The type of best recurve bow arrows you should use with your bow may be a mystery to you if you are new to archery. Choosing the right arrow for your bow can be overwhelming for a new archer, with so many options available.
No matter if you’re new to archery or have some experience, this article is for you. Depending on your shooting style and what type of bow you use, you’ll need different types of arrows from other archers. Gap shooters who use recurve bows will need a different arrow than those who use traditional longbows.
If you’re shooting arrows with broadheads, choosing the right arrow is crucial to your shots’ trajectory. Start by buying the most expensive bow you can afford with the latest sights and stabilizer, then buy cheap arrows to shoot it with.
Related: How to Choose Arrows for your Bow?
There are a lot of bow manufacturers these days who list the type of arrows you should use. Check the instructions or documentation that came with your bow if you don’t see anything in small print.
Check your bow’s manufacturer’s website if none of those suggestions helps – many companies at least provide this information on their websites. At the very least, this should give you a good idea of what arrows you should shoot.
Why Should You Choose The Best Recurve Bow Arrows?
The archers in old hunting films like Lord of the Rings and Huntsman seem to care little about the specifications of their arrows.
What’s wrong with just grabbing a stick and shooting?
Safe and accurate are two words that come to mind.
Poor quality or weak arrows can be unwise and unsafe for archers when used with a weak bow.
We aim to shoot arrows accurately towards our target when shooting arrows.
Your flight projectile will suffer if you use a weak arrow.
You might not be able to reach your target location if you use an arrow that is too heavy.
In order to begin this homework, let’s look at the Arrow Spine first.
A bow’s flight performance is determined by its arrow spine.
The stiffness or flexibility of an arrow is measured by this parameter.
- It is most likely that the arrow will fly wobbly or dive right of the target if its spine is weak.
- Arrows with too stiff spines tend to fly left of their targets.
Three factors should be considered when choosing an arrow spine:
- The type of bow (this guide focuses on recurve bows)
- Draw length
- Draw weight
The last two items are relevant since we’re discussing recurve bows.
Here is how to determine the length of your draw:
Measuring your draw length can be done in two ways; the simplest is by:
Method 1: Measurement of arm span
- You should measure the length of your arm. Use a measuring tape to measure the distance between your fingertip and your elbow at shoulder level.
- Dividing your arm span by 2.5 will give you your draw length.
As an example, your arm span measures 70 inches. Using 70 inches + 2.5 equals 28 inches + draw length
Method 2: Measuring the wall
- Sideways facing the wall, stand up.
- Your bow arm’s fist should be on the wall. The way you hold a bow should mimic this, with your arms parallel to the ground and level.
- Turn your head to the wall without moving your body.
- Having a friend measure your draw length, the distance between the wall and your mouth, can be very helpful.
What is the ideal length of the arrows?
If you know your draw length, simply add 1-2 inches to it to determine the ideal arrow length.
A good arrow length would be around 29-30 inches if your draw length is 28 inches.
Arrow Length
The length of an arrow is briefly discussed. Basically, it’s the distance between the crotch of the nock and the point of the arrow.
Don’t take note of the tips of the arrow or the nocks, but rather take note of the endpoints.
- Nocks have grooves that rest the string in the crotch.
- It is not the pointed tip of the arrowhead that marks the beginning of the point, but rather the bottom part of the point. There is a point and a shaft on it.
What is the ideal weight for arrows?
After discussing arrow spines and consistency, it’s time to talk about arrow weights.
There are no grams in arrows as they are measured in grains, which are equivalent to 1/7000th of a pound under the British metric system.
What should the weight of an arrow be?
Shooting and arrow weight: what’s the relationship?
Depending on what you’re shooting at, the answer will vary.
Physicists and projectiles:
- It is most likely that heavier arrows will lose trajectory and fly slower.
- The trajectory of light arrows is better or flatter.
- When an arrow hits its target, its kinetic energy will be higher. The result will be a better penetration.
Is it always better to use lighter arrows?
The lighter the arrow, the faster it will reach your target, but it won’t necessarily penetrate as well as a heavier arrow.
- As a result of their ability to fly silently and quickly, lighter arrows are preferred by many bowhunters.
- Alternatively, if you’re shooting at 20 yards indoors for target practice, where speed is less important than hitting your mark, you may want a heavier or fatter (larger diameter) arrow.
The best way to determine your draw weight is to:
It’s important for archers to know how to determine the draw weight of their recurve and arrows.
The lowest level should always be used by beginners who have never shot an arrow in their lives, then they should work their way up as they progress in their training.
Draw Weight
During the draw of the bow, the archer can pull the maximum weight.
According to the archer’s frame and weight, here is a chart of suggested draw weights.
You should always start with the lowest weight, as these are suggested weights.
Having a hard time pulling the bow won’t make archery fun.
As well as that, it’s bad for your joints, muscles, and shoulders.
The first time the archer pulls a bow is 10 pounds or less, depending on the archer’s experience level.
When you have become used to pulling such heavy weights over a couple of weeks of constant practice, you can add more weight.
Depending on the target or type of archery, intermediate archers modify their draw weight as well.
- A 25-pound target is used for target shooting. Target practice will be sufficient. With foam, straw, and burlap targets, you don’t have to exert a lot of power. Practice will only be difficult if the arrows are buried too deep.
