What are the Best Carbon Hunting Arrows?

[deanosborne]

Going to buy some new arrows, what are the best most accurate hunting arrows? Been shooting Beeman ICS Hunters but have been told that the Easton Axis thinner arrows are tougher, faster and more accurate. They are more expensive but I am not that concerned about price, I just want the best hunting arrows money can buy. Anyone have any good information? Thanks

Z7 Extreme
68#/29"
Trophy Taker
True Glo
Axion

[Button Nubbs]

I have heard the easton acc and carbon express aramid kv's are both very good arrows, but with that comes an insane price tag. Imo I believe most of the shooters out there (myself included) would not be able to tell the difference. Select the proper spine take the time to properly tune your rest and just about any arrow you shoot will be as "accurate" as the other.

[halflife65]

You are going to get a lot of different answers on that one...I have a very similar setup as you and use the Axis nfused arrows but are they the best?  I don't know - the nearest bow shop carries them and they are very good so I don't complain.

I think I probably shot just as well with the Epics, though, and they were cheaper.

If you don't care about price, a lot of guys like the Axis Full Metal Jackets (FMJs).  I did shoot a regular Axis and an FMJ from the same distance with the same bow and the FMJ did get better penetration into a target.  Of course, I've shot a couple of animals with a regular Axis and got full passthroughs...so whatever.

Like Button said, probably the correct spine and a tuned bow makes more a difference than the arrow, assuming you're not buying complete garbage.

[carpsniperg2]

I have always liked gold tip. Are they the best but they work for me. Just find a arrow that shoots good threw your setup, and shoot strait I have shot a lot of diffrent arrows and took the fmj's to new zealand. They penetrated great! but bend easy, once they are bent they are junk. I have shot the maxima's and aramid, both good arrows. I have heard a lot of good things about the  easton acc shafts.

[D-Rock425]

I have never had a problem with my goldtips. 

[throttlejocky20]

I used the beaman ics and recently switched to the axis n-fused I can not say they are the best. But what is the best arrow? everyone has there own opinion. I do notice that the axis n-fused are stronger than the beamans. I am n ot saying they dont break because I have about 4 dozen waiting for the boy to shoot. But 70 percent of the time if I miss the target or an animal the arrow is still shootable( with a new tip or broadhead).

[Ray]

The ones that get the job done.

[sakoshooter]

I have heard the easton acc and carbon express aramid kv's are both very good arrows, but with that comes an insane price tag. Imo I believe most of the shooters out there (myself included) would not be able to tell the difference. Select the proper spine take the time to properly tune your rest and just about any arrow you shoot will be as "accurate" as the other.

I'd have to agree w/ya Button

[Drifterat]

If you're the type of archer that only shoots to get tuned up for hunting, then goes hunting, I'd shoot FMJ's.

But if you like to shoot year round, do 3-D's or just shoot a lot, I'd get Easton Axis ST or Beman MFX arrows.

The Slim Tech arrows are super tough, buck the wind good and penetrate deep.

Easton/Beman made in USA, everything else is not.

[bullrider97]

The ones that get the job done.

I agree, but I'm also not into spending hundreds of dollars on equipment, when gold tips (35.00) per six or another similar arrow shoot just as accurately through my bow with a little tuning. I think lots of practice and knowing your equipment makes any decent arrow as deadly as the expensive ones. 

I like bow madness for my setup.

[bow4elk]

If you want to know the "best" arrow, I assume you mean highest quality shaft.  Top end carbon or carbon composite shafts are very expensive.  I think you need to state what you're looking for or trying to achieve.  For example, "I want to spend $80/dozen for assembled carbon arrows".  That cuts to the chase a little quicker, because, as Ray pointed out, they will all get the job done if properly matched to your bow, etc.

It sounds as if you want a quality carbon arrow set up that won't break the bank but still delivers on quality and durability.  Gold Tip XT Hunter shafts fit this bill nicely.  If you're a hardcore "Made in the USA" kind of guy, then you want to look at Easton as Drifterat pointed out.  Easton's technology and equipment is unsurpassed anywhere in the world with regard to carbon arrow manufacturing.

