Trad Gang

How many of you guys use aluminum arrows ? It seems like very few guys are using them. When I started this two years ago my local shop owner steered me toward using aluminum. At this point in my traditional evolution I would like to switch to wood but a couple of tradgang buddies have advised me against it for several reasons. I am however considering carbon, but wanted to hear more feedback. Am I wrong for looking away from alluminum ? They seem to be durable, and I am "just a tad" rough on them in practicing...   :saywhat:
Any thoughts are appreciated.....
Thanks....Trab

I use wood and carbons, but am thinking of trying aluminum.  I like the idea of the shaft weight you can obtain with just a bare aluminum shaft.  Carbons often require inserts etc...

I really enjoy wood the best, but with 4 small kids running around the house I am not making the time to work on them.  

Shoot what works for you.  I do find carbons exceptionally forgiving across a wide weight range.  This is attractive to me.

When I started shooting traditional about 20 years ago I shot and hunted with wood arrows only.I used to shoot alot of 3D and that was a rule.But I shoot and three these days depending on which bow I'm shooting but more carbons the the other two.Good matched set of wood arrows these days can cost more then aluminum and some carbons.Carbons are tougher then both of the other two,they are either straight or broken.And you get get carbons in blems at reasonable prices if you like.Aluminum are very consistent in weight and spine but they can still get dented or bent even the heavy walled ones like 2020 and 2219.A well tuned carbon arrow is tough to beat in all around shooting,hunting and stumping.

I just can't have enough 2016's! I like carbon and wood too but... Easton 2016's blow up my skirt!   :D   Keep the trad bug alive by trying different stuff.

Hey Mark... Hope to see you up at my place Saturday. Check out "Trad Events and Gatherings".

... mike ...   :archer2:   ...

Nothing wrong with looking at other options. I shoot alum. I love wood but I am to picky and some of the carbons out there while being durable are not as straight or and the spine and weight tolerances are not as good as alum. See I told you I was picky. I love my alum, easy to tune and the price is right

I used them for years and still do when the occasion warrants.. As a note: if you shoot aluminum it pays to own an aluminum arrow straighter, I sold my Easton years ago when I went to using mostly carbon... wish I still had it.. But there is a pretty good substitute available from AAE.. Guess now that I've returned to the longbow I'll need another one cause I can see me shooting aluminum again; it's hard to beat the forgiveness of an aluminum shaft with 20% FOC....

I was mostly shooting woods but just recently(2) years ago switched to aluminum and have no problem and careful of what I shoot with them so I don't bend them...As far as targets they are not a problem and if I bend one on game well to me it's worth it...I haven't shot carbons yet but will someday climb aboard I guess...Keefer's <><

I started with wood and then went to carbon. Now I only use Aluminum with my longbows.  I will shoot them at just about anything.  I have never broken one while shooting can you say that about wood or carbon?  They can be easily straightened unless there is a kink.  But you should just shoot what you want to shoot and enjoy.

Still use them, prefer wood but I still use aluminum.

I shoot both aluminum and carbon, but mostly the aluminum.  2018s in my Dorado and 2117s in the Savannah and GM2.

 Woodies and Gold Tips for me.

I used aluminum for years but you cant beat carbons.

Good to hear from some of you guys using the metal. They do seem durable and I have hand bent a few back into straightness. For cosmetics only, do any of you use the spine wraps to trick yourself into thinking your using wood ?  (only messin here but like SOME women, they do look cooler with some "make-up" on).....

and Mike, thanks for the heads up on your place....sounds great...Looks like I'll be makin my 2nd appearance !!

Trab

I use mostly aluminums.  2117s in my hunting recurve.  I have a few other longbows and recurves that I use 1816, 1916 and 2016s.  I have many wood shafts that I will make some finished arrows with in the near future.  And I have a bunch of Grizzly Stix Sitkas that I haven't tried yet.

Hey Trab,  I've shot all three. There's nothing wrong with shooting aluminum's. When I used to shoot aluminum, I used to shoot the Easton Classics when they first came out, but after awhile i went back to the Gamgetter II's.  They were much cheaper for a dozen shafts.

