high. But that rarely happens, and heres why. of draw weight. We shot 400 grain arrows from 9 different crossbows, achieving nine different initial speeds ranging from 200 to 400 FPS in 25 FPS increments. 3. For more information on understanding arrow weight and FOC click here. 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. Considering that the vital area (heart and lungs) of a whitetail deer is 6" to 8", we can see how easy it is to miss the target when using a slower bow or a crossbow. The general guideline for this factor is: For every extra inch of draw length increases approximately 10 fps the arrow speed; and. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. The heavier your arrow, the slower its initial speed will be, and the lower its speed will be when it hits the target, resulting in lower kinetic energy. Generally bows will put slightly more energy into heavier arrows, so the actual speed you get with a heavier arrow will probably be a little higher than this formula calculates. Every bow gains efficiency a little differently. We appreciate your help. It will give you a rough idea of how fast an arrow travels after changing the bow from the recommended specifications. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. As you know, IBO speed is a standard measure of the speed of a bow, and by using it as a baseline for all calculations, our calculator can provide you with accurate and reliable results. Arrow weight: Again, the rule of thumb is that for every 5 grains of added arrow weight, you will drop raw speed by 1-2 fps. What allows an arrow to ethically and effectively kill wild game is a combination of kinetic energy and momentum. 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. The most critical factor is the IBO speed entered as this is the starting point of the calculations. Also, make sure to check out our best crossbow rankings for a scoop on the top equipment on the market. (That lowers the reticle in the scope, meaning you have to raise the crossbow back to POA) If it hits high, increase your FPS in your profile settings until the arrow drops into the slot. These will result in relatively small variations that you should not worry much about. 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. However, here you'll find a bit of a contradiction because heavier arrows result in slower speeds, meaning compromising speed might be necessary to avoid losing momentum and kinetic energy so rapidly. *The number 225,218 is derived from converting grains to pounds and then . Keep in mind that most IBO ratings are not real-world numbers. This is very misleading as to what a true high performance crossbow will do when sighted in properly for deer hunting. Arrow Speed (FPS): Arrow Weight (grains): Advanced Shaft Length (inches): Shaft Diameter (inches): Fletching Length (inches): Fletching Height (inches): Calculate Reset to defaults Distance (yards) Drop (inches) Arrow Speed (FPS) Kinetic Energy (ft/lbs) Momentum (lb/sec) 0 10 20 That is defined by an arrows weight, broadhead, and momentum. Kinetic Energy Vs Momentum for Hunting? And the greater the mass, the longer the energy stays in the arrow as it flies. 12.8 330. Lets find out. Arrow speed depends on several factors, including bow string weight, string length, string material, arrow weight, and weather conditions. Nevertheless, most archers do not use these exact parameters. 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. Hopefully you find the above charts and information useful in determining what crossbow to buy and how kinetic energy changes based on arrow weight and speed. With the disadvantage of my short draw length of 27.5-inches and my draw weight of 60-pounds because of a bad shoulder, I decided to go with the fastest arrow within that range, something right around 400-grains. The speed decreases exponentially as the arrow travels. Notice that our recommendation for elk hunting is 65 ft-lbs of kinetic energy (this is a conservative value, you can get away with less). With that said, the average efficiency curve utilized for the calculator is based on various bows from APA, Elite, Bowtech, Hoyt, and PSE ranging from 40lbs up to 85lbs. View Results* Dark Blue: Optimal arrow weight. *This Calculator Was Developed With The Help of The Ashby Bow Foundation*. . The rule of thumb was that for every added inch of draw length, you increase raw arrow speed by approximately 10-15 fps. For a more detailed explanation, check the notes below the calculator. Power stroke is the distance, in inches, that the string accelerates an arrow down a crossbow's flight rail. Every 3 grains of additional weight on the bow string will subtract 1 foot per second from the IBO value. The same team that conducted the above research suggested a way to calculate the effective range for each bow/crossbow model: Divide the crossbow velocity (in FPS) by 10. This is a good rough rule to remember in case you need to do some quick on-the-spot kinetic energy calculations in the field. And this is a bigger problem than you may think at the moment. We operate independently and do not provide Sponsored content. For every 3 grains of additional weight on the bowstring, subtract 1 ft/s from the IBO value. And second, faster arrows leave less time for the animal to react to the shot sound. 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. For every 3 grains of additional weight on the bowstring, subtract 1 fps from the IBO value. This is because the IBO speeds are determined under a set of particular conditions: Then, for comparing bow speeds, you'll need tomaintain these factors constant. 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. After you've entered these values, the calculator will display the actual arrow speed, momentum, and kinetic energy of the arrow , What is IBO speed? 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. You should adjust the arrow speed given by the IBO specification according to the following rules: All of these rules can be put in one common equation: You can also use the arrow speed calculator to find the momentum and the kinetic energy of the arrow. Mike is a Veteran who served 21 years in the U.S. Army and retired as a Sergeant Major from the 5th Special Forces Group.