Which aluminum shaft? I think I found it .

[Robert Honaker]

I wanna switch from carbon to aluminum. Been using GT 55/75 30in with 175gr BH. Shoots great but I want more weight and the carbons break every time I shoot a deer or pig.
Bob Lee Takedown 57@29in, fastflight, split finger.
I really wanted 2020's to work , but never could make them work.
Any suggestions?

[Tim Fishell]

When I had my Bob Lee it was 59#@28" and I draw 28".  I got great flight out of a 2216 cut 29" with 125 grain heads.  I would guess these may work for you as well.

That being said.  I have always shot aluminum and cedar and you are still going to bend or break aluminum when shot through most animals.

[bowfiend]

I was just bare-shafting some 2020's yesterday from my 61@29 Shawnee. 30" bop with 125 grain heads and they were looking pretty good. I know the old 2020 legacy's I have are marked for "longbows 60-65" so you might not be too far off. Maybe 200 or 225 up front on a long arrow like that?

I forgot how great 2020's are. I've been caught up in the carbons myself - heavy inserts, finding the points to make them fly right and get the weight up. 30" 2020 with a 125 runs about 595 grains with no messing around. Got to love that. I just wish that they would stay straight!

[Curtis Haden]

2018's should work if you're drawing 28" or more with that bow.  They're 12.3 grain per inch, vs. 13.5 gpi for the 2020.  Not as heavy, but the next best thing to a 2020.

I know nothing about the GT's you're shooting now, but I think the Carbon Express Heritage shafts are pretty dang tough, and I've heard a lot of good things about the Arrow Dynamics Traditionals.  I do know that if you shoot a deer or a pig with an aluminum arrow, you can write that one off most times.  It will break or bend if it doesn't pass through and have a semi-gentle landing on the other side!

[Robert Honaker]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.
I know what your saying bout bending aluminum, but it's cheaper to bend and I should have more weight, so maybe more pass thrus.  

[bgremill]

I'm shooting 2117's cut to 30.5" and I"m shooting just a few less pounds than you at 29".  Same bow as well.  I wanted 2018 and 2020's to work as well; but, no deal.  Also, 2117 is one of the few aluminums you can find these days b/c there are few hold outs in the compound shooters too.  I'm with you, brother, they're heavy, straight, EASY to fool with, and now getting pretty cheap.

[Night Wing]

You might also want to look at a 2215 which is 10.7 grains per inch. It doesn't have the drop past 20 yards like a 2018, 2020 or 2117 has. I shoot a 32", 2215 with a 210 grain point weight out of my 42# @ 30" Blacktail TD. The 2215 arrow weighs 614 grains.

[Wannabe1]

I don't presume to know as much as most folks on this site when it comes to equipment. But, I have a Palmer that is 62" and pulls 53# @ 29". This bow loves a heavy arrow! I shoot 2219's cut 29.5 bop, tipped with 145gr and it shoots them very straight and hits hard. It has carbon in the limbs and that may have something to do with it but, 2018's didn't shoot worth a darn out of it.

I think a lot will have to do with the bow itself. I say, get a few different arrows and shoot them, and then go with which ever one shoots the best.

[maxwell]

(2219"s will work  .337  13.8gpi)-    (2216's  .376   12.0 gpi) -  
(2315's   .342   11.7) gpi  are a little lighter.  Any one of these should work depending on what you want for arrow weight and what your final draw length will be.  Personally I would try the 2219"s xx78 shafts .

[Robert Honaker]

Ok...I've got 2018 thru 2219. Hmmm....

[bgremill]

Robert,

I've been wanting to change, at least part time, to wood arrows for a while now.  I've been testing with shafts of different spines and lengths trying to get them to shoot as well as my 2117's.  Just for giggles I tried shooting both split and 3 under.  Without question, shooting 3 under makes the shafts show weaker than shooting split finger.  
I tell you this to get you to see that people could very well use arrows with that diverse spine weight and get them to tune perfectly.  I'd start with a 2117 or 2216 an inch or so longer than you need and see if you can trim until they tune.  Depending on your release, they may not.  You may have to shoot a 2219 or something with a real heavy spine to get them to work.
Gook luck.  Be thorough and don't give up.  It's well worth it to get it perfect!!

[DCM]

A too weak shaft will wag, a too stiff will whack the riser.  Most bows, Bob Lee in particular, will shoot a fairly broad range, 5# to 10#, well.

I shoot 56# @ 30" (64" Chekmate KingsPawn recurve) and 2020 are just a smidge weak spine at 80#.  2117 would be next stiffer at 83#, 2216# at 85#, 2219s are 95# so you might need a little extra point weight or lenght to bring them down some.  I can shoot all these from my bow, 2219s w/ 225 grain points.  Also shoot 80-85 wood or in carbon Arrow Dynamics trad heavies.

I personally would try to tune the bow to use 2020s.  Great resilience with the big wall thickness, least shaft diameter at 5/16" of the others.  If weak you could pad out the arrow pass just a smidge.  If too stiff, perhaps a little extra lenght or point weight.

[Robert Honaker]

DCM, I think I will try building the riser out a bit. I really like the idea of the weight and diameter of 2020's. Is it possible to build out as far as needded to to make a weak shaft work?

[DCM]

O yeah.  Start modest, like a toothpick, literally embedded behind the strike plate if it is flexible, like leather or velcro.  Alternately a little wad of duct tape or something on top until you prove the concept.

And remember, this bow should probably shoot 2018 to 2117 without too much noticable difference in flight, with decent form.  You should see a diff in impact point though.  Point being, form matters and use several short sessions to make a determination about what you got, versus a snap decision.

[George D. Stout]

I'm with DCM on this one.

[frank bullitt]

Like said, I can shoot a wide range of shafts from mine! 2117, 2216 and 2219's, never tried 2018's, like heavier shafts! It is 59lbs @ 28".
  Maybe it's me, but I like to tune the bow to the arrow, within reason! Maybe lazy, or frugal or both! Oh, and I have the Best looking brown, rich looking, Bob Lee take down from 1994. Good shootin, Steve.

[Robert Honaker]

Ok...I tried 2018,2020,217,2216 and 2219. From 85gr all the way up to 200gr point weight.
I'm really pleased with a 30in  2216 and 125gr BH. Same POI with FT and BH out to 40yds.
Ended up with a brace of 7 7/8 and Nock at 5/16. Really good flight,so good I didn't want to quit shootin, but my shoulder was gettin pretty tight so I had to.
I know it sounds really to stiff, but it works.
Thanks for everyones help.  :D

[frank bullitt]

Sounds good Robert, my buddy shoots 2216 out of his Bob Lee, it is 57lbs @ 28. Worked good on the deer he's taken! Good shootin, Steve.