GT or Beman cheap shafts?

[xtrema312]

I need more shafts.  I am looking at cheap 400 spine shafts under $50.  I am looking at Beman bow hunter, GT vapor, GT vapor camo or GT black hunter.  Which will be stronger, straighter, and most uniform in spine?

I have been shooting GT trad blem 5575 and Beman bow hunter 500's.  This winter I have broken three Beman and one GT.  All have been fractures of the shaft 2-6" from the point end. All from solid hits on frozen stuff, but not from driving the insert into the shaft so footing is not an issues.  I am wondering if the difference is just the 500 to 400 shaft or if the GT is a little stronger.  The 500 was shot in a 47-48# at my draw bow and the GT was in a 53-54# at my draw bow.

I know the GT trad is a little heavier than the other GT shafts, but what about strength?  I assume the GT trad blems are the XT shaft so probably based on the same shaft as the vapor and black hunter, but I am not sure.

Any help would be appreciated.

[RC]

I just got some beeman 400`s and love `m. I had been shooting gold tips and was disappointed in their durability.RC

[Earthdog]

Beman have the tighter spec's of the two.
I think Gt's Hunter are the stronger though,but both are good shafts.
Take your pick.

[Stone Knife]

I like GT shafts they are all I shoot, I like the blems from Big Jim. I have heard others say they don't hold up but i have had good luck with them both at the 3D range and I have taken a boat load of game with them. Mine take a beating at the Muzzy shoot and hold up well, I internally foot them and they perform well for me.

[Rob DiStefano]

imo, having used both, the beman ics proved the better overall value for me.  i have about 8 dozen of the 500 size.  

[lone hunter]

Beman ics, all I use for the last 8-10 yrs.

[daveycrockett]

Beman      

[BigJim]

You can break them all!, except maybe a Carbon express heritage. They are the absolute toughest. Cost a little more, but if your breaking and not loosing then they are really cheaper. Don't know of a shaft that can stand toe to toe with them on tollerances and strength.

Oh yeah, we stock those too. I don't like the arrows I sell because I sell them. I sell them because I like them.
We will be stocking Arrow Dynamics this year also. Keep us in mind.
thanks,bigjim

[James on laptop]

I shoot both but would say Beman are the better arrow shafts.More consistant and the inserts are a lot easier to keep in them than the gt inserts.I use GTs because I can get lighter weight shafts cheap in the Entrada series.CXs are toughest but are heavy and I don't always want a heavy shaft.

[hunt it]

At $42.00/doz the GT blems from Big Jim are the best arrow deal going. Why care about strength? You can buy three doz for price of one doz axis/mfx, 4 doz for price of one doz Grizzlys. Shootem, breakem, loosem then buy 3 doz more!I have arrows that were $200.00 doz and the game snaps em in half just as easy as the GT blems. As far as I'm concerned unless hunting something specialized that requires extra heavy shaft, the $42.00/doz are a no brainer.

[SlowBowinMO]

You might also want to consider the Carbon Express Predator II's we have for $49.99 a dozen.  Very high quality and tolerances for an entry level shaft, typical of Carbon Express.

  Carbon Arrows and Shafts at Braveheart Archery

[amicus]

I love my Beman ICS Hunters. Very tough in my opinion.

[Paul Mattson]

If you want to keep it under the $50.00 a dozen go with the Beman Bowhunter in your list.  Or, take a look at the CX Predator's that is mentioned above.

[xtrema312]

I would get the GT trad blems from Big Jim, but he is out.  I don't know that I can wait too long for more.  I will buy more this next time.

CE's are in the future maybe depending on the bow and set-up.  Right now I don't need the weight.

Carbon Express Predator II's sound interesting, but I am not sure on the spine being listed as 400, but as 4560 vs. 5575.  I want to keep the arrows the same length and point if possible as what my GT trad’s are.  Those I run right now at 31" to fit all my bows with point weight changes.  I my cut down, but the Carbon Express Predator II's are only 30 3/8", and with a possible lighter spine, I am not sure on it.

[davesonic444]

5575 are 400 spine as are 4560's

[SlowBowinMO]

The CE Predator II's in the 45/60 are .400's.

Poundage labels (not spine deflections) on carbons change from brand to brand and can't be compared against each other.  Various manufacturers continue to use 4 or 5 different methods to designate their carbons and all it does is confuse matters IMO.  If they would simply mark them by deflection it would help tremendously...but they don't.      

[xtrema312]

Great info thanks.  Generally I look for the deflection, but I know with Stu's spine calculator there are some small differences.  The CE’s are more of a difference than the others I think.  I assumed the 4560 and 5575 were the same because of the .400, but I don’t like to assume unless someone, who knows, can confirm.