bolt weight differences

supermagnum · Post by **supermagnum** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:02 pm

i just weighed two sets of laser gold tip-2's each set consisted of six carbon bolts, 5" vanes, allum inserts front & back with wasp broad heads.
the first set was 361-363-364-364-364-366gn
the second set was 372-372-373-374-375-375gn

why such a difference

is this normal or a bad set, how much will this change the bolts flight? Should i use one set for a different game i.e turkey or deer.

I bought these bolts at two different times at least six months apart (six and six) i have weighed them without the BH and this was my finding.

first set was 261-261-261-262-264-258gn (6 pack of excalibur packaged bolts)

second set was 272-273-270-270-270-272gn (came with the scope kit)

The BHeads weighed 102-103gn with my digital scale. I have compared my scales readings with two other digitals and they are all acceptable.

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:10 pm

Are you sure that the two sets have the same weight broadheads?

Why weigh them with the broadheads at all.

You are just introducing another variable.

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:32 pm

Weigh them with out the BH's, if you still have that much diff., "10gr" something is wrong ....

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:38 pm

bstout, you be right other then " If I were to buy a dozen shafts I sure do not want 10gr. difference in the shafts. A diff. of 5gr would be ok but not 10gr. ....

really the 5gr would piss me off as I myself expect -+ 3gr. a shaft

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:39 pm

Low to high is 14 grain.. or about 2 1/2 feet per second.

That will not change POI..

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:59 pm

And I agree with you and W.W. both, however weight changes FPS and therfore POI ....

Has too

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Sun May 28, 2006 7:03 pm

GaryL wrote:And I agree with you and W.W. both, however weight changes FPS and therfore POI .... Has too

2 1/2 fps?

Not that any of us could tell.

Woody Williams · Post by **Woody Williams** » Sun May 28, 2006 7:09 pm

GaryL wrote:bstout, you be right other then " If I were to buy a dozen shafts I sure do not want 10gr. difference in the shafts. A diff. of 5gr would be ok but not 10gr. .... really the 5gr would piss me off as I myself expect -+ 3gr. a shaft

The "shafts" very well could be.

On a crossbow arrow we've got two inserts - front and rear

We've got three vanes.

We've got a broadhead ferrel.

We've got three broadheadblades.

Maybe a wrap.

All weigh something and can contribute to variablity. Granted the shaft is the heaviest and most likely culprit, but in this case I would at least weigh the arrows sans the broadheads.

awshucks · Post by **awshucks** » Sun May 28, 2006 7:20 pm

My LII's w/ 5" vanes weigh average 442 gr, my same arrows w/ 4" vanes weigh at 431 gr w/ about 20% FOC. The 5" shoot 1 1/2" to 2" low at 30. I've read 20 % is a little high, but these w/ 4"shoot great out to 50 yds, farhthest I've tried and more than I need for deer and bear.

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Sun May 28, 2006 7:21 pm

Hee,hee and again Woody Williams I have to agree, however yep their it is the however

I have my set up at 345gr. shooting a Vixen set up for bushy tails at 20 yards + or - 5 yards. If the squirrel is sitting/standing up I aim for the head and two out of three I nail it's HEAD, samething if it was on all fours.

The however part is if I use the same xbow but a 355gr. arrow at the same distance instead of a head shot I get a shoulder hit if the squirrel is standing. If on all fours holding the X on it's head I MISS cause of arrow drop

Granted a squirrel is not a deer.

bstout I keep my bolts at around 15% FOC

Dang if'n this ain't fun

diesel · Post by **diesel** » Sun May 28, 2006 7:48 pm

This is why I like to buy my own shafts inserts and fletch my own. When I'm done they are all the same weight have the same FOC.
I just feel better knowing I was the cause of the miss not the arrow.

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » Sun May 28, 2006 8:58 pm

Woody Williams wrote:
GaryL wrote:And I agree with you and W.W. both, however weight changes FPS and therfore POI .... Has too
2 1/2 fps?

Not that any of us could tell.

Ok, just in case there be some green horns following this post I need to clarify that Woody Williams and bstout be correct in their statements.

2 1/2fps at 20 yards shooting at a squirrel would mean instead of a center hit in the head I would hit about 1/8" down, a neck shot if'n I did not wavier left or right. FOC of 15 - 20% is darn good also. BUT I would still be a little pissed off with a 10gr., difference in 12 bolts/arrows

supermagnum · Post by **supermagnum** » Mon May 29, 2006 4:07 pm

[quote="GaryL"]bstout I keep my bolts at around 15% FOC

New guy when it comes to the fine art of x-bowing, what is FOC and how is it calculated

I think i opened Pandoras Box when it comes to crossbows at least in my head, now i want to take every single varialbe into consideration, did not really know how many things could effect a bolts flight path

FRONT OF CENTER