Does anyone shoot skinny arrows

[valleysniper]

Who has experience with these ? Is there any drawbacks to using these ? Thinking about trying these but assume sideplate would have to be built out

[Pete McMiller]

Gary, I've been shooting Black Eagle  X-Impact shafts in three bows for several years.  I like them a lot and don't plan on going back to bigger shafts.  I started shooting them originally because of their lower gpi as I was looking for UEFOC and they worked great.  Current hunting arrow is 560gr @ 30%+ FOC out of a 51#  Adcock ACS longbow.  Durable,  less wind deflection,  good penetration.

[McDave]

Who has experience with these ? Is there any drawbacks to using these ? Thinking about trying these but assume sideplate would have to be built out

I shoot Victory VAP's.  The only disadvantage to shooting them is if you miss the target and hit wood, they bury really deep and are hard to dig out.

You'd be surprised about the sideplate.  I thought the same thing, until I set up my bow, which is cut past center, so I could look down the arrow with the string centered on the limbs.  The tip of the arrow was still outside of the string with the stock sideplate that came with the bow, so no building out of the sideplate was needed.

[Orion]

I shoot Easton Axis shafts.  They're skinnyh, but there are skinnier shafts out there, I'm told.  Regardless, I really like them.  Almost indestructible.

A skinnier shaft will ride closer to the center of your bow than a larger diameter shaft.  You may or may not have to build out the side plate.  Because it rides closer to the center of the bow, the arrow doesn't need to flex as much as it passes the riser, which usually means you can use a higher spine.

[bowkill146]

I also started using Easton Axis shafts this year.  I shot them alot this summer and fall and have run them through a couple deer this fall.  I've been happy with them so far. 

[buckeyebowhunter]

I started shooting the Easton fmjs this fall. I like them, but they do have drawbacks. Expensive, have to get snuggers to get quiver to grip them, and they're not as durable as I would've thought.  But I'm pretty rough on my arrows.  I wouldn't mind trying the axis.

[Long Barrel Colt]

Ok so being a novice with all of this what would be considered skinny? What would be normal diameter? and what would be heavy? Thanks 

[Orion]

Normal in a wood shaft, it would be 11/32 or 23/64.  A skinnier shaft would be 5/16, which is a quite common diameter among carbon and aluminum arrows. Probably considered standard diameter in carbons. 

However, a truly skinny shaft is smaller yet, 9/32 (which I believe is what an Easton Axis shafts are) or smaller.

[Long Barrel Colt]

Thanks . My 500 spine Gold Tip Carbon are right at .301 in diameter. I don't know if they would be considered 5/16 (312) or not. I don't think I would ever want anything thinner.

[Bisch]

I shoot Easton 5MM FMJs (.204 ID)out of my recurve. I shoot Widowmaker Smash (.165 ID) out of my longbow. I’ve never changed anything on my side plate. I just mess with length and front end weight till I get things right. I won’t be going back to fatter arrows unless they quit making skinny ones!

Bisch

[Doug in MN]

Really like the Easton Axis 5mm shafts, have found them easy to tune, the penetration is exactly as advertised huge improvement over anything else I have used over the last 50 some years.
They are tough as hell as well.

[McDave]

Long Barrel Colt, the main reason I’ve heard that people like skinny shafts is because they penetrate better on animals.  The diameter of my Victory VAP’s is .215” (a little less than 7/32”). They are very similar in weight to the Gold Tip Ultralight shaft, and are available in similar spine ranges.

I see no advantage to using them for tournaments.  There might even be a disadvantage, because you would be less likely to cut a line.

[Car54]

Axis's 5mm,  no problems here.

[Sam McMichael]

The closest I come is to shoot 5/16 woodies out of some of my lighter bows. When I shot recurves, I preferred larger arrows hoping for a bigger hole.

[valleysniper]

Thanks everyone,  I think I might try the axis. Seems like a durable all around great hunting arrow. Anyone know if they would be harder to fletch with their smaller diameter  ? Also, how about a place to buy them that won't break the bank ?....Gary

[valleysniper]

Guys, just thought of another question. Because of the smaller diameter,  would i be able to use the same spine as with a thicker arrow ?

[Bisch]

They are not any harder to fletch. I 4-fletch my really skinny Widowmakers. You may have to reset your fletcher for the skinnier shafts.

You should be able to use the same spine, but you may have to go with a different length to make them tune best.

Bisch