wood vs carbon for hunting arrows

[om12884]

For as long as i can remember i have use cedar arrows but i am thinking of getting a set of carbon arrows how do they compare as far as wieght, flight and so on, any help with that would be great thanks alot.

[Eugene Slagle]

Carbons mostly will be lighter than a comparable Cedar arrow but the Grizly Sticks are pretty heavy arrows so in some makes it really depends.

As with any arrow material be it wood, Aluminum or Carbon it really depends on how well the archer tunes their particular set up to get the best flight.
In some cases for a novice, Carbons are easier to get tuned & shooting well but for someone that has experience with woods, it's hard to beat perfection in craftsmanship & tuning with them.

[Bud B.]

Originally posted by om12884:
For as long as i can remember i have use cedar arrows but i am thinking of getting a set of carbon arrows how do they compare as far as wieght, flight and so on, any help with that would be great thanks alot.

I see this is your first post.


Welcome. I'm new to the forums also. Lots of good advice here.

Post up your bow make and type, weight, draw, shelf's offset to center cut and some of the veterans here can put you nearly spot on.

[om12884]

Sorry about that I have a Big River Long bow that is about 50lbs at 28 and i draw about 27 dont know the shelf distance but i am afraid that the arrows will be to light and not fly nearly as well as cedar.  But i dont really know have never shot them before.

[Lunar-Tic]

Don't give up on the wood. Try Douglas Fir shafts made by Surewood, you won't be disappointed. Heavier than cedar, straighter, and stronger.

[Preacherman]

I like both but find myself hunting more with carbons. With your weight and draw length you might try a .600. Like a 3555 GT.

[Preacherman]

Sorry a .500. 1535's are 600

[mwosborn]

I really like the Gold Tip traditional arrows - I got some 3555 blem shafts from Big Jim at a real reasonable price so I thought I would try them - really liked them and have since ordered another dozen- look like wood - durable as carbon.  Good luck!

[Stinger]

I had a similar thought this summer.  I shoot bows marked 48# at 28in and draw 27.  I had been shooting aluminums and woodies both and decided to give carbons a try.  I tried the Carbon Express Heritage 150s with a 100 gr brass insert based on opinions from some of the gang. They flew OK but were pretty heavy.  They had already been cut to 29 1/4 inches when I bought them and weigh only 367 gr.  Using Stu's spine calculator I get the following options: 59.3# w/125 head; 42.2# W/125 head and 100 gr adapter or
46.6# w/100 gr head and 100 gr adapter.  So, for my setup I should be shooting that arrow with a 100gr brass insert and a 100gr head (or whatever combo gets me 200 gr up front).  That arrow weighs 560gr total.  If you want a heavy arrow, that's great, but I found I could get better flight out of 2016 aluminums at the same length with a 125 gr head (490 gr total weight).  For me the arrow trajectory of the lighter arrow was noticeable and I'm still getting at least 10gr per pound.

[Bud B.]

If you try the carbon you can change tip weights to tune in the arrow. Heavier weight for lighter spine. Lighter weights for stiffer spine.

I have seen 3rivers traditionals sent sailing from a recurve that flew like darts. Carbon is stronger than wood also. More forgiving.

[Killdeer]

I just started playing with carbons last year, and I really like them. I shoot close to the same specs as you, and use the Gold Tip 3555s. I am going to experiment with a stronger spine because I think I am right on the cusp with some fast shooting bows I have gotten. My arrows are cut to 28", and are about 11 grains per pound of pull. I am going to try to get it back to 10 gpp.

I would not change right now from wood to carbon, if you are hunting this season. I would just practice with my good-flying woodies and start tinkering in the spring, and sing the summer shoots to fact-find and shop for what I will use next fall.

And the Surewoods are all they are cracked up to be.
Killdeer  

[om12884]

thanks for all the info everyone i think that i am going to get a few carbons to try but as far as hunting goes this fall i know that it will take to much to change what i have known for years when it comes down to placing that perfect shot, just wanted to tinker with somthing diffrent and see what kind of results i can get and wanted to hear what everyone thinks thanks again

[Ragnarok Forge]

I only shoot carbons when hunting.  I make up similar weight arrows for stump shooting with surewoods.

[m midd]

i shot carbons for a while, they are easily tunable and you can weight em up to what ever you want, with weight tubes or weights behind the insert for a greater FOC.. With that being said.. i went back to wood because i love to build them and i think there is just a better feel when i shoot them out of my longbows..

[PA-Spot]

Tryed carbons, but went back to wood. Just not the same feeling at harvest time. When I hunt with arrows I have made myself.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I shoot whatever my bow shoots best. Usually thats carbon.

[klingville]

I went through this also during the last year - started with cedar arrows, but always wondered about carbon.  I shoot a longbow that's 49# at 28, but I draw 27, so I have a similar setup...I finally gave carbon a try and like the way they fly.  I shoot Traditional Only 600s cut to 28.5", 5 grain collar, 23 grain HP-3 insert, 42 grain glue-on adapter, and 125 grain glue on point = 195 grains up front.  There is just something about wood arrows though.....