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What is a "fast" bow - how many fps?

23K views 78 replies 61 participants last post by  Spider bow  
#1 ·
Curious as to what is considered to be the different levels of speed by most people...fast, average, slow. I've always thought fast to be anything above 300 fps but didn't really know...
 
#5 ·
I think anything over 330fps with a hunting setup is pretty fast.
 
#7 ·
I consider any bow over 330 stupid fast. 300 is fast. 270 is fast for hunting.
 
#6 ·
My father shoots a PSE Surge that shoots at about 320. I considered that pretty fast but being a speed freak myself and only shooting a PSE Baby G force that shot well under 320 I could no longer be stuck that much slower than his. So I stepped up a notch and bought a 2014 Bear Agenda 6 that shoots 350. But I think it really is personal preference. For me I want a faster bow so I don't have to move my single pin so much shooting in 3D competitions. But if you are shooting indoor competitions with a 20 yard shot each time there is no need for speed.
 
#9 ·
Yup, right there with you !! I am a 26.5 so I am thrilled to be getting 285 with a hunting arrow.

One of my good buds is shooting 265 this season but that is at 54lbs so to me that is pretty fast.

On a side note, keep in mind that some fixed blades don't really like high speeds. They tend to develop a mind of their own.
 
#19 ·
There is fast and then there is fast enough. It's the later that is important to a hunter. When I shoot traditional, 170 fps is fast enough. I am hoping for a twenty yard shot delivering an arrow that is over 500 grains with at least 162 grains up front. With my compound my arrows are only around 430 grains with 135 grains up front but the distance is forty to fifty yards. I think 270 fps is fast enough. My actual speeds measured by my chrony are normally faster than this, but that's simply margin for error. I would like to have 1/2 sec or less from release to penetration. Increases the chance my target (animal) will be where I thought it would be when I released. If you are shooting foam targets I don't see what difference it makes as they don't move. Some of the best woman Olympic archers shoot lights out at ninety meters with average draw weights less than forty pounds at their draw length. Now I realize a faster IBO speed makes 3D shooting easier if you have trouble with judging distances. But if this is a problem for you rather than a challenge maybe you should consider using a rifle.
 
#23 ·
340 IBO I think is speed

315-335 Ibo I think is Med.

Slow under 315ibo


Hunting arrow weight for my set up that I think is fast is a 400-420 grain arrow at 300 fps at 52lbs draw weight

I think an arrow out of a compound now a days under 250fps is slow IMO.
But 250 and under is still plenty to kill.
 
#24 ·
My OB Lethal Force isn't the fastest out there by a long shot but 311.6 fps at 71lbs, 28" draw, with a 370grn arrow is good enough for me. My 09 BT Admiral was only shooting my hunting arrows around 270fps and that was plenty fast to hunt with. The deer never knew the difference.
 
#25 ·
The fastest bow I've owened was my Burner, it was 73@29" when i bought it. Tossed a light hunting arrow (not sure exact weight) at 319fps!
Recamed it to 59.4lbs@28" and it chroned 265-270 fps with my 450 grain Nanos. To me That's pretty fast for a light draw hunting setup.
Now my Creed is 27.5@70lb hitting 280ish with 385 grain Deer Crossing 350s. Pretty good but not what I'd consider fast.
I'd say 300+(actual speed) in a hunting setup is "fast"
 
#26 ·
I think my setup is pretty fast for a hunting rig.....380 grain Easton's at 305 fps. My IBO is 332. You can't always go by the calculated speed number, because the calculator says I should be slinging them about 313 fps.....but 3 different chrono's say 303-305 fps consistently. The key to getting crazy fast speeds if you have a short DL is to start with a bow that has a crazy high IBO like 350 or better. With my DL at 30.5", I'd be slinging arrows stupid fast if I had a 350 or higher IBO bow.