I have given a lot of thought to this over the years. So I sobbed it with math, which doesn't care... Assuming an average light arrow setup. 75lbs, 28" draw, with a 400gn arrow... shoots around 300fps. Agreed? Then you have an arrow weighing 650gr out of that same setup. Let's call it 240fps. (I used my lab radar to chrono these speeds out of my VXR at 76lbs. I have a 27.5" draw so I know they are accurate. I'm sure you will agree. The point is, no exaggerated claims) Now we do math. Assuming you intend to shoot an elk or deer at 60 yards. 60 yards is 180 feet. The light arrow, moving 300fps takes 0.6 seconds to reach is target. This is assuming the arrow is launched in a vacuum, meaning the arrow isn't slowing as it flies. 180(feet)/300(fps)= 0.6 sec. The heavy arrow takes 0.75sec to reach that same target (again, in a vacuum) 180(feet)/240(fps)= 0.75sec. That's taking 15 one-thousandths of a second longer in flight time. The average human blink takes 12 one- thousandths of a second. Don't believe me, Google it. Is that 15 one thousandths of a second beating the deer at 60 yards? That "gap" in fight time between both arrows is even less at closer ranges. When were talking about a moment in time lasting the same as a blink, it kind of makes sense to shoot a setup efficient enough to make it through heavy bone. At the end of the day, you gotta shoot what you have confidence in. Happy hunting!

Great example, and what kills me is that this same argument for faster arrows was common clear back in the mid-80's........when 220 was pretty fast, and was being compared to a 200 fps bow.

This is one of those things where RF only looks extreme because of how extreme the "norm" has become. They have been pushing speed hard for decades. 220 uzed tp be fast, and 0eople killed deer. Deer arent any faster today than then.

@stephenballard3759 it's pretty evident for those of us who have hunted with a bow for a couple decades, or have come from a traditional background that when speed started selling, everyone bought into it. Then when their 400gr arrow only penetrated 6" from a flagship bow, they blame the broadhead. Without being aware, they spend more money chasing a problem that has been solved for 500 years. The indigenous people's across the globe hunted with a stick and cordage. Flinging arrows that weigh over a thousand grains. Sure, they didn't have carbon. But in geographical areas where larger game was pursued, heavier arrows were discovered. They chose to use that setup over lighter wood materials. But when you hunt to survive, I suppose it's more important to shoot a setup that is better known for feeding your family. Another thing that kills me... everyone who shoots a fast compound with a light arrow talks about trajectory and speed being so important like nobody has ever harvested game with a stick bow. I'll leave with a parting Riddle... How can Doc Ashby get full penetration and even passthrough on dangerous game like cape buffalo from a longbow with an arrow weighing often as much as 1000gr. But KZfaq is littered with videos of deer being shot with a flagship compound shooting 300+fps with 3/4 the arrow sticking out of it? Oh, and if someone wants to say "wEll TheY HIt bONe sO tHe aRRoW dIdnT pENetRaTe" congrats... now you know why shooting a 650+gr arrow would help most hunters... with all 11 other factors, it gives 1:1 odds of breaching heavy bone.