Part 2: How to Choose the Right Arrow Weight for Bow Hunting

A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide to Finding the Right Arrow for Your Setup and Your Hunt

When you’re just getting into bowhunting, there’s a lot to figure out. Choosing broadheads, learning your range, getting your bow tuned — it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But if you want clean kills and consistent performance, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is your arrow weight.

As a retired U.S. Army Green Beret and dedicated bowhunter, I’ve learned this the hard way — in combat and in the woods, success comes down to using the right tool for the job. A light arrow might be fast, but it lacks penetration. A heavy arrow might hit like a hammer, but drops fast at distance. That’s why finding the right balance for YOUR setup matters.

This guide is written for new or beginner bowhunters who want a no-fluff, easy-to-follow explanation of how arrow weight works, how to pick the best weight for your bow, and how you hunt.

Let’s break it down.

Want an advanced breakdown on the Best Arrow Weight for Bow Hunting? Click Here Now! ➜

👉 Want a Shortcut to find the best arrow weight? Read: The Everyday Arrow Weight Formula ➜
👉 Already picked your target weight? Go to Part 3: Build Your Arrow ➜

👉 See the full Performance-Driven Arrow Build Series here ➜

What Is Arrow Weight (And Why It Matters)

Arrow weight is the total weight of your hunting arrow, measured in grains (gr). It includes:

• The shaft (the arrow body)
• The insert (inside the front)
• The broadhead or field point
• The nock and fletchings (vanes)

The heavier your arrow, the more energy it carries and the deeper it can penetrate. The lighter your arrow, the faster it flies and the flatter it travels. Both can work, but they come with trade-offs.

Here’s what really matters:

• Heavier arrows = better penetration, quieter bows, more forgiveness on angled hits
• Lighter arrows = flatter flight, better for long-distance, less drop

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on your draw weight, draw length, and how far you typically shoot.

Step 1: Know Your Bow Specs

Before you choose any arrow, you need to know three things:

• Draw Weight (how many pounds you pull back)
• Draw Length (your personal draw, in inches)
• IBO Speed Rating of your bow (found in manufacturer specs)

These numbers tell you how much energy your bow can transfer to the arrow. A bow pulling 70 lbs at a 30” draw delivers a LOT more energy than a bow pulling 55 lbs at 27”.

💡 More energy = more arrow options.

Step 2: Choose the Right Grain-Per-Pound Range (By Draw Weight)

One of the most common and useful ways to choose a starting arrow weight is using grains per pound (GPP).

Here’s what that means:

• Take your draw weight in pounds
• Multiply it by the grains per pound seen in the table below

That gives you a good arrow weight range to start with.

📝 If your bow’s draw weight falls in between ranges (like 62 lbs), just use the GPP from your full bracket. Don’t split the difference or round up/down. These brackets already reflect safe and realistic performance levels.

💡 Most bowhunters fall between 425 and 500 grains.

This range gives you enough momentum to kill cleanly, without sacrificing trajectory for 30–40 yard shots.

What GPP Really Measures (And Why It Works So Well)

Grains-per-pound (GPP) isn’t just a guess — it’s a simple way to match your arrow weight to your bow’s power curve.

That’s why the Everyday Arrow Weight Formula works: it helps you build an arrow inside your bow’s performance zone — without needing a lab or an engineering degree.

Every bow has a range where it transfers energy efficiently. Too light and you lose momentum. Too heavy and you lose speed without gaining much. The 6.5–8.5 GPP range is where most bows hit their stride, but at 7-9 GPP is where Performance Arrows shine.

Step 3: Adjust for Your Draw Length

Your draw length directly affects how much energy your bow generates. Longer draw = more stored energy.

• Long draw (29–31”): You can shoot heavier arrows and still keep good speed.
• Short draw (26–27”): Stay toward the lighter side of the GPP range.

If your draw is 27” at 60 lbs, a 400–450 grain arrow is a good range. If you draw 30” at 70 lbs, you might shoot a 500–550 grain arrow with excellent results.

Step 4: Match Arrow Weight to Hunting Range

Think about where and how you hunt. Are you shooting 20 yards from a treestand? Or stretching out past 40 in open terrain?

👉 If most of your shots are inside 30 yards, don’t be afraid to go a bit heavier — your arrow won’t drop much at those ranges.

Quick Tip: Let your hunting style guide your weight.

If you hunt thick cover and shoot inside 30 yards, go heavier for more momentum. If you’re in open country or might take 40+ yard shots, go a little lighter to keep your arrow flatter and faster.

This isn’t just about math — it’s about matching your arrow to your real hunting conditions. Use GPP as a guide, but always filter it through how and where you hunt.

Step 5: Run the Numbers with a Calculator

Once you pick a grain range, use an online calculator to see how it affects your:

• Arrow speed (fps)
• Kinetic Energy (KE)
• Momentum

Why it matters:

• Speed tells you how flat your arrow flies
• KE shows your overall energy
• Momentum shows how well it will push through an animal

📌 Momentum matters more than KE for actual penetration.

Use my calculator to test setups: Arrow Speed, KE & Momentum Calculator ➜

Step 6: Build and Test Your Arrow

Once you’ve chosen a weight:

• Build 1–2 arrows in that range
• Shoot them at your typical hunting distance
• Pay attention to flight, sound, and groupings

Ask yourself:

• Does it fly straight?
• Is your bow quiet?
• Can you hold tight groups?
• Does the arrow drop too much at 40 yards?

Your bow will tell you what it likes.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Chasing speed and going too light (hurts penetration)
• ❌ Building an arrow too heavy for your draw weight
• ❌ Ignoring draw length (it matters)
• ❌ Skipping field testing

Final Thoughts

If you’re a new hunter, don’t overthink it — but don’t guess either. Arrow weight is one of the easiest ways to get better performance from your bow.

Start with your draw weight. Use the GPP table. Think about your shot distance. Use the calculator to check performance. Then build a test arrow and shoot it. Let the results guide your final decision.

👉 Want to learn why momentum matters more than speed? Read Part 1: Momentum Explained ➜
👉 Already picked your target weight? Go to Part 3: Build Your Arrow ➜

👉 Start the Performance-Driven Arrow Build Series here ➜