If you’re new to archery you may be wondering what type of arrows you should be shooting with your bow. With so many different choices out there, it can be easy for a new archer to be overwhelmed and confused when it comes to picking the right arrow for your bow.
Fear not, if you’re a new or even a somewhat experienced archer – this page is for you. The type of arrows you’ll need will differ from other archers based not only on what type of bow you use, but your shooting style as well. An archer who gap shoots a recurve bow is going to want a different arrow than someone who uses a traditional style longbow.
Shooting the right arrows is hugely important when it comes to the trajectory of your shots, especially if you’re shooting arrows with broadheads. Don’t make the simple mistake that a lot of beginner archers make, which is to shell out lots of cash on the best bow fitted with the latest sight and a pro level stabilizer – and then buy cheap arrows to shoot.
These days, a lot of bow manufactures list the types of arrows that you should be shooting. If you don’t see anything in small print on your bow itself, check any of the instructions or documentation that came with your new bow.
If none of those give you any ideas, check on the manufacturer of your bows’ web site – many companies will at least list this information online. This should at least give you a good starting point for figuring out which arrows to shoot with your bow.
Having that information can be useful, but once you also learn the following tips for arrow selection – you’ll be able to improve your accuracy even more.
When it comes to arrow selection, it’s important to factor in not only your draw length, but also your draw weight, what type of fletchings you’ll be using and the weight of your arrow point as well. To do that, we simply look at each of the above points individually.
You could just pick up some of those ‘ready to shoot’ arrows at your local sporting goods store if you’re super anxious to shoot this weekend – but I wouldn’t recommend it. If you start out shooting the wrong arrows it could teach you incorrect form, and form is everything in archery. You’re much better off to wait until you’ve got the best arrows for you and your bow.
Now you may find some ‘ready to shoot’ arrows that fit all of the right specifications for you. Or, you may want to custom build your own arrows. If you’re really particular about your arrows you can buy each individual part and build them yourself.
It is worth noting, however, that most quality ready to shoot arrows are actually a great deal – as buying all of their components individually would cost your more money than simply buying the arrows as they are.
If you’re new to archery, you should just stick to shooting quality ready to shoot arrows for now. You can always get picky about individual aspects of your arrows later. This will keep things simpler and less expensive for now.
So let’s take a quick look at what types of arrows you should be shooting, based on what type of bow you’re using: Recurve, Compound or Longbow. We’ll also take a quick look at the best types of arrows for hunting. Are you ready? Let’s get to it…
First a quick note about arrow weight and length:
Whether you’re shooting recurve, compound or longbow – you’ll want to be aware of your arrows’ length and weight. The length being the most important, especially for new archers.
Never shoot and arrow that too short for your bow and / or your draw length, arrows that are too short are dangerous and could cause injury. It’s a good rule to only use arrows that come at 1 ½ to 2 inches past the shooting end of your bow when you’ve got the arrow completely drawn.
As for the weight of the arrow, if your bow has the manufacturer’s recommendations printed somewhere on your bow, it should be listed there. Also, when buying arrows, most arrow manufacturers will list the recommended draw weight for their arrows. You can also find this information listed on sites that sell arrows like Amazon as well.
Also, a general rule of thumb on arrow weight is that the total weight of the arrow should be about five or six grains for each pound of the bow’s draw weight. But if you just stick to the bow manufacturer’s recommendations and the arrow weights listed with online retailers you should be fine in most cases.
Now let’s get to which arrows to use with your bow, we’ll cover recurve, compound and longbows below:
What Type of Arrows Should I Use for a Recurve Bow?
Carbon arrows are probably the all around best choice for most recurve bows, whether it be for practice target shooting, competitions and even hunting. Carbon arrows tend to be accurate, durable and are more safe than cheaper alternatives like fiberglass arrows.
