[SkaerE]

I need to learn about arrows. You know, types, heads, that sort of thing...

Carbon fiber, aluminum or wood shafts... Rubber versus feather fletching... Fixed broadheads versus the kind that spring out...

They will be used with a Browning compound bow with 60-70# draw to hunt deer and bear.

Thanks!

[dakotasin]

compound bow eliminates the wood arrows.

aluminum vs. carbon... i just switched to carbon arrows this year. we'll see what difference it makes. i have heard that carbons are more durable than aluminum (reason i switched), but am finding out that where aluminum arrows would bend when you hit one, carbons will crack. also, carbons shoot faster/flatter, but i don't think they'll penetrate quite as well... again, hope to find out in 2 weeks (archery opener here), just speculation.

i am noticing that i don't seem to be as accurate w/ carbon arrows as i was w/ aluminums. maybe its just me, but its an observation.

i use feathers because i think they hold their shape better. after a few shots, the fletchings get pretty warped. maybe the fletchings can handle water a little better, but we are talking such small amounts that it won't make a difference.

for broadheads, go muzzy. tried, true, effective. i don't trust mechanicals.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=182974&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1
this thread covers a lot of what you are asking. good info.

[Bruz]

I prefer carbon arrows (Beman Carbon Hunters, etc.)...light, don't bend, don't break easy.

Muzzy broadheads, 100 grain.

Feathers are the best but they make more noise and are not the best when wet.

Have fun!

[HSMITH]

Carbon are FAR more durable. For an accomplished archer carbon arrows are NOT as accurate as aluminum unless you spend $$$$$, and most guys are not willing to spend the money to get carbon arrows that will shoot as well as the aluminums he used to shoot. The best carbon arrows are VERY expensive, and are not suitable to hunt with. The normal everyday carbons are PLENTY accurate for hunting, and if you number them and take the best 6 out of 2 dozen they are pretty darn fine shooters. Very very few guys can actually shoot well enough to see the difference in accuracy between average carbons and average aluminum arrows.

Carbon arrows DO penetrate better than aluminum when all else is equal. Just remember that you give up kinetic energy when you go to a light weight arrow. Your arrow will be faster with a lightweight arrow but bow efficiency drops as arrow weight drops, and there is nothing that can be done about that. Aluminum arrows penetrate very well if flighted well, so the carbon does not really provide an advantage due to the drop in KE.

Feathers are best for accuracy, vanes (rubber) are more durable. Feathers are noisy, vanes are quiet. Feathers get wet and it changes arrow flight, vanes stay consistent. Vanes are the way to go, but I suggest having them applied at your local pro shop where they will be done one at a time and done right. Also experiment with different offsets and helical rates, it makes a difference.

For target shooting bullet points are nice, for 3D targets they are almost essential to get your arrows out without straining something.

I have been fortunate enough to shoot a few deer with Splitfire mechanical broadheads and brother they WORK! They are tough, durable, blindingly accurate and deadly. I have also shot deer with conventional broadheads like the Muzzy, and they work darn good too. The real difference is that with conventional broadheads the bow tuning must be nearly perfect for a good arrow flight. For guys that have been shooting and tuning a while that is not a big deal, but for a noob that can be hard and/or expensive.

If you do not have a friend that is a truely knowledgeable archer and willing to teach you all there is to know go down to your local pro shop and PAY the man. Stay there and learn how and WHY he does the things he does. The education is well worth the money. There is as much art as there is science in tuning a bow to perfection IMO.

[Lennyjoe]

Good info from HSMITH.

There have been a few others that we have given guidence on in the past so try running a search.

Also, go to Easton Arrow website and download the pdf. file on tuning arrows. I have an old pamphlet that I use all the time for refrence.

Here (http://www.eastonarchery.com/downloads/) is the link to the url.

Enjoy

[H&Hhunter]

A carbon arrow and an aluminum arrow will fly at exactly the same speed if they are the same weight and length. The advantage to carbon arrows is that they are stronger and fly better over time than an aluminum arrow. Better that is if and only if the aluminum arrow has been bent which tends to happen to them in practice.

The thing I like about carbon arrows is they are either straight or thay are broken you can't bend one like you can an aluminum arrow.

If you go to my thread "kudu the spell is broken" you'll see some great reults from carbon 6075 31" arrows and 125gr monotech broad heads.

I got full penetration on everything I shot including Zebra. And that's alot of critter to penetrate. The most impressive to me however was a double shoulder shot on a warthog that broke both shouder bones down low where they are thick then exited and actually stuck a hog standing behind the one I killed. You really can't ask for any more than that.

I don't think that I would ever use a mechanical broadhead as my bow shoots my fixed blade set up so well. I've just heard to many nightmare stories about mechanical failures. Never tried them on game though. So I'm speaking out of my hat on that one.

[MeekandMild]

Carbon are FAR more durable. That don't mean much if you're still getting up to proficiency with your accuracy. Either one will still be there in a thousand years buried in the grass/duff/leaves when you miss the target. :rolleyes:

Try getting a biscuit rest for your bow. Greatest invention since bowstrings. :D

[dakotasin]

exactly!

i can't tell you how many arrows i've sent out that didn't make it back to my quiver my first year or two...

[keano44]

My opinion- expensive carbon arrows are not necessary for deer hunting for MOST hunters. For me, faster and flatter are not as important as quiet and smooth. As far as broadheads go, as well as for the rest of my archery set-up, I have come to believe in the K.I.S.S. theory. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) Please, I'm not calling anyone stupid here. I have just found, over the years, that the more complicated the equipment gets, the more prone it is to having problems, WHILE YOU ARE ON A HUNT. Cabella's brand, three blade, fixed 125 gr. broadheads, (a close copycat of the ever popular Thunderhead 125's) have worked everytime I have placed the shot properly.