Newbie Questions - arrow length/draw length

375hunter · Jul 17, 2015

I recently went down to Sportsman's and got a new bow setup to get back into archery hunting this year. I got a Bear Attitude with a whisker bisket rest and we got it set for my draw length right at about 28.5".

I purchased gold tip 340 carbon arrows and the guy said they should be cut to 29.5 ". But with field tips they really seem to stick out a long ways and will be even worse when I add the 100 grain Thunderhead broadheads...

Should these arrows be cut shorter or am I worrying about nothing?

SnkyHuntr · Jul 17, 2015

I am no expert and I have heard multiple varying opinions on this. I personally have my arrows cut 1/2 inch longer than my draw length. I know some guys that have them cut 1/4 inch longer. It all depends upon your setup and how they fly. You definitely have enough clearance from the arrow tip to your rest so that should not be an issue. If they fly well and group at that length, then I wouldn't worry about it. If you notice they are flying funny or not grouping then you should cut them shorter.

3blade · Jul 17, 2015

SnkyHuntr is right, if they fly good and broadheads hit with field points, leave them alone. If you shorten them the arrow spine will get stiffer and you could end up to stiff and the arrows won't fly right. By the same token, if they are to long the spine could be to weak, and once again they won't fly right. So, how do they fly? Good? leave it be.

vthokee · Jul 18, 2015

I have always cut mine so that the end of the arrow insert is at the front of your riser. I shot a 28" dl bow and my arrows are 28 1/4" from throat of nock to end of carbon. Some people like them to come a little in to the arrow shelf but if you are shooting fixed blades you run the problem of the broadhead hitting the riser.

missalot · Jul 20, 2015

Old school thinking was to make your hunting arrows 1" longer than your draw length. This was to account for the tendency to overdraw your bow when excited while shooting at an animal( it used to be that we wanted to end our draw 1/2" from the maximum that the bow would allow us to draw). With modern bows that you pull back until it won't draw any farther, this won't happen.

One advantage to the extra length is that it keeps the broadhead a little farther away from your finger tips if you have the tendancy to extend your fingers on your bow hand while shooting.

bjn7f0 · Jul 30, 2015

I think it has more to do with safety and liability. With many of todays rests you really don't have a problem with the arrow falling of the rest and potentially driving the broadhead through your hand/fingers if it were to fall off the rest. But with many of the older rests this used to be a problem.

Like everyone said above. If it shoots good don't worry about it. But just because your bow is paper tuned and your field points fly like darts, doesn't mean it's tuned to your broadheads. You may actually have to do some fine tuning to acheive clean flight for your broadheads. Once there focus on your broadheads and don't worry about the field points. It's too close to hunting season. Good luck.

deadibob · Jul 30, 2015

I keep my arrows long. Long enough that I won't accidently slice my finger at full draw if by chance it somehow gets in the way, it never has but it's one less thing too worry about. I've seen too many sliced fingers. I also shoot a stiff spine and like a heavy arrow. The third reason I keep them long is so there is never a chance of having too short of arrows if I switch bows to a riser with more or less deflex.