Archery Equipment - Arrows

Archery Equipment - Arrows:

One of the most important pieces of equipment in an Archers arsenal, Next to his bow, Is most certainly his arrows. Just like with the bow, Without arrows there would be no archery. So to know more about the types and effects of these play on the efficiency and aim of your shot. As one of the soul pieces of equipment the archer uses, Arrows are also one of the most important. Knowing about them should be one of your priority's as a beginning archer. Lets see if I can help you better understand this most important of archery equipment.

Modern types of arrows can be contributive to a great phenomenon, in the increase of archery scores in more recent years and modern times. There can be great differences in the wood and types used in the production of arrows. These must be considered here chiefly to the individual who is using them.

A. The two types of target arrows:

1.Self arrows - These are made of a single piece of wood




2.Footed arrows – These have a foreshaft of hardwood

B. Parts of the arrow

1. 
   

   The Shaft – This is the main body of the arrow





2. 
   

   The Footing – This is a hard, dense piece of wood. This is spliced on the fore end of the shaft. This is an indication, Tending to make a stronger arrow. This also allows the arrow maker to put together light and dark woods in a combination to highlight visual beauty to the arrow. A most common type of wood for arrows is beefwood, But many archers use whatever local hardwoods are available. Extra strength is not a great enough concern for the beginner to warrant the extra money paid. Anyways, little breakage at this point need come, When light bows and shorter distances shot warrant this.





3. 
   

   The Pile – This may be had in two most general types. (a) Bullet Jacket and (b) Parallel Pile.

   The bullet jacket does have one advantage, This in itself is a very doubtful one, This being in the shooting of weak bows. It will usually penetrate the target very easy, This making to be fewer hits and bounces for the shooter. Another is that it softer than when compared to the parallel pile. Also if it misses the intended target and hits a rock, it blunts off readily. The parallel pile will hold up a lot better to the shooter with much more satisfaction. Because of changes in temperature, Points are also apt to loosen after a period of time, Unless they are knurled on or pinned. It's a good idea to keep precautions in place. Especially with arrows that see a great deal of use.




4. 
   

   The Shaftment – This is the section that forms the opposite end. These parts contain the following.

   
   

   a. The Nock – This may simply be, a notch sawed to the necessary width and depth to the end of the arrow. Made this way it is sometimes wrapped with thread to reinforce the nock. Types can also include a fiber sheet insert, this might be made of fiber,horn, or some type of bone. In this the nock is cut, this could also be a tubular nock of other substance fitted to the end of the shaftment. The later of these is most satisfactory. This can play a role especially when it is to be shot from short distances to one target. This also lessens the dangers of arrows splitting by nocking (striking in the nock with another arrow). Objections are made with certain types of substances such as duralumin nocks, if sharp coroners are left this can cut the string. But when manufactured properly and edges smoothed, This cannot possibly be of any concern.

   
   
   

   B. Feathers or Vanes of the arrow

   
   

   These are usually three feathers at the end of the arrows. These are usually done in one of two ways (a) Spiral or (b) Parallel. All three of these feathers are usually taken from either the left or right wing feathers of the turkey. These are set just in front of the nock of the arrow. Another point as well is, these feathers are all placed in a way in such a position that one is called “Cock Feather” is at a right angle to the nock. This particular feather is usually a different color than the other hens feathers. This is in order to make it easier to nock the arrow to the bow string in preparation of shooting the arrow. This type of vane used is the parabolic or balloon vane, this is set on the shaftment so that the feathers can be slightly spiraled.

   
   
   

   C. The Crest

   
   

   This is originally a decoration of painting the shaftment. This giving delight of the archer in combining decoration of various colored rings which mark the arrow to his own identity.

D. The Length of the arrow




Sets of arrows may vary according to personnel preference of a group. More common than not, Arrows will range in size from 24 to 28 inches, this depending on the length of the particular archers arm. In extreme cases these arrows may be as short as 21 inches. The majority of girls in a class will use an arrow of about 26 inches. Most of the majority of men will use an arrow that is 27 inches in length. It would be well to have a few sets of arrows, Some in shorter, also some in longer lengths.





E. The weight, Diameter, and spine of the arrow




The Spine is a combination with stiffness and with springiness, it is very important in the consideration because the relationship derived between the spine of the arrow and the weight of the bow makes much in the way of effect of the arrow. Cheaply made arrows, often these do not measure up in the spine, to the demands required for good shooting. Therefore these are of no real value to the archer, Especially if accurate shooting for the archer is a must.




A smaller diameter arrow is more apt to breakage than would be a larger diameter arrow, So for group shooting one would be more satisfied with an arrow of the 5/16' diameter, This providing its not to stiff for the archer. The nearer arrows match in weight and spine, the more likely they are to shoot like each other. As in cheaper arrows, it's not likely that there will be very much matching, It's more likely that these types of arrows will be put into groups from the manufacturer.





F. Wood used in arrow production




Taking into consideration the possibility of breakage and loss in beginning archery groups, it is necessary that the cost of the arrows be small, Consequently the wood of the arrow must be cheap. Birch arrows are very durable, tough and cheap. The objections to them are they warp really very easily. Fir arrows on theoretically are very good, But they do have a tendency to fray with a lot of use. With Port Orford cedar, This has been found to be a very satisfying type of wood in everyday arrow usage, in the West it is made up to be comparable in price to the other woods mentioned above.





G. Painting the Shaftment of the arrow




One really doesn't want to place crests on group arrows. This makes them difficult for the matching of sets when one or a few happen to get broken in use. In a group setting you may want to look at coloring the sets with white. This makes them easier to see in a group setting, against the ground and grass. Yellow or light blue can also be effective colors in the group setting. If all arrows are of the same color when purchased, Applying colored tape or adhesive can define between the sets of arrows. Different colored cellophane tape can be used for this purpose. This will help you to be able to distinguish between the sets of arrows, This way you can keep different weight and length sets.

This in turn is usually for the wood type arrows. Now, these days there are many types of arrows, from many manufactures. From wood to aluminum, and today the more popular carbon fiber models. Again these choices are all up to the preference and price range of the archer, and what can be afforded.

It still holds a lot of information and learning potential for your mind to develop on something new.

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