Not at all. Your FOC cant be too high as long as you shoot a properly spined arrow.

 

higher foc has also been said to attribute towards better penetration

 

High FOC and smaller diameter arrows work really well for long range hunting and shooting in general. You get better penetration and less wind drift.

 

There is no downside to more FOC for hunting.

 

This is from Hunter's Friend site.

Most common arrow components tend to yield finished arrows well within the recommended 7-15% FOC range. The only real danger of slipping off the FOC precipice is if you use really heavy fletching and super-lightweight target nibbs, or if you choose small light fletching and a jumbo tip weight (or a heavy brass insert). For common arrows with basic vanes or feathers, aluminum inserts, and 85-125 grain tips, chances are your FOC will come out just fine.

With all that said, it is generally believed that an arrow with a high FOC will fly well, but with premature loss of trajectory (nose-diving). While an arrow with a very low FOC will hold its trajectory better, but it will fly erratically. So again, another trade-off for you to consider.

 

This is from Hunter's Friend site.

Most common arrow components tend to yield finished arrows well within the recommended 7-15% FOC range. The only real danger of slipping off the FOC precipice is if you use really heavy fletching and super-lightweight target nibbs, or if you choose small light fletching and a jumbo tip weight (or a heavy brass insert). For common arrows with basic vanes or feathers, aluminum inserts, and 85-125 grain tips, chances are your FOC will come out just fine.

With all that said, it is generally believed that an arrow with a high FOC will fly well, but with premature loss of trajectory (nose-diving). While an arrow with a very low FOC will hold its trajectory better, but it will fly erratically. So again, another trade-off for you to consider.

Notice the boldened part about it is generally believed....which would tend to indicate the writer at hunters friend has not tested this theory. In my testing I have never noticed any nose diving even at 80 yards with a properly spined arrow. I have an arrow I am testing that is 23 percent FOC right now with a perfect spine. Lots of long range target archers are going the extreme FOC route as well. If arrows were nose diving I dont think they would be doing this.

 

Basic physics will tell you that as you load up the front with weight, the trajectory will start to decrease down range. With today's bows and reasonably weighted arrows, it shouldn't be an issue but you can't screw on a 500gr broadhead and expect it to have the same trajectory as an arrow with 100gr head. You can load up the front to have a high foc but you dont want it so heavy that it effects speed and energy negatively.

 

But if you did screw on a 500gr broadhead to an arrow it would fly better than the 100gr broadhead arrow with a 400gr nock weight attached.... Gotta compare apples to apples. You can't really talk/argue FOC when arrows don't have the same overall finished weight...

Edit: also how could higher FOC affect energy "negatively" as you say..? Seems like you are confusing finished arrow weight and high FOC...

 

I think the biggest issue in high foc is making sure your arrow doesn't go underspined when you add a lot of tip weight..

 

Agreed brother. I start mine with a stiff spine and then add the needed weight up front to get the perfect dynamic spine for my DL and DW with a bow that has speed cams. Having a friend with OT2 really helps in setting up the perfect high FOC arrow.

 

FOC of 20% is no problem, as long as you don't weaken your spine too much.

 

No such thing

 

FOC matters little these days, bow speed has reduce what little impact it had. I would be looking at a larger head for a larger cut.

 

Prove it, ill wait here...all the energy these bows produce and the stress put on an arrow at release and you do not think it helps with oscillation and arrow flight? Maybe you should buy a bunch of high speed cameras and test your theory

 

FOC has a LARGE impact. my GT Velocity's at 16% out penetrate my FMJ about two inches into my Rinehart target. The Velocity's are about 70+ grains less than the FMJ. So I get more speed with just as good penetration without shooting telephone poles out of my bow.

 

FOC has a LARGE impact. my GT Velocity's at 16% out penetrate my FMJ about two inches into my Rinehart target.

Is it FOC? Or the speed increase? Or Arrow diameter? Or surface finish? The target is made of?

