I need more shafts.  I am looking at cheap 400 spine shafts under $50.  I am looking at Beman bow hunter, GT vapor, GT vapor camo or GT black hunter.  Which will be stronger, straighter, and most uniform in spine?

I have been shooting GT trad blem 5575 and Beman bow hunter 500's.  This winter I have broken three Beman and one GT.  All have been fractures of the shaft 2-6" from the point end. All from solid hits on frozen stuff, but not from driving the insert into the shaft so footing is not an issues.  I am wondering if the difference is just the 500 to 400 shaft or if the GT is a little stronger.  The 500 was shot in a 47-48# at my draw bow and the GT was in a 53-54# at my draw bow.

I know the GT trad is a little heavier than the other GT shafts, but what about strength?  I assume the GT trad blems are the XT shaft so probably based on the same shaft as the vapor and black hunter, but I am not sure.

Any help would be appreciated.

I just got some beeman 400`s and love `m. I had been shooting gold tips and was disappointed in their durability.RC

Beman have the tighter spec's of the two.
I think Gt's Hunter are the stronger though,but both are good shafts.
Take your pick.

I like GT shafts they are all I shoot, I like the blems from Big Jim. I have heard others say they don't hold up but i have had good luck with them both at the 3D range and I have taken a boat load of game with them. Mine take a beating at the Muzzy shoot and hold up well, I internally foot them and they perform well for me.

imo, having used both, the beman ics proved the better overall value for me.  i have about 8 dozen of the 500 size.  

Beman ics, all I use for the last 8-10 yrs.

Beman      

You can break them all!, except maybe a Carbon express heritage. They are the absolute toughest. Cost a little more, but if your breaking and not loosing then they are really cheaper. Don't know of a shaft that can stand toe to toe with them on tollerances and strength.

Oh yeah, we stock those too. I don't like the arrows I sell because I sell them. I sell them because I like them.
We will be stocking Arrow Dynamics this year also. Keep us in mind.
thanks,bigjim

I shoot both but would say Beman are the better arrow shafts.More consistant and the inserts are a lot easier to keep in them than the gt inserts.I use GTs because I can get lighter weight shafts cheap in the Entrada series.CXs are toughest but are heavy and I don't always want a heavy shaft.

At $42.00/doz the GT blems from Big Jim are the best arrow deal going. Why care about strength? You can buy three doz for price of one doz axis/mfx, 4 doz for price of one doz Grizzlys. Shootem, breakem, loosem then buy 3 doz more!I have arrows that were $200.00 doz and the game snaps em in half just as easy as the GT blems. As far as I'm concerned unless hunting something specialized that requires extra heavy shaft, the $42.00/doz are a no brainer.

You might also want to consider the Carbon Express Predator II's we have for $49.99 a dozen.  Very high quality and tolerances for an entry level shaft, typical of Carbon Express.

 Carbon Arrows and Shafts at Braveheart Archery

I love my Beman ICS Hunters. Very tough in my opinion.

If you want to keep it under the $50.00 a dozen go with the Beman Bowhunter in your list.  Or, take a look at the CX Predator's that is mentioned above.

I would get the GT trad blems from Big Jim, but he is out.  I don't know that I can wait too long for more.  I will buy more this next time.

CE's are in the future maybe depending on the bow and set-up.  Right now I don't need the weight.

Carbon Express Predator II's sound interesting, but I am not sure on the spine being listed as 400, but as 4560 vs. 5575.  I want to keep the arrows the same length and point if possible as what my GT trad's are.  Those I run right now at 31" to fit all my bows with point weight changes.  I my cut down, but the Carbon Express Predator II's are only 30 3/8", and with a possible lighter spine, I am not sure on it.

5575 are 400 spine as are 4560's

The CE Predator II's in the 45/60 are .400's.

Poundage labels (not spine deflections) on carbons change from brand to brand and can't be compared against each other.  Various manufacturers continue to use 4 or 5 different methods to designate their carbons and all it does is confuse matters IMO.  If they would simply mark them by deflection it would help tremendously...but they don't.      

Great info thanks.  Generally I look for the deflection, but I know with Stu's spine calculator there are some small differences.  The CE's are more of a difference than the others I think.  I assumed the 4560 and 5575 were the same because of the .400, but I don't like to assume unless someone, who knows, can confirm.