easton FMJ arrows

[h20hunter]

They work well in my bow, fligh nice, and hit like hammers. I'll be picking up another dozen next time to the bow shop. However...I only shoot a crappy Hoyt (there you go Rad...like giving candy to a baby) so don't just take my word for it.

[MtnMuley]

The FMJ's don't shoot good for me.  Axis and ACCs both shoot great, and I can't figure out why the FMJ's don't group as well. 

[RadSav]

The FMJ's don't shoot good for me.  Axis and ACCs both shoot great, and I can't figure out why the FMJ's don't group as well.

Should definitely group better than the Axis!  I wonder if you aren't pushing the limits of the spine.  FMJ's have a slightly weaker dynamic spine than does the Axis and A/C/C.  Only thing I could figure   Hard to believe the difference is speed to make a difference if you have a farm/followthru issue.

[Rainier10]

The FMJ's don't shoot good for me.  Axis and ACCs both shoot great, and I can't figure out why the FMJ's don't group as well.

I had a little trouble when I first started with them four or five years ago.  I shoot the 340's and they were 11.1 grains per inch and they changed them to 11.3 or vice versa.

Before they made the switch I had to number all of my arrows on the fletches #1,#2,#3 and so on.  Then I would shoot them all and keep record of the "flyers".  If an arrow was a flyer once I chalked it up to me, if it was a flyer 3 or 4 times I didn't use it anymore.  Out of a dozen I would have 3 or 4 that were just flyers.

After they made the grain per inch changed I didn't seem to have the problem with flyers per dozen.  I am guessing with the grain change they improved their manufacturing tolerances or something.

I guess I don't know what happened exactly but I know they are flying great out of my bow.

I am shooting one of those short ATA single cam Mathews Z7Extreme tactical jobs so the arrows look nice in the quiver also.  I did start shooting them when I still had my old Switchback so I didn't get the arrows to match the bow, I got the bow to match the arrows. 

[MtnMuley]

I'm shooting a Carbon Element 29.5" draw @ 72#.  The FMJ's are the 340 spine.  I definitely have certain arrows that fly better than others with the FMJ's, but compared to the cheaper Axis's there is no comparison.  The Axis have proven to be a lot more durable as well.  I've only broke 1 Axis and that was into steel on a miss.  Mushroomed the tip.  Trimmed an inch off, now it's my go to golf arrow. I can't see follow through as a problem, but maybe so.  If that were the case, then why can I grab 5 Axis arrows and put them in a 12" group at 100.  I'll follow with 5 FMJ's (granted they shoot a little lower at that distance) and the group is at least 24".   Makes sense for me in my opinion to just continue to shoot the Axis's and forget the FMJ's, and just remain confused.

[Rainier10]

There you go, if it works don't fix it.  That is why I am still shooting Thunderhead broadheads, they work for me.  My buddy shoots the axis arrows also and appreciates the lower cost as well.  They shoot great for him so he is sticking with them.  Funny how some arrows work for some and not for others.

[RadSav]

I'm shooting a Carbon Element 29.5" draw @ 72#.  The FMJ's are the 340 spine.  I definitely have certain arrows that fly better than others with the FMJ's, but compared to the cheaper Axis's there is no comparison.  The Axis have proven to be a lot more durable as well.  I've only broke 1 Axis and that was into steel on a miss.  Mushroomed the tip.  Trimmed an inch off, now it's my go to golf arrow. I can't see follow through as a problem, but maybe so.  If that were the case, then why can I grab 5 Axis arrows and put them in a 12" group at 100.  I'll follow with 5 FMJ's (granted they shoot a little lower at that distance) and the group is at least 24".   Makes sense for me in my opinion to just continue to shoot the Axis's and forget the FMJ's, and just remain confused.

I just ran your numbers through Archers Advantage.  Both with 100 and 125 grain points and assuming the arrows are also 29.5".  They show the dynamic spine for that set up to be in the danger zones.  Even the 300 spine shows slightly weak!  Being that the FMJ is weaker in dynamic spine and FOC is out of whack compared to the Axis it is starting to make sense that you would have issues with the FMJ and not so much with the Axis.