I shoot wood out of my vintage Bear's and my Thunderstick MAG.

I've been hard on all my shafts, they all break, they all can get lost at some point or another. and all three have their pros and cons.  You should try to see what shoots best for you.
Good Luck

All the 3 shaft materials can be very good.
--Aluminum has the most consistent weight and spine,I like XX78 for the best performances and durability over the weaker XX75,they are easy to tune and there are a lot of sizes to choose what you want from a arrow:light-medium-eavy.
The issue can be they bent,and are a little bit noiser when they hit something!
Wood can be almost as good but you need a spine tester,test every single arrow and buy really the best woods available.Quiet,classic,alive.
Carbon has not the same spine tollerance as Alu. and for me you need to spine test them as well,but always straight(or broken)tough and pretty quiet.
depends what you want and how much time you want to spend on them.
High quality pays off,on all of them.

I started shooting some 2016's out of my HOOTS and when you get that perfect arrow flight it really turns you on to the arrow material, at least for me it does. Basically I want to shoot aluminum in some of my different bows in stead of the wood or carbon I might be using with them now. To me thats the joy of Traditional shooting, just playing with many different set ups all the time. A month down the road I will be on another kick, probably small carbon shafts like Axis, hadn't shot many of them yet that I was satisfied with YET! Aluminum arrows are great but it depends what you are gonna do with them. Like said before they will dent, bend and break easier than carbon though. I feel I have gotten better with my shooting so I won't trash aluminums as fast so there will be more purchased in the future. Good luck.

I've always shot aluminum arrows. Three reasons why I shoot aluminum and not carbon or wood.

The first. Since I shoot low poundage bows and with my 30" draw length, I prefer to shoot 32" BOP arrows. I can get the correct spined full length aluminum shafts in 32 1/2" lengths. The properly spined carbon arrow (600 or 500) for me only come in 30"-31" full length shafts. It's kind of hard to make a 32" arrow out of a 30"-31" shaft.       :dunno:      I basically have to short draw a carbon arrow to be able to shoot it.         :mad:        That's totally unacceptable to me.         :nono:        

The second. I hate pencil thin carbon arrows.                It feels like I'm shooting a skinny soda straw.         :eek:      

The third. I basically like to shoot a heavy arrow because I shoot low poundage bows and want to get the maximum performance out of them and the correct spined carbon arrow is too light in overall weight in a finished arrow for me. Since I shoot low poundage bows, I'm interested in a GPP (grains per pound) arrow instead of an FOC (front of center) arrow.

As for wood. They're not straight enough to suit me and not even carbon can match the straightness of my Eclipse X7 2212s which are .001 in straightness. Wood is not uniform enough in weight within a dozen wood shafts to suit me either.

For arguments sake, if I could find a long enough carbon shaft in .001 straightness, it would cost more than my Eclipse X7 aluminums to the tune of an arm, a leg, three fingers and two toes.

I still shoot aluminum and a little wood. Ive never had any issues with either. I like just putting feathers on one end and a point on the other and having a great shooting heavy shaft. I have no problem hand straightening aluminum or wood. I loose way more than I ever terminally damage. I have 9 different sizes and spines to fit any bow I pick up between 40# and70#. I pick up new dozens cheap and keep till I need them.(just picked up a dozen AO 1918s the other day)SO you guys shooting carbon keep it up and just stay away from aluminum. (more for me)

I shoot wood and aluminum, but prefer my good ole 2018's......

I have tried Carbon and aluminum ( just at shooting practice) and I still shoot wood and will always shoot wood.To me anything but wood never felt right out of my longbow.JMHO try different things it doesn't hurt.

Thanks for all the input guys...its interesting hearing all the thoughts....
Hey Cacciatore, thanks for the thoughts from the great country of Italy !!      :thumbsup:  
Sean, its great hearing from you too...I may give you a call in May to see if you wanna any company flingin arrows at turkey....and if your goin to Mikey's next week and want some company give me a shout......
Trab

Great response Night Wing....

and hvyhitter, I liked your line "I loose way more than I ever terminally damage."......and agree with it too !!!

Trab

yes. 1920s. Finest hunting arrow I ever found. Small diameter and heavy.

