Think I'm going back to alum. Just seems a lot more simple. For some reason carbons give me fits. Seems all I do is fiddle with this and that trying to get consistent flight. I don't know , maybe it's just me. Alum. just seems more forgiving, and they weigh good without the front loading and such. Just my opinion, wondering if anyone else shared it?
I shoot both carbons and swagged aluminum. I love the consistancy of my 2117 Dougherty Naturals and I have a few Legacy's laying around.
There is only a 20 grain difference between my aluminum and AD Trad Lites...525 grains and 546 grains with the 125 Zwickeys but the carbons are definitely faster and flatter.
I got both to work for me so I'm happy.....
If you remember I was the ONLY guy still shooting XX75's in BC three springs ago...LOL
I still shoot alum's out of my Black Widow quite a bit but I've gone the other way. Gold Tips are tough and fly perfect once I spend the time to tune them to perfection.
I still have enough JDA Supernatural shafts to last two lifetimes.. Yeah!
Howdy John, how you been? That sure was a fun trip, huh?
Big fun David. I pull out all my BC pics at least once a year... I am reminded why they call it beautiful British Columbia!
:goldtooth:
I shot strictly aluminum up until about two years ago. Bought a few dozen Gold Tips and didn't like them at first until I learned how to tune them. I now shoot both and still like shooting my XX78's. Bought several dozen over the last 4 years because of rumors about the possibility of them becoming scarce.
I still shoot 1916's. Archery is a funny thing. Trad shooters going to carbon and most of my wheeled bow friends are going back to aluminum.
I still have a couple of dozen XX75 2016's that I take out now an then.
Not really biased either way,but I do shoot Carbons more now days.
I shoot wood mostly but alum arrows are mighty consistant and real easy to make. Its sure is handy when I bury a broadhead in a tree or root to just unscrew it and go on. With the price of good arrow wood you find nowadays, alum is a better buy most of the time. I use both.
1818s,1918s, and 2018s, depending on the bow. I shoot wood for hunting most of the time. Usually, I can switch from one bow with aluminum and go to one that is set up for wood with one practice session if I change bows during the fall season.
I shoot aluminum and carbon. Love the ease of tuning alum but hate the bending.
As a result of this thread,I went an dug out a few of my 2016's an shot them side by side with my GT's and carbon express arrows.
They really are a very good shaft an did seem most consistant of them all.
Think I'll order some more an use em' for indoors.
I still shoot aluminum.2016s,2018s,1920s,2115s and 2020s.One thing that relates to what your talking about is I can grab one of these sizes or 2 and slap a 100 125 or 145 grain head on it and be reasonably sure I got an arrow that gonna be pretty close to good if not about perfect.One thing nice about aluminum is the consistency in spine and also the consistancy in spine all around the circumfirance of the shaft.So you can just put you knock on and not worry if the shaft is softer or stiffer in relation to your nock placement.Carbons can and do vary.
I do shoot carbons as well.I have had good luck with em without to much tinkering around and going crazy.Maybe I have been lucky thier in my choices.They make a superb hunting arrow no doubt when flying good and certainly have some advantages.I still like and shoot aluminum though as well.
1916(s)and fir shafts (50/55 - 60/65) these days. All my bows are currently from the sixties (sold my customs).
Current favorite bows
Shakespeare Ocala
Pearson Mercury Hunter
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chief
I shoot aluminums and like em... But I do shoot GT's too.... Lets face it... they are more durable.... But I have soooooo many 2219's
I shoot them, 2018, 2117, and 2219.
I am quite fond of my 2018 legacy shafts.I dont have much experience with carbons
I shoot aluminums, tried wood but when you only get 10 good shafts out of 3doz. time to dance with what brung ya. Aluminum!Because I shoot lighter weight bows I find that their is a wider selection and the consistency that I seek. :archer:
I still shoot alum. on targets but for stumpin or blind bale shooting I use carbon. It saves on bent arrows.
I shoot aluminum arrows only. I don't care for the thin diameter of carbon arrows and I'm not into loading up on the tip weight craze that carbon shooters are into. Since I have a 30" draw length and shoot light poundage bows, my 32" (BOP) light arrows turn into heavy arrows since I use large diameter arrows tipped with a 145 grain broadhead glued to a 36 grain screw-in Zwickey long broadhead adapter. My heavy arrows grain per pound wise are flat shooting out to 20 yards.
