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.

 

[180splitg3]

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.

Makes sense. And you're probably right. I may just trim my current arrows down and get rid of the lighted nock. That would cut off about 30 grains. My old arrows were 28" - my new arrows are 29.5 (I wanted the head beyond the riser, but it's not crucial). Losing 1.5 inches should be worth 13-15 grains and losing the lighted nock would lose another 15 grains - I just like the lighted nocks

 

[HunterGatherer]

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!View attachment 975922View attachment 975923

I’m shooting RIP TKOs with the 50gr factory inserts , 125gr BH, wraps and blazers - 420gr @27.5”. Excellent shaft and insert IMO. Extremely durable. If I had your 30”DL I’d be fine with 440gr…

 

[stewart248]

Here was my build for 2025 mule deer hunting. I live in Utah and have 30” dl and was trying to have a fast arrow with decent weight. My TAW came in at 444.

Specs:

300 spine victory HLR cut to 27 7/8” ctc
Easton 75gn Brass HIT
Podium Collar
3.8” vinyl wrap
3 2.75” TAC Driver Vanes
AAE IP5 nock
100 gn points

This got me heavier on the FOC which in your case will help you weaken the spine a little since you’re in between but help give you that weight range you’re targeting. The arrow is just long enough it will fit on your drop away without issue. These arrows were great for me and very durable. You could obviously go down to a podium or iron will 50 grain HIT or use the stock 50 grain stainless outsert from victory and get your TAW down to 419 which is plenty heavy enough to get a mule deer. Out west you’re gonna usually see longer shots and longer follow up shots. A flatter more
Forgiving trajectory is what you want to go for.

The RIP TKOs are also excellent and I’d strongly recommend those as well. The benefit of the HLR is they are a little lighter on the gpi and plenty durable but hard to go wrong with the RIP TKOs. I’ve also used the standard RIPs before and they are fine but didn’t love them as much as the HLR and TKOs. Good luck.