2026 Arrow Setup

[jalexander]

Hey all, I shoot an 80lb Alpha X 33 at 29” draw. I’m looking for a new arrow build this year. I have some Bohning Heat Vanes, but I’m second guessing using them as I have read people have issues with inconsistent broadhead shooting. I’m looking to be around 460-490 grain. Open to all suggestions.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

What broadhead are you shooting?

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

Heat are good vanes for field tips or if you want to four fletch. I see no reason to though as you can go lighter with a three fletch and taller vane.

Any of the arrow manufacturers will work. I’ve gone to the Easton 5.0 and am happy. I wasn’t when I had a half out as I got some breaks. But since doing a HIT and titanium collar I haven’t lost a single arrow and a couple times I should have.

I prefer a 5mm for a good diameter and ease of finding components.

RIP TKO is great too, but I really wanted to make the Easton work as they are American made.

 

[jalexander]

What broadhead are you shooting?

Going to be shooting an Iron will or Sevr mechanical broadhead

 

[jalexander]

Heat are good vanes for field tips or if you want to four fletch. I see no reason to though as you can go lighter with a three fletch and taller vane.

Any of the arrow manufacturers will work. I’ve gone to the Easton 5.0 and am happy. I wasn’t when I had a half out as I got some breaks. But since doing a HIT and titanium collar I haven’t lost a single arrow and a couple times I should have.

I prefer a 5mm for a good diameter and ease of finding components.

RIP TKO is great too, but I really wanted to make the Easton work as they are American made.

I appreciate the reply. I plan on hunting elk and whitetail this year. I shot the Easton Axis 5mm last year and all in was around 560 grains. I want to go a little lighter this year, and am curious about the Easton 4mm long range with the heat vanes, but from what I’ve read, I don’t know how well that will workout with broadheads. I’ve always ran 3 fletch, but I’m not necessarily against 4 fletch.

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Going to be shooting an Iron will or Sevr mechanical broadhead

You're going to be around 300 fps at 80#/29" with a 460-490 gr arrow. Tuning a fixed blade broadhead at that speed might be challenging regardless of vane choice.

I personally like Bohning Heat vanes and have had good luck using them in 4-fletch with fixed blade heads, but my arrows are flying quite bit slower than yours (275-280 fps). I think a 4-fletch medium-height vane (like a Heat) will generally perform similarly to a 3-fletch tall vane (like a Blazer).