Since we are talking arrows, whats your favorite go to shaft Rad?
I've been debating that a lot lately. Trying to decide if I will be making a change in 2014.
Currently if shooting out of state or under 63# in Washington it's the CE Maxima shaft. Can't shoot it in Washington at 70#, but everywhere else in the US and Canada it works great. It's been the most consistent in 360 degree spine, weight and straightness of any all carbon arrow I've ever shot. But their nocks are crap, so I use Easton Micro-Lite nocks on them. They are a little brittle so I buy them three dozen at a time. And the darn company changes their design about every time I want more arrows so that leaves me frustrated.
In Washington state I can never make up my mind. Seems to be a daily decision which bow to get out of the truck. One is set up with the CE Maxima Hunter KV shafts and the other with Easton ACC Pro. Both those shafts are chosen for the same reasons - straightness, consistency of spine and incredibly accurate in a Washington legal arrow.
I don't shoot 70# much any more because the newer bow designs don't require it. It's sort of nice too as I can shoot the same spine arrow as I used to, but now the Maxima shaft is legal at 62-63# shooting the same speed as my 70# bows that shot the same shaft. Sort of makes the Washington 6 grain rule ridiculous and outdated as a guy shooting a modern bow at 62# can shoot the Maxima 350 arrow legal and faster than a guy shooting a five year old 70# bow and the same arrow is illegal at a slower speed.
My most recent bows
(Bear Motive 7 and Bowtech Experience) need a 300 spine if I shoot them at 70#. Most of the Carbon Express shafts I like are not available in a 300 spine. So unless I want to start shooting the Pile Driver or the camo Maxima Hunter I need to start looking at other shafts as my "Go To" shafts for Washington 70# legal arrows. That leads me to contemplate going back to shooting the Easton ACC or FMJ. I'm not thrilled about supporting them again due to their lack of customer respect. But those two shafts are so dang hard to beat for consistent spine and straightness I'm finding it hard not to.
I don't think I will ever shoot an Easton all carbon arrow as they are some of the worst I've tested in regards to spine quality and straightness. I'd shoot Goldtip before shooting the Easton all carbon shafts. And the thought of that turns my stomach. With Jason and Cory/xXx becoming fans of the Black Eagle shafts I'll probably get a few dozen this year and test them again in more depth. The first ones I got were very early in the company's development and they failed my testing. Would not be fair to judge them one way or another without testing again now that they have had time to work out the bugs.
I will be surprised if come this time next year I am shooting anything other than CE or Easton ACC's. They aren't flashy or hip in todays market. But, we have a history of just plain and simple whacking animals with them near and far. And when I throw them on the spine tester I find I'm actually in disbelief when one does not get an "A" rating. That's important to me. And my reason for chosing them the past ten years as my "Go To" arrow shafts of choice.