With any hunting arrow there are a lot of factors at play: proper length, spine, FOC, fletching, broadheads, arrow rest, shooting form, etc.  I'd argue that tuning your bow and shooting form (and bad habits) are far more critical than the brand/price of the arrow shafting.  

[D-Rock425]

I don't understand the whole slim arrow thing.  I've shot 6 elk since 03 and have had pass throughs on 4 of the 6.  My hunting bows are set at 63 and 65 pounds.  I blow through elk at 45 yards with my cheap goldtips why would I want to spend the extra money on other arrows. 

[elkbuster]

Carbon Express Maxim Hunter is a nice carbon arrow.  I use the Gold Tip Expedition Hunter 5575 for practice and playing around in the back yard and then get out my more expensive CE Maxim Hunter 350 in Lost Camo for hunting.  Sadly to say, they both perform about the same in my Z7.  I don't have to re-tune too much either.  

The CE Maxim Hunter in Lost Camo look pretty on my Mathews Z7 though!  

[Yeti]

I switched from Easton, to Vapor by Blackhawk and now to CX Mayhem.  So far groupings are great for me 3" at 50yds. Cant tell you about penetration (tag soup on the stove) as the Mayhems are intended to be a heavier arrow. But I am impressed.  They are $60 per 6 arrows.


I just remembered about arrow penetration.  Since I switched over I have been almost blowing through my block.  I am getting about 6" of penetration than before. But I did go from 285 fps to 308 when I got a new bow. 436 grain arrow

[deanosborne]

WOW!!! Excellent information, I am truly in the company of experts here. Thanks to all of you!!! I will buy 6 of each: AXIS, CX, and Gold Tip, then shoot the hell out of them. I will post the results in a week or so. Thanks again guys!

[huntnnw]

Love my A/C/C 's

[bow-n-head]

fyi... Easton epic, gold tip's and carbon express maxima's all break when elk role over on them I haven't had alot of pass through's, I would say mabe 10-15 percent. I usually find half the arrow in the elk.

[Wanttohuntmore]

I'm curious which arrows do not break when elk roll over on them?  I too am looking at new arrows this year, I used silent stalkers from Cabelas for my last 3 animals, can't complain, but always think there's something much better!

[bow-n-head]

you know gold tips ad says it's the toughest arrow out there, they claim it's the last arrow you will ever have to buy they haven't seen me shoot.

[halflife65]

One more thing that I forgot to mention is that the paint on arrows can make them hard to get out of targets.

I bought some camo painted Easton Axis and they flew just fine and were a little heavier (depending on your application this can be good - I hunted with them and didn't mind that they were a few feet per second slower because I figured that it more than made up for it in kinetic energy).  They flew straight and performed well, so no complaints from that standpoint.  HOWEVER, the problem that I had was getting them back out of the target.  Even putting the arrow lube on their didn't help all that much.  At some of the 3d shoots with cheaper targets it took two of us to get them back out - not as much of an issue on high-quality targets, though.  But for that reason I usually just stick to the plain, unpainted arrows now. 

[280ackley]

My brother picked up some Victory arrows at xXx Archery last year.  They seem like a good arrow that didn't break the bank if I remember right.

http://www.victoryarchery.com/default.aspx

[throttlejocky20]

One more thing that I forgot to mention is that the paint on arrows can make them hard to get out of targets.

I bought some camo painted Easton Axis and they flew just fine and were a little heavier (depending on your application this can be good - I hunted with them and didn't mind that they were a few feet per second slower because I figured that it more than made up for it in kinetic energy).  They flew straight and performed well, so no complaints from that standpoint.  HOWEVER, the problem that I had was getting them back out of the target.  Even putting the arrow lube on their didn't help all that much.  At some of the 3d shoots with cheaper targets it took two of us to get them back out - not as much of an issue on high-quality targets, though.  But for that reason I usually just stick to the plain, unpainted arrows now. 