For recurve bows with a draw weight from 35 to 50 pounds, I would recommend these carbon recurve arrows. Another great choice for most recurve bows are these target / hunting arrows with removable tips. These are ideal for recurves with a draw weight from 40 to 60 pounds.
What Type of Arrows Should I Use for a Compound Bow?
Again, for compound bows I would also recommend carbon arrows for most all around purposes. They’re great for practice shooting, competitive shooting and even some hunting situations. For most compound bows, these carbon arrows are my pick for all around shooting.
You can also use aluminum arrows with compound as well, and they’re usually used for bowhunting. If you’re interested in shooting aluminum arrows, have a look at these target / hunting arrows.
What Type of Arrows Should I Use for Longbow?
Longbows are the only type of bows that should be shooting wooden arrows. That being said, that doesn’t mean that you have to use wooden arrows with a longbow. Wooden arrows aren’t safe to shoot with other types of bows, and even if you’re shooting a longbow – be sure to only use quality wooden arrows and don’t use them if they’re looking beaten up or worn out.
For longbows with a draw weight between 40 to 60 pounds, have a look at these feather fletched wooden longbow arrows. You can also use carbon arrows with most longbows, and if you do I would suggest these carbon target and hunting arrows that I mentioned above.
The Different Types of Arrows
Let’s quickly cover the various types of arrows that are available today. The most common types of arrows shot are target / competition arrows, traditional wooden arrows, hunting arrows and flu-flu arrows.
Target / Competition Arrows
Target and competition arrows are normally used in both target archery and field archery. These can be shot both indoors and out, and are typically the only types of arrows shot in indoor archery. These arrows are also great for 3D archery.
Traditional Arrows
Traditional wooden arrows are mainly used by archers that are shooting traditional archery, of course. They’re almost always made of wood and have real feathers for fletching. Traditional archers try to stick with the gear and equipment that historical archers have used for thousands of years.
These can be shot from traditional wooden longbows and some wooden recurve bows. These arrows should not be used with other types of bows as they can easily break, a dangerous situation. Wooden arrows should never be used with compound bows or crossbows, period.
Hunting Arrows
Hunting arrows are primarily designed with two important factors in mind, the speed of the arrow and it’s impact power. Obviously for hunters, both of these are the most important things to keep in mind when they’re selecting arrows. Hunting arrows tend to run on the heavy side, as heavy arrows naturally have more speed and impact, due to their weight when traveling through the air.
As a general rule, heavy arrows deal in speed and impact power, while lighter arrows will travel longer distances in the air.
Flu-Flu Arrows
Somewhat of a specialty arrow, flu-flu arrows are made for hunting small game and birds. The flu-flu refers to their strange fletchings, which look far different to the feathers or vanes you see on most arrows.
Because of their odd fletchings, flu-flu arrows only shoot a short distance. Most archers will never need to shoot these odd arrows, so if they seem confusing to you, don’t sweat it. You’ll probably never need to shoot them either.
What’s the Best Arrow Shaft Material?
The short answer is that there isn’t one. The best arrow material will vary by the type of bow you’re shooting as well as your shooting style. So let’s quickly cover each of them and figure out which one is right for you and your bow.
Fiberglass Arrows
Fiberglass arrows are cheap and can be bought in a variety of different draw lengths. If you’re just looking for some cheap arrows to start shooting today, these would probably be your best bet.
If you’ve ever shot archery in high school or at summer camp, you more than likely used fiberglass arrows. If you want to shoot quality arrows and improve your accuracy – leave those fiberglass arrows at the store. There are much better options out there for you.
They’re known to be prone to splitting when they get worn out, which could cause an injury. So, if you use them, throw them away if they start looking beaten up.
The Point: Fiberglass arrows are cheap. That’s about it for the pros! Seriously though, unless you’re buying a ton of arrows to start an archery program for a lot of people – I would steer clear from fiberglass arrows.
Carbon Arrows
Carbon arrows are lightweight and fast, making them a great choice for some archers. They’re very easy to get a hold of, as they’re widely available in many sizes and styles.