Nice to know the newer Axis are stronger than the first ones I gave the durability testing on.  The originals were pretty bad!  I get a few guys asking me to spine test and sort each year.  And unfortunately that hasn't changed much.  I'd say if you are shooting 12" groups at 100 yards with random 340 Axis arrows your form is outstanding!!  I don't expect for weak spine and spine consistency you could ask for anything better than 12".  That's really, REALLY good IMO

I'd be really interested to see what you could do with a 125 grain point and a 300 spine.  I'd expect you could get that 12" even tighter.  And that would truly be impressive!

[wariner87]

 I tested these arrows yesterday  with my faktor turbo 29inch drawat 70 #.Right away I noticed they are heavier (obviously) than my old arrows.   To be a little more specific   was shooting goldtips XT Hunters.  My arrow weight went from 398 great to 476.
 
I have to admit that the weight of the arrow at first was a little off putting, how ever I noticed that once I sighted my pins in to compensate for the heavier arrow I noticed a few things.
1.  My shot is MUCH quieter.
2. I'm getting same groups , but more shots are DEAD CENTER!
3.  The penetration of these arrows are amazing. the arrows are driving  all the way to the fletching on stacks of hay bales. My old GT XT would only go about halfway.

I had troubles sighting in beyond 60, but I figured  this was more of a hunting arrow than target shooting.
Didn't have much time  to shoot, but those are just the 3 big things I noticed right away.

[Rainier10]

Thanks for the update on what you found.  You can imagine with the penetration you are getting how hard these really hit the animal.  These arrows work really well for me.  The one thing I would say is after you pick your 5 arrows that you are going to hunt with, leave them alone with broadheads on them and use the other arrows for target practice.  You need to be little more careful with these during target practice than with carbons because these are aluminum wrapped so you can bend them slightly and not know it.  I give my target arrows the spin test if one of them all of a sudden starts doing weird things.  That is when I find that I have bent it slightly.

Keep shooting and good luck this year hunting.

[MtnMuley]

I'm shooting a Carbon Element 29.5" draw @ 72#.  The FMJ's are the 340 spine.  I definitely have certain arrows that fly better than others with the FMJ's, but compared to the cheaper Axis's there is no comparison.  The Axis have proven to be a lot more durable as well.  I've only broke 1 Axis and that was into steel on a miss.  Mushroomed the tip.  Trimmed an inch off, now it's my go to golf arrow. I can't see follow through as a problem, but maybe so.  If that were the case, then why can I grab 5 Axis arrows and put them in a 12" group at 100.  I'll follow with 5 FMJ's (granted they shoot a little lower at that distance) and the group is at least 24".   Makes sense for me in my opinion to just continue to shoot the Axis's and forget the FMJ's, and just remain confused.

I just ran your numbers through Archers Advantage.  Both with 100 and 125 grain points and assuming the arrows are also 29.5".  They show the dynamic spine for that set up to be in the danger zones.  Even the 300 spine shows slightly weak!  Being that the FMJ is weaker in dynamic spine and FOC is out of whack compared to the Axis it is starting to make sense that you would have issues with the FMJ and not so much with the Axis.

Nice to know the newer Axis are stronger than the first ones I gave the durability testing on.  The originals were pretty bad!  I get a few guys asking me to spine test and sort each year.  And unfortunately that hasn't changed much.  I'd say if you are shooting 12" groups at 100 yards with random 340 Axis arrows your form is outstanding!!  I don't expect for weak spine and spine consistency you could ask for anything better than 12".  That's really, REALLY good IMO

I'd be really interested to see what you could do with a 125 grain point and a 300 spine.  I'd expect you could get that 12" even tighter.  And that would truly be impressive!

Thanks for all that info Rad   I think I like your idea of getting a half dozen 300's with the 125's.  When I do that I'll report back.  Thanks again.