Arrow speed w/my Hoyt bow ????

peterjc

peterjc

New member
I shoot an older Hoyt Alphatec bow. Its like new yet and I have it set at 64 lbs. I shoot a 29" arrow length. Went to a shop the other night and had it chronied at 244 fps. That does not sound too good to me. What is the average fps and is there any chart or some other list as to what speed you should have for killing deer. I have killed 3 deer with this set up no problem but just wondering if I should try to up my speed somehow. Oh, I shoot 100 gr. broadheads.
 
I shot and killed deer with a 55 lbs shooting 245 to 250. It really doesn't matter about the speed as longs as the broad head hits where it is suppose to you will be fine at the speed you are shooting. I had a Mathews Ultramax 64 to 65 lbs I hits a deer that had know idea it was shoot. blew throught both lungs and instead of running like they do when they are hit. It turned waited for the doe then walked a way up hill. I would leave your set up alone you are fine just the way it is. My set up is almost exactly like yours. I might get a little more speed out of my bow. I am using 100 grain muzzys and get pass throughs all the time and that is at Mule deer.
 
While speed Isnt as Important as shot placement, I still like to be around 275fps or faster. Right now with my Mathews Drenalin Im shooting 29" draw and 70lbs with a 27" 400 grain Axis-N-Fused 280-285fps. You can play with diffrent arrows, but I belive Its better to shoot a heavier arrow. With a heavier arrow you will loose speed, but gain a good bit of kenetic energy and you'll get better penetration.
 
I have killed plenty of deer and elk with a 60 lb recurve shooting at about 190 fps. People get way to wrapped up in arrow speed. The only advantage to a fast bow is it helps a bit when you screw up on range estimation. Most of todays bows produce a great excess of kinetic energy. If you arn't getting pass threws it is because your bow is not tuned or you are shooting a poorly designed head. I have killed over 100 big game animals with a bow and have less than a handful of arrows that have stayed in the animal. this includes a half a dozen elk. Even when shooting my traditional bows I usually pass threw. That said I have a hoyt katera @ 70 pounds 28 inches with ACC arrows and 100gn. head it shoots right at 290. The problem I am starting to have with faster bows is with my aging eye sight my pin gap is getting so close together that I can't see my pins individually. Anyway don't worry about speed. what you have is fully adequate for deer and elk unless you just need new toys.

drscott
 
Thanks guys for all your replys. It is getting the job done for me and all have been pass thrus, but I just like the idea of the arrow getting to the deer before he knows what that noise was. I am going to shoot a Matthews Z7 soon if I can. Don't want to spend the money for a new bow at my age but if I can sell this Hoyt I will. Will let you know if I get a new one.
 
IMO you need to find a happy medium between speed and quietness. I have only crono'd one bow and that was 20yrs ago. There could be other ways to increase arrow speed. Like lighter arrow weight increase draw weight and increase draw lenght. Your openning statement didn't give enough info to the story like what is your draw lenght, arrow weight. I personally like a bow that is quiet and slower with a longer brace ht and a 36-38in axle to axle which means a more forgiving bow but means you have to be able to judge yardage better. The shorter brace ht bow with shorter axle to axle bows are less forgiving for bow hand torque and some people have a harder time tunning the bow to get it to shoot good. You may be able to tweek your set-up and gain some speed but if it isn't broke don't fix it this close to the season. Take it from my experience. 3-4 years ago I got a new hoyt alphatec just like my 3-d bow but a year newer had it set up almost the same as my 3-d bow. During the second week of november I had the biggerst buck that I have ever had in bow range step out and proceeded to miss the deer at 25,30 and 40yds. Everytime I missed I was able to range the deer and everytime I missed I shot under it. After that deer ran off I knocked another arrow, closed my eyes, drew back, anchored and opened my eye. When I opened my eyes low and behold I was looking over the peep. Last time I ever change something right before hunting season. I should have stayed with what worked if I had I would have been holding a 180-190 whitetail in my hands.
 
Originally Posted By: peterjcThanks guys for all your replys. It is getting the job done for me and all have been pass thrus, but I just like the idea of the arrow getting to the deer before he knows what that noise was. I am going to shoot a Matthews Z7 soon if I can. Don't want to spend the money for a new bow at my age but if I can sell this Hoyt I will. Will let you know if I get a new one.

Hate to burst your bubble but nobody has yet to make a bow that shoots faster than the speed of sound. DRScott's advice was right on target IMO. I'll take penetration over speed any day and having one doesn't guarantee you'll have the other. The Z7 is a great bow but I question whether or not it will kill them any "deader" than what you have now.
 


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