- Getting close to medium-size game – 40 pounds by bowhunting. Most hunters use this as a minimum standard.
- A 55-pound buck was bowhunting with a bow. You may also consider buying a recurve bow designed for this type of use.
Here’s how to figure out the shaft size:
You can now determine the size of the spine and shaft of your arrow by calculating your draw length, draw weight, and arrow weight.
This chart shows the Easton arrow length for recurve arrows. An excerpt from their guide can be found below:
Based on Easton standards, the chart above can help you select a recurve bow arrow.
The chart can be used as follows:
- To begin, begin by reviewing the right-most column titled “Recurve Bow – Finger Release Actual Peak Bow Weight”. The draw weight range can be found by finding the grain point of your arrow and going down the column from there.
- Using the “Correct Arrow Hunting” guide, identify the key letter on the left side of the same row.
- The arrow shaft and spine specifications for the Easton arrow for your recurve bow can be obtained using the key size letter you have obtained. Please refer to the second document of the Easton Arrow Selection Guide (see above link) for more information.
Consider the case of a 100-grain point with a 35-pound working load.
With a draw weight of 2.3 pounds and a draw length of 29″, the D key size corresponds to your draw length.
The following is a snapshot of group D according to the Easton Arrow Shaft Selection Guide.
There is also a chart in the first document of the Easton Arrow Selection Guide you can follow for low draw weight and low poundage targets.
How do I choose an arrow material?
Wood, Aluminium, Carbon, Fiberglass, and Composite arrows are five types of archery arrows categorized by the material used.
There are advantages and disadvantages to everything we buy.
1. Wood Arrows
Recurve bow archers who use low-weight wooden arrows have long preferred old-school wooden arrows.
For beginners, this is a cheap and highly recommendable product; however, woods have inconsistent characteristics, resulting in inconsistent arrow spine performance.
Due to their fragility, these aren’t recommended for recurve bows with high power. How do you choose the wood? Decide on Cedar.
Pros
- Low-cost, inexpensive
- It’s real
- Suitable for recurves and longbows
Cons:
- Easily broken. You should choose a splinter-resistant type of wood for your wooden arrows.
- Uneven
- It takes a long time to make
2. Aluminium Arrows
Modern archers commonly use aluminum arrows.
The lightweight nature of this material makes it a popular practice and target shooting material for tournament archers.
There are several ways to reuse these, and standard types are usually compatible with a wide range of arrow points.
Pros
- Aluminum arrows surpass the precision-to-budget ratio when it comes to better arrows at a reasonable price.
- Arrows made of fiberglass and wood are stronger
- Customization is possible. Specifications such as weight and spine can be specified
- Design that is uniform and straight
- Compound and recurve bows will benefit from this product
- Property of malleability and flexibility. It is possible to straighten aluminum arrows yourself if they are bent
- Hunting bows benefit from quiet flight
Cons:
- Hunting bows benefit from quiet flight
- Aluminium or hard surfaces can cause it to bend, e.g. A second aluminum arrow
- As the diameter and weight of aluminum tubes decrease, the arrow becomes weaker
3. Carbon Arrows
This type of arrow is growing in popularity, and there are a lot of things to like about it.
The material is preferred over other materials by advanced archers who make hunting bows.
It can be more expensive than aluminum arrows due to its price.
Pros:
- They fly fast with minimal projectile loss because they are very lightweight.
- Its consistent performance makes it a popular choice
- Curves that are flat
- Spine specifications and sizes can be customized
- Fletching is easier when it is wrapped
Cons:
- Costly
- Archers can suffer from splinters
4. Fibreglass Arrows
Durability was once synonymous with fibreglass.
In target archery and bow fishing, it is a good material of choice.
Due to their weight, these arrows are not going to break any speed records on the field because they are the heaviest of the types of arrows.
Pros:
- Arrows made of metal are more durable than those made of wood
- You can choose from a variety of specifications for your arrows
- Straightness that is consistent
- Suitable for a variety of bow types
- Replacement of nicks and fletchers is easy
- Permeation is good
- The most durable arrows for the money
Cons:
- When exposed to hard, high-impact materials, they can be rigid, brittle, and easily break.
- Shafts with the highest weight
- Long-range targets are not ideal
- Easily splintered
- Bowhunters usually use it for fishing
5. Composite Arrows
You should invest in this type if you are into competitive archery. Carbon fiber is wrapped around aluminium arrows.
It’s a great combination of two great things, aluminium arrows and carbon sheets.
You may want to consult an expert or coach if you plan to purchase this type of arrow.
Pros:
- Exceptional
- Long-range shooting designed
- Accuracy that cannot be surpassed
- Splinter-free
- Exceptionally durable
- Arrows with the most uniform spines and straightest points
- Competitor archers will find this product highly recommendable
Cons:
- Competitive archery enthusiasts will find it highly recommended
Conclusion:
A recurve bow requires more than just pulling an arrow from your quiver to choose the right arrow.
The arrow specifications need to be matched according to your draw length, draw weight, and type of archery.
It is recommended to use aluminum or carbon arrows as a beginner.
There is more to it than just the weight, nock, and fletching of the arrow for advanced archers.