skinnier carbon vs my current Goldtip traditional - Elk penetration difference

[azhunter]

I have an elk hunt coming up and my GT arrows are tuned well to my setup. I have toyed with going to a skinnier arrow like Easton axis FMJ or similar just because I figure do everything I can to insure the best penetration. High FOC, heavy arrow etc. Here is my question. Do the skinny carbons make enough difference in extra penetration to buy a dozen and tune them for my hunt? After an injury a while back I am back up to about 50# at my draw and just want to do all I can for penetration.
Thanks for you feedback

[Michael Arnette]

Don't have any experience on elk but in my experience with whitetails I'd say skinny arrows definitely have a penetrating advantage and a pretty steep advantage at that. I'll likely be using my standard gold tips for elk this year though if I take my current 57# bow...just because I don't want to re-tune. I'll use fmjs if I take my heavier bow

[Mint]

I didn't notice any difference between penetration between axis and gold tip arrows but I use a big head which might negate the difference with a small head.

[Orion]

The size of the broad head ferrule likely has a greater impact on penetration than arrow diameter.  As long as its outer dimension is at least as large or larger than the shaft, I doubt penetration will vary much between a 5/16 GT and a 9/32 Axis.  

I shoot Axis, but that's just because when I got into carbon arrows, I decided to pick one and stick with it.  Would have no compunction about shooting 5/16-inch carbon shafts, or 11/32 wood shafts, for that matter.

[CoachBGriff]

I shoot Axis arrows, and I can't necessarily speak to a penetration advantage, but they've always penetrated well for me.

I love them because they're tough as nails!

[AZ_Longbow]

I don't think the difference is enough between gold tip and Easton axis. Now the super skinny vaps .166 perhaps would make a difference.  
I have seen no real difference in my tests but so far that has been limited to Rinehart and block targets. But a good foc arrow with enough weight to keep the momentum placed right will do the job as well, skinny or no.

[elkken]

Just have sharp broad heads and a well placed shot ... your splitting hairs here worrying about GT vs Axis. Your 50 #'s is fine for elk with a heavy arrow ... I have shot them with 23/64 shafts and bear broad heads and they die just fine.

[Recurve7]

I would think the " skinny " arrow advantage would be minimal at best. The broad head clears the path for the shaft to follow. The only situation I could imagine might be arrow pinch that may occur if a rib is split by the broad head. Other than that I can think of no advantage. I wouldn't change a thing.

[savagelh]

I have no experience shooting axis arrows from stickbows but I have been using them with my compounds for years now. On Rinehart type targets they seem to penetrate a good 4-6" deeper than fatter shafts of the same weight. They are tough arrows too. I would shoot them out of my recurves but they are a bit pricey and I seem to lose a lot more with stickers than compounds.

[Jarrod Reno]

Higher sectional density is going to be the biggest player. I shoot VAPS and have seen HUGE difference with the compound I used to shoot and Id say a BIG difference with my longbow.

[DaveT1963]

does it make a difference - might, will it matter - probably not.  If I was that close to having enough energy in my arrow setup to concern me I would probably look at using more draw weight, heavier arrows or different broadhead design then I would diameter of shafts - just don't think that is a very significant part of the penetration puzzle.

[wingnut]

If your GT arrows are tuned well don't over think it.  A well tuned arrow/bow combo and a quality broadhead that is very sharp is all you need.

I've taken them with 23/64 wood shafts and the old Journeyman broadheads with selfbows in the 57# range.

You should have no problems at all.

Mike

[KentuckyTJ]

I would think it would be very minimal. The shaft is following the hole the much wider broadhead has cut. Like Wingnut says, don't sweat it. Practice is way more important.

[Pete McMiller]

I recently had an opportunity to shoot and compare the Black Eagle X-Impacts (.166) against my current shafts, Victory VForce HV (.245).  My shafts are set up with an FOC of 31.4%.  The X-Impacts had an FOC of near 30% I believe - so close anyway.  Both shafts were close in weight approx 650 grains.

My shafts have been tuned to my 60# R/D and fly like the proverbial dart.  The X-Impacts, though not tuned specifically for my bow, shot very well also - it wouldn't have taken much to tweek them.

I observed that there was no difference in penetration in a Reinhardt target.  My feeling is that the UEFOC in both shafts trumps any difference in diameter.  And while FOC can make a huge difference in penetration, the single most important factor is having a perfectly tuned arrow and bow combination.