How heavy does an arrow have to be to avoid damaging a bow?(not spine)How do you calculate it for different poundages?

Most on here like 9 to 10 grains per pound of bow weight. So a 50 lb bow would use a 450 to 500 grain arrow. I wouldn't shoot under about 8 grains per pound. But at a 31 or so draw length my bows has a long power stroke that can use the extra weight.

I have a Tra Tech Titan and I shoot 7gr per lb some go as low as 5

Uukha dry fires their limbs thousands of times with no failure.

"It depends."

Old bow? New bow? What does the maker say? (What voids the warranty?)

Henry Bodnik of Bearpaw bows says not under 6 GPP. If I can't shoot another bowyers bows at 7 GPP I would move on.

Much of this revolves around what you want to do with the bow. Since you posted in the "bowhunting" forum I'm thinking you are asking in that context.

Heavier bows shot at 7GPP with arrows weighing 400+ grains are going to be effective but a 35# bow launchings 245 grain arrows not so much even though they might be great for accuracy and trajectory on a 3D course.

And, I correct myself. I inadvertently thought your post was in the bowhunting section.

You should have no trouble with trajectory on a 3D course even with heavier arrows, unless you are sighting down the arrow and that is an aiming style, not bow trajectory. Arrow weight only became an issue when carbon arrows became a regular arrow for traditional archers. I don't remember any such recommendation in the old days other than from 8 to 10 gpp for bowhunting. Many ILF companies allow for down to 5 gpp.

I guess i need a scale.Pronto!All of this info is appreciated.Never worried about weight-just spine and how they flew.Usually have 3/4 different arrows in the quiver.

9-10 GPP

If you have the gpi of the arrows, you just work the gozintos (goes intos).

Thanks George for explaining to an old country boy what the heck a "gozintos" was. I've seen a few people use the term, and I think you, too, and never had a clue until now. I was leaning towards some of the wife's special salsa sauce.

What Whittler and George said. This is a quarterly topic on here. Bear and other makers put bows on automated shooting machines to run them through the dry fire cycle literally 10's of 1,000's of times to show the durability of a glass bow.

It really depends on the manufacturer.

Some bows won't handle below 8 gpp for long. Some will.

I shot (still shoot) my martin bows at 5 to 6 gpp, and have been doing so for several decades. They are no worse for the wear. As good today as when they were brand new.

Talk to your manufacturer. If all you're looking for is speed & flat trajectory, and the manufacturer approves it, then go below 8 gpp.

If what you are looking for is a hunting arrow, that will give you the optimal combination of trajectory, and penetration, then keep the weight between 9 & 10 gpp.

Rick

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