Field Point
A field point is a bullet-shaped target tip that threads into a carbon arrow's insert and serves as the standard practice point for paper, foam, bag, and 3D targets. Field points establish the baseline trajectory and impact reference that all hunting setups must match to before a broadhead is ever tested.Details
Field point shapes range from the standard bullet tip — a smooth, rounded nose that glides into foam targets and releases cleanly — to the parallel-sided nibb style common on Easton's small-diameter shafts, where the point must seat flush to the shaft OD without a visible step. Glue-on field points, used primarily in traditional archery, require no insert; the point is bonded directly to the shaft end with hot-melt or epoxy, and the point diameter is ground or tapered to match the shaft. Nibb-style tips for recurve and compound micro-diameter shafts accept the point into the front opening with the shaft acting as the shoulder seat.
Weight matching between field points and hunting broadheads is not optional — it is the fundamental prerequisite for effective broadhead hunting practice. An archer who practices all summer with 100-grain field points and then hunts with 125-grain broadheads will find their impact point has shifted — typically lower and to one side — at hunting distances. The correct process is to build the arrow around the hunting broadhead weight, confirm field points of the same weight impact identically, and practice exclusively with that matched weight.
Durability and tip hardness matter at compound speeds. Most steel field points handle compound draw weights up to 70 lbs without issue, but softer aluminum alloy tips (occasionally found on budget arrows) will mushroom after repeated shots into dense 3D foam or bag targets at high speed. Stainless steel tips resist rust and maintain sharpness at the nose edge that helps penetrate target foam cleanly. For hard 3D targets simulating bone (many big-game 3D faces have hard-polymer core rings), a hardened field point tip prevents premature deformation.
Removing embedded field points without damaging the shaft requires the right approach. Gripping the shaft by hand and twisting out a stuck point risks delaminating the carbon at the insert glue interface. The correct method is a dedicated field point puller, or clamping the point body in a padded vise and unscrewing the shaft. Heating the insert area briefly with a heat gun softens hot-melt and releases even stuck tips. Pulling by the shaft — especially at an angle — is the primary way archers crack carbon at the insert mouth and prematurely retire otherwise good arrows.
Verwandt auf BowSmith
Druckvorlagen
Häufige Fragen
- Why does my field-point weight need to match my broadhead weight?
- Point weight is the dominant driver of arrow FOC and trajectory arc. A heavier point sits lower in the nose, increases FOC, and produces a slightly higher arc — meaning the arrow impacts lower at field ranges than a lighter point would. If your field points are 100 grains and your broadheads are 125 grains, the heavier broadhead will hit a different point of aim at 30–40 yards. Matching weights ensures your muscle memory and sight marks from practice carry directly over to hunting shots.
- What is the difference between a bullet tip and a glue-on field point?
- A bullet-tip field point threads into the arrow's insert, requiring a pre-installed insert in the shaft. It is the standard for carbon arrows with inserts — compound and most recurve setups. A glue-on field point is bonded directly to the bare shaft end with adhesive, requiring no insert. Glue-ons are common in traditional archery on wooden or fiberglass shafts and on some recurve carbon setups where the point-to-shaft diameter transition is designed without an insert groove.
- What field point works best for foam 3D targets?
- A standard bullet-tip steel field point in the 100-grain range works well for nearly all 3D foam. The key quality to look for is a hard, smooth nose that slides into foam cleanly and releases without tearing the core. Stainless steel tips resist corrosion from repeated contact with damp targets. Avoid brass or soft-alloy tips for high-volume 3D practice at compound speeds — they deform faster. For hard polymer inserts in some competition 3D targets, a true hardened steel tip is worth the small cost premium.