What Grain Arrow Tip Should I Use? Everything You Need To Know

Author:

Bob Magic

Published:

February 1, 2024

Updated:

March 15, 2024

Are you struggling to choose the right grain for your arrow tip? Don’t know what weight arrow tip should i use?

Well, you are not alone! A long time ago, I went hunting in the field with my friend. I made a lot of successful hunts, but my friend failed all the time for the wrong grain of arrow tips. Then he wanted to know what grain arrow tip should I use.

Here is fact-

The grain of an arrow tip depends on the bow’s draw weight, your arrow weight, and the type of archery. As a general rule of thumb, your arrow should weigh at least 5 grains per pound of your bow’s draw weight.

This is a partial picture only. To know about the effects of a grain of arrow tips and the factors that must be considered when choosing the grain of arrow tips, read this article.

Salient Highlights

The grain of an arrow tip depends on the bow’s draw weight, your arrow weight, and the type of archery.
The grain of an arrow tip significantly impacts arrow speed.
As a general rule of thumb, your arrow should weigh at least 5 grains per pound of your bow’s draw weight.

Table of Content

What Grain Arrow Tip Should I Use?

Are you serious about your arrows, right? what grain arrow should i use for my bow? I know it is crucial to choose the right tips to ensure accurate shooting of a bow and arrow

The grain of an arrow tip depends on the bow’s draw weight and your arrow weight. Here is a general guideline to choose the right grain arrow tip:

As a general rule of thumb, your arrow should weigh at least 5 grains per pound of your bow’s draw weight. Generally, the arrow comes with tips. You can also attach them separately after purchase.

Are you thinking about hunting? So,what grain arrow head should I use? Hunting arrows should be at least 6 to 8 grains per pound of draw weight on lighter bows, but for heavier arrows, it should be 9 to 10 grains or less.

For example,

Under 55 pounds of draw weight, a 100-grain broadheads is suitable for its better arrow speed and penetration. On the other hand, 125 grain is ideal for those who have a higher drawback length.

However, the grain of an arrow tip depends on the draw weight of the bow, arrow weight, archery style, and your personal preferences.

Here is a chart to find the grain weight of the arrow tips.

COMPOUND BOW/IBO SPEED 315+(FPS)
DRAWWEIGHT	PONT WEIGHT(grains)			ARROW WEIGHT(INCHES)
	100	125	150	25”	26”	27”	28”	29”	30”	31”	32”
	30-34			700	600	600	500	500	500	400	400
	35-39	30-34		600	600	500	500	500	400	400	400
	40-44	35-39	30-34	600	500	500	500	400	400	400	340
	45-49	40-44	35-39	500	500	500	400	400	400	340	340
	50-54	45-49	40-44	500	500	400	400	400	340	340	300
	55-59	50-54	45-49	500	400	400	400	340	340	300	300
	60-64	55-59	50-54	400	400	400	340	340	300	300	300
	65-69	60-64	55-59	400	400	340	340	300	300	300	250
	70-74	65-69	60-64	400	340	340	300	300	300	250	250
	75-79	70-74	65-69	340	340	300	300	300	250	250	200
	80-84	75-79	70-74	340	300	300	300	250	250	200	200
		80-84	75-79	300	300	300	250	250	200	200	200
			80-84	300	300	250	250	200	200	200	150

COMPOUND BOW/IBO SPEED 315-(FPS)
DRAWWEIGHT	PONT WEIGHT(grains)			ARROW WEIGHT(INCHES)
	100	125	150	25”	26”	27”	28”	29”	30”	31”	32”
	30-34			700	600	600	600	500	500	500	400
	35-39	30-34		600	600	600	500	500	500	400	400
	40-44	35-39	30-34	600	600	500	500	500	400	400	400
	45-49	40-44	35-39	600	500	500	500	400	400	400	340
	50-54	45-49	40-44	500	500	500	400	400	400	340	340
	55-59	50-54	45-49	500	500	400	400	400	340	340	300
	60-64	55-59	50-54	500	400	400	400	340	340	300	300
	65-69	60-64	55-59	400	400	400	340	340	300	300	300
	70-74	65-69	60-64	400	400	340	340	300	300	300	250
	75-79	70-74	65-69	400	340	340	300	300	300	250	250
	80-84	75-79	70-74	340	340	300	300	250	250	250	200
		80-84	75-79	300	300	300	300	250	250	200	200
			80-84	300	300	300	250	250	200	200	200

