A lot of gear-buying decisions come with an overwhelming number of options to consider; Weight, design, and materials come into play with every purchase, with their respective positives and negatives. But in my opinion, no gear item has more options with as many variables as an archery arrow. With subject matter that always riles up a room of bowhunters, you may be having a hard time deciding which direction to turn for an arrow purchase.
Heavier Arrow vs. Lighter Arrow
Many articles have taken a dive into heavy arrows versus light arrows. However, I think a quick look at my perspective will give you insight into why I choose to shoot the arrow that I do.
In short, the idea of a heavier arrow is the ability to carry more momentum on its flight which is known to hit the target harder and penetrate deeper. The downside of a heavier arrow is its lower speed, which is where the lighter arrows get a look.
I like a heavier arrow because not every shot we get at an animal is perfect. Unexpected scenarios happen to the best bowhunters, and I personally want an arrow that will carry a punch, even if that means shooting an arrow traveling at a slower speed.
The Broadhead
Narrowing down your desired arrow is one half of the puzzle. The remaining half is all about what you put on the front end. Choosing a broadhead can be plenty tough, but the standardized weights make it somewhat simpler. My preference over the last six seasons has been fixed blade heads for their simplistic design and for penetrating hide with the least amount of force.
I chose to shoot the 125-grain EVO head with my arrows. Day Six uses S30V steel for its broadheads which is a high-end steel known for its durability and edge retention.
My breakthrough moment in wanting to shoot these broadheads came when I watched a buddy shoot an elk at about 50 yards resulting in a total pass-through and breaking two ribs. Upon examining the recovered broadhead, I found it was sharper than the broadheads I had been buying from box stores new in the package. You can order yours here.
I spoke with Bryan from Day Six Gear about testing the broadheads and he stated,
“Once produced, these heads were tested to thresholds that exceed what they would experience in the field in a worst-case scenario. Edge retention was tested over numerous types of hide with varying coarseness of hair, as some animals have extremely coarse, durable hair that can dull an edge quickly. Impact durability was tested with a number of mediums, like plywood, and steel. But most importantly, femurs and scapulas from Brangus bulls were shot from various angles. Corrosion tests were performed with blood and water both, as they are equally important to withstand”
My Setup
I have been sporting an arrow and broadhead setup from Day Six Gear for almost four seasons now. I have taken two deer, a couple of turkeys, and a Caribou with my setup. I have experienced nothing but impressive results.
My draw length is 28 inches, and I am pulling 60 pounds. I’m shooting the 350 spine arrows at 10.2 grains per inch. With the Day Six centric insert/outsert up front and my arrows cut to 28 inches, my total arrow weight with the 125-grain Evo broadhead comes to 500 grains. This is a comfortable weight for me, still allowing me to shoot sixty yards with my five-pin sight and experience pass-throughs on everything I have shot with it.
Conclusion on Day Six Gear
Using high-end components that are 100% American-made, there is no doubt that the arrows and broadheads coming from Day Six are grade-A products that perform well. The cost of these arrows and broadheads is quite a bit more expensive than the box store products you may be used to. But before you write them off because of cost, it’s important to consider the materials and design that went into building them. I have gone three years on the same dozen arrows and half dozen broadheads because of their durability. This is the upside of supporting American-made products that will last you multiple seasons.
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