Bullet or field point

[DavidH]

Having just got the longbow I'm obviously going to try my hand at making some arrows but I'm wondering what points to use. Field points have a more aesthetic look (thank God for spell checkers) but how much extra damage will these cause to a boss if at all?

[Schme1440]

In my experience (i used brass target and Joelondon uses field points, we are same club) the field points seem to damage targets anywhere upto around twice as much as standard target points. If you are going to be mainly doing target then go for brass target points. If you are going to do field use Field points but if your going to dabble in both then it may be worth getting 1 set for field and one for target.

[DavidH]

I expected that reply but it would be interesting to compare the damage cause by a carbon arrow shot out of a compound which is much more likely to middle than a longbow arrow.

If we are practicing, compound archers will often put the target off centre to avoid too much damage to the middle but that wouldn't apply in competition.

In my case, at anything over 50 yards I'm more likely to damage the grass

The GNAS rules say:

Piles shall not exceed the diameter of the shaft at the point of fitment. Shouldered piles, whilst not disallowed, should be avoided because of excess damage to targets.

So I can use field points but I shouldnt...

[DavidH]

I better tell the guy who is talking about putting short bodkins on to think again

[Schme1440]

Originally Posted by DavidH

I expected that reply but it would be interesting to compare the damage cause by a carbon arrow shot out of a compound which is much more likely to middle than a longbow arrow.

The carbons whould cause less damage due to the smaller diameter. The size of the arrow is the biggest factor in boss damage. Small arrows fit between the strands of strw easier then fat longbow arrows.

[gwynn]

[quote=Schme1440;96705] snip......... the field points seem to damage targets anywhere upto around twice as much as standard target points. QUOTE]

How does this happen? I can't visualise this at all, surely if the diameter of the pile is the same as that of the shaft, you're just going to get a hole the diameter of the shaft? It's the thickness of the shaft (ooh missus!) surely.
Agreed, if you're using broadheads or true bodkins with a shoulder wider than the shaft you'll get a bigger hole but that's for a reason.
On targets I've used target points, 3d piles, modbods and bullet piles and the hole appears to be the same in every case!

[steve58]

And I was told that field points did LESS damage to the bosses! I used some on one indoor set in the hope that they would stop the arrows going in quite as far (see the thread about sticky arrows) but it seemed to make no difference at all! My helically fletched indoor arrows seem to go in further than the plain ones.

[Schme1440]

Originally Posted by gwynn

How does this happen?

I dont know why, I guess its the shape of the tip but all I know is Joelondon's arrows make more mess than mine and mine are brass target points and his are field points.

[gino]

are you both shooting the same poundage?

[Schme1440]

Originally Posted by gino

are you both shooting the same poundage?

his flatbow is about 6 pounds heavyer than my mongolian horse back bow but my shafts are shorter and smaller diameter but lighter. There was a huge difference in our piles of straw. It may not be down to the points 100% but they do seem to cause more damage than standard points.