Page Master
WKR
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2020
- Messages
- 440
In my search for a perfect arrow of high FOC, speed, durability and accuracy I have probably bought, broke and lost a few thousand arrows. The next step in my evolution was to try a stupid low GPI arrow, (RIP XV) and attempt to build up the front for more durability. In this step of stupidity, I figured my Venn-diagram would be FOC>Speed/Accuracy>Durability. In order to make myself feel more comfortable with their thin, brittle walled nature, I ordered the Ethics front component insert/collar. I used the AL system and left it whole for 80g of components. I wanted to use fix blades this year, so I opted to go for a 125g tip. with 4 of the small Gas vanes and a wrap, as well as opting to use an X nock, I had a TAW of 452g or so. (205g total front weight, 199.5 shaft. 35g vane/wrap, 7g nock, and 4/5g in glue/variance)
The arrows fly like darts. I mean they are badass. I am shooting a 70# Bowtech at 28.5'', and the 300's do not show weak. I do have a bit of a nock high tear, however the extreme weight forward is probably to blame and the arrow has zero issues correcting itself in flight so I opted to not concern myself with a 1/16'' nock high tear.
Over the course of a month I half broken half of these original dozen arrows, 3, have had hard impacts and mushroomed out the tail end. 1, I closed into my car door like a moron, and snapped off the last 1/4 of the arrow. 2, I purposely shot into a stump and a 2x6 after adding the victory unibushings and an F nock. (this reduced accuracy, I believe the bushings were not perfectly square and I am suspect of all F nocks). While the ass end remained intact, The AL collars do not hold up well to the twisting and turning in wood and start to bend and eventually shear off with the point. However, the insert and shaft appeared to be intact. While attempting to reinsert the inserts after squaring the ends of these last 2, the mushroomed end of the insert split the front of the shafts. My fault ? Or a micro split of the carbon? Beats me. I could have probably left the inserts in and just replaced the collar, but I get carried away easily.
This morning I have ordered gold tip, Kinetic unibushings (metal ones) and Easton G nocks. 1 of 3 things will happen. 1) I will have a well rounded arrow, for what is possible for this build, that is still extremely fast, moderately to extreme FOC for a compound, extremely accurate and durable arrows that survive the abuse of weekly spring league and back yard shooting. 2) I will have the aforementioned arrows, sans accuracy as the unibushings do not provide the accuracy as the standard X nocks are currently doing and will have to lose durability for accuracy. 3) I will lose accuracy and not gain durability and simply have wasted another $30 for the hell of it.
I am hoping for the former option. They will need to have a far lower attrition rate to make it for this years hunting arrow. I will be using them in 2 weeks to shoot a Texas Nilgai, so if they survive shooting one of those, I would feel confident in them working for elk and whitetail. If I am still seeing a high attrition rate, I will probably sacrifice some of the unnecessary FOC for more durability and switch to RIP TKO's, or even possibly GT Airstrikes. (Probably RIP TKO because the weave looks SICK). Either way, I am going to get another half dozen of the RIP XV's and fit them with the unibushings and G nocks with the ethics components and send it. I will know by May/June whether or not they are the ticket. Any questions, comments or concerns I am open to answer, as well as criticism.
*Note: I am not an EFOC/Ashby jihadist. I wanted to use a durable front component system, without risk of shear points from over levering the front due to a small insert and collar so I used the full ethics component system. I also wanted to use a 125g head for better fixed blade durability and selection. I am using Cutthroat 3 blades. I simply arrived at 20%, not sought it. The last 2 years I have been around 10-12%. Which, again, is arrived to, not sought.
**Note2: I have wasted a lot of money and time.
The arrows fly like darts. I mean they are badass. I am shooting a 70# Bowtech at 28.5'', and the 300's do not show weak. I do have a bit of a nock high tear, however the extreme weight forward is probably to blame and the arrow has zero issues correcting itself in flight so I opted to not concern myself with a 1/16'' nock high tear.
Over the course of a month I half broken half of these original dozen arrows, 3, have had hard impacts and mushroomed out the tail end. 1, I closed into my car door like a moron, and snapped off the last 1/4 of the arrow. 2, I purposely shot into a stump and a 2x6 after adding the victory unibushings and an F nock. (this reduced accuracy, I believe the bushings were not perfectly square and I am suspect of all F nocks). While the ass end remained intact, The AL collars do not hold up well to the twisting and turning in wood and start to bend and eventually shear off with the point. However, the insert and shaft appeared to be intact. While attempting to reinsert the inserts after squaring the ends of these last 2, the mushroomed end of the insert split the front of the shafts. My fault ? Or a micro split of the carbon? Beats me. I could have probably left the inserts in and just replaced the collar, but I get carried away easily.
This morning I have ordered gold tip, Kinetic unibushings (metal ones) and Easton G nocks. 1 of 3 things will happen. 1) I will have a well rounded arrow, for what is possible for this build, that is still extremely fast, moderately to extreme FOC for a compound, extremely accurate and durable arrows that survive the abuse of weekly spring league and back yard shooting. 2) I will have the aforementioned arrows, sans accuracy as the unibushings do not provide the accuracy as the standard X nocks are currently doing and will have to lose durability for accuracy. 3) I will lose accuracy and not gain durability and simply have wasted another $30 for the hell of it.
I am hoping for the former option. They will need to have a far lower attrition rate to make it for this years hunting arrow. I will be using them in 2 weeks to shoot a Texas Nilgai, so if they survive shooting one of those, I would feel confident in them working for elk and whitetail. If I am still seeing a high attrition rate, I will probably sacrifice some of the unnecessary FOC for more durability and switch to RIP TKO's, or even possibly GT Airstrikes. (Probably RIP TKO because the weave looks SICK). Either way, I am going to get another half dozen of the RIP XV's and fit them with the unibushings and G nocks with the ethics components and send it. I will know by May/June whether or not they are the ticket. Any questions, comments or concerns I am open to answer, as well as criticism.
*Note: I am not an EFOC/Ashby jihadist. I wanted to use a durable front component system, without risk of shear points from over levering the front due to a small insert and collar so I used the full ethics component system. I also wanted to use a 125g head for better fixed blade durability and selection. I am using Cutthroat 3 blades. I simply arrived at 20%, not sought it. The last 2 years I have been around 10-12%. Which, again, is arrived to, not sought.
**Note2: I have wasted a lot of money and time.