Grain Weight Recommendations For Different Types Of Arrow

Type Of Arrow	Recommended Weight
Traditional Target Arrow	375 to 100o grains
Modern Arrow	420 to450 grains
Replica Medieval Arrow	Around 75 grains
Carbon Fibre	420 to 450 grains
Wooden arrow	375 to 1000 grains
Aluminum arrow	For per inch 25 to 35 grains
Composite arrow	420 to 450 grains

N.B: This chart shows a general guideline only. The ideal weight of your arrow can vary depending on your draw weight, draw length, and archery style.

Recommended Weight Range For Different Types Of Arrow Tips

Types Of Arrow Tips	Recommended Weight
Bullet Arrow Tips	75 to 150 grains
Judo Points	100 and 125 grain
Field Tips	100 to 120 grain
Grabbing Arrow Tips	Light to midweight
Blunt Arrow Tips	Light to midweight
Fishing Arrow Tips	Mid Weight
Combo Point Tips	Light to midweight.
Pin Points Tips	100 to 120 grains.
Bulge Points	Light to midweight.
Broad heads Arrow Tips	85 to 350 grains

Keep in mind that the weight of arrow tips can vary depending on the type of bow and your intended purposes. You can add weight to the tips based on your specific needs.

Things That Consider To Choice Grain Arrow Tip

Here are some things that influence the choice of grain of the arrow tip:

Weight Of The Point: The arrow’s flexion depends on your point weight. The arrow will flex more if your point is heavier. The arrow must also have sufficient weight for your bow to be safe. Otherwise, it could damage your bow.
Fitting Of The Point(Fitting Size & Type): Some arrow shafts are incompatible with certain fitting types. Fit-over points, for example, can only be used on wooden arrows. The correct fit size is also essential to find, as it varies significantly between brands.
Bow’s Draw Weight: A higher draw-weight bow requires a heavier arrow tip. For Example, you should use at least a 500-grain arrow for a 40-pound bow’s draw weight.
Shape Of The Point ( Point Type): The shape of the point determines your arrow penetration ability and how it is to be retrieved. For example, bullet points have a conical shape, and they are easy to remove from the target.
Arrow Weight: The weight of the arrow affects the grain of an arrow tip. If you use a heavier arrow, you must use a heavier arrow tip. Don’t understand? Let it clear with an example: For a heavier arrow, you must use a 125-grain brain arrow tip for optimum performance.
Archery Type: Archery type(target practice, field practice, or hunting)greatly influenced the grain of an arrow tip. You wanna know how? You know that, to make an ethical hunting, you need the deep penetration of the arrow. So, if you want to go for large game animal hunting, you must use a heavier arrow tip.
Arrow Length: Arrow length also greatly impacts the grain of your arrow tips.

Let me be clear with an example: If you use a shorter arrow, you must use a lighter arrow tip. If you use a longer arrow, you must use a heavier arrow tip to maintain the balance.

How Does The Grain Weight Of Arrow Tips Impact Arrow Speed And Trajectory?

The grain weight of arrow tips significantly impacts arrow speed and trajectory. Here is how:

How Does The Grain Weight Of An Arrow Tip Affect Its Performance

Arrow Speed

The grain of an arrow tip significantly impacts arrow speed. But how?

A lightweight arrow, including the arrow tips, can fly than heavier ones.

A lighter arrow needs less amount of mass to move, and it allows the arrow to go fast.

For example,

If you increase 5 pounds in your draw weight, the arrow speed will increase up to 10 fps.
If you increase your draw weight by about 10 grains, your arrow speed will decrease by at least 3 fps.

Arrow Trajectory

You know that the lighter arrows, including arrow tips, fly faster than the heavier arrows and then try to have a flatter trajectory. A lighter arrow may be affected by wind easily.

