Which do you prefer and why.....

I like both but I prefer carbon/aluminum Full Metal Jackets for hunting...I find them easy to tune full length for my longish draw, durable and they mate nicely with my preferred VPA Penetrator broad heads

DDave

I shoot both of them,depending on which bow I'm shootingI prefer an aluminum for my Hill(or wood),with alumninum they seem to tune and fly better for my bows cut off center.It doesn't require s much tinkering and has enough weight. usally within my 9-11 GPP goal for them.And shoot aluminum on one of my ILF bows,shoot a 2312 X7 on a 52# metal riser ILF.The spine and weight is more consistent.I do shoot a lot of carbons on my other reurves and longbows,carbons are very durable and when tuned well are great flying arrows also!

I've tried all 3. I loved wood for the romance of wood,and it looks good to boot. Not enough integrity for me. Plus I myself worried about them coming apart on release from some crack I didn't see/know was there. Carbons I love for the strength. I think the wood grainedstyles can be made to look nice. I did not like the way they tuned myself. (finicky) I could get decent flight,but not just bullet hole perfect flight. They were always low in GPI,and man they can get expensive. Not all my bows would fall into the narrow spine/gpi columns of 1 style of carbon arrow either. So I wound up having 2-3 different arrow set-ups and have to switch around in my quiver depending on what I was headed out the door with. Aluminum for me for always now. They can be bought with a wood style print,they are affordable,tough,even if you bend one,you can 7 out of 10 times get it straight enough that you'ed never know it was ever bent. And man they tune nice. It is so easy. They cover such a broad poundage range. Guys use a 2016 from 45-53 lbs and have great flight. 2018's I've seen fly great from 45-60 lb bows. Plus they smell great.         rat'

CARBON.
broke or straight..not bent.

can be less expensive too...

Lately its been aluminum my 2213s and 2018s fly great out of all my longbows 48-55lbs and that's with only two feathers.

I've always preferred aluminum arrows over carbons.  You get the weight without messing with points, inserts, etc.  Plus you can cut them without special equipment and use hot melt versus epoxy for gluing.  JMHO

I have a 26 inch draw length what aluminum arrow do you think will work for me my bow is 50 pound so 26@50 pound

Depends on how the shelf is cut, recurve, longbow and style, string type, etc.

That short I'd guess 1916. Now don't go buy a dozen off that guess!! But I'd bet on it being your arrow.  rat'

Palmer recurve cut past center fast flight string 125 grain head.....what do ya think

Knowing that, I'd start with a 2016, leave it long and cut it down as needed.  But like riverrat says, don't buy a dozen to start.

I was thinking the arrow was 26". Forget my prior post. I got my info all messed up on that one.

X2 what arrowslinger posted.   rat'

Thanks guys I will try a 2016 and see how she shoots.....I had one in dividual say probably a 2114 but we will see.

I shoot a lot of 2016s  out of a variety of bows and they are one of the easiest to tune.

Palmers are pretty fast bows.  If the 2016s are a little weak go to the 2018s.  Good luck!

Wood, esp good douglas fir.

Aluminumn for me have always worked well,I have been using for 40 years learned how to straighten right down to the tip and over stocked up on the Autum Orange shafts thru the years.

Got to say those 1918's are my favorite!!!  

I prefer aluminum myself. Aluminum is easy to manipulate with a simple tubing cutter and hotmelt.

I'm still not convinced its at all more durable than carbon. If it really is less durable in practical use, the price point still helps me give the nod to aluminum.

regards,

Brian

I shoot both. Lately because. I need to thin down my odds and ends arrow boxes it has been aluminum. 2114's from my Bear SK and my Wes Wallace longbow. 2020's from my Pete George longbow. If you plan on stump shooting then a footed carbon is your best bet IMO. I would also go with the skinny carbons if you are not the best arrow tuner like me if carbon is your choice.
I do agree that aluminums are easy to tune, always have been always will be. One of the best tuning videos I have is Ken Beck at Black Widow tuning aluminum shafts.
Tom M