Arrows

[Buck_stalker]

I am hooked on archery to say the least.lol  and my friend's dad gave me a
MT-3 Martin Ocellot. The old ones. Like from the '70's I believe, and I've been practicing a lot in my back yard(it's 30 yds.) and I've been pretty consistent and deadly. 

My question is, is it better to hunt with aluminum or carbon fiber arrows?

[Little John]

NO QUESTION. Carbon is faster, more durable, and they stay straighter longer.

[colockumelk]

Little John is right.  Here's the pros and cons of Aluminum vs. Carbon.

Pros:
Aluminums are straighter thus more accurate
Carbons are straight enough that they are more accurate than you are.  They are tougher, last longer and will stay straight longer. 

Cons:
Aluminums start out straighter but if you miss the target or bumb one of your arrows with another then your aluminum is now useless and shouldn't be used again.  You'll go through a dozen arrows just practising.  Again they start out straighter but don't end up that way.

Carbons don't start out as straight as aluminums.

[Todd_ID]

Lot of stuff has been killed by both, but the guys above are right.  Carbon arrows give you the best of both worlds.  You'll get what you pay for: straightness is important if you're one of the top shooters in the state, otherwise .005 is plenty straight; spine consistency is where the money goes to a good cause, so look for Easton Axis, Beman MFX, Carbon Express, and Carbon Tech to give the best groups and broadhead flight.  There is a difference between a $60/dozen arrow and a $120/dozen arrow, and it's worth it to upgrade arrows before bows.

[Little John]

I shoot the Gold Tip Pro Hunters .001 straightness. Pretty tough to beat for a hunting shaft 

[Gobble Gobble]

I shoot the same John. It has been a couple years since I purchased them but I'd bet they are still cheaper than several other top arrows on the market like Eastons.

[blindpig]

Carbon.  I've only shot Easton brand arrows.  I think its great you started shooting with an old bow so when you shoot a newer bow you will appreciate it.  Goodluck.

[coachcw]

I've shot every thing from 2519 to beeman 300's .No matter witch you choose I've always had beter luck with a little hevier arrow . both in wind and thick cover. Know "ive found a great combo for both , I shoot a easton full metel jacket with shuttle t lock broadhads . they fly great and hit hard . I recomend you stay around 500 grains . I've killed over 30 animals with a bow and trust me a little wieght and a quality broadhead are the ticket . Good luck now that your hooked with the rest of us.Coach

[boneaddict]

I have been shooting goldtips.   Is there really a better arrow out there in a Trad grain pattern.  I had been looking at Beman..

[Machias]

I will say one thing, you guys make aluminums sound like there as fragile as a wet noodle, not sure if you mean too.  I had a dozen XX78 for three years, shot at least 4 nights a week and hunted for those three years with them and still have 8 of them.  They are a little tougher then described above, not saying they are better then carbons, just saying they ain't POS either.  I like a heavier arrow for hunting, makes the bow quieter and you get much better penetration.   

[boneaddict]

xx78's were good arrows.  I still have a bucnh of them tucked away in corners.  I didn't like shooting them through the trad bow.  I still shoot them through the compound.

[Machias]

That's what I shot mine out of as well.  Getting some goldtips for my Sapphire Hawk!!   

[gutsnthegrass]

I've been shooting the 300 full metal jackets with blazer vanes.  They seem to fly straight for me.  I'm shooting 290fps with a 465 grain arrow topped with the Shuttle T's.  Great combo so far! 

[Todd_ID]

I will say one thing, you guys make aluminums sound like there as fragile as a wet noodle, not sure if you mean too.  I had a dozen XX78 for three years, shot at least 4 nights a week and hunted for those three years with them and still have 8 of them.  They are a little tougher then described above, not saying they are better then carbons, just saying they ain't POS either.  I like a heavier arrow for hunting, makes the bow quieter and you get much better penetration.   

All very true here.  We used to kill a critter or two each year with aluminums somehow.  My opinion is that carbon is simply a better mousetrap.

[WDFW-SUX]

I have a man crush on my new ACC prohunters.

[mossback91]

My cheap expedition hunters seem accurate enough    but Ive never shot anything real spendy.......Id like to try some easton axis but them are spendy

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

as far as a hunting set up, really any arrow will work, the tolerances are not great enough to see huge differences in accuracy, a example would be, we shot a arrow with a .006 tolereance through a hooter shooter at 30 yrds....... the group size was about the size of a softball with a 2 flyers just out, a axis that is .003 shot a group about the size of a baseball....... so in the hunting world where the " x ring" does not mean anything, any decent hunting arrow will do, more importantly, you need to be good with your bow.. if your form is good and consistent you should have no problem hitting the kill zone on anything from a rabbit to a elk or moose.......

[coachcw]

you all make good points xx78 superslams are tough as hell , if money is an issue spend it on good broadheads. the blazers are good fletchings I never fight a contact issue with them and they fly broadheads well too. Coach

[matlockmike]

I've been shooting the 300 full metal jackets with blazer vanes.  They seem to fly straight for me.  I'm shooting 290fps with a 465 grain arrow topped with the Shuttle T's.  Great combo so far! 

Full Metal Jackets all the way.  Best of both worlds.

Have taken two elk and a tree with them.  I still use those arrows for pratice and they still fly true.

[mossback91]

I've been shooting the 300 full metal jackets with blazer vanes.  They seem to fly straight for me.  I'm shooting 290fps with a 465 grain arrow topped with the Shuttle T's.  Great combo so far! 