Only shoot carbon arrows as they were intended to be shot. Carbon arrows can split and splinter with improper use.
The Point: Carbon arrows aren’t super expensive and are widely available. They’re sold in many sizes and styles, which is great for customization. Consider trying carbon arrows only if you’re a recurve or compound bow shooter.
Aluminum Arrows
Especially if you’re a hunter, you may want to check out aluminum arrows. Aluminum arrows are heavier, which is ideal for many hunting scenarios. Because of their weight, they are slower than most of their counterparts.
Aluminum arrows are a great choice for archers who like to customize their arrows. They’re easier to size and cut, and are more heavy duty than other types of arrows.
Aluminum arrows are far less likely to split, break or splinter than other types of arrows. Plus, aluminum arrows are much quieter when shot, again great for hunting.
The Point: Aluminum arrows are safe, solid and a good choice for archers who hunt. They can be pricey, so shop for them carefully. Very customizable, both recurve bow and compound bow users should at least take a look at aluminum arrows.
Traditional Wooden Arrows
Used by archers for the past few thousand years, traditional wooden arrows are the only real choice for the traditional archer. If that’s you, wooden arrows complete the authentic, historic feel of the archery of the days of old.
You should only ever shoot wooden arrows with longbows and low power recurve bows. Modern recurve bows are much to powerful for wooden arrows. The arrows could easily break and cause injury if used with modern bows. Again, wooden arrows should never be used with compound bows.
The Point: Wooden arrows are just the thing for traditional archers. They can be custom-made if you like, but are not nearly as durable as many of their counterparts. Unless you’re into traditional archery, you’ll probably want to skip using wooden arrows.
Carbon / Aluminum Composite Arrows
Composite arrows are typically made from both carbon and aluminum, and are quite possibly the best of the best for most modern archers. The go to arrows for both tournament pros and even Olympic archers, composite arrows offer superior arrow flight and impact power. They’re highly accurate and consistently perform well.
The Point: Composite arrows are the top of the line choice for most archers. And you guessed it, they’re not cheap. You get what you pay for with composite arrows, as they’re durable and almost never split or splinter.
If you’re new to archery, you’ll want to start shooting another type of arrow first (like carbon or aluminum), and once you’ve become more experienced, you can graduate to composite arrows later on.
What Arrow Fletching Should I Use?
Fletching are the feathers or vanes commonly used on most arrows today. The fletching is there to correct the arrows’ bending in flight (part of the archers’ paradox) – and to stabilize the arrow in the air.
Usually three feathers or plastic vanes are used, two being the same color and one being a different color. The odd color indicating how the arrow should be positioned to nock on the bowstring, which will differ depending on your bow and setup.
Feathers are generally considered to be better than vanes for many archers, but there are exceptions. Feathers do tend to cost more than vanes, but not by all that much if you shop around for them. They’re used a lot by hunters, as they help to counter the weight of heavier broadhead points on hunting arrows.
Vanes are for the most part a cheaper alternative to feathers. If you were to just walk into your local branch of one of the large sporting goods stores, chances are they’ll have a box of cheap arrows – usually with vanes and bullet style field points. These are the sort of bargain bin types of arrows.
Vanes do have their advantages for some archers who are shooting specific setups, but generally most archers will want to stick to quality arrows fletched with feathers.
Nocks
Nocks are just the part of the arrow that latches on or ‘nocks’ onto the bowstring. Once the arrow is nocked on the string, the nock will hold the arrow on the bowstring by itself (almost all standard nocks). Most nocks are quite similar, with a few exceptions.
Speed shooters will normally use nocks that have been modified for speed shooting by widening the nock – so that it can be quickly nocked, drawn and then released. Because of this widening of the nock, speed shooting nocks won’t hold the arrow on the bowstring on their own as other nocks would.
