To carbon or not

[Tracker]

I have always shot aluminum arrows (35 years). However, with a new bow coming I am considering going with carbon arrowns.  What do you shoot and what have your experiences been.  I am talking strickly hunting.  If you shoot carbon what brand.  I will be shooting 60#.

[longwinters]

I have shot both alums and carbons for years.  I think alums are easier to refletch etc... but of course carbons are either straight or broke...no inbetween.  If you go with carbons you may have to go with a different arrowrest a/c of their smaller diameter.  But they have a wider weight range that you can use a specific arrow for.  I am not a fan of shooting carbons just for less weight.  More noise and I think not as forgiving.  Any of the mid to high $$$ carbons are good.  Basically you are paying for a straighter arrow.  The camo carbons tend to lose their camo (rubs off) if you shoot a lot into 3-d targets and are a real pain to pull out.  Day in and day out I would stay with alums.

long

[Tracker]

I was bent on going to carbons but now am not sure.  I find it tuff to make the switch.  I am finding it as touff to decide which rest to go to.

[Arrroman]

Get yourself the aluminium arrow sized whisker biscuit arrowrest and you will be able to shoot both aluminium arrows or ICS carbon arrows through the same rest. The style of fletch won'y matter because they can all fly through the biscuit. The same rest will also support a heavy fishing arrow if you decide to bowfish. Good luck hunting!

[ras308]

I have shot wood, fiberglass, aluminum and even some carbons.  The carbons are good for targets with my ole pro vantage hunter, I can get a little more range out of it.  I even tried to hunt with them last year and was very disappointed with the penetration.  With the carbons, you need to be very careful about staying away from a shoulder bone.  The aluminums have little trouble penetrating with a marginal hit, therefore getting to the goodies and a higher likelyhood of complete passthroughs.  As far as rests go, you can shoot aluminums and carbons alike of off an ole flipper style rest.  All in all, if you plan on shooting a bunch of animals, my recommendation would be to stay with the aluminum arrows.  Also, if you hit something hard, I would definitely flex the carbons good and listen for cracks.  The reason for the flexing, I have seen one break on the release and stick in a friend's hand, I was not shooting the day the other carbon broke the same way and stuck in someone else's hand.  It is not a pretty sight to see this happen.

[01magnatec]

Here is my 2 cents.  I have shot both and i love the carbons.  They can take a lot more punishment and hold up very well.
Carbons breaking after the release generates some questions.
First off, you are supposed to examine each shaft for cracks and defects before you shoot them.
It also depends on what kind of carbon it was. if it was the type that you buy a dozen for $20 then i wouldn't expect much out of them.
Bending them a little bit will help you find a crack.  I have never heard of carbons breaking like that.  And i'm sorry but i won't believe it until i see it.  stronger 4 or 5 ply shafts are extremely tough.  This year i shot my Easton Excels directly into a brick and nothing happened except the brick had a nice gouge out of it.
If i was to do that with an aluminum arrow it would bend beyond repair.

In my opinion the only downfall to carbon arrows is the price sometimes.
Carbon 3-d select 300 runs about $110 a dozen with a .001 straightness and durability to the max.
I use Easton Excel 400 and they are $60 a dozen with a .004 straightness and i haven't broke one yet.  Actually, i have broke a few but that was because of nock splitting and human error.
I say go with carbons.
they are more durable, never bend, and sometimes a lot faster.
shoot a couple and see how you like them.

[ras308]

Well you can believe it or not, but it happened.  I have hunted for 30+ years and I know what I am talking about.  These were not cheap arrows, they were not $100+ dollar arrows either, but who can afford them???  Granted aluminums may bend, but you do not have to twist and flex on them every time you shoot into something other than the intended target either.  I'm not arguing with you, but the carbons take more care as far as checking for cracks, etc.  Shoot what you want, and be careful!!!

[01magnatec]

still have to check aluminums to see if they are bent

[Arrroman]

I remember seeing long broken shards of carbon from busted shafts years ago. These were Bemans early single layer carbon shafts. Todays shafts are wrapped three, four, or five times and are much tougher than the stuff we had years ago. The prices on carbons has come down to where you can buy a dozen all USA made GoldTip carbon arrows today for less than the price of the aluminium arrows. Check mtnarchery.com and you can see for yourself. This is a great deal in my book. Good luck hunting!

[Sam]

I've been bowhunting and into target archery for 25  yrs now. I have shot just about every size and type of aluminium arrows. They are still a very good choice. That said let me say that for the last 6 yrs I have shot Gold Tip Carbon shafts. They are alot faster and yes I have shot both arrows out of the same bow through a chronograph. They are either straight or broken and I have only broke 2 shafts in 6 yrs.No more spinning shafts to see if they are straight! I have'nt noticed any problems when I fletch my shafts as compared to aluminiums. The carbons shafts also penetrate targets alot farther. The camo finish on my gold tips also holds up real well-- no complaints! All in all Easton XX are great shafts but I feel I will shoot Gold tips for along time. One more thing--- The Gold Tips only cost $ 65 a dozen for bare shafts.
   This is my 2 cents on what I've found to be true
                                     Sam

[264 WIN MAG]

I saw someone say something about Beman arrows. That is what I shoot but I thought they were graphite? I was shooting carbons for a while and always shot alum. before that and I say carbon is the best out of the 3.

[Tracker]

The dealer here has recommended Gold Tips.  I think I am going to give them a try.  I have been doing a lot of 3D shooting to stay in shape and keep the eyes sharp. If I do not like the performance of them I will switch back.  As I look around rthe club I shoot at I see a lot of guys shooting the carbons for hunting.  One retired guy that hunts three eastern states and is alledged to have shot 19 deer last year shoots them off a bodoodle rest and 4 balde nuzzy's.  I have seen him shoot and his skill is great so I do not doubt the claims.  I do tend to believe that you will get better penetration with the alum but that would only be the case if you are shhoing a heavyer arrow.  The dealer was showing me the gold tip 22 sieries which has a huge diameter and much heavier and supposed to be an awsome shaft.  They are also very steep in price.

[264 WIN MAG]

The dealer here has recommended Gold Tips.

I would definately try them. I was talking to the dealer down here the other day and he told me the same thing and a freind of mine bought some and he likes them so far. Now if he could just shoot as good as he claims he will be a hunter that is hard to beat.

[Tracker]

I shoot a Pre-64 MDL Featherweight 264 how about you?

[264 WIN MAG]

Mine is the Winchester super classic 264 mag.