Those who use Axis shafts, are you footing them? I have read how they are very tough shafts but I'm not seeing that.
  This happened once two years ago and now again tonight. Broken right behind the HIT insert. Both times on a 2.5 yr old buck. Both times no penetration, little blood, no deer. Coincidence? I have never had any other shaft break like this on a good or bad shot. I thought tonight's shot was a good one? Like possibly the arrow broke on a rib at entrance? Or the arrow did not hit where I thought it did?
I found an old treebank camo aluminum shaft the fits perfect to foot some with. I don't think a 10 grain 1" foot will effect flight at all.
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About twenty minutes prior to shooting the deer I swapped out Gold Tips for the Axis because they were flying really good and I couldn't miss with them after work tonight.
Tedd

Are you 100% sure it isn't breaking before the arrow settles out of paradox or for that matter, amd just spitballing here, but are you tuned up for good flight? I've found that any yaw or pitch can lead to more tip breaks. Just thinking of possibilities.

Perfect flight. Though I guess there could have been a glance off of a weed or branch just a foot or so in front of the deer. The shot was a bit farther than usual and it was getting dark but it felt perfect and looked dead on as it flew. I lost sight of it at the last 3-4 feet. I did not see it hit. There was a crack sound and the deer exploded, I could easily see the arrow fly upward a few feet and knew there was no penetration.

Other than what I and you have mentioned, the only other reasonable answer (Occam's Razor style) is that the arrow(s) got structurally compromised somehow before the shot some day and the scapula or other dense bone was just too much for it. Im sure someone else will have a better idea, I just can't see them breaking like that out of quality control on their part. But, who knows. Sucks you lost the deer, but on the upside it sounds like he lives to be hunted another day.

ted i shoot axis now, because they dont make beman mfx classics anymore. Axis are the replacements from what ive read. I don't think they are very durable shafts ,especially compared to gold tip trad or carbon Express. just my opinion

Arrow toughness is hard to gauge on deer impacts with bone and muscle reaction. Those could be good shafts that caught a tough test. Have you had any seemingly premature failure from them in practice sessions?

ive got some of those axis arrows with the hit insert, bad design if you ask me. at least other inserts have a collar to put preasure on the leading edge of the arrow. where these will just push the arrow apart. I wont hunt them.

I use Axis shafts and have little issue with them. I don't use the HIT inserts however, I use Firenocks half out inserts that also double as a collar.

I've been using them for years and always thought they were tough    I've had them hit square into concrete block or pressure treated lumber missing a target at home before and while the fieldpoint was toast the arrow shaft and insert were fine.  No arrow can survive the perfect hit I guess? 

I've shot the traditional axis since they came out. I foot mine and smack rocks (not on purpose) while stump shooting with no failures. Before I footed them I did have a few failures. Footed, they are tougher than any other shaft I have used, including Gold Tip and Carbon Express in my opinion.

I shoot the MFX still. I bought a lot while I could. I've have them break and also drive the hit insert back after repeated hard strikes practicing.
Foot the arrows it makes a huge difference!!! I now foot every one of them. I didn't feet they were unreasonable breaking before- it's an arrow but footing makes them last much longer and it's easy to do. It also doesn't change my arrow flight. 

Thanks for the insight. I'll foot the rest of them. I do sometimes use hot melt and was thinking I could have damaged them. But this batch looks like I glued them in with epoxy.
I'll foot them and carry on!

Tedd

I foot mine and they are hard to break. I have some I am still shooting from the first year they hit the market.

I switched to beamon Centershot shafts with the brass inserts because of axis breaking.

I was very underwhelmed with axis durability when I tried them. Switched to gold tip trad classics a while back.... MUCH better.

Foot them and I'm pretty sure you'll have them a lot longer.  Just an inch and a quarter or so will do it.

what are most people using for footing, aluminum shaft?

I been shooting Axis 300(not trads) for a few years ,footed with 2018 alum arrrow ,most durable arrow I ever shot I have missed my mark more then a time or two and bounced them off of rocks and my cement block basement wall with no I'll effect.also did break a couple when the arrow somehow got erratic flight and got hit on the side( tree ect)when the arrow got a clean break,That tells me a side impact is there weak point.All and all there my favorite arrow to shoot fly great out of my bows.I have not found that the footing effects flight at all.

I believe 2016, 2018, and 2020 shafts fit the the axis shafts, you just have to figure out which aluminum shaft matches the outer diameter of the axis in the spine you are shooting.