[Mossy Bloke]

I was just given a gift of a dozen carbon arrows. I've always shot aluminum simply because I was too cheap to upgrade. So my question...what kind of difference can I expect now that I'm living in the 21st century?

Oh yeah, one more thing...convince me that hunting with expandable broadheads is better.

[Old Crow]

For one-a lot more durability from your arrow.....with carbon its either broke or straight-no middle ground...it can take considerably more punishment than an aluminum......I used to shoot XX78 2312's but started shooting carbon 3 years ago-I've never looked back

On mechs-as long as you are producing enough KE to get them to work correctly and match the head to the game you are hunting they work great...but for example if you are trying to shoot a 2" cut with 45lbs of KE it aint gonna work out too good;)

Enjoy your carbons-:cool:

[Smokey Joe]

Welcome to carbons. One thing you will find is that if (when) you have to replace arrows they cost more. That said, it's worth it IMHO. Old Crow has it right re durability. I made the switch a year ago. I find that the carbons are more accurate, and fly faster as well. If either end gets cracked (e.g. by hitting a target frame) they can be super-glued and continued to be used. They're STILL straight until they become a handful of slivers.

Now, the mechanical broadheads are something else again. My prejudice is for Muzzy 3-blades, which is a fixed-blade arrowhead that is accurate and penetrates like crazy. The blades are replaceable. I once had a friend who always tried to avoid "one more thing not to work" whenever he could, and this seems sound advice when attempting to stick a shaft through a deer. No moving parts in the arrowhead to stick, bend, or otherwise malfunction seems to me to be a GOOD thing.

I'm being instructed in the fine art of archery hunting of deer by an experience practitioner who is demonstrably good at it. He uses the Muzzy 4-blades, which his bow likes better than the 3's. They do a marvelously nasty job on a deer's innards.

[Pumpkinheaver]

I've used both carbon and aluminum have no preferance either will do the job, put one through the boiler room and what you shot will fall down.

[Kingcreek]

I won't use a split or cracked carbon shaft. Too many things can happen when that shaft goes from zero to 300ft/sec. ask around and you'll probably find somebody who has had or seen arrow parts launched into a forearm or hand. I frequently test my shafts by bending them at various points along the shaft. a hidden crack or fault will snap with the side stress.
I like the durability and reliability of the carbons but the lighter shafts don't always blow thru bone like a good ol aluminum shaft.
I am using the Muzzy 3 blade 100gr heads with excellent results on the last 5 deer. huntin buddy just switched to the G5 Montec and they look real impressive so far. I havent seen a good reason to go to the mechanical moving-parts-may-fail broadheads but those who use them swear by them. I pay attention to proper bow tuning so flight is correct and true- 285fps off my Mathews Legacy

[HSMITH]

Make sure the arrows fit your draw weight and cam style. A poorly spined carbon shoots just as bad as a poorly spined aluminum arrow.

If you have the speed and arrow weight to operate the mechanical broadheads the only thing you lose is the wind planing. Mechanicals (Spitfire) are just as strong on game as fixed blade heads with a LOT better accuracy and less wind planing.