So, I got these 4 Bear fiberglass arrows that I've had laying around for a long time and was wondering if they would be safe to shoot? I've looked the fiberglass over and don't see any splits or cracks to the naked eye but, does fiberglass get brittle? I was going to refletch them and maybe shoot them from my 45# Bear Black Bear that I've got coming. They weigh in at between 489gr - 492gr and are cut 29 1/4" b.o.p. Not sure what they spine at.    :rolleyes:  

 
 
 
 

NO!!!  Those are DEATH ARROWS man!!  You can't shoot them!!  Quickly send them to me for proper disposal!  

Just kidding.  I dunno much about fiberglass arrows excpet that I have been wanting to find some old ones like that.  I'd put new feathers on them and give em a try.  That would be cooler than a buckett of iced cucumbers.

Old fiberglass fishing rods work fine, old fiberglass bows work fine. If you've examined them and can't find any cracks, nicks, booboos, or goobers, I'd say to go ahead and shoot them.

Guy

I guess I was just a little nervous of the arrow snapping during the bending process when released. I flexed them by hand and they seemed ok but, again, I'm no expert.

All 4 arrows spin true and the nocks look good. If they fly right from the Black Bear, with a spring arm quiver I have coming, this will give me a complete Bear setup for deer.    

Flex them with one hand on the nock end and the other on the point end and listen for cracking sounds.

Funny you should bring this up.  Just last week I scrapped off the old plastic vains on my old fiberglass arrows.  New fletch and they fly great.  Surprised me.  I have not shot these arrow since the early 80s.

I'm still shooting a couple of old Duraglass and Microflight seconds arrows from the late 60s. They recently were reinvented as flu flu goose arrows.

I would shoot them if inspected. I've got a Black Bear, Sweet shooting bow!! It was my first. Good luck and show us some pics after you get it all set up.

No problem.  Shoot em.

If you decide to shoot them I would half draw and see how it goes. Then you can pull back a little more until you get to your full draw. Good luck and let us know how they worked out.

Nocks can and will get brittle with age.. Put on some new ones and go kill something with-um.

Definitely replace the nocks!  I was shooting some micro-flites last week and I had pinched the nocks with my fingers and they were flexible and didn't seem brittle or make any cracking noises but split one on about the 5th round of shooting resulting in a more or less dry fire condition.  The rest literally broke apart when I started to remove them.  

The Black Bear is one of my best shooting bows hands down and the factory shelf is very low and more radiused on mine than on any other bow that I own.  Good luck, I think you will like it.

The Black Bear I have coming is a '78 I believe and the shelf is radiused. It has the maple riser with green and grey glass. I will post pics once it arrives. Will replace nocks when I redo the fletching too.

I had a few and decided to shoot them bad mistake !! I was very lucky. One exploded upon release, I was lucky because part of the arrow slapped my bow arm but did not penatrate. I had a tennis ball size lump and a huge bruise for a few days. It could have been alot worse.

It just isn't worth the gamble. You could shoot them hundreds of times but it only takes once.

Yes, I did inspect them first and they looked fine. But they were just old and the fiberglass deteriorated.    John

In my opinion, fiberglass arrows have a shelf life. Even if there are no visible hair line cracks, I'd be on the safe side of caution. In other words, for me, those arrows would be wallhangers.

I thought those types of arrows were discontinued because they would often splinter inside of the animal and cause problems?

NO, nuff said.

change the nocks for sure. those arrows back in the  day were like the carbons of today there either perfectly straight or completely broken no in between .once you shoot them youll be looking for more. dont hit any rocks but be sure to change your nocks .i didnt know it but im a poet. lol.... go for it.

Shoot them

sweeney3:  PM to you.