Light up nocks are another type of nock that are pretty fun to use. Designed to be used in low light or at night, light up nocks do just that – light up. They usually come with a little tool that allows you to flip a small switch to turn them on or off. Not only are light up nocks fun, they can also be useful as they help you find your arrows much easier in low light conditions.
Arrow Heads
Arrow heads (or points) are the piercing point on the dangerous end of the arrow. Some arrows are like a tube, where different types of heads can be installed or switched out when desired. Some arrows allow for screw in arrow heads and in some the head will need to be glued into the arrow to keep it there.
The cheaper arrows don’t tend to have removable arrow heads, unless you were to modify them. Cheap arrows usually have bullet or field type points permanently glued onto the arrow.
Bullet Points
Probably the most common type of arrow that you’ll see in archery shops and sporting goods stores, bullet points are almost always what you’ll find on those cheap, ready to shoot arrows. But don’t think that it makes bullet points bad – that’s anything but the case.
Bullet points are often the preferred type of arrows for target archery, field archery and 3D archery alike. While field points can be used in the above styles of archery, they could do more damage to some types of targets than bullet points would.
Bullet points are also great for all around shooting and practice shooting.
Field Points
Field points (sometimes also called combination points) are similar to bullet points, but are shaped somewhat differently. They’re used in both target archery and field archery alike. While some people think that certain types of specific field points will do less damage to targets than bullet points, this depends on the individual target.
Field points are also used by hunters, who use them as practice points. Once ready to actually hunt, the field point is simply unscrewed and replaced with a broadhead point.
Broadheads
Broadheads are designed for hunting, nothing else. There are a few reasons for this, but mostly because they can be costly and you wouldn’t want to ruin them by using them for practice shooting.
Because they are often heavier than other types or arrow heads they change up the way the arrow will fly. This is also in part due to the very different shape of a broadhead when compared to bullet or field points.
Broadheads should always be handled carefully, as they are usually sold and kept razor sharp.
Blunt Points
Just like the name implies, blunt points are simply blunt arrow heads that are made for hunting small animals. They come in all different shapes and sizes, but there basic use remains the same.
There are other blunt heads available that slip over the normal bullet or field point arrow heads, but those seem to be more for practice use. There are also large cushioned “blunt” type arrow heads that are used by live action role-players, so that they can shoot their bow at other players without injury.
Grabbing (Judo Brand) Points
A unique type of arrow head, the Judo arrow heads are made for shooting out in the wild. Used mainly for those who are “stump shooting”, or just wandering through the woods and shooting at trees.
The purpose of the Judo heads is that they grab on to anything that they hit – which makes your arrow far easier to find in the woods. Unlike normal arrow heads that will just stick into trees or get covered under grass and brush, Judo heads will keep your arrows clearly visible.
They can get a bit pricey, and are currently sold in packs of two.
Bowfishing Spear Points
Only used exclusively in bowfishing, bowfishing points are made to be shot downward. Their design features reverse facing barbs, making them difficult to remove so that they’ll keep a fish on the line.
What’s the Best Arrow Weight for Your Bow?
Your bows’ manufacturer information as mentioned above should give you the recommended arrow weight for your bow. Use this as a number to start out with, you may or may not want to change this as you become more comfortable shooting your bow.
Most archers are shooting lighter arrows these days for a variety of reasons. Lighter arrows will generally shoot faster and more accurately than their heavier counterparts. This will vary depending on the type of bow you’re shooting and your individual setup.
That doesn’t mean that there’s no reason to shoot heavy arrows, it will depend on if you’re mainly target shooting or hunting with your bow.
Heavier arrows tend to be used more for hunting. They have more impact and can shoot straighter with some bows. Heavier arrows have more momentum to penetrate the target, and actually cause less wear and tear on the bow itself.
They also make both the bow and the arrow shoot much quieter than lighter weight arrows. And because of their heavier weight, heavier arrows maintain better velocity than standard arrows.