2016 and 2018 for me.  Whats not to like?

2018 XX75's are my go to shafts for my longbows.   I've shot carbons for years out of my widow recurves but they're a pain to add inserts to.   Aluminum is much simpler!

I use both wood and aluminium (for our Brit friends). Woodies get used quite a bit for stump shooting but do see occasional 3D and hunting. I messed with carbons for a while but quite frankly found them to be a pain to tune to a bow. I know with aluminum  and a 45# bow, grab some 1916s cut to 28" put on some 125 gr points and good to go. Some time back I traded for 2 dozen 2014 X7 Cobalts. Out of my recurves......wow!

Wood and aluminum for me also. 2018's and 2016's. If you can use them, 2018's are hard to beat for targets, stumping, or hunting. A good, tough, heavy all around arrow. Just my opinion.
Gerald

I'm using wood arrows for all of my off season shooting, and may use them this year for elk and deer.  It's hard to beat the smell off cedar  when making arrows!  Having said that, I've killed the majority of my deer with my faithful 2018's and 2117 Legacy Easton aluminum arrows.  They fly like darts and I never have to worry about consistency between them.

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

I use wood carbon and aluminum. Mostly aluminum 2016`s.RC

Some of the best shooters I know shoot aluminum. I shoot aluminum because it is easy to tune and more fogiving out of a tradbow. I do shoot wood at some tourneys but the require special att.As for hunting give me aluminum. You carbon guys can have my share.

Aluminum for me, too.  I like the range of spines, wall thicknesses and weight of aluminum.

Plus they're cheap and easy.  A tube cutter and a round file are all I need for cutting.

I like the Legacy's, especially, because they still have the swaged end.

2018 Legacys. Love the spine ranges and consistency of aluminum.
I have lots of fun building wood arrows and shooting them sometimes.  Carbons on the other hand seem like a real pain in the ___ to get right.

Eric

2219/2315's are my steady arrows.

I have tried all three types woods , carbons and aluminumn but seem to be hung up on the Autumn Orange Aluminumns. I can shoot the 1916,1918,2016 and 2018 out of my different bows and get great arrow flight. Just takes some different wieght heads and away we go!!

I love the sound of alm. arrows when they fall through the metal steps of  my ladder stand. I like to take shot opertunities at small game carbon is to expencive to shoot away.

I use all 3 wood, carbon, Aluminum.

I've shot the rest but keep coming back to aluminum. Been working for me since 1984.

Yea I shoot aluminum but I also shoot wood and carbon also . I like each one for diffrent reasons . BTW , I highly recomend that you try out wood , stickbows and wood just go together and I think it adds to the traditional experiance .

I like wood best but aluminum seems to make a great hunting arrow for me. Much easier to add a little weight up front.

I shoot all three.  1916 and 2016 both shoot real well out of my 48 lb. longbows.

I shoot aluminum (2117's) for hunting and wood for 3D, stumps and the like.  Messed around with carbons but just don't like them.

I use all 3.  I started out with aluminum back in the 70's.  They were and are very consistant and now-a-days, they are about the cheapest arrow shafting you can get.
I have been playing with carbon and I have finally got a carbon arrow tuned perfectly to my bow.  I can honestly say that I have never had better arrow flight and my confidence with my equipment has never been higher.  
I love making wood arrows but there has been times in the past when I couldn't get one to fly a broadhead.  I tried some sitka spruce lately(from Hilldabrand) and I have NEVER had better wooden shafts in my life.
So what is the purpose in all this ranting?  Its all fun!  Shoot what you enjoy and enjoy trying different things.

I have only shot aluminum.  Mainly because I shot aluminum out of my compound and when I switched over I didn't want to go to a new arrow also.  I like aluminum but one hit of a tree or a rock and you are left with a useless bananna.  I am considering going to carbon because they are tough and do not bend.

Carbon for me.

I shoot all three but have been shooting aluminum all winter in 3-D. You need an arrow straightener to get them back to really straight like I like them, preferrably one with the dial.

I hung up the wheels for trad only a year ago, and have only shot aluminums since (i shot carbons with the compound). I started with them because I read that they were durable, and also because they seem to be more affordable. I like them and will continue shooting them.

