Do you foot Full Metal Jackets?????

[Bill Carlsen]

I just got some and am wondering if they have the same problem up at the point end as the Slim Tech Axis and Bemans do with damage to the front on hard impacts. And do any of you foot them to help with this problem (if it is one)?

[Steve O]

Bill,

I have not footed any FMJ or regular Axis/MFX since going to JB Weld for installing the inserts.  If you are going with the hot melt, I would.  That thin film of aluminum is not going to do anything for strengthening the shaft.

[Bill Carlsen]

That was my thought, Steve. I'll wait to see what other responses I get before i make up my mind. I really don't want to learn the hard way that i should have footed them...they are not cheap.

[COOCH]

Bill I foot mine with a internally with a wooden dowel of about 8"s and a brass insertthen use JB Weld to hold it all in place(the draw back is a  dowel that long will tend to make the shaft a lot stiffer)If im going to use them with blunts I add a 4" 2018 as an external foot also.The only one I've had had break on the point end was when I was using the aluminum inserts that were supplied w/the shafts the point threads tore  thru the sidewall(No external foot on that shaft)If I had hit the partridge instead of the stonewall that shouldn't have happened.Was actually able to repair that shaft with an external foot.Tough shaft I love them.Wope this helps.

[Bill Carlsen]

To my way of thinking footing the shafts made sense but I just wanted to see what kind of experiences those of you that shoot them have had. COOCH, you have confirmed my suspicion that footing is a good thing if you use the arrows for the kind of shooting that I do. I live in the Granite State and more than one arrow has been lost to the  rocky soil we have hear....and the stone walls, as well.

[limbow]

Use a broadhead collar that Easton sells specifically for the size of Axis your using. I have found that combined with JB weld makes for a pretty tough set up.

[JRY309]

I don't foot my FMJ,never felt the need to foot them.

[COOCH]

Bill the internal foot  really does help a lot try 1 or 2 with like I did.If you assemble them without you can always remove the nock and force a dowel later.I initally cut mine to short and was trying to increase the dynamic spine, thats how I did it.Been footing them since.The brass insert is the way to go I've cut them in half at times to decrease point weight.Haven't had a problem since.

[Tater]

I foot my FMJ's and MFX Classics the same way with a 1.25" piece of 2018 aluminum shaft, inserts whether brass or regular are glued in with JB Weld and the aluminum footing is glued on with JB Weld, I can't remember the last arrow failure I had at the point end of the shaft.

    Steve O I can't understand your reasoning that the thin film of JB Weld increases the strength of the shaft but the aluminum footing doesn't?

[Steve O]

Tater,

I am not saying that at all.  I don't think it matters if it is a standard HIT shaft or a FMJ.

I think the damage I was getting was when the insert would slip inside the shaft using the other epoxies.  This would drive the point into the shaft or split out the side. Now that I use the JB weld, I'm not having any such issues so I haven't bothered to foot any shafts recently; FMJ or MRX or regular Axis.

In my mind, the footing transfers all the shock from just the insert to the insert and the foot and that is a lot of surface area and that is a good thing.  You've got a lot more rock to hit out in Colorado than I do too; I'd probably still foot them if I was fortunate to live out there!  I'm not having any issues and I stump shoot at least once a week for a couple hours.

And I did say that if Bill was using the hot melt as was his plan earlier I think it is still a good idea to still foot them.

This test I did helped me come to this conclusion:

 http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=060165

[Ragnarok Forge]

I use marine epoxy on my inserts and have shot them into rocks, rebar supporting 3d targets, and steel targets.  Nothing has damaged them so far.  If you get the insert glued in so it won't slip there is no need to foot them.

[Tater]

Steve O,
     I agree that JB Weld solves the problem with the insert being pushed back in the shaft and mushrooming the end of the shaft.
     The original reason for footing as I understand it is to strengthen the area between the end of the insert and the end of the shaft.
        If the point hits square no problem, if it hits at an angle it puts lateral pressure on the unsupported shaft from insert to end of shaft. I probably shouldn't worry about it but I got the aluminum and the JB Weld so what the hey.
     It's all good and if it works for you perfect.