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. This is what we included: The IBO speed is used as a standardized speed rating for bows. Arrow Speed Calculator Ashby Bowhunting Foundation 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. Modern crossbows typically generate speeds anywhere from 280-350 feet per second, with some models topping 400 fps. We use cookies to optimize our website and our service. Do 100 FPS make such an impactful difference? By simply indicating the particular values of some parameters, this tool will help you calculate an arrow fps speed. Lets find out. The arrow speed calculator makes it easy to estimate the speed of an arrow! 4. When you input your bow and arrows information in the calculator below, you can see right away what your arrows potential is. 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. 575 grain arrows will fly at ~84% of initial speed Blazing Bolts: How Much Speed Do You Need for a Crossbow? The only way to find the exact speed of your specific arrow is with an arrow chronograph. Every inch of draw length above 30 will add 10 feet per second to the IBO value. Confirm the zero by shooting a . Remember, the speed of your arrow is at the point of the shot. Every bow gains efficiency a little differently. FOC stands for Front of Center balance point. Arrow speed specification. Arrow Speed Formula: You can determine the speed of the arrow along with other crucial parameters by using the following arrow speed equation: v = IBO+ (L30)10W/3 + min (0, (A5D/3) where: v = Actual Arrow speed in feet per second (ft/s) IBO = Speed of the arrow according to the IBO specifications L = Draw length measured in inches Factoring in the gravitational constant in both of those formulas for hunting arrows is necessary to account for the effect of gravity on the arrows motion. To find the distance that your arrow will travel, you can use the projectile motion calculator. Archery Hunting 101: Bow Hunting for Beginners. 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. 475 grain arrows will fly at ~92.3% of initial speed Kinetic Energy and Momentum Calculator Every inch of draw length under 30 will subtract 10 ft per second from the IBO value. 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. The overall weight of the weapon, its balance, arrow weight, ease of cocking, and precision are also important. Power stroke is the distance, in inches, that the string accelerates an arrow down a crossbow's flight rail. SHORT STROKES. Most professional bows use the IBO (International Bowhunting Organization) specification. The arrow ballistics calculator below will help you determine your arrow's vertical drop, speed, kinetic energy and momentum, for up to 70 yards out in 10 yard increments. Keep reading to learn how to use our calculator and how to optimize your arrow for your hunting needs. When you pull the trigger most of that PE is transferred to the arrow and converted to kinetic energy (KE), which propels it downrange. ArcheryCalc - Backcountry Bowhunting There are several factors that go into the arrow speed equation. Generally speaking, adding 20 grains of overall weight to the string will only deduct about 5 fps off the raw arrow speed. . To learn more about kinetic energy and momentum, visit our kinetic energy calculator and this impulse and momentum calculator. 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. 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). Copyright 2023 The Everyday Bow Hunter. 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? For every inch of draw length above 30, add 10 ft/s to the IBO value. 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. It's also worth noting that these variables are affected not just by the arrow's speed vvv but also by its mass AAA. The arrow speed calculator makes it easy to estimate the speed of an arrow! You should be able to successfully harvest All Rights Reserved. 450 grain arrows will fly at ~95% of initial speed Kinetic Energy: 5.55 foot-pounds. The size of the heart/lung area is around 8 inches on a average size deer weighing 120 pounds. Then, the more draw weight you use to pull, the quicker an arrow will fly and the more kinetic energy it will have. Please keep in mind that the values below assume the crossbow configuration is not altered, and that the only change is in arrow weight. Scope sights have an advantage as they can easily be raised higher above the flight rail by simply installing higher rings, when this is done the crossbow will sight-in differently and appear to have a flatter trajectory, which is a good thing. We operate independently and do not provide Sponsored content. This average will get most bows within a few percent of real-world speeds. 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 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. 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 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. During my teens, I spent countless hours with my dad in our archery shop, buildingarrows, tuning bows, and then testing their performance right outside in our backyard. 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. At the rated 350 fps IBO the speed should be 319 so we know that the IBO is slightly high. Let's say you keep the regular. To properly 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). Ever wonder exactly how much kinetic energy is released by an arrow, based on its initial speed and distance traveled? It will give you a rough idea of how fast an arrow travels after changing the bow from the recommended specifications. Draw length: A longer draw length creates a longer power stroke than a shorter draw length, allowing the bow to store more energy. The table below provides us with a general idea of how much momentum is needed for different types of wild game and it also shows us the arrows penetration capability when coupled with KE. So the important question right now is: how much does initial arrow speed drop as its weight goes up? 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. The chart below, and the research conducted is copyrighted material and is the property of BestCrossbowSource. Crossbow Kinetic Energy 200 FPS 225 FPS 250 FPS 1/3 10 20 30 40 50 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 Yards travelled by arrow Kinetic Energy ( In food - pounds) Chart by Visualizer 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. Power stroke is the length between the crossbow's string in its full-draw position and at rest point. 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. 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. 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. Contact Us for More Information. And this is a bigger problem than you may think at the moment. Mine hits dead nuts from 30 out to 135 yards. Even at 275 FPS you only get close to it at 10 yards out. Moisture and rain will slow the arrow's flight. The results suggested a weight between 400- and 428-grains. Another common speed rating is the ATA rating, which uses a 30-inch draw length, 70 lb. Maximum Point Blank Range; Maximum point blank range when sighting in a crossbow is the height of the mid-range rise and the arrow drop beyond true zero, both are equal in measure. You want to know the arrow's speed when you increase both the draw length and the arrow weight. 44 Yards - Maximum Effective Hunting Range. Whitetail deer is particularly proficient at doing that. Arrow Speed Calculator It will give you a rough idea of how fast an arrow travels after changing the bow from the recommended specifications.