A Matter of Weight: Why the Broadhead Grain Matters

The amount of attention to detail it takes while bowhunting to get close enough to your prey to be successful is why I obsess over and love archery hunting so much. 

From the hyper-awareness of my surroundings in nature, listening for footsteps hinting to the close proximity to game, paying attention to which direction my scent may be traveling downwind as the wind swirls up against a hillside, and even down to how my arrow will travel in flight are all lessons I've learned in the field while bowhunting.

How your arrow travels in flight can be determined by various factors, including how your bow is set up and what specific components you have on your arrows.

Today, we focus on the business end of the arrow, the broadhead, and specifically its weight and how it can affect an arrow's flight. Understanding broadhead grain and selecting the correct broadhead for your setup is crucial for any bowhunter aiming for their arrows to fly true for an ethical kill.

Understanding Broadhead Weight

Broadhead weights are measured in grains – a unit of measure where a grain is equal to 1/7000th of a pound.

Broadheads are available in a variety of weights, commonly ranging from 85 to 125 grains, and some even heavier. The most common commercially available broadhead weight is 100 grains.

The weight of the broadhead you choose can have a huge impact on how your arrow behaves in flight, affecting everything from trajectory to penetration.

Speed Matters

One of the main effects your broadhead weight has on arrow flight is speed.

Heavier broadheads increase the overall weight of the arrow. A heavier complete arrow, including a heavier broadhead, will travel more slowly compared to a lighter one. This reduced speed will lead to more drop-off at distances and could begin to affect your accuracy at farther ranges.

After all, this is archery. Even with modern bows, which can reach speeds well over 300 feet per second, a lot can happen between releasing an arrow and reaching its target.

On the other hand, lighter broadheads and arrows overall result in faster arrow velocity, which can help achieve a flatter trajectory and your arrow will drop off less over the same distance. 

Penetration

Penetration is another factor influenced by broadhead grain or weight. Heavier broadheads provide greater penetrating power because the increased weight translates to more kinetic energy.

Remember that math equation from high school? Momentum = mass x velocity.

The more momentum an arrow has, the more likely it can push through and achieve a full pass-through and a quick, easy-to-follow blood trail. For big game hunting, like elk, where deep penetration is key, a heavier broadhead is the better choice.

Draw Weight and Spine

Your particular bow's draw weight and the arrow's spine – the stiffness over the length of the shaft – are important in determining your ideal broadhead grain weight.

Generally, a higher draw weight can handle heavier broadheads and arrows better without compromising accuracy. If your draw weight is 55 pounds or lower, however, a light arrow using a 100-grain broadhead is more appropriate to maintain good arrow flight and speed. 

If using mechanical broadheads, some of that kinetic energy will be used to deploy the blades in contact with the target, so if your arrow doesn't have enough momentum, it won't have enough energy to penetrate properly. Again, a 55-pound draw weight seems to be the agreed-upon minimum requirement before using a fixed broadhead is necessary.

Similarly, the arrow's spine needs to match the weight of the broadhead. An arrow that is too stiff or weak for the broadhead weight won't fly true and will have accuracy issues.

Properly matching the spine to the broadhead weight ensures stable flight and better performance. Most arrow manufacturers will include a chart showing their preferred spine with point weight vs. draw weight. 

Front of Center

Front of Center (FOC) refers to the proportion of the arrow's weight concentrated in the shaft's front half.

A well-balanced FOC can enhance arrow flight, giving a flatter trajectory and improved penetration. To optimize FOC, you can adjust other components of your arrow setup, such as including heavier inserts or even adding weights to the front, rear, or length of the tube. However, it's essential to remember that excessive weight at the front can negatively impact arrow flight, so it's important to find the right balance. When in doubt, go to a trusted local archery shop.

Every bow is different, and field testing with your chosen broadhead will show how it affects your arrow flight and overall performance.

I personally like the 100-grain Deadmeat V2 by G5 for hunting whitetail deer because it gives me the best comparable arrow flight to a practice field point, and it works well with my arrows and bow's draw weight.

Ultimately, personal preference and specific hunting needs play a significant role in choosing your broadhead grain weight.

If you prefer fast, flat-shooting arrows for precision shooting at long distances, a lighter broadhead might be the best choice. However, if you're focused on big game hunting and require maximum penetration, a heavier broadhead would be more suitable.

Make sure to always practice with the same weight field points that you use on your hunting broadheads.

Choose the Right Broadhead Grain and HuntWise for a Better Hunt This Season

Regardless of the broadhead grain or weight you choose, download HuntWise to unlock great discounts from our partners like Carbon Express Arrows, Muzzy Broadheads, and Lumenock to help you tag out this season.

Not only is HuntWise the best hunting app for e-scouting, land boundaries and landowner information, maps and various layers (including LiDAR), and planning your hunt based on weather forecasting and animal behavior algorithms, but subscribers can also save hundreds on gear from our partners – including arrows for your bowhunting setup.

HuntWise is the best way to have a better hunt this season! If you've never tried the app before, download it and explore it free for your first week.