New arrow build for 2026 - Muley & Whitetail

[180splitg3]

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

what happened with the 5.0? I've not heard great things but just curious...

 

[Wheels]

I would suggest getting a half dozen Axis 340’s to try. Use the standard 16gr insert and slide some Iron Will collars on, I’ve had no issues with durability with the collars on my Axis arrows.

 

[Wilderlife]

The Terra Firma Sicario or Vertex would both likely be good options. I'm not sure how easy they are to find in America but they're priced very well.

 

[Alanders]

I love the RIP XV with an ethics outsert and sleeve. It has been a deadly combo for me. I use the same arrows for 3D.

 

[180splitg3]

I would suggest getting a half dozen Axis 340’s to try. Use the standard 16gr insert and slide some Iron Will collars on, I’ve had no issues with durability with the collars on my Axis arrows.

I have 6, 340 spine axis laying around. Total arrow weight is 465 with standard insert and no collar. I have been shooting them a bit - need to see what the FOC is on them. If I go with something in the 8.8 gpi range and a 50 grain insert - I would end up around 14% foc - which I like

 

[Pramo]

what happened with the 5.0? I've not heard great things but just curious...

Out of 18 match grade 5 broke shooting targets not from impacts but arrow slaps, literally just broke in half mid arrow. 4 have held a bend and are outside .006 I just threw those away. Killed buck and the arrow broke in 3 prices

They did fly great but I have no confidence in them from a durability standpoint

 

[180splitg3]

Out of 18 match grade 5 broke shooting targets not from impacts but arrow slaps, literally just broke in half mid arrow. 4 have held a bend and are outside .006 I just threw those away. Killed buck and the arrow broke in 3 prices

They did fly great but I have no confidence in them from a durability standpoint

Thanks - appreciate the feedback!

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Forget FOC. Build for the TAW you want and let FOC fall where it may. FOC is a mostly irrelevant metric that no one cared about until a few YouTube divas started peddling their heavy arrow snake oil.

 

[Eastonsgrandpa]

Thanks - I am thinking the same thing - more speed + more forgiveness on small yardage errors would be a good thing out west. I have been reading a lot of forum posts and I feel like 450 TAW is a good spot to be. Heavy enough for penetration but not excessively heavy...

Honestly, anything over 400 is plenty. 450 will probably be laying on the ground a few feet further than 400 would, but both will blow through. I too am
Shooting 65 but with a 29” draw. I clocked them last night at 294 fps. KE is barely under 75. Plenty for any big game animal is NA. I’m mostly thrilled with how little pin gap there is.

 

[180splitg3]

Forget FOC. Build for the TAW you want and let FOC fall where it may. FOC is a mostly irrelevant metric that no one cared about until a few YouTube divas started peddling their heavy arrow snake oil.

Really? FOC doesn't matter? Snake oil? Lol

 

[Mighty Mouse]

Really? FOC doesn't matter? Snake oil? Lol

FOC matters in that you need positive FOC to achieve stable flight. But all arrows have positive FOC by virtue of the fact that the heavier components go on the front end. Switching from a 10.7 gpi shaft (5mm Axis 300) to an 8.8 gpi shaft (RIP 300) would boost FOC by about 1.5% (all else equal), which would not make one iota of difference in any meaningful measure of arrow performance. Likewise, dropping FOC to approximately 9% with the 450 gr TAW 5mm Axis configuration I suggested earlier would not appreciably hamper arrow performance.