fiberglass arrows

[E.AllenIII]

I just got back to KS/MO after spending two weeks in VA.  While I was there a friend gave me some bows and a bunch of fiberglass arrows.  My friend has killed tons of deer with fiber glass arrows so I am sure they are effective, my question is why doesn't anyone use them?

[Biggie Hoffman]

at 1200 grains they will shoot thru a piece of plywood! Monty Browning uses them and has taken Cape Buff and other such creatures. At 15-20 yards which is bowhunting range, why wouldn't you want to shoot a heavy arrow?

[E.AllenIII]

Thanks for the reply...i just am curious that when people discuss arrows they talk about wood, aluminum and carbon and...never fiber glass

[Stumpkiller]

What he said: weight.  Microflite sold a bunch of f/g arrows.  And guys would blow-through the straw bales with them!

But now with all this heavy arrow trend lately they'll likely come back.  A nice tapared fiberglass arrow - like a fishing rod - ought to be the berries.

Ever bunny shoot with a barbless fishing arrow?  They punch through brush but are a close range proposition.

[frank bullitt]

Are they the Microflite woven glass shafts or the solid like bowfishing arrows, Biggie mentions?

The ole micros were used alot by folks years ago! I have a few in old arrow boxes.

[Stumpkiller]

They were thin walled, but I can't say woven or not.

[Cherokee Scout]

I was a big fan of fiberglass, especially Micro Flites. The problem with them was if they hit a rock or other hard object they would sometimes crack, the cracks may not be easily seen. Then on the next shot long slivers of broken glass would flex out at the shot and sometimes hit the shooters arm. I never had this happen to me, I always bent/flexed them after hitting a hard object. They were very straight, and consistent spine, very good shafts. As long as you were careful with them, they were safe and shot straight. Micro Flites came in sizes from 0 (smallest) to 12 (largest).

[Fletcher]

There were several different brands of fiberglass arrow shafts made back in the 60's and 70's, Microflite being one of the better ones.  They made great hunting arrows and were pretty durable, but on the heavier side.  Like carbons, they were straight or broken.  Aluminum just seemed to take over the market and fiberglass disappeared.

[E.AllenIII]

I'll check the brand out when I get home but the box is marked 1976 and I think they are 8s or 9s..he shot them with a 50# martin mamba

[Cottonwood]

Do they look like these?

[Blackhawk]

I recall using them in the 60's and liked them...and still have some that I shoot on occasion.  

We all seemed to shoot cedar on a regular basis back then, but when we had extra money and wanted some good hunting arrows, fiberglass was the choice.  

Of course, aluminum was more expensive and most shooters considered that material superior.

With carbon and aluminum dominating today, I doubt that f/g would make a big comeback.

[Biggie Hoffman]

If they're 8's or 9's they could very well be microflites. I shot 9's for years!
Now you have me curious.....

Fletcher, quit screwing around on the computer and get my arrows done!

 

[Bill Turner]

The man who gave the arrows to E.AllenIII was my traditional bowhunting mentor(Fred Balmer). Fred shot microflites tipped with Bear Razorheads out of his 50@28 Bear Grizzly and Martin ("Mamba"). He took his yearly limit of deer with stick and string when others were just thinking about it. I have several of his microflite arrows but they are a little short for me. Check your arrow length Ed. I'd be surprized if they are not too short for you as well.  

[Hatrick]

Ahhhh...microflites, now that brings back some old memories. I still have a few laying around myself. A very good arrow material.

[Huntschool]

I think it would be interesting to see what could be made with todays tools and technology using a combination of glass and carbon built on a tapered mandrell....

Talk about getting some "Big Game" arrows... Sure would be a "nitch" market.

[hvyhitter]

In the mid 70s I had some green ones that I used for a few years. My friends and I would wrap the first inch or so with Fishing rod guide thread and then coat with epoxy....This would help keep the ends from splitting when hitting anything really hard. After going through two dozen pretty quick I went back to aluminum and wood.

[snow leopard]

i have some #6 micro-flites; 1/2 dozen i think. i'll have to check.

[SCATTERSHOT]

I have some, and shot them a lot back in the day. You can "foot" the shafts at the point end with a 2 to 3" section of aluminum shaft, 2314, as I recall, and it really toughens them up against hard impacts.

That 1200 grain figure, BTW, is for a solid FG fishing shaft, not a hollow woven one.

[Stinger]

I still have some of my tan Herters Farbenglass F arrows from the late 60's that are 28 5/8in.  They weigh 568gr w/125 gr point and spine at 49# on the spine-o-meter.  I also have some of my Dad's Herters green fiberglass arrows from the 70's that are 30 3/4in and 621 gr with a 125gr point and spine at 70#.  I have found them to be tough as nails except when hitting a rock.

[E.AllenIII]

Bill is correct, they are all microflights with bear razor heads.  They are made by fleetwood and from the mid 70s.