Woodies and Carbons for me Davey :archer:
I used to shoot aluminum switched over to carbon two years ago with great results. Last week I got a wild hair to try aluminum again. So I fleched up a half dozen yesterday and went out stumpin this morning like always. Well, I will be sticking to carbons as I destroy the first arrow in two years today. IMO aluminum shoots nice but they just don't hold up for me.
Prior to hunt season, I stumpshoot & practice w/alums, then woods only.
I can't have enough 2016's! Use them for 3D, stump shooting etc. Been the carbon route and have to say it leaves me frazzled. Woodies are fun, quiet and great for just about anything, and IMO best for close hunting shots.
... mike ...
I'm mostly switching over to GT carbons but I still love my GG 2016's and will probably use them for a LONG time as long as they keep making them. They're cheap, pretty consistent, easy to tune, and have a good weight to them. I do wish they wouldn't bend but I guess the has to be some downfall to them or they'd be very expensive.
i shoot 2016 and love em
i really like my alum, 2020's and 8.6 Bear mag.'s , fly great out of my bows weights.
Nothing shoots better for me than a 1916 Easton. I use the same arrow from my 3 bows with no problems. Couldn't do it with carbon. Aluminum is so easy to tune and work with. I think quieter on release too. For me aluminum is simple and that's what I like..IJ
I just switched over to alums a month ago, 1916, i love'em. Fast, easy to tune, plus each one is spined perfectly, no more by 2-3dz get 6-12 good shafts like with wood. Some day i might go back to woodies, but for now i'm really enjoying alums.
I shoot 2217's and have been doing it for ...... well a long time - not being specific on just how old I am....
I too, like the consistancy and the weight and balance of the aluminum shafts. It seems to me that I can get a 2217 to bare shaft tune out of almost any bow. A little length change, a little point weight change, and voila' - perfect bare shaft flight.
I tried carbons, and you know they are a tough shaft material. They take a bit more attention and tools for cutting, cleaning, gluing, etc. But they are tough. I guess one advantage of the carbons is they are either straight or they are broke (well as straight as they were when you got them anyway)
But 2217's are the work horse for me, and they get to go hunting with me every fall.
Chinook
I like the aluminumn shafts 1916,1918,2016 with different heads . I only shoot the old Autumn Orange for some odd reason I like them the best, but they are hard to find now days!! If you got any and want to get rid of them let me know.
MARK
As a newby, it's been quite an education. I've been thinking that at some point some of this may fall into p[lace. Maybe.
I was trying to sell a dozen 2018 Legacys with no luck so took one out and drilled the bull with it. This was after giving up on them as my wood arrows seemed to be working better. Plus I had just been reading some Jay Massey and was going over to all wood. Funny how your thinking goes though. Have been looking at/thinking about Carbon bow and arrows. ACS bow from A&H and Alaskan carbon. The comments around carbon arrows have me thinking differently. For now the 2018's are back in the quiver with my woods. Drilling the bull can't be ignored.
I shoot 1916 Legacy"s for nearly everything. I like them for target competition out of my White Wolf TD recurve 38 pounder. Also shoot them for 3D. Cant beat 1916"s
I have both but I prefer the carbons because they dont bend, they're either broken or they're good. I've bent alot of alums stump shooting.
I have a few XX75s and Legacys of Various Sizes Laying around.
I agree with ringneck . not very durable but shoot real nice.
I'm very happy with 2219s out of my 70# longbows. I like a heavy arrow. Once you get around 70# aluminum is about the only arrow with mass, with out resorting to special fixes; tubes etc... They are all spined correctly, and the next batch will be just like the last. H
2016's and 2018's cover about everything for me.
I'm ordering some tonight... 2018 from Lost Nation to get me started. :campfire:
X-7 and some gg2's Mostly for target but have a couple bows tuned with broadheads on swagged 2213.
John
Shoot 2018s and 2117s. Thinking about playing around with carbons, though. Dr. Ashby's reports and comments by other Tradgang members have me curious. Just bought a test kit for carbons and will see how they do.
