Some people say you can get broadheads and field points to hit the same place. That might be true in some cases, but more often it is not. Look at the physics of it. A broadhead is longer than a field point. That will change the balance point of the arrow and you will have more weight forward as well as the points of arrow flex will change. Now you also have a set of wings on the front of the arrow and the fletch acting like wings on the back trying to off set the wings on the front. Broadheads will have less affect on a heavy slower moving arrow because there is more mass and less air pressure on the broadhead blades. Arrows flying over 280 f.p.s. will not shoot broadheads well because of the light arrow weight needed to shoot an arrow that fast and the amount of air pressure on the broadhead.

Recently there was a big dispute in NASCAR over the rear spoiler height on one manufacture’s cars. They wanted to raise the rear spoiler by something like 1/4” because they couldn’t keep up with the competition. Does it make sense that a broadhead will not change an arrow but 1/4” added to the rear of a ton and a half car traveling at about the same speed as an arrow will make a difference.

Typically people will find that their broadheads will hit low left of their field points. Some people say you should move your nocking point and rest until field point and broadheads hit the same place. That is fine if that is your main purpose instead of accuracy. It is best to tune your bow for your broadheads and then sight in for your broadheads. Don’t worry about it if your broadheads and field points don’t hit the same place. Mark your sight for each or have a different sight for each. Remember, accuracy is what counts. Don’t compromise your accuracy just so your arrows will hit the same place with broadheads and field points.

WEIGHT FORWARD

You need more weight to the front of your arrow or it will not fly straight. Make a paper airplane and throw it. It goes all directions. Now put a paper clip on the nose of the plane and throw it again. It will go straight. Weight forward is why a javelin lands on its tip without having fletching. They have done experiments where they put a moveable weight in an arrow so they can change the percent of weight forward. They shot the arrow with more weight to the rear of the arrow. The arrow actually turned around in flight and landed nock first. Field points need somewhere between 7-9 percent weight forward. Broadheads need about 12-15 percent.

You figure the weight forward by first measuring the length of your arrow from the end of the insert to where the nock fits on the string. Then divide that in half to find the center of the arrow. Make a pencil mark at the center. Now balance the arrow with the broadhead on something like a knife blade. Mark the balance point with a pencil. Now measure the difference between the balance point and center point. Divide that by the arrow length. Move the decimal over 2 places to the right and that is the percentage of weight forward. For example, your arrow is 30” from the inside of the nock to the end of the insert. That makes the center of the arrow 15”. Now you balance the arrow and mark the spot where it balances. That spot is 10.5” from the front of the arrow. Take 15” minus 10.5” and you have 4.5”. Divide 4.5 by 30 and you get .15. That makes the weight forward 15%.

THE TEST

Check your weight forward with a 100 grain and 125 grain broadhead. Now shoot for groups at the furthest distance you can shoot accurately. See which broadhead gives the tightest groups. You will generally find that the 12 - 15% weight forward will give you the best groups. Keep in mind that a heavier broadhead needs a stiffer arrow. The heavier head might not group the best if your arrow is marginal in spine. Your broadheads should group as well as field points. The exception would be trying to shoot too fast of arrow. Not only will an arrow over 280 f.p.s. not group well, but your bow and arrow will make more noise. Fast moving arrows, especially with broadheads, will make a lot of noise in flight. A whitetail is a lot faster than the fastest bow. Accuracy and quiet are more important than speed.