Full Metal Jackets all the way.  Best of both worlds.

Have taken two elk and a tree with them.  I still use those arrows for pratice and they still fly true.

Whats the score on the tree???

[xXx Archery]

I have a man crush on my new ACC prohunters.

that is what I will be shooting this year out of my pse omen....390 ACC Pro hunters

[mossback91]

just tried some axis arrows........they shoot better imo......really noticing better groups at about 40 and 50 yards.....better than my cheap goldtips for sure

[WDFW-SUX]

I shoot the 300 spine ones they hit hard

[adam.WI]

I always found the aluminums to be a little more forgiving, not a bad place to start and find that comfort zone, but there is now debating the benefits of the carbons. I loved the ACC's I used to use, but have settled with the CX300, tipped with muzzy three blade.

[MIKEXRAY]

I've had multiple friends switch from carbon back to aluminum due to carbon arrow " splintering " inside the animal. They are going with the new slimmer aluminum arrows for that reason. My carbon did break inside my mule deer buck two years ago but was a clean break at broad head. I don't know who makes the slimmer aluminum but suppose to be pretty comparable to carbon. I'm just going to keep shooting my Bemans. Mike

[Hoytstaffshooter83]

what arrow were they shooting? a cheaper carbon would splinter but any of the newer upper end stuff should be a clean break....... ie  axis, gold tip pro hunter, beman ics  etc

[elkoholic1]

eveyone makes a good point about both, im always worried about penitration so i likea heavyer arrow as couch stated, ive taken many arrows and tested with broad heads through 1 1/2 inch sheets of plywood my 2314 easton xx75 have always given me more penitration.  till now these latest easton full metal jackets give me about 5 in more penitration     its not all about speed although speed is good. if your like me and on a budget hard to beat the price of a good quality alluminum arrow, if you can afford $120 a doz   id go withthe easton full metal jacketsthis jus my  

[mossback91]

eveyone makes a good point about both, im always worried about penitration so i likea heavyer arrow as couch stated, ive taken many arrows and tested with broad heads through 1 1/2 inch sheets of plywood my 2314 easton xx75 have always given me more penitration.  till now these latest easton full metal jackets give me about 5 in more penitration     its not all about speed although speed is good. if your like me and on a budget hard to beat the price of a good quality alluminum arrow, if you can afford $120 a doz   id go withthe easton full metal jacketsthis jus my  

Thats my problem.......the 120 a dozen does not appeal to me at all.........but arrows do last longer than a box of bullets!! lol

[WDFW-SUX]

I like nice arrows...however I dont shoot grouse and I feel like im missing out on fun Id have with cheaper arrows

[elkoholic1]

thats why i still shoot the alluminum arrows, have for over 20 years its always done the job for me, they last me seveal years and i shoot alot, every weekend and some times during the week, and i dont have any issue of blowing them up or bending them, unless i miss or by chance robin hood an arrow  im not switching yet still got 4 1/2 doz alluminums to go, they have never let me down yet, they fly good, steer a broadhead awesome.  sometimes on a smaller dia. arrow its harder to get a broadhead to fly well. alot of it is what ever makes you more confident, is usually a good way to go.  you need to be confident in what ever your shooting is going to the job and hasrvest your animal,or find its target eveytime you release it.

[jackelope]

I like nice arrows...however I dont shoot grouse and I feel like im missing out on fun Id have with cheaper arrows

i hunt with st axis but carry 1 epic with a judo tip that shoots close enough to the same as the st axis for the grouse. not super cheap arrows but not st axis either.

[WDFW-SUX]

Yeah I keep meaning to do that Im too cheep to buy a dozen arrows for grouse

[coachcw]

hey elkoholic , I love to crease your alums , watch tonight.

[elkoholic1]

couch ive seen u shoot,  my alluminums are safe.. although your full metal jackets be in trouble, alot of rocks behind those targets when you miss

[SHANE(WA)]

A/C/C'S for me, love them

[jackelope]

Yeah I keep meaning to do that Im too cheep to buy a dozen arrows for grouse

i've got extras...about 2 dozen of them. you're welcome to a couple of them if you want.
 

[halflife65]

I shoot the Easton Axis with good luck.  Killed one buck and shot through a piece of plywood and a 2X6.  Blew the knock off but I was able to unscrew the field tip and get the arrow back - seems pretty tough.

By the way, when you're trying that trick where you close your eyes and focus on the arrow release, do so OUTSIDE.  I was in the garage trying that this winter when it was about 5 degrees, missed the target from about 3 feet and shot some boards I had stacked behind it.  Sounded like a gunshot and my wife got pissed...I crapped my pants.

[h2ofowlr]

I have been shooting goldtips.   Is there really a better arrow out there in a Trad grain pattern.  I had been looking at Beman..

I have shot the Beeman for the last 4 years.  Great luck with them.  I am trying a dozen goldtips per recommendation.  I will see how they work.  They are being made up currently.

[flashover52]

I've been shooting the CE Rebel Lites with my Black Ice. They seemed to do a decent job until I got out to 40 and 50+ yards and missed the GlenDel a few times. I've had a few fly screwy so I think the fletchings are finally getting too bad going through the Hostage rest.

I finally had one blow apart the other day. I had a field tip hit dead on with a metal bird house feeder post (1/2" wrought iron!!!   ). To think I grazed the stinking target and hit that thin thing from 45 yards. 

I'm thinking of upgrading to the Maxima's but will have to do some looking around now after reading the other posts here.