As some others have said, I've got small children and don't have the time to tinker with woods.

Carbons seem to be more expensive.

The things I'm not sure of concerning aluminums are:

A) I worry about bendability/denting of the shafts

B) I don't care for the "twang" noise you get when the hit something harder like a stump (trivial, as it be)

I switched from wood to aluminum a few years ago and wish I had done it sooner.  

I really like how every shaft is perfect and they all fly the same. The last dozen cedars I bought were stuck together from the sap. That was the last straw, I had enough.

I can't see me changing to carbon anytime soon. I haven't met a carbon user yet that didn't go through a long tinkering process just to get good arrow flight. I gave up tinkering when I gave up the compound. I like simple things. Feathers, nock, insert, point, go kill something!

I shoot aluminum only! I've tryed wood and carbon's and went back to aluminum. Nothing against the others, but carbon is expensive. I can buy a dozen 2117's for about 40 buck's. I might have 50 dollar's in the whole mess when I'm done with fletching and such. Aluminum does bend, but I broke alot of carbon's and wood's when I shot them. It's about as broad as it is long. Just shoot what you like. I guess I'm just cheap   :D   but in today's economy..that might be a good thing!

JMHO! Jason

I love aluminum!  Been thru the carbon thing...too much fuss for me. Buy few different sizes in xx75, see which one shoots best then go hunting.

The weight is already there, spine never changes and durable.
Plus I love the sound of them banging against brush as deer run off on the death run!

I use all 3 as well, I love making wood arrows and they shoot as well as I do.

I do have a thing for Aluminum arrows they are very forgiving and have a great level of consistency.
I have a great supply of 1918, 2018, and 2020's I seem to get them to fly out of any of the bows I have.
I would love to find some more 1920's again.

I have tried several different carbon shafts and think they work fine.
I will say however that I like the Easton FMJ shafts a great deal.

I use aluminum only, 2117. They're getting harder to find up here as most shooters I know have switched to carbon.

I've found that aluminum are really easy to tune, and they have a good weight to them.

Returned, last fall, to shooting on a regular basis. Tried different spined carbons but have gone back to aluminum because of the weight. Using 2016's mostly bec they are 10.6gpi, and shoot well out of my 54# recurve and 46# longbow. also 2213's and 2114's have shot well for me; and like someone else said, they are easy to tune.

I think if I'd purchase an arrow straightener I'd be way ahead of the game with regards to the "carbon is tougher" idea. I've shot both, and find that the durability is nearly equal. most hits that bend my aluminsum would have damaged the carbon to the point of uselessness. If I'd have a straightenr. I would be waaay ahead.

Aluminum is also easy to fiddle around with cuz you can cut it with a tubing cutter.

Regards,

Brian

Never shot wood just carbon and  aluminum, 1916's and 2016's Legacy's are my choice. Never has a problem!

There seem to be a LOT of guys using aluminum. Again, I can be rough on my arrows, but like I've said, I have had decent results using metal.....So at this point I am thinking "why change a good thing ?" ............or as the immortal ???  Aw hell I don't know who said it but it sure seems to be true....."If it ain't broke, don't fix it"  !!!!!!!!!!...................Thanks for all the input guys. Much appreciated!!
Trab   :thumbsup:

My father shot since the late 40's and shot aluminum exclusively all throughout the 60's. He thought I was crazy for wanting to shoot all cedar...so I shoot some 1916's and 1816's just to passify him! That being said....aluminum is plenty tough enough and straight enough to fly great! I just CAN'T make myself shoot carbons out of my traditional bows...it's a personal thing...I LOVE the whole 40's,50's,60's heritage to these bows and carbons weren't part of that era...it's my own personal hang-up. Maybe someday, but I haven't lost a 3-D or grocery shoot because my woodie/aluminum arsenl was lacking....just me!......my opinion...John

Shoot em all the time. Love the old autumn orange xx75 shafts especially. I'm a sucker for wood shafts, but shoot aluminum an awful lot. Cheaper than carbon and more durable than wood most of the time. On the other hand, I love the smell of port orford cedar.