At one shoot my old man, brother in law, and I were all shooting camo arrows. Well we forgot to lube the arrows and all three of us hit the x ring on a yote, end result animal on its side one guy standing on it 2 guy pulling on arrows and 2 arrows left in the target. Someone got them out but the the three groups right behind us they all tried.

[danceswitharrows]

I love my Easton FMJ's     I have heard people talk about them bending because of the metal jacket but I have had no problems.

But when you ask such a broad question your going to get alot of different answers Its like saying whats the best rifle or best diesel or best set of boobs.  In the long run you come to find what ever of the  above stated you can get your hands on will make you smile 

[Everett]

Carbon Express has a nice selection of arrows.

[huntndad]

I don't think there is a "best" arrow.  You need to look at your personal set up and go with what works for you.  You need to find an arrow that has the correct spine at the weight and length you want.  There is no such thing as a faster arrow.  A ligher arrow will travel faster than a heavier one, but that doesn't make it better.  In Washington, you must have an arrow that is at least 6 grains per lb of pull.  So for me, I have to find and arrow that will have a finished weight of at least 420 grains.  Most Goldtip arrows don't work for me (27" arrow), but they might work for you.  I'm also not a good enough archer to tell the difference between an arrow with a .003 straightness or one with .006 (as I'm sure is true for 99% of the hunters on here).  For me, the best arrow after considering all factors, including price, is the Beman ICS Hunter 340.  I like the smooth finish, and it is as tough as any carbon arrow. 

[deleted BGS]

Easton axis! Spendy but awesome. I have black and the camo, i dont like camo because they are hard to see and hard to pull out of targets, but very strong and fast. I have blazer and regular vanes.

[viper55]

I used Gold tip XT Hunters in camo and I now use Easton ST Axis 340. They shhot good and everything I have shot this last hunting season was a complete pass through. The only reason I switched was they were out of the gold tips went I went to the shop. So I figured I would try out the Eastons. I like the slim design and the fly straight when I am not srcewing up my shot. I am still trying to get a good broadhead tune on them. I found with my bow(PSE XFORCE GX) 3 Blade fly better that 4 blade muzzy MX version.

[MIKEXRAY]

I haven't shot all the brands available and I have just stuck with the Beman ics line. I would like to make the point that 3 years ago I started buying the Ics Hunter Elites that have the smaller tolerances for straightness over the ones I was using & I noticed a difference especially in broadhead flight. My regular Ics ( forget straightness on both ) were a lot harder to get the spin test perfect & some were unshootable in my opinion. I now get the elites @ like $ 20 a dozen more, they all spin perfect & I don't have to designate any as " practice arrow only ". As discussed for hunting you don't have to spend a fortune on arrows but I found the next straightness up for $ 20 made a big difference for me. Mike

[let.it.fly]

check out carbon express pile drivers. almost 500 grn hunting arrow for me. passed through both shoulder blades and kept on going on my mulie this year. im only pushing emm about 250 but you literally cant here me shoot from 10 yards. even me, i only here a soft thump when i shoot.

[buck man]

I love my Easton FMJ's     I have heard people talk about them bending because of the metal jacket but I have had no problems.

But when you ask such a broad question your going to get alot of different answers Its like saying whats the best rifle or best diesel or best set of boobs.  In the long run you come to find what ever of the  above stated you can get your hands on will make you smile 

  I like the axis! Killed 2 bulls , 2 bucks , and a cougar all with the same arrow and the same year. Never was let down with the beamans either. As far as boobs go though I like them all.! 

[300UltraMagShooter]

They will all fly about the same...  spin test each no matter which you get.

One thing I look for is a goof finish on the arrow.  Not really needed, but i'm use to hunting spooky whitetails at close range so anything that helps make a quiet draw is of benefit.
 

[huntnnw]

Penetration on targets is mis leading, wrapped arrows seem to go in farther dut to the slick outside wrap. Any of the carbon arrows today with correct spine will be fine,I persnally shoot Easton A/C/C

[daddysprad]

One more thing that I forgot to mention is that the paint on arrows can make them hard to get out of targets.

Also, if you use a Whisker Biscuit, the camo arrows make a lot more noise when you draw.