On the other hand,

Heavier arrows, including the tip, have a more arched trajectory, but they can be more stable in flight and lead to better penetration of the arrow.

How Do You Calculate Arrow Grain?

It isn’t simple to measure the grain of an arrow. Let’s see how to calculate arrow weights:

Grain Per Inch

It is the industry standard method to measure the grain of an arrow. Generally, the GPI measures the weight of the arrow shaft. It doesn’t include the nock, insert, point, or fletching.

According to GPI calculation, a light shaft weighs 5 to 6 grains, a midweight shaft weighs 7 to 9 grains, and heavy shafts weigh 10 or more grains.

Haven’t you understood yet? Let it clear with an example:

Suppose your arrow shaft length is 29 inches and its GPI value is 9, so the weight of your shaft would be 28*9 = 252 grains.

Grain Per Pound

For each pound of draw weight

A light arrow GPP is 5 to 6.5 grains
A midweight arrow is 6.5 and 8 grains
Heavy arrows are over 8 grains.

Don’t be confused about GPI and GPP.

GPP is calculated by dividing the total weight of the arrow by the poundage of the bow used to shoot it. The weight of the shaft, arrow nock, insert, point, and fletchings are included in the GPP total.

Nock: It generally weighs between 5 and 10 grains. The fletching weight is between 15 and 30 grains, and the inserts can weigh between 50 and 75 grains.

Front Of Center

The front half of an arrow possesses a percentage of its total weight, which is indicated by a front-of-center number.

Knowing how weight is distributed across the arrow provides a further level of complexity to arrow-weight calculations. The arrow’s point is heavier than its fletching. The point weight(arrow tip) can weigh 100 to 125 grains.

Remember, I have given the weight only, which the manufacturers generally recommend. Now enter all the data in your arrow grain calculator, like

Total weight= Shaft weight+nock weight+fletching weight+grain insert+arrow tip weight

=252+10+20+50+100

= 432 grains

All the weight I have supposed to understand you. So, the arrow weight is 432 grains.

How Does The Grain Weight Of An Arrow Tip Affect Its Performance?

The grain weight of an arrow tip significantly affects its performance. Don’t know how?

Arrow Speed: Lighter arrow tips make your arrow faster to fly. Heavier head make you penetrate deep and create an ethical kill of the animal.
N.B: If you Increase your minimum arrow weight by 10 grains, your arrow speed will decrease by 3 fps.
Trajectory: The lighter arrows, including the arrow tip, fly faster than the heavier arrows and then tend to have a flatter trajectory. A lighter arrow may be affected by wind easily. A heavier one penetrates deep into the target.
Kinetic Energy and Penetration: Heavier arrows carry more kinetic energy. As a result, it penetrates the target easily. It is crucial in hunting to make an ethical kill of the animal.
Arrow Spine: The grains of the arrow tips affect your arrow spine or stiffness. Being overweight can lead to changes in the dynamic spine and thus make the arrow weak.
Accuracy: The grain of the arrow tip significantly affects your arrow accuracy. An excessively weighed or less weighed arrow tip can behave differently than a normal arrow, which affects the arrow’s performance.

However, the arrow performance can be impacted by various factors such as the draw weight of the bow, draw length, and your archery style.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Are There Specific Grain Weight Guidelines For Beginners In Archery?

For beginners, it is good to start with a low draw weight, such as 5 to 6 per pound draw weight.

What Grain Field Tip Should I Shoot?

The grain for field tips depends on your draw weight, arrow weight, and archery style. In general, 100 grain is common, and for hunting, 6 to 9 grains per pound of draw weight is ideal.

Is A 400 Grain Arrow Heavy Enough?

Yes, a 400 grain arrow is heavy enough. It is also enough to hunt deer, elk, etc.

Final Thoughts

In summary, what grain arrow tip should I use? The grain of an arrow tip plays a significant role in archery performance. It greatly affects the arrow speed and its accuracy.
The grain arrow tips depend on your draw weight, arrow weight, and archery style. In general, a 5 to 6 grain is ideal. If you want to hunt, then you must use a heavier grain head. Arrow tips are very sharp and can harm you. Be safe!