I started with aluminum but, now I shoot
woodies most of the time. I have used carbons
not a big fan. During winter 3d if its real cold
I'll use my 2016's. I hunt Deer & Bear with wood.
I got a Hog hunt soon but, I think 2016's will
get the call.

Aluminum for me, 2016, 2114 for a 45lbs bow. A 2016 is a 2016 regardless of where you buy it, and I had problems getting properly spined and weighed wood arrow.(long time ago). The other reason was not properly sealing the wood shaft, I was hunting deer when it was piss pouring rain for three solid days, my wood arrows got warped and bent out of shape, from then on have never shot anything else but aluminum.

I shoot nothing but aluminum now, never even owned a single carbon.

Aluminum or wood for over 45 years.I think I've got just about every size they made ,except 1820's and 1920's.Sure wish they'd do a production of these again.

I shoot aluminums.  20-16, 19-16, Gammegetter 500's all work well.  Have an arrow straightener which has paid for itself several times.  On a day of inclement weather it is very comfortable to sit down with a cup of coffee and straighten arrows.

When I first started with a recurve and didn't know better I went to the shop, and the guy looked at the Easton chart and sold me XX75's that were too stiff.

Not wanting to repeat that mistake, I decided to get into making wood arrows. It's been fun, they're easy to work with, and tune, and cheaper too.

I went through a period where I got tired of that and bought some carbons. Turns out they were just as much trouble and less fun, and I had a couple break into pieces on release, so that was enough.

I've tried a bunch of different aluminums, and shoot them sometimes, but right now I'm back to cedar.

Over 40 years with aluminums and woodies.

I still have a bunch of 40 years old aluminum arrows that I shoot all the time.

I bought a deluxe arrow straightener for $40 in 1971, a similar machine now costs $270.....

Woodies I have used are POC, Surewoods, Sitka spruce and Forgewoods.

Sure wish they would make more Forgewoods I really liked them.

Charles.

I shoot easton 2216's. Over the years I have shot just about every type of shaft from the old Gordon Graph-flex to laminated birch. I would give my left arm for some old autumn orange or JDA naturals. No question the carbons are more durable, however, they are expensive and require a cut-off saw to tune. My problem with wood is the lack of consistency in the shafting. Their are many variables in bowhunting, and arrow flight should not be one of them .  My advice is to shoot what works best for you and good luck in the woods.

My best buy so far is an arrow straightener with a dial for $5 at last years Denton Hill trade blanket. I don't see how you can shoot aluminum for 3-D and not have one.

Aluminum and Arrows is all I've used. Nice thing about Aluminum (2117) you can find most any where. Just like 30-30 or 30-06 or 22 LR ammo.
Yes a straightener helps. I have with dial that bought from a guy for $20.00
moose

Easton fmj's - carbon core with alum exterior - durability of carbon, weight of alum.  Very easy to get a reasonably heavy, high FOC arrow...and they're skinny so you're closer to the shelf and they penetrate well.

I've been shooting nothing but aluminum for about two years now and been very happy with them. I've had good arrow flight with them out of my bows and the as someone else said, the price is right.

Only use aluminum if I change it will be to try wood.

YEP
2018'S

I've found 2016 and 2018 aluminum shafts to work well with all my 50-55# longbows and recurves.  I love working with cedar arrows, but frankly have found the aluminum shafts easier to get flying well since the spine and mass weight are so consistent.  Carbon arrows are very durable, but the ones I've tried aren't as consistant as aluminum, so it takes a little finesse to get the weight up and tuned.

I broke my last carbon so I now only shoot aluminum and wood. Carbon is no doubt more durable in flex but I would argue they are the least durable against hard impacts. Every carbon I have broken developed cracks right behind the insert or ahead of the nock from hard impact, ex straight into a board. Also I think the lowest grade of hunting shaft Easton offers is more precisely matched than most carbon shafts.

I shoot 9 inches of a 2016 glued in to the front of a 2216, with 225 grains on the front.  Makes for a heavy, quiet, hog-killing projectile.   I do like wood too, but the aluminum-combo above works well. If I don't get a pass-through, the arrow will usually break where the 2016 insert ends, but I will trade an arrow for a dead critter any day.