Bruce — Clearly, aside possibly from Doc Ashby himself, we can’t be of much help in directly answering your question, I suspect because such direct comparison doesn’t exist. To try and compare all the possible variations would expand geometrically to quickly become impossible. However you might learn what you need to know buy reading Ashby’s latest study updated, posted here in the Ashby Forum. Basically, the gains in penetration increase by a greater percentage in lighter bows as FOC goes up, than in heavy bows. I think that may be as precise as we’ll get without specific setup-to-setup arrow setups. To restate the bottom line in all of this: Ashby’s research demonstrates that the “minimal heavy bone penetration” weight is 650 grains if you’re looking to have a foolproof setup. That comes first. Beyond 650 total grains the more of it up front, that is the higher the FoC, the better the penetration. Perhaps another member here can clarify my muddy attempts to help. Best luck, dave

I may be wrong here but I think the last couple of reports from Dr. Ashby suggested (based on real research, of course) that the 650+ gr arrow with 30+% FOC would penetrate as good as the heavy 800+ arrows with average FOC.

I don’t think that he has tested heavy 800+ gr. arrows with also having 30+% FOC. That has to be the most lethal. Having the best of both worlds of arrow lethality.

Please correct me if the above is not accurate.

Richie

sapcut wrote: I may be wrong here but I think the last couple of reports from Dr. Ashby suggested (based on real research, of course) that the 650+ gr arrow with 30+% FOC would penetrate as good as the heavy 800+ arrows with average FOC.

I don’t think that he has tested heavy 800+ gr. arrows with also having 30+% FOC. That has to be the most lethal. Having the best of both worlds of arrow lethality.

Please correct me if the above is not accurate.

Richie

Richie,

Well stated and exactly the same conclusions I drew from Dr. Ashby’s last two studies.
Ireland

Bruc I think it might be an apples to oranges comparison with a light arrow from a 60# bow to a heavy foc from a 50#er. If your worried about being able to kill an elk with 50#’s it can be done. 50 is the minimum I would recomend for elk but with a good coc broadhead and heavy foc arrow well tuned with good shot placement you will do fine.

Bill

Why would good shot placement ever be a concern with almost any arrow?

It is the bad shot placement that cannot always be controlled. It is the bad shot placement that is what needs to be the concern and what needs to be prepared for. If it is NOT addressed and prepared for then all the other “givens” like COC sharp broadhead, well tuned arrow are for naught.

Richie

sapcut I agree I always build my setup for the worst case senario. Although I always add shot placement in my posts hoping that more people will take that into account. It is relatively easy to kill most any animal with perfect shot placement, unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world and feces happens. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Bill