New arrow build for 2026 - Muley & Whitetail

[180splitg3]

Hey guys. Looking for thoughts on a new arrow build. I am currently shooting Easton Axis 5 mm match grade 300 spine with 50 grain brass hit inserts. My total arrow weight is 520.

I mainly hunt whitetail but I am heading out west for mule deer again next season and I would like to try something a little flatter shooting. The axis have been great arrows - my only complaint is that they can be a beast to pull out of foam targets. I typically hit up several 3D shoots in the summer and that has always annoyed me (I know it's not the end of the world!).

I have decided I would like to try something at 450 grains total arrow weight. I am currently shooting a 65# Prime Revex 6 with a 30 inch draw. According to spine charts, I could go with a 340/350 spine but I am somewhat on the edge so I was planning to stick with a 300 spine.

I have been looking at VAP RIP regular and RIP TKOs (both are 8.8 gpi). This gpi puts me very close to 450 total arrow weight with my components. I would still like to use the 50 grain brass or stainless hit inserts and they are supposed to fit the VAP RIP arrows. Because of the lighter gpi, I am assuming the regular RIP arrows are weaker than the 5mm axis - anyone have any thoughts on that? The RIP TKOs are woven so I am thinking they are quite a bit stronger than the axis or the regular RIPs but I don't know for sure.

Any other arrows I should be looking at in that 8.8 gpi range for a 300 spine? The regular RIPs are cheaper than the TKOs but I don't necessarily want to use something weaker than the Axis (if that's the case).

A couple pictures from 2022 in North Dakota. I stalked the bigger buck (he's probably only 125 inches but that was big enough for me, I've never killed an archery muley) and waited on him to stand for 4 hours. I was about 60 yards away laying in some grass. He finally stood up and I shot over his back at 65 yards. Looking for some redemption in 2026!

 

[dtrkyman]

Easton 5.0 is 8.4 gpi in a 300.


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[180splitg3]

Easton 5.0 is 8.4 gpi in a 300.


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Thanks - I have been reading about them but I have not heard the best reviews about them - sounds like they are pretty brittle - just what I've been reading...

 

[Mighty Mouse]

300 spine 5mm Axis cut at 29” with 100 gr broadhead, 16 gr aluminum HIT, and unlighted nock would put you real close to 450 gr TAW.

But if you’re set on a lighter shaft, here are some other 5mm options around 8-9 gpi at 300 spine. Arrow shafts are ID-controlled, so a 5mm HIT will fit in any 5mm/.204” shaft.

 

[wildwilderness]

I would keep it simple- go with 5mm Easton axis in 340 spine with no brass insert. May need to cut a touch shorter if the spine needs it but with 65# you will be fine even at 30” dl (28-29”shaft) this will give you 450gr finished arrow


I’ve tried other options but always come back the Easton axis, for the durability and consistency shooting and spinning true with broadheads, long history and availability

 

[Pramo]

Axis are almost always the best option, I tried the 5.0 and never again. I am playing with Easton sonic so far great and you can build them with a traditional insert and not much bigger than Axis 300 vs Sonic 300

 

[180splitg3]

Thanks guys. Nobody shooting the Rip arrows?! Really wanted to try something that wasn't an axis

 

[180splitg3]

300 spine 5mm Axis cut at 29” with 100 gr broadhead, 16 gr aluminum HIT, and unlighted nock would put you real close to 450 gr TAW.

But if you’re set on a lighter shaft, here are some other 5mm options around 8-9 gpi at 300 spine. Arrow shafts are ID-controlled, so a 5mm HIT will fit in any 5mm/.204” shaft.
View attachment 975936

Thanks. I wish there was a way to measure the strength of the aluminum hit VS brass or stainless - also - I was trying to keep my foc relatively high by using a lighter gpi and still using the 50 grain insert

 

[wind gypsy]

Thanks guys. Nobody shooting the Rip arrows?! Really wanted to try something that wasn't an axis

I have used 300 spine black eagle rampages or RIP TKOs with total arrow weight of 450-475 with HITs for quite a while. The TKOs seem a little more durable.

I’m not an archery nut but both worked fine for me.

 

[180splitg3]

The other thing I'm struggling with is - am I really gaining much by dropping from 520 to 450 arrow weight? I'm sure it will be flatter, but is it really that much?

 

[Beendare]

I shoot the Accmos from Amazon.....great shafts.
I would stick to a minimum of 9gpi or a little more- 9.5-10.5gpi is ideal I think...more carbon makes for a more durable hunt arrow.

Best practice is have a little block of paraffin in your belt quiver and rub the first 6" of your arrows regularly. This saves the finish and makes them easier to pull. The Slippery goop works too- but gets all over everything.

 

[ATL]

As recommended above I think the Easton Sonic 6.0 is a great option. Uses a flanged insert.

I shoot the Black Eagle Spartan shaft, also a 6mm. I like the flanged insert this diameter shaft allows you to use. Simple, durable, easy target removal. The BE Spartan insert is steel at 28 gr., and accepts 10gr. and 30 gr. Screw in brass weights to customize total arrow weight and FOC. No more HIT, sleeves, etc.

The Spartan shaft has been very durable. I currently have five dozen shafts to work through. It is going to take me a while. It is likely a more affordable option as well. Available in .001” and .003” straightness.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I really, really like rip tkos.

 

[Xringer07]

The other thing I'm struggling with is - am I really gaining much by dropping from 520 to 450 arrow weight? I'm sure it will be flatter, but is it really that much?

What’s your current velocity? 520 is a decently heavy arrow for 65 lbs. I’m guessing you’re in the mid 260s to 270. Dropping to a 450 gr arrow will get you about 20-25 fps.

I try to shoot an arrow weight that will get me 280-290 as that’s a real comfortable and stable speed for fixed broadheads.

 

[Bump79]

What’s your current velocity? 520 is a decently heavy arrow for 65 lbs. I’m guessing you’re in the mid 260s to 270. Dropping to a 450 gr arrow will get you about 20-25 fps.

I try to shoot an arrow weight that will get me 280-290 as that’s a real comfortable and stable speed for fixed broadheads.

This is my best guess using my formula. He'll gain about 8 fps. If it has me, I'd probably target around 430 grains. Below that gets a little iffy on durability in my opinion.

The other thing I'm struggling with is - am I really gaining much by dropping from 520 to 450 arrow weight? I'm sure it will be flatter, but is it really that much?

@180splitg3 You'll get a flatter trajectory. But that's not really the right way to think about it - the right way to think about it is range forgiveness or range error at your desired range. I'd also consider time in flight if you're able and willing to shoot 50+ yds.

Would I buy new arrows to shed 70 grains? No, but if I was building new ones for western hunting like mule deer I'd lighten up to 430-450 grains for your setup.

At 50 yards a 4 yard error would be around .4 inches between those two arrows. Sounds like not a lot, but archery is a game of probability. The import thing to note is that this is .4" additional, this is what most miss when it comes to heavier setups. We need to look at totals.

Let's say you range at 50 and he mills around a little while you're at draw, ends up at 46 but you still use your 50 pin. The 450 grain arrow will hit about 4.7" high and the 520 will hit around 5.1" high. Say a mule deer vitals are 10" high for example, 5" either up or down if you aim perfectly in the middle. One is just barely in, the other is just barely out. The blades on the head will clip more vitals with the lighter one. The heavier arrow will likely hit more bone that it needs to break where the light arrow might just avoid it.

If you picture the wound .4" lower wound on an animal it makes it much easier to imagine. Realistically, penetration is primarily driven by your broadhead choice and component/head durability. 70 grains heavier/lighter isn't going to make or break getting a pass through IMHO.