Arrow selection advice

[Jackrhendricks]

All,
Was hoping I could get some specific arrow advice. First off, I have been hunting and shooting archery as long as I can remember. I recently have been caught by the recurve bug again as I will now have a more time to shoot and hunt. Back when I shot traditional it wasn't complicated and I didn't take it too serious but I have the time now so I may as well. I want to(don't have a traditional shop around) order new arrows and have been running numbers through the spine calculator on 3rivers. I have come down to a few choices and was wondering the communities thoughts. I two arrows have different attributes, I love shooting aluminums because they are easy to tune, affordable, and smooth shooting. I can get a great deal on the carbons below and love the pros to carbons. Between the two I like the heavier weight of the aluminum but the high front of center and speed of the goldtip is intriguing. I'll be shooting 160 grain zwickeys(I already have a pile of them). I'd like to keep this as simple as possible.

So which one would you choose? Why? Should I be concerned more with FOC or heavier weight ?

Any and all help and advice would be greatly appreciated. I have been stewing on this for a week now.
 
Bear grizzly #55
27" draw
Factory strike plate .0625
Factory string
Bow results for dynamic spine 63.3

Arrow 1
Easton camo hunter 2018
28.5"
160gr head
FOC %14
Speed 171
Total arrow weight 561 grains
Dynamic spine 63
Energy 36

Arrow 2
Gold tip 5575
29"
160gr head
50gr insert
FOC%19
Speed 182
Arrow weight 494
Dynamic spine 64.3
Energy 36

[9 Shocks]

To really increase FOC, look at arrows other than the gold tip 5575.  Look at the gold tip warrior or the high plains hunter shafts.  Less gpi thus increasing the percentage of FOC.

Dont always trust the calculator. Carbons can be finicky!

 http://www.3riversarchery.com/hi-plains-hunter-parallel-carbon-shafting.html

 http://www.3riversarchery.com/gold-tip-warrior-arrows.html

[2Knives]

I've been stewing this same thing.
I love my wood and aluminum because the ease of tuning. I'm just starting to play with carbons and I'm lost.
I'm playing with Axis trads 400s and GT 55/75.
My bow setup is very close to yours so I'm following this closely.

[Haydenj7]

I have a very similar poundage r/d longbow.
I am shooting axis 400,
50gr insert
200gr tips
2 inch 20gr alum 2018 footing
3x5 feathers
9 inch wrap
Full length for now at 625gr and 170fps
About 20% FOC
Seems to work pretty good.


I have ordered the accu tough inserts, weights and ballistic footings from Big Jim which I think will improve durability further. Everything is hot melted so I can change the Inserts out and refoot when that gear arrives.

[FJTOYMAN]

You really can't loose with either. I've shot both. Carbons are easy to tune as well. You can use hot melt on the insert and trim with an arrow saw or dremmel tool for fine tuning.
Carbons also offer the ability to use brass inserts to really bump the FOC. Although you will either have to up the spine or shorten the shaft to compensate for the added weight forward.

[Haydenj7]

I have a very similar poundage r/d longbow.
I am shooting axis 400,
50gr insert
200gr tips
2 inch 20gr alum 2018 footing
3x5 feathers
9 inch wrap
Full length for now at 625gr and 170fps
About 20% FOC
Seems to work pretty good.


I have ordered the accu tough inserts, weights and ballistic footings from Big Jim which I think will improve durability further. Everything is hot melted so I can change the Inserts out and refoot when that gear arrives.

[Jackrhendricks]

Wow, appreciate the responses. Looks like most of you are swaying to carbons. Is the high FOC I can accomplish with a carbon shaft better than the heavier arrow weight I get with the aluminum? Does any of this matter since they both put out about the same amount of KE?

[ghall80]

Always been a big fan of aluminum arrows my 2219s blow through most anything hahah!

You really have done your home work and I think no matter what arrow you go with will work.

One thing I will say is with the aluminum they always seem easier to tune quieter out of my bow and more forgiving then the Zippy fast carbon arrows. And in the tolerances in aluminum Arrow are far better than a carbon Arrow aluminum is easier work with for the manufacturer for a cheaper price. I don't know how to explain it they just always seem to shoot better out of my bows but I do love the carbon arrows. And seem to always be playing with some new design here or there.
But no matter which one you go with it sounds like you're going to have a nice setup
Gary

[dbd870]

I find carbons to be a bit finicky as well, just have to keep at it. I'm also starting to believe that calculators work better with aluminum and wood than carbon.

[Bill Carlsen]

Try a 29" Axis with 200 grains up front.

[bogeyrider63]

Agree with dbd870, carbon's can be a bit finicky to tune. Where i find aluminum's for some reason tune easier for me.

[Jackrhendricks]

I shoot carbons out of my compound and for that they are easy to tune. I remember struggling a bit more with them through a recurve. Always seemed to have a bit more erratic flight compared to aluminums. This was all before we worried about things like FOC. Was wondering if heavy weight up front and high FOC tamed that up. Didn't want to invest if I was still going end up shooting alloy though.

[Bladepeek]

I don't have a long history with aluminums - started shooting both alum and carbons about the same time. Maybe for that reason, I found carbons just as easy to tune as aluminums and a lot more durable. I will soon be putting all my aluminums up for sale while they are still straight    

I've trimmed my bow selection down to pretty much mid-40# and find I can shoot the same carbons from all of my bows. My Blacktail is only 38# at 28", but cut farther past center than my other bows, so it also likes the same arrows. As my release got cleaner, I found my carbon arrows needed to be a bit weaker spine than initially.

I'm now shooting full length (30") CE75s with 125gr points for a fast 3-D arrow; GT1535s 30" with 175gr for a general duty arrow and GT3555s, 30.5" with 200gr for my heavier hunting arrows. All fly well with the appropriate point weight. All have long wraps and 3x5" feathers (which stiffen them up a bit)and all shoot to the same point of aim out to 25 yards. At my current level of ability, it becomes a "Hail Mary" shot much beyond that distance anyway.

[Jackrhendricks]

So as I'm looking at others arrows they seem to like a really high FOC rather than overall arrow weight. I always liked an heavier arrow(10gpi +) but others are shooting lighter and loading up their heads,inserts and footing. Is FOC more important than total arrow weight?

[JamesKerr]

I would go with the 2018 in your situation. The foc difference is only 5% and with the gold tip shaft at 19% you are really only at the minimum of the really high foc range. That being said I would take the extra arrow weight of the 2018 rather than the extra foc of the goldtip.

[Jackrhendricks]

Jameskerr I was thinking the same thing. I'm pretty biased towards aluminums. I've always adhered to the heavy arrow rule.

[2Knives]

I love my 2018s and seem to fly well out of all my bows!
I'm just starting with the carbon route due to durability.
If I cant get them right I'll go back to aluminum and wood and sell off the carbons to my friends.

[Jackrhendricks]

Aluminums just shoot so smooth. I can get a good deal on a dozen goldtip 5575s so may just pick them up and try them. I'll grab some 2018s to fall back on. Can't have too many arrows!