Reading a recent thread a comment about carbon's integrity provoked thought. My question is have you or someone you directly know been injured by shaft failure? (YES) or (NO).
No
I don't think it's that common among the tradbow community? Prolly not that common among the wheelie crowd either?..but I see more potential for it with the power of those bows on light weight arrows.
My bud had a cedar arrow break at the shot and part of it ended up buried 3 inches into his hand.
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f165/ROY-CHRIS/brokenarrow.jpg) (http://s47.photobucket.com/user/ROY-CHRIS/media/brokenarrow.jpg.html)
Carbon arrows should always be checked by bending before or after each shot... They are very strong but if you hit something hard, in the ground or inside a target, you may then find a crack somewhere on your arrow shaft...
... mike ... :archer2: ...
Not that I know of. But I've heard of people that had.
cedar in the hand and he's still all smiles!
Ditto on flexing, particularly if the arrow has any side impact, like deflecting off a target shed. I've had carbon shafts explode when shot, and I've had carbon shafts snap when flexed. I don't think there's much danger of that if you shoot directly into a normal target, but we're always challenging each other with some oddball shot or another, so we end up having a number of impacts for which the shaft wasn't designed.
No, but I was careful when I shot them and checked when it wasn't a clean hit. Haven't used them since going traditional
I've tossed wooden shafts that had internal cracks/splits after an impact also. All shafts should be checked before shooting. I've had dented/slightly bent aluminum shafts do some pretty squirrel things when shot too.
I've never been hurt by any arrow. However, a good friend had a carbon go into his wrist while conducting a youth cancer archery event.
Roy from Pa, your friend must be a tough guy! He's still smiling with a his fletching sticking out of his hand!
Got a slash from one that broke when I was pulling it. Not a major deal, but an injury nonetheless.
I was at an all trad 3D shoot where a friend of mine missed a target, found his arrow, went to the next target, and upon release the arrow blew up and stuck him in the bow hand!
Check those shafts, esp after a miss, or hit on a hard object!
Bisch
Oops! Double post!
Bisch
Got a carbon sliver run into my hand while checking the shaft for damage after a hard hit. It didn't look damaged but sure as heck was and I am glad I didn't shoot it again.
Yes,,,,,me. Had one blow up on release and go thru my left thumb.
Number of people with first hand knowledge of an incident is higher than I would have thought. Reinforces always checking out your arrow after any kind if suspicious shot.
He said it didn't even hurt. The piece of the shaft went down his index finger to the first joint, it was just under the skin, no damage at all to his finger. But he wouldn't let me pull it out with my leather man.. :)
A friend of mine shooting a compound, on the first time he ever shot a bow in his life,had a carbon break and hit him in the back of the thumb. He had to have surgery to repair tendons or ligaments. perhaps the worst start in archery ever. You can only go up from there.
I voted " no "., which is accurate. However, the only time I have used carbon is with a compound. I do lots of stump shooting and don't like the risk of cracking/splintering. They are tough, but damage can go undetected if you aren't careful. I shoot cedar some for hunting, and aluminum for stump shooting.
I have never been a carbon shooter, but I did have a woodie break. Fortunately, I was not hurt.
Here's a thread I started about my experience:
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=144873;p=1
It happens, but it can happen just as easily with a woody. Bottom line is check each arrow often or risk having it break and go where it shouldn't!
The big difference is that with other shaft medium
damage is "usually" obvious. Carbon tends to take so much abuse that we expect it to be even tougher than they are.
They don't just break or splinter for no reason.
I've been shooting a hunting weight bow excessively for 37 years. I started off with wood and then went quickly to aluminum for the first 20 years. The last 17 years has only seen 5dz woods for personal use and 0000 aluminum. The rest were carbon.
During all those years, I have never had a single arrow break or splinter at the shot.
I wish I could say I am cautious, but I eat her check them out of habit or I don't think about it.
It must work for most as carbons rule the archery world.
Bigjim
I don't see near the severely splintered carbons on the 3 D courses like in the beginning either. Maybe no body misses any more.
Yes, but due to shooter's error.
A friend shot into a rock or something after missing on a 3D course.
Nock blew, arrow was rattling when shook or tapped on wrist. Shot the same arrow anyway on next shot after pulling out nock and inserting new from pocket.(????happened before?).
Blew splinters everywhere, small specks of blood all over arm, face, neck. No major damage, VERY lucky.
Whether wood, carbon, or aluminum...don't ever be stupid.
I've been practicing with broadheads lately, broke two shafts over my knee today to resist the temptation to keep shooting them.
Oops!
QuoteOriginally posted by dbd870:
Number of people with first hand knowledge of an incident is higher than I would have thought. Reinforces always checking out your arrow after any kind if suspicious shot.
Absolutely! I didn't and got a nice visit to the ER because of my own ignorance. Lesson learned..
Survey results supports one in ten has had or knows who has had; so10%. That is a lot of injuries!
Lots of recommendations to check arrows that sustain hard impact. AMEN!
Doesn't matter the type material... know several who had woodies blow up...one with carbon.
Tap or rap each and every one after a miss...they make a noise. Heed the noise!
Whatever type, check!!! :knothead:
Nock on wood, i always check my woodies. Better to be safe then sorry. With that said i see a few guys at shoots that don't check their arrows(carbon,aluminum,wood) scary. Im always reminding them to check them.
I've dodged those bullets so far, but am surprised at the number of people who have been hurt. I've always been careful, but seeing these results will have me paying even more attention.
Yep. Learned to slow down, pull the readers out and make a good inspection. Sure made me jumpy for a while :eek:
The friend I had who had a woodie explode and go thru his bow hand shot alum. for many years...
Now with carbon, he's ingrained to check every "dropped" shot by tapping the arrow to listen for a buzz or rattle... regardless of type... Good medicine... ounce of prevention, etc.
Right On Target! Not thinking about damage "within" the shaft walls... So, not only flexing but a tap or shake may save you from injury...
Thank You! :notworthy:
I ended up with a hematoma about 3"x 6" on my forearm before I switched to trad (from the string, never used an armguard with wheels) after a carbon shaft broke about 5" below the valley of the nock. It was totally my fault as I had been using the arrow as a stand / prop for my bow. The bow blew over at one point landing on the arrow and I never checked it. Carbons are still my primary arrow of choice, but you can bet I check them regularly now.
I never had a issue, or witnessed a injury by bad carbon arrow . I shoot Gold Tips exclusively. I always shoot the heavy ones which are 9 or 10 grains per inch. I may be wrong to say this but I stay away from light weight carbon and any brand but gold tips especially some bargain brand.
My only "Blow-Up" was with a Woodie. Shooting at a 3-D shoot had one experience a clean break just below the fletching at my release. The only damage (other than the arrow) was the string hitting my arm from just below my shoulder to the elbow. Left a wicked bruise but no impalement.
I've seen a lot of carbon explosions on bowsites but all of them were with wheelie bows.