So Im new to trad archery and getting set up. I wanted to see what every ones arrow prefrences are and why. Pros and cons of each? :archer:
Wood. But then I'm a little prejudice about it.
Dennis
very cool Dennis, I will keep you inmind if I go the wood rout. Is there any specific reason that you are such a big fan of wood other than your company and your ability to make your own arrows? (What makes a wood arrow better than an aluminum?)
Wood... It's just an aesthetics thing. I like the way they look, I like how quiet they are, the simplicity of them, they're relatively inexpensive, etc. I also really enjoy making them [which is good, since I like to hunt squirrels!].
You will get all kinds of opinions, but that's just what they are (just like mine). A well constructed, well tuned (to the bow) arrow, whether it be wood, aluminum, or carbon, will perform about equally well for you.
Wood for me too. However, I started out with Al and think that might be a good choice if you are just starting out. They are readily available and there are several charts (not Easton's)that will give a good idea where to begin. Carbon seems to be a little more difficult to tune for some folks. They (CE Heritage) tune fine for me and they have many good attributes but they are just not for me.
I just love shooting cedars; sweet looking, sweet smelling, quiet, easy to tune, and it simply feels right to me.
Wood for me too , just because I like them
I would suggest aluminum for a beginner. They are the easiest option if you just want to get shooting, but don't know much about making arrows.
Once you've been shooting awhile, you can research wood and carbon a little more. My personal preference is wood, but I mostly shoot aluminums. I recently switched to a different bow (longbow) and getting good arrow flight from wood shafts has been a problem. I bought six Easton gamegetters based on their spine charts, and they fly really well.
I like wood and aluminum. I love building wood arrows. There is a lot of pride in a well built set of woodies that you make yourself and, to you own specs. Aluminum arrows are quick and easy to build. I experimented with carbons a few years ago and ended up ditching them. I just couldn't get them to work for me.
I'll be using wood this year for hunting.
Jeremy
Aluminum was my choice at the beginning. Tried carbon too...............but there is a certain charm that only wood posesses-for me anyway.
To each his own.
You guys have said it all. Wood for me to.
I started out with wood then switched to aluminum for a confidence builder in my shooting because they are straighter out of the box.(a mental thing?)But since I started making a board bow I will shoot wood arrows with that.
Tracy
Wood (POC or Lam Birch)for my longbows... Just the tradition and beauty of a wood arrow.
Aluminum for my recurves. They are easy to find, inexpensive and easy to work with.
JDS III
Once you get a carbon tuned to your set up there is no comparison in durability. I have shot all three but the carbons outlast the other two when you hit something hard. Good Luck making your decision. :thumbsup:
Carbon. Tough as a steel ball. Best value IMO.
Aluminum for me. Can't come to terms with carbons so far though I'm still looking. Hard to find woodies at the spine I want and when I do they are pretty pricey. Love wood though....too bad. Grant
WOOD! As Mr. G.Fred Asbell states in his book "Instinctive Shooting"..."There aren't a lot of things more pleasurable than building wood arrows. It pleases me partly, I guess, because there are few things of importance remaining in our sport that can be done by hand......Wood arrows by hand are part of my barrier against technological encroachment....the satisfaction of building and shooting the product of your own efforts is something you'll not find for sale...not at any price." I couldn't said it better myself!
Wood arrows are great, but if you are new to traditional archery I would suggest aluminum until you know yourself around a bit better.
Properly sized aluminum are more readily available
than wood. Good quality wood arrows will probably need to be ordered. Carbon arrows can be fussy to
get to fly right.
Building your own arrows is a joy, especially if they are wood. Carbon and aluminum are good, but there aint nothing like making up a bunch of wood arrows.
Its all good as the saying goes, but I would suggest getting started with aluminum.
WOOD. Then you will need a really nice spine tester. LOL ;)
I started down the wood road and decided I needed a spine tester. So I designed a spine tester because I wasn't all that crazy about the ones available. I have not yet built any wood arrows but I sure think about them a lot; and I can spine test them now - as soon as I get time...
Of course, I will have to also get some feather choppers and splice feathers and ...
But, when I started shooting four years ago I used aluminum and I agree that they are a good place for beginers. Heck, you will soon make hockey sticks out of them and have an excuse to try something different. Carbons are very good and I am shooting them out of some of my bows. You may need a spine tester for those also since the consistancy might be questionable.
Kevin
Ok Guys,
So the general consensis is that most like wood but would recomend starting with AI as a newby. That being said can you all recomend a brand and spine stiffness for my 45@28 Kodiak Mag? Im a 28-28,1/2 draw so what length arrow a 29-30? I have some wasp broadheads I was planning on useing if I went with AI. Not sure on the grain weight. Thanks for all the great advise so far, keep it comeing.
A 30" 2016 with 100-125gr. would be good. They fly well from my recurve that I draw to 48 pounds. A 1916 at 29" would also be good. Check out the bareshaft tuning methods on OL Adcock's website.
Kevin
What about a 2018 I have some of those?
2018 is probably a little stiff but not too bad. If you leave it long that will help. When fletched they will probably fly pretty well.
If it is a little stiff, using a heavier point will help. I have never gotten any of my Bamboo arrows I make to spine under 90#'s and I shoot them with my 45-50# bows. I use at least a 160 grain head and they fly great.
Dennis
Carbon for me, though I have never shot wood.
Only Wood'n arrows 4 Me
I think If you have the patience to tune them CARBON that's what i use. I have been shooting the same dozen for 2 years, losing them is the worst thing you can do. I think I will eventually go the wood route Just for the weight and asthetics, I'm actually looking for someone to convince me as to why..
For me wood , the satisfaction of making arrows from natural materials is part and parcel of traditional archery for me . I hand plane most of the shafts I shoot but if your not inclined puchasing components and assembling your own arrows is self satisfying as well . Carbon and alloy shafts have there place and should not be diccounted as for many archers they suit there needs but have no spirit about them for my likes . Boils down to personal preferances . regards Perry
Aluminum for someone that is just starting out as was stated above. Very easy to find your "right" arrow in aluminum.Carbons take a little more time to tune but once you do there is nothing like them.
Out of your Kodiak I would also say a 1916 or a 2016 at your length arrow, it will be close . If you don't want to bare shaft just purchase a few different field tips to play around with. Try a 125,145 even a 175 for the 2016.That's half the fun watching how arrow flight differs with different weight heads. Find your best flight and purchase the broadheads to match.
I shoot all three. I hunt with somewhat massively front loaded carbons. For one reason and one reason only. Nothing shoots through animals better. I want to shoot through any animal I shoot as often as possible.Doing that means the quickest most humane kills and I feel I owe a quick humane death to an animal I hunt.
I have all three,have the carbons loaded up front also.But i do like the wood arrows also,just something about them!
Can I shoot plastic vains off the shelf? Or at all for that matter? What is the best and most cost effective way to get into fletching my own arrows?