well heres the deal ive shot wood alumnum and carbon whats the best shooting and the strongestwhat do you guys shoot to hunt with they all seem to fly all right at 15 yards thanks
I've shot all three. In my humble opinion:
Love woodies, but don't have the time nor the tools for proper tuning.
Aluminums may be the best choice for target/3D but your probably going to shoot 1916's or 2016's with 100-145 gr. heads. I was never impressed with penetration of arrows in the 400 grain total weight range. I killed deer with them, but pass throughs weren't frequent, even with well tuned arrows and good shot placement.
Carbons are my choice for lower poundage, even though they can be the most frustrating to tune. .500 spine or weaker, leave them longer than you'd ever think you'd need, and trim very small increments. With 200-250 grains up front, my arrows will weigh 525-550 and pass throughs are expected, even with low-profile 3-blade heads. (and I'm still shooting the first carbons I ever bought, just wish I had a dollar for every fletch I've put on them)
I just bought a dozen Easton Epic 600's at ATAR last weekend, and they're the first carbon shaft that I've ever shot out of a 40 pound that were UNDERspined at full length!
Like olddogrib said above, carbons in the .500 spine need full length and 100 grain brass inserts w/ 125 grain heads just to fly right from a low poundage bow.
With the Epic .600 shafts I got perfect spine (defined as perfect grouping of fletched and unfletched shafts together) with 28 inches of shaft length, the normal Epic inserts (22 grains), and 125 grain heads with my 40 lb Quinn recurve. So now instead of shooting 13 grains/lb I'm able to shoot 9 grains/lb.
The Epic inserts are really great inserts too, BTW. No way the insert can ever be off-center in the shaft. Easton really did their homework.
nchunter has it. I recently have gotten a hold of a entrada .600 made by GT. They seem to fly perfect out of a 37# longbow(R/D) with 145 grain points cut to 29.5"s for a buddy I had shoot the bow for me. I am out of commision right now, but I will do some testing in mid-august. I would think cut to 28-29"s with 125-150 grain point weight they should fly for ya. Shawn
The only disagreement I would have with odr is about penetration with lightweight carbons. I have been shooting 7.7-8.5 grains per pound the last 2 years and get pass thrus on most everything I shoot. I keep the shots under 25 yards and shoot only quartering away or broadside shots. I know of a bunch of guys on the site here who are having great results with fairly light carbons and sharp broadheads. again I think carbon being the key word, as it will out-penetrate both wood and aluminum of the same weight. Shawn
thanks guys i been shooting beaman mfx 500 at 27.5 and they are rockets do they make hit 100 grain insert any body know or should i just use a broad head adapter with like a 125 broad head is 100 grain heads to light
I use the Easton Axis (original) 500 size out of my 45# Thunderstick mag (26" draw) and they fly PERFECT. Some of the best arrow flight I have ever had and they seem to be a good match between weight and spine for this draw weight. Not too light and not too heavy. I can't recommend this shaft enough. I use 100 grain heads (125gr Steel Force with the bleeders removed).
Matt
Right now I'm using 2016 Easton Yukon aluminum, with a 100 grain b.h. adaptor and Bear Razorhead. It is around 580 grains from a 47 pound recurve, but they fly great and are quiet.
I can shoot these out to forty/fifty yards without a lot of lob factor.
Hey I am like everyone else, shoot 45lb bow. Shoot Beman MFX 500 (same as axis) 125 grain head, full length shaft it flys fine.
scott
just got some epic .600 yesterday, I'm bare shaft
tuning today it looks like 29.5 with 145gr.is going to be the about right for my 45lb Bob Lee TD Hunter. I'm waiting for the glue to dry, to give it another try.
i've got a weird set up that works great for target. I haven't gotten to hunt with them.
They are Easton Excels (small diameter) and are 30" with 100grns up front. THe weird thing is I'm using 4 5" sheild feathers.
I like how they fly, and penetrate good on my hay barrel target. Many people say that they need to be 10grains per bow pull weight. Mine are 397 grains. I put weight tubes in them and made em about 481grains. But they didnt fly as well...hit harder but did not fly as consistant.
all out of a 45lb. bow of course