Sitka spruce...Hildebrand???

green valley gobbler · June 22, 2015, 08:14:00 PM

Looking for a lighter weight, 3D shaft. Does anyone have any experience with Sitka Spruce, particularly Hildebrand? How do they compare with say Surewoods? Thanks in advance!

Jim Wright · June 22, 2015, 08:21:00 PM

Good quality shafts, I made up a couple of dozen a while back. They do not taper well at all with a "pencil sharpener" type taper tool but a Woodchuck or other sander will work fine.

slowbowjoe · June 22, 2015, 08:23:00 PM

I prefer Surewood firs, but shooting a lightweight bow these days, I sometimes need spruce for getting down to under 11GPP.

I go to Hildebeand for spruce. Good arrows, good folks. Surewoods are my first choice most of the time.

slowbowjoe · June 22, 2015, 08:26:00 PM

Just coming back and seeing Jim's post: I actually find spruce easier than fir to taper with a hand held sharpener.

Either way, that's all I've got, and taper both. Fir sometimes takes more touching up, and a more delicate hand.

bowheadhunter · June 22, 2015, 08:28:00 PM

try the hunters taper arrows in DF for hunting Sitka S I love for target and 3d shoots nice company..
I live in Sitka AK Sitka a great arrow wood ,DF just a little higher in strength,,

akbowbender · June 22, 2015, 08:34:00 PM

I use the Tru Center v2 on my Sitka Spruce shafts without any problems. I really like working with spruce shafts.

Jim Wright · June 22, 2015, 09:10:00 PM

My mistake, it is the Surewood Douglas Fir that I shoot regularly that a sander type taper tool works best on, I get mine tapered by Surewood and sometimes fine tune the point taper with a 3Rivers tool and that works OK though. Jim

Grey Taylor · June 22, 2015, 10:23:00 PM

Hildebrand is a great company to work with and their Sitka spruce shafts make great arrows. I've made more than a few hundred dozen arrows with them and I've been very pleased with the company's service and their product.

Guy

ausjim · June 23, 2015, 12:22:00 AM

I've used Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir and reckon they're comparable in durability.

bowhuntingrn · June 23, 2015, 12:43:00 AM

Sitka Spruce while not quite as tough as Douglas Fir, is "pound for pound" as tough as they come (IMO). Probably not the best for stumping, but more than enough arrow for 3D. Heck I wouldn't hesitate to hunt with them. Their (Hildebrand) tapered shafts are very nice and help get a little more weight forward. As far as Hildebrand goes, great folks to deal with who put out a consistently quality product.

green valley gobbler · June 23, 2015, 09:37:00 PM

Thanks for all the info here guys, really appreciated!

M60gunner · June 23, 2015, 10:36:00 PM

I also have made and used Hildebrand shafts over the years. I really like their tapered shafts.

luvnlongbow · June 25, 2015, 01:35:00 PM

You can't beat the folks and the service at Hildebrand. I have used their shafts for a while now and am intending on shooting them exclusively. Easy to work with and perform (IMHO) better than other woods.

luvnlongbow · June 25, 2015, 01:36:00 PM

You can't beat the folks and the service at Hildebrand. I have used their shafts for a while now and am intending on shooting them exclusively. Easy to work with and perform (IMHO) better than other woods.