Easton Axis n-fused vs ???? other arrows

[jrebel]

I have shot Easton Axis n-fused for the last few years and don't have any complaints.  My research of other post on this sight suggest that the Beman ICS Hunter is a good arrow.  What does everyone else shoot and / or reccomend.  I have to buy new arrows this year for my new set up and am interested in all options.

I am buying 300 spine for a 29.5 inch arrow on my 30" draw mathews helium 70 lbs. 

Thanks

Johnny

[carpsniperg2]

I have shot close to 30 animals with goldtip xt hunters. They have always been good to me. I have shot a lot of arrows and play with new ones each year. I have never switched from the goldtips they have always been my go to arrow for my compounds. In my trad bows it the arrow dynamics

[RadSav]

You are one of those few who will have to compromise and ultimately decide what is right for you. 

On the one hand shooting a long arrow means challenges getting good stability.  You get greater stability by rotating a shaft with most of it's weight furthest from it's axis.  Similar to the effect of a wheel on a kids bicycle compared to a 10 speed racing bike where the racing bike has more stability.  In this case the ICS or GoldTip would lend additional stability over the Axis.

On the other hand shooting a long arrow means challenges with wind drift.  In this case a smaller diameter arrow similar to that of the Axis will drift less in a cross wind if weight is the same or similar to the larger diameter choices.

With your draw weight, draw length, bow and power stroke you are going to enjoy plenty of speed and plenty of penetration for anything that comes your way in North America.  Only you can determine which of these benefits is going to serve you best in the hunting situations you find yourself in most.

Myself personally, I think that the ICS is about the best value going right now in 300 spined arrows.  Though my preferences lean toward the FMJ, ACC and Maxima Hunter.

[wrongway]

I have shot the ACCs for years and never had any problems with them. I know a lot of guys who are going to the victory VAP v1s gor hunting.

[jrebel]

RadSav

You are a wealth of knowledge.  I appreciate your posts and find them very informative.  I read archived posts where you broke down other members archery gear and gave fantastic feedback on arrow setups.  As a matter of fact that is what stemmed the original question on this post.  So again....THANK YOU 

After shooting the smaller diameter arrows for the last few years (Easton N-fused), I think I am going to change it up.  Most all my shots on elk are under 25 yards so I am not to worried about wind drift.  With the exception of one shot I have always had pass throughs.  I am still not convinced that pass throughs are the greatest thing in the world.  They are effective, but In years past I had far better blood trails with arrows still in animals as the run.  Though price is not a huge factor, I do like the price of the Beamon, gold tips way better than the Easton. 

Conclusion:  I am going with the Beman ics hunter 300 and will let the shooting tell the story.  Update to follow in a week or so. 

RadSav one more question just out of curiosity.....What about / or Why do you like the FMJ?? 

Thanks Guys   

[Dirty Mike]

Buy american made

[wrongway]

Whats wrong with Easton ?

[Sliverslinger]

Normally I would spend more time providing more info and reasoning behind this recommendation but I'm on a quick break at work. I strongly recommend checking out Gold Tip Kinetics. Specifically the Pro line if you want the lightest straightest and  best weight tolerance just about anywhere. Very, very good arrow in my opinion and the tiny diameter helps decrease the effects of side wind.  Worth looking at in my opinion- but would replace the GT nocks with Easton nocks.

[jrebel]

DOOOHHHHH 

I backed out and went with what has worked and killed many animal for me.  I bought the easton axis n-fused  300 spine. 

[wrongway]

 

[RadSav]

Sorry for my late response.

"RadSav one more question just out of curiosity.....What about / or Why do you like the FMJ??"

Well, if you have been reading my posts you know that I have been a disgruntled Easton fan for a few years.  That has nothing to do with the FMJ's or the ACC's.  It has everything to do with customer appreciation and portrayed arrogance.  Especially with those individuals working the various shows.  I've had a good number of dealers that have approached me in recent years sharing the same disappointment.

The reason I like Easton's aluminum/carbon shafts, both carbon over aluminum/ACC and aluminum over carbon/FMJ, is unmatched consistency, durability and stealth.  For some things I prefer the FMJ and for others I prefer the ACC.  Though my choice of favor is usually with the ACC.  Though I no longer carry either in the field that has nothing to do with the product itself.  Again that has only to do with my disagreement with the way Easton has been treating myself and many of their customers.

With all carbon arrows I first sort by weight.  Then I sort by straightness.  Then by spine.  Then by uniformity of spine.  Then I mark grades as "A+", "A" & "A-".  "B" shafts or below are either used for shooting stumps, rocks or launched into the abis.  Once I have my sorted select shafts I orient all to the weakest point of static spine and fletch.  I then run all of them through the Hooter Shooter and make adjustments if the dynamic spine varies from the static spine.  If they do I strip the vanes and refletch to the correct orientation.  That takes a lot of time, a lot of fletching and often a lot of money to get a perfect 2 dozen shafts for every bow and season.

Attached are pictures of one of the Squaw's arrows.  On the one side you see a mark by the nock showing spine orientation and the number of the arrow.  In the other picture you see the grade marking.

When I used the Easton FMJ's and ACC's exclusively life was much more simple.  On the FMJ's I'd just wrap and fletch.  Since I shoot 340 spine and hate the G-nock I would cut the uni-bushing off the ACC 3-60, install Micro Nocks directly into the shaft, wrap and fletch.  From there I would go straight to the Hooter Shooter.  No sorting, no spine testing, no orientation and no grading.  One arrow in maybe 18 or 20 would need to be refletched or shot into the abis - That's It!  The uniformity of spine is only matched by XX75, X7 or XX78 aluminum shafts.  The confidence that comes with that definitely carries forward into the hunting state of mind.

So, that is why I like the FMJ, and ACC.  In all Carbon shafts the only thing I have found that comes close is the Carbon Express Maxima series.  Thus, the reason I am so fond of them and now use them exclusively.

[wrongway]

Now with that, I can understand why you don't shoot Easton any more. You go to a lot of good work setting up your arrows, nice read. would love to have a Hooter shooter