I shoot 1918's , 2018's and 2020's out of several bows. I also shoot carbons.
Thoses 1918's and 2020's are tough arrows.
D
I've always shot aluminum arrows. I've considered trying some carbons for stumping because I've damaged so many aluminum arrows. (I'm not the greatest judge of stump hardness.) But my 2117s fly great out of my bow and they're easy to make.
20/20 or 20/18 are always mixted in my quiver with carbon arrows
I still shoot Aluminum's and like them the best. 2016,1916, 2018 and 1716. I have a lot of wood arrows and some Carbon Express Heritage 150's but the Aluminum shafts are consistent and shoot good for me.
Mike Lee
I primarily shoot wood, old Acme cedars and I have a supply of Rogue River tapered cedars. But I do like the old 2018 and have a supply of old original gamegetters and a few dozen XX75 autumn orange that I will make up as well for my "modern" glass bows.
Just bought and made up a bunch of 2016's , i normally only shoot woodies but fiorgot how nice these fly outta my Hills .
52# Hills flinging 2016's cut at 28" 1/4 tipped with 175gn b'heads fly like darts !!!!!
for me they are just cheaper and easier than carbon ...
I do and will never shot anything else
prefer aluminums...more consistent to me.. like carbons also.
Shoot aluminum 95% and wood 5%. Dont like having to mess with carbons to get them to work. Have several dozen ea. of about 8 different sizes so I always have an arrow that works with very little bow or point weight tuning.
although you'll find carbon, wood, and aluminum in my quiver. When a more precise shot is called for, I shoot my 2117's. It's hard to beat the consistency of aluminum.
I really haven't shot anything but aluminum on any regular basis. Shot micro-flites in the early sixties and for the last few years have pretty much stuck with 2317s and I shoot 8.6 metric magnums out of one bow. Because of the way I set my bows up and my being weakminded, I cut my arrows so the BH hits my index finger at full draw and I can't (or haven't yet) found a compatible carbon that'll let me get away with that. Maybe I will in the future. Grant
I still love my 2219 and 2317.But I use carbon on regular basis,more than other because FOC and because it is quiter.
I shot 2315 forever but just made the switch to carbons. I now wonder why I waited so long.
Anyone know where to find XX75 Autumn Oranges in 2018s?
Thanx
QuoteOriginally posted by Zbone:
Anyone know where to find XX75 Autumn Oranges in 2018s?
Thanx
They are a tough find good luck to you. Would 1918's work for you?
DD
Doug - Sent you a PM... Thanx
I shoot aluminums exclusively. I don't like carbons out of my trad bows!! and I've shot my share of them. I save the carbons for my wheelie bows! Alums are simple, easy to manage and just feel right coming out of my longbow or recurve!
shoot 2219 Easton Classic I saved up around here....and a mix of Sitka Spruce and Doug fir woodies...
keep em sharp,
Ron Herman
Ive shot alot of stumps trees rocks and have had them bend but have still shot them. Ive had them bent pretty bad and they still shot fine. But i still shoot carbon.
QuoteOriginally posted by Doug in MN:
QuoteOriginally posted by Zbone:
Anyone know where to find XX75 Autumn Oranges in 2018s?
Thanx
They are a tough find good luck to you. Would 1918's work for you?
DD [/b]
They work for me! I would like to try the blues, too.
what do you mean , still ???
30" 1916xx75s
I HAVE BEEN USING ALUMINUM FOR 30 YEARS WANT SHOOT ANY OTHER.I SHOOT 2213 WITH FEATHERS LOVE THOSE FEATHERS.I SHOOT 45 LB BEAR GRIZZLE WILL NOT CHANGE IT WORKES FOR ME.I HAVE KILLED MY SHARE OF DEER WITH 45 LB SO WHY CHANGE. I USE BEAR RAZERHEADS 125 FOR YEARS.HAVE FUN BE HAPPY
I shoot both out of different bows for different purposes. There are alot of pros and cons to concider. The alloys have the weight, consitancy and pull alot easier from 3D's(plus they cost much less). The only downside to me is the durability factor. Easy to ruin an arrow. To each their own I suppose.