 

the target? its a Rinehart.. arrow diameter is larger on velocity's so that's not it. Im sure speed increase plays a role, but Ive had arrows that are smoking fast VforceHV that don't penetrate close to a FMJ. On the basis of mass being a large contributor to penetration, which is why big game hunters use 450+ grain arrows, it says a lot about FOC. Take two arrows with the same final weight with one being 6% higher in FOC and it would penetrate much better. MY point is that you can shoot a lighter arrow (high velocity) and reap the benefits of a heavy arrow (penetration) strictly due to a high FOC. win win. Yes, you don't have to have high FOC arrows with todays bows, but why wouldn't you when it gives you more of an edge? You don't need a 2 1/4 inch broadhead cut but why wouldn't you?

 

take two arrows with the same final weight with one being 6% higher in FOC and it would penetrate much better

What I meant was you cant seperate FOC on its own unless you use same shafts with same surface finish, the same dynamic spine calculated to allow for the heavier head, same length shaft, etc.

Take two arrows with the same final weight with one being 6% higher in FOC and it would penetrate much better

Nope. Have you actually done the test? Its not easy to do, you will need at least the same weight and speed.

Im sure speed increase plays a role

Speed has a lot to do with it.

the target? its a Rinehart..

Foam doesn't behave like flesh, its drag is totally different so even surface finish has an effect on penetration. Critters aren't made from the stuff so its little use to compare it for hunting.

You don't need a 2 1/4 inch broadhead cut but why wouldn't you?

If its mechanical then I agree, large fixed blades can plane unfortunately especially with speeds we get these days.

 

Arrows flex when shot from a bow, higher foc helps straighten them out quicker, you said foc helps very little, maybe you don't know the benefits of high foc? Of course more deer are taken with normal setups, the average Bowhunter walks into a big box store, grabs what's on the shelf and shoots them.

 

Arrows flex when shot from a bow, higher foc helps straighten them out quicker

Placing a heavier point on a shaft weakens the spine so you would have to go with a stiffer spine. But then using the heavier point would weaken the stiffer shaft negating any benefit. Also putting more of the weight further from the driving end would mean more flexing too.

Of course more deer are taken with normal setups

See, you agree.

the average Bowhunter walks into a big box store, grabs what's on the shelf and shoots them.

So the more experienced bow hunter always chooses a high FOC?

 

High foc isn't needed but it has made shooing my fixed blade heads fly better which is plenty reason for me to shoot high foc. Some people are so stubborn that when someone's setup isn't like there's they just have to argue without even trying it.

 

Didn't say more experienced used it, if people read about it and fully grasp the benefits then more people would build there setups accordingly

 

Basic physics does not say a high FOC will cause the head to drop. Think of the classic experiment where 2 balls are dropped. One is more dense such as metal and one is light such as rubber. Both balls will hit the floor at the same time. So a heavier head relative to the same weight arrow will not make the head drop faster.
If an arrow is heavier than another it will seem to nosedive more than the lighter arrow because it is fired at a slower velocity than a lighter arrow. A lighter arrow will have a flatter trajectory to reach a target. But the same weight arrow has the same trajectory regardless of FOC.
If you look at Ashby's data on high FOC you will see it can make a big difference in penetration. Especially when the arrow hits bone or for shots that are not the classic broadside shot. May not make a difference in deer in most shots but it will help when you hit a shoulder bone and still get a pass through in more cases than a low FOC arrow would.
In the study he presents it is actually surprising how many deer are wounded and not recovered.

 

Yep well put, but you can't argue with someone that thinks they can prove physics wrong, it happens here often

 

Also when talking foc numbers IMO
10-15% is good
15%-20% is high foc
20%- and above I'd extreme foc

 

If FOC is too low you may end up with problems in precision between shots but as long as it's within a middle range you should be fine.

 

I am no expert, but I have always been told by those in the know that a higher FOC, to a point, was better for long range accuracy and penetration and that nose diving is not exaggerated. I use higher FOC arrows so I have nothing to compare them to. However, I can conclusively say that heavier arrows absolutely penetrate much better. I have shot and/or witnessed being shot hundreds of wild hogs and have tested this thoroughly. There is no question that a heavier arrow penetrates measurably deeper, but as for FOC - I have just always done what I was told. It does make sense to me that the higher FOC arrows would perform better. I think mine in are 14%.

 

26% and I'm fine to 100 yards.

Arrows fly awesome! Can't wait to put one through a deer!