HLR vs RIP TKO

[fry0083]

If you were grabbing a new set of shafts in 250 spine which arrow are you going with? Weight is negligible. Just curious on your alls thoughts about differences in carbon weave and durability between shafts. Looks like Victory is switching the stainless steel half outs on both shafts as well. Thanks for the input

 

[HunterGatherer]

If you were grabbing a new set of shafts in 250 spine which arrow are you going with? Weight is negligible. Just curious on your alls thoughts about differences in carbon weave and durability between shafts. Looks like Victory is switching the stainless steel half outs on both shafts as well. Thanks for the input

I don’t have experience with the HLR but I can vouch for the durability of the TKO. Been shooting them for 5or 6 years now and never broken a shaft, even ones that passed through and hit solid objects. The half out inserts are bullet proof and I like the fluting and taper to prevent suction. I don’t know how I feel about the change to aluminum but looks like you can still get a SS version in 75gr if I’m not mistaken…(pic below from their site)
During practice, I forgot to slide my sight when I stepped back and shot my target stand - an aluminum stool. With a field tip it went through six layers of aluminum and the arrow was undamaged.

 

[HunterGatherer]

So because I like the SS inserts so much I just called my local shop to see if they had any in stock and they told me that Victory is switching back to the 50gr SS as the standard but they’re still clearing out aluminum stock so it might be a minute before you see them in stores again. Maybe someone else can confirm this…?

 

[5MilesBack]

I love my RIP TKO 250's with HIT's.

 

[Easpeer]

So because I like the SS inserts so much I just called my local shop to see if they had any in stock and they told me that Victory is switching back to the 50gr SS as the standard but they’re still clearing out aluminum stock so it might be a minute before you see them in stores again. Maybe someone else can confirm this…?

I think your shop is correct, most new shafts look like they are coming with 50g SS instead of the aluminum. Forward movement!
Haven’t shot the HLR yet but would be hard to beat rip tko’s for durability.

 

[mfolch]

I wish I had stuck with rip tko’s instead of investing in hlr’s this year. I’ve broken 3 rip tko’s in past five years, one without explanation, just took it out of the target and it fell in half. Two cracked at the back after being robinhooded several times. And these two I just cut and refletched. By contrast, there’s hardly a day I don’t come back from the range without a broken HLR. I now have a whole system of how to deal with broken HLR’s: I cut them 29 inches and use a HIT and iron will collar (470 grains). When they break, I cut them to 28”, refletch, and use a much shorter podium collar (~440 grains taw). When I’m done breaking and shortening the hlr 29’s I’ll switch to 28’s. Also, I’m now using nock collars to protect the shafts. I bought the hlr hoping to reduce arrow weight, but with the front and nock collars and the extra length to keep the collar from hitting the rest, I end up with an arrow that weighs more or less the same.

For what it’s worth, I found my hlr’s fly snd tune well with 17% foc, and the rip tko’s with 13% foc. Achieving the higher foc also added weight to the hlr. I know others have had different experiences.

The lesson is add up the weight of all the components and factor in the additional length and weight of the shaft if you go with collars.