Given the number of carbon oriented threads, my annoyance at my current batch of XX75s (at their fragility anyway) and my extreme susceptibly to suggestion, I'm considering switching back to carbons.
My biggest consideration is value. I'm looking for tough shafts that will last a while. Higher cost per shaft isn't a huge consideration to me as long as the shafts last enough longer to justify the price.
I'm interested to hear which carbon shafts you believe give the most shots per dollar (or least dollars per shot - heh).
I purchased some of the Grizzly Alaskans from Badger Arrows and have nothing but high praise. I shoot everyday somewhere, target, stumps, basement, hotel parking lot.have bounced a few arcross the blacktop with no ill affects...these are tough shafts. I didn't have any problem tuning, they fly great and hit hard. JMHO
CX Heritage
Carbon Express Heritage 350's---------very durable!
IMHO, AD's are amongst the best of the best carbons money can buy - they will cost, however. I should add that these are "one size fits all" kinda shafts and are pretty easy to set up and get flying well out most any stickbow from 40# on up.
For cheap, I love the Beman Ventures (now labeled as "Bowhunters"), and can be scouted out for $40/doz or so,
Again, my subjective opinions ... and unlike alums, carbons can be finicky to set up - might take some trialing/testing.
Whatever carbon ya get, a small footing of an aluminum shaft on the business end adds a great deal of strength and longevity.
I've found the Beman MFX Classics to be very durable.
AD Heavies - toughest arrow out!
I shoot Gold Tips. For the price and tune ablity there hard to top.
Gotta say the MFX from Beeman. Toughest arrow I've ever missed with ;) :D
Personally I think any carbon is far more durable than any alum arrow.. I have hit a brick wall a few times at our indoor range and the carbons have survived. They can be broken, but it's much harder to ruin em than alum arrows. Most of the time I get a small split on one end that can be cut off and the arrow salvaged somewhat..
QuoteOriginally posted by zilla:
Personally I think any carbon is far more durable than any alum arrow.. I have hit a brick wall a few times at our indoor range and the carbons have survived. They can be broken, but it's much harder to ruin em than alum arrows. Most of the time I get a small split on one end that can be cut off and the arrow salvaged somewhat..
foot those carbons (tip & tail with a bit of aluminum), and they become just about bomb proof. Though I did manage to break one (shaft, above the footing) at Denton this year. That is the first one I broke in a year of shooting.
Problem for me is I am limited to who makes them long enough for a 32" draw. CX Heritage are the longest carbon I have found so far at 32.75" from valley of nock to bop.
Carbon Express Heritage.
QuoteOriginally posted by BEN:
Carbon Express Heritage 350's---------very durable!
That's what I've settled on.
Good stuff so far. :-D
QuoteOriginally posted by Dutchman:
QuoteOriginally posted by BEN:
Carbon Express Heritage 350's---------very durable!
That's what I've settled on. [/b]
Careful on your shaft selection - 250's are 84# spine. 350's are telephone poles.....
here are some stats:
150-.487 = 65#
250-.373 = 84#
350-.320 = 98#
Not nearly all the shafts available have been used in the Study's testing but, when used 'as is' the Grizzly Stiks are by far the number one in toughness. Next in line would be the CE Heritage. I haven't worked with the parallel Grizzly Stik shafts or the AD shafts yet.
We're still working on the IF's, but all the carbons I've used are showing excellent durability when internally footed.
Ed
TGMM Family of the Bow
CX Heritage, very tough and good weight.
AD HammerHeads... :knothead: ......only been shootin' 'em a couple of weeks but they're some heavy duty mommas. :thumbsup:
Another vote for the CX Heritage!
Here's another vote for Carbon Express Heritage. Love those 250s with 100gr. brass inserts!!!
For toughness and value I too vote for the CX Heritage shafts.For a great arrow that is not as tough but not as heavy either would be the Beman Bowhunter.I
CX Heritage.
CX Heritage--very durable and very consistant in spine
Carbon Express Heritage
Dr Ashby, What is internal footing? How is it done?
Thanks, Bill
For me:
Best beat around/value carbon:
Vapor Arrows from Sipsey River.
Best General purpose arrow, mid price:
Gold Tips
Best highend carbon, high price:
Easton ACC or FMJ
I've got all three, and others from almost every company I can think of minus GrizzlySticks or AD. Those are the ones I prefer at the moment.
The new Grizzly Stik Woodies and Banshee's are going to be hard to beat. There shear size and mass has every other shaft beat. They are just one tough arrow.
Next in line are the Arrow Dynamic's.
Carbon Express Maxima's will beat out the Heritage shafts by far. Because they are a woven carbon and have Bull dog nock adapters to prevent spliting the nock end.
The Gold Tip Pro Shafts are top for GT. Then XT's followed by the Expedition's and Trad's.
carbon xpress heritage 250's.
IMO they are just as good as Goldtips but the finish is better
CX Heritage 250's are great for the price and AD Trads are probably better but more expensive. Paul at Badger Arrow or one of the other guys who builds these things every day probably knows a lot more than the rest of us about what is the toughest. Mostly I want arrows that fly well and penetrate the animals. Toughness is nice but secondary. Most of the good carbon arrows tend to hold up well. Some day all the manufacturers will offer arrows that are "internally footed" or otherwise collared so that the weakest link in the arrow is not at the ends where the points and the nocks are.
from my experience
i first shot vapour they where a nice shaft but VERY susceptible to splitting/cracking if you hit something hard.
from the goldtips i used they are good but not as durable as the carbon express. the heritage CX are the toughest and all round probable the best value, you can get a dozen for $65 or blems for less than that. they are tough
also shoot Beman MFX with the thin diameter and thick carbon walls they make for a very strong arrow. iv not broken one yet but they are not cheap!
Carbon Express Heritage Best I've shot
CHEAP to shoot beman ICS $49 dozen. I think grizzly stiks are way over rated, with my experience not even close to the toughness of carbon express for what they cost. This was stupid but we shot the grizzs an carbon express in to a block wall at the local bow shop an it costed my buddy a lot more than it did me when we were done shooting. I had the carbon expresses, just a little test on tuffness. The carbon express terminator hunters won hands down on the BLOCK WALL at 20yds. Right now i`m shooting MFX`s cuz of the small diameter no problems yet. Hope this helps
As I said earlier, CX 350's, but..............I cut them @ 30" and use 200gr. up front. I like the extra weight this set-up gives me and they fly well from my 62# Ancient Spirits Thunderhawk.
AD's
I like the grizzly alaskins But i choose to use them on special hunts only. I like the easton Full metal jackets for weight and durability, Have not seen an AD yet. For me nothing beats wood
blueline
I think the Beman ICS Ventures I picked up a few months ago on clearance for $28/dozen were the best deal I've found. I should have bought more.