Aluminum vs. carbon

[bvanzalen]

I currently shoot aluminum. No real reason, just what I ended up with. All the guys I shoot with, shoot carbon. When the arrows hit, mine has a definate "thwack" to it where theirs are more or less silent.

I figure if I'm shooting good groups at 20-25 yds I'll stick with the aluminum and hopefully the kinetic energy will give me some good pass-throughs. What do you guys think?

Obviously, I'm sticking with aluminum for this season. Too late to change my set-up.

[XArmy]

There are pro's and con's to both... People will tell you all kinds of things as to why one is better than the other, but it is more of a personal preferance than anything... Shoot what you want and what works well in your settup... If your shooting and grouping good with what you have, then I see no reason to change... Unless you just want to try something different... That would be the reason I switched from Super Slams to ACC's (with some crapy Korean Express ones in between)...


Oct 1st baby!!!!!!

[ScottC]

The noise your arrow makes when hitting the deer doesn't matter, if it is carbon or aluminum, as long as it is silent getting there. If you are happy, no need to change. After the season, try different arrows out if you like.

[HoytRLWinstonGuy]

Carbons are usually considerably faster. They will also get better penetration due to their smaller diameter (the trend is getting skinnier and skinnier). The best feature in my opinion is the durability. If something heavy gets set on them they dont bend. I f you drop one out of the tree they dont bend. You can clean them and shoot multiple deer with them because they dont bend.

[SOMEBODY48911]

You have to switch to carbons.

I was just like you.. I have been using aluminum for the past 10 years because that's what was given to me. I have been looking at getting new arrows since last year mainly because I was down to my last 5 arrows. I finally went the pro-shop last week and when I got there, they told me I have been using the wrong size and could of gotten hurt.

I ordered new Beman's carbon arrows with Blazer vanes and white wrapping.

If your not familiar with the blazer vanes (about 2" long vs. 4") they are the new innovation in vanes. However, the guy at the pro shop said to only use them when using fixed broadheads, not mechanical. Don't know why, but that's what he said. These new vanes are suppose to increase FPS among other things.

Also, get the white wrapping. It will sure help with finding your arrows, plus it shows they are custom made, and at $1.50 per arrow, it's a good deal.

When I got home and shot my first couple arrows, I wasn't hitting the bullseye at my old pin settings, but had an awesome group. I fixed the pin settings and in no time, I was nothing but dead on. In addition, As the yardage increased, so did my accuracy.
Before, I wouldn't even think about a shot over 25 yard, just because my accuracy sucked. When I watched the hunting videos and saw them taking 40-50 yard shots, I thought they were crazy. But with these new arrows, I have 2" groups at 35 yards. I actually cut one of the vanes on my new arrows because the grouping was so close.

According to the information I have found, the inconsistency in aluminum arrows is due to the "bending" of the arrow. They found on slow re-play the arrow accually bends. You can see it on how your arrow sticks into the target. That's where the inconsistancy comes from.

My advice: Spend the extra money, about $3-5.00 per arrow. You won't regret it.

Good luck and GOOD HUNTING!!!


R

[Pigpen69]

I switched about 7-8 yrs ago from aluminum to bemans to get more speed out of my setup, then got a new bow and had to keep the carbons. Havent ever had any problems with them, matter of fact i have shot several deer with the same arrow so the are tough. I switched to camo acc carbon express with 5" feathers and absolutely love them. Like army said, there are pros and cons to both, matter of what shoots better for you. Good hunting

[ScottC]

The noise your arrow makes when hitting the deer doesn't matter, if it is carbon or aluminum, as long as it is silent getting there. If you are happy, no need to change. After the season, try different arrows out if you like.
Forgot to add that I shoot Carbon Express Maxima 250's with Blazers.

[Swamp Monster]

It's personal preference really. They both work. I shoot carbons and ACC's now and I'll never go back to standard aluminum....ever. Aluminum has one and only one advantage over carbon arrows. They can be recycled! :evil:
You can shoot heavy carbons to get the KE of Aluminum so the advantage they once had with heavy arrows is now null and void. At one time, they had better tolerances than the early carbons, but that to is no longer the case.

If your interested in switching, just wait until you need new arrows and then make the change. Until then, just keep filling the freezer!

[454casull]

but there is no need to change unless you want to. Carbons are expensive (the good ones) and will require you to re-tune your setup. The pay off is a more forgiving setup and arrows that are either straight or junk period. Unless you shoot ACC's or the like you must be sure to check the shafts for sights of cracking; you do not want to know the result if you do not. I shot aluminum for years and only switched when it became apparent that the overdraw had to go; welcome full length ACC's. Trouble was I was so concerned with losing and arrow my shooting suffered a little but now it's better than ever. I think the carbons penetrate better due to their stiffness and not the diameter of the shaft. Either way you can't go wrong. When and if you do change do it early!

[HoytRLWinstonGuy]

Your 35 yard groups probably got better because you were shooting the proper arrow spine for your bow not necessarily because of the carbon arrows. The stiffness of the arrow should be the same as the old aluminums because the spine should be the same. Easton and Beman are promoting super skinny arrows for better penetration

[D_Hunter]

There are pro's and con's to both... People will tell you all kinds of things as to why one is better than the other, but it is more of a personal preferance than anything... Shoot what you want and what works well in your settup... If your shooting and grouping good with what you have, then I see no reason to change... Unless you just want to try something different... That would be the reason I switched from Super Slams to ACC's (with some crapy Korean Express ones in between)...


Oct 1st baby!!!!!!

:yeahthat: