Arrow decision

[J.G.]

So I am suffering from a case of paralysis by analysis this year deciding on what hunting arrows to build. I mostly hunt elk and white tails but am planning a diy trip to New Zealand in February to chase red stag and maybe a spring beat hunt. I have a 28” draw, 73 lbs, 27.5” arrow and IW broadheads. I’m between victory vaps and rips. If I did my math right my total weoght with the vap is 470 with 16% foc. The rip will be 475 with 18% foc. So I’m stuck between a slightly smaller diameter shaft and a slightly higher foc. The Vap does have a cool factor for me. I know either one will work on anything I’ll be chasing which makes it harder.


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[Bump79]

It really boils down to components. If you're shooting IW and Micros then the way to go is to use their Syndercore. If you're not, then just go 5mm. I like the RIP TKO series. I'd also check out their new HLR. I think they come with their stainless halfout too.

In my opinion a HIT and collar is the way to go. I wouldn't touch a aluminum halfout. Even the 50 grain steel halfouts I have are subpar at best.

 

[Skerhunter]

Personally I stick with properly spined 5mm arrow and basic components (brass inserts and bar) and focus on tuning/form vs worrying about them looking cool/testing new components.

With all the options out there today you can really get into the weeds with arrow builds. I don’t see a huge benefit building up the front of the arrow or micro shafts. It’s going to cost more and I’ve never broke an arrow where any of that stuff would have helped. Usually last ~6” if arrow is damaged if I break one. That’s my rant for the day…

Good luck on your hunts this year - hunt red stag with a bow is a dream hunt of mine!

 

[Trial153]

RIPS, IW hits and collars or Podium Steel halouts

 

[ATL]

Just want to give you an option you may not have considered, not trying to convince you.

I was shooting 5mm shafts for 20+ years and always put up with the terminal end component issues that small diameter shafts have. I tried a 6mm shaft a few years ago and enjoy working with the internal components they allow for so much more. No need for collars, half outs, etc.

I am currently shooting the Black Eagle Spartan 350 .001. It has performed so well for me. I am shooting more accurately than I ever have, broadheads fly great, etc. The Spartan comes standard with a flanged 29 gr. steel insert, and additional screw-in brass weights are available to adjust FOC as you wish anytime.

I have not shot them, but another possibly good 6mm shaft would be the Easton Sonic 6.0.

Both options are relatively light allowing to build the front up weight wise if you wish. I shoot 27” draw, 67#, 100 gr. head and 59 gr. insert, 25.5” arrow totaling approximately 405 gr. 14-15 FOC. For you the 300 spine would be more appropriate, and you could likely get close to your preferred 475 gr. finished arrow.

Both of these options save quite a bit of money as well.

 

[nphunter]

I like 4mm arrows but would only consider deep six or glue in broadheads, snider core IW, evolution makes great heads for 4mm too.

I’ve shot RIP TKO and VAP’s, both are great arrows, IMO the RIP TKO is the best head on the market with SS hit inserts available they are pretty bullet proof.

You’re over thinking the FOC stuff it doesn’t matter at all from what I’ve seen. I’ve also found that gluing huge long inserts into arrows effects the dynamic spine and I’ve had better luck with down range accuracy shooting in the weak side of the spine chart when using heavy long inserts or glue I heads. Essentially by gluing a 2-3” section of the arrow with an insert your keeping it from flexing so it’s similar to just cutting the arrow shorter.

 

[darrenk75b]

Just want to give you an option you may not have considered, not trying to convince you.

I was shooting 5mm shafts for 20+ years and always put up with the terminal end component issues that small diameter shafts have. I tried a 6mm shaft a few years ago and enjoy working with the internal components they allow for so much more. No need for collars, half outs, etc.

I am currently shooting the Black Eagle Spartan 350 .001. It has performed so well for me. I am shooting more accurately than I ever have, broadheads fly great, etc. The Spartan comes standard with a flanged 29 gr. steel insert, and additional screw-in brass weights are available to adjust FOC as you wish anytime.

I have not shot them, but another possibly good 6mm shaft would be the Easton Sonic 6.0.

Both options are relatively light allowing to build the front up weight wise if you wish. I shoot 27” draw, 67#, 100 gr. head and 59 gr. insert, 25.5” arrow totaling approximately 405 gr. 14-15 FOC. For you the 300 spine would be more appropriate, and you could likely get close to your preferred 475 gr. finished arrow.

Both of these options save quite a bit of money as well.

Love my Spartans. They've been super durable, and shoot great for me. Not a ton of options out there for them, but honestly I don't think there needs to be. Factory components are great.

Even better, if they have your spine, are the clearance shafts for sale on their website right now. I shoot 0.003, and they are only $60/dozen right now. Heck of a deal.

 

[J.G.]

I read an interesting article from James Yates about improving bow hunting forgiveness. It’s a 3 part article. There’s alot in there I can’t use, often I find myself in dark timber then in wide open areas in the same day, but gaining every bit of forgiveness is something I can work on. So I decided to go with the VAP’s with iron will inserts, collars, and heads. Then have one or two arrows with a Sevr mechanical for longer shots or second shots. Even though the difference in wind drift is minute, maybe it’ll mean the difference one day and certainly won’t hurt. And I have used the deep six IW heads and collars before and found them very durable. Good luck to everyone this fall!


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[rbrage09]

Have had alot of luck with the RIP TKO. Went to them from Easton Axis which were also great.

 

[jonesn3]

I’ve been running Easton Axis 5mm Match shafts for the last five years. Very happy and content with that setup. At the time I was deciding between a similar list of shafts and components as you. Basically, I landed on the 5mm due to the simplicity, availability of components, and durability of the 5mm shaft. The main disadvantage is the GPI of that shaft. As a result mid to high FOC is really difficult to achieve without crazy heavy total arrow weight. I ended up adding IW collars but kept the standard HIT inserts. My thought was you’d have to add a much longer insert than I was willing (due to weight) to move the failure point beyond the collar. The collars themselves have made the system incredibly durable IMO. The only shaft I’ve exploded in 5yrs was hitting steal on one of those trick shot targets you sometimes see online. The only other shaft I recall breaking as a result of hard impact and failure at the front end was hitting a rock on a missed 3D target at 90yds and the shaft broke a few inches behind the collar.

There was an article written on Outdoor Life “Easton Axis Arrows: Buy Three Dozen and Don’t Switch Your Arrows Again” which kinda aligns with my though process.

The Easton 5.0 looks awesome from the GPI standpoint. I’d look at that also.

 

[jonesn3]

I’ve also found that gluing huge long inserts into arrows effects the dynamic spine and I’ve had better luck with down range accuracy shooting in the weak side of the spine chart when using heavy long inserts or glue I heads. Essentially by gluing a 2-3” section of the arrow with an insert your keeping it from flexing so it’s similar to just cutting the arrow shorter.

I’ve seen guys doing this at the range. Seems like a good case for a super long stiffer insert like IW. Guys that would normally shoot 300 spine, would drop to 340 spine for the GPI savings, and add a longer insert to stiffen up the spike at the font. If the math works out, you could theoretically get a nice FOC and equivalent dynamic spine for the same total arrow weight or less. For the Axis, with the heavy GPI, that’s actually a pretty nice setup but would take some testing to check spine