Gold Tip EXP Hunter/traditional

[Gufunk]

Is there a difference between the GT expedition hunter 3555(7.4gpi) and the traditional 3555(8.6gpi). I see the the gpi are different but will they shoot the same?

[Winterhawk1960]

The 35/55 Trads are a tiny bit "stiffer". I haven't shot any of the other Gold Tip arrows, just the trads.

I like 'em........    

Winterhawk1960

[swifty99]

I have both and set them up the same. Primarily shot them with my Damon Howatt Hunter 40# @28" but really pulls 45# at my 29" draw. I don't notice any difference in the way they shoot.

[Pullonmylimb]

The traditionals have the wood grain pattern wrapped on top of an expedition shaft.  This pattern adds a little weight.  I have shot both in the 5575 weight and didn't notice any difference in spine.  I didn't notice a difference in spine when comparing to make sure i was in tune.

[Davesea]

I like my GT traditionals, but I also prefer a white crested arrow.  I painted some of the Traditionals but decided I wanted my Carbons to be no fuss.  I just ordered some of the Ted Nugent 5575s.  I wanted the crested exp Hunter but saw the crested Ted Nugent Zebra and decided these would be fun.....
http://www.goldtip.com/productdetail.aspx?ptid=20

[Reaper TN]

I use them both and agree with the others, they bareshaft tune the same for me.

[Davesea]

I was wondering if one was tougher than the other?  I know the Trads are pretty tough.

[BDann]

While I was at Rick Welch's shooting school a few weeks ago I had the same question.  Rick had fletched up a GT Exped. hunter 55/75 for me to shoot.  We shot a GT Trad. 55/75, identically fletched, both with 125 grain field points, one right after the other.

I would not have believed it myself, but the expedition hunter arrow was noticeably faster, and the trajectory was flatter.  The traditional arrow consistently hit lower than the other.

When we shot them through the chronograph I was shocked, as the traditional arrow came in at 178 fps, and the expedition hunter came in at 190 fps.  I didn't think that it would make that much difference.

Just for reference, the bow was a 62" MOAB, 48@30".  I was drawing between 30.5" and 31".  

I'm not into all the fps, foc, blah, blah, but you could really see the difference.

[Davesea]

Brian,
Which flavor of the EXP Hunter? Black?
Dave

[BDann]

It was the black one.

[Davesea]

From what I have gleaned, it seems the "pure" carbon behave differently than the ones that have a pattern wrap.  My limited experience suggest that the ones with the wrap might be a bit tougher.

[McDave]

As it says on the arrow "flex it first."  Sometimes glancing off the back of a 3D animal or something can fracture the carbon but leave the wrap covering it, so the arrow looks okay to a casual glance.  I've had two blow up on me that way, fortunately without any of the pieces ending up in my hand or other parts of my body.

[JeffB]

I would not have believed it myself, but the expedition hunter arrow was noticeably faster, and the trajectory was flatter.  The traditional arrow consistently hit lower than the other. [/QB]

The reason for this is there is a significant difference in grains per inch between the standard black shafting and the traditional series of the same spine shaft- e.g. in the 35/55 you are looking at 7.4 gpi vs. 8.6 for the trad. considering a 31" plus arrow (based on your stated draw length), you are looking at 40 grains difference or so between the two.