Aluminum 2018s

[Bob Palmer]

I have hundreds, seriously, of aluminum 2018s cut to 28.5”. I shot them out of Shafers in the 65 to 70 lb range back when I could handle that weight. Now down to 50 at 28”. Shooting a Titan that seems to like a heavier spine.  I want to go back to aluminums. What can I do to make these work with current set up without getting into extreme arrow weight?

[M60gunner]

There are probably more than a few here that will say those 2018’s are the correct spine for your setup as is. Have you tried them with say 125 grain points? With that riser you can get away with a lot. My 8.6 Metric Magnums weigh in at over 600 grains but at 20 yards from my 50# cut to center bow with carbon back on limbs they fly fine. These shafts are equivalent to 2117.

[Bob Palmer]

I’ve bareshaft a cpl with both 125 and 145 grain points and they show stiff (hitting to the left. Will try 175 next but that’s about max I want on the front end.

[Stringwacker]

I've been accused of being an extreme over thinker; but I get great arrow flight and I have fun playing with it all. I bare shaft with the single arrow method (not grouping with one unfletched arrow and fletched ones) and all the below ideas will make an arrow "dynamically" react like a lighter spine shaft without adding heavier points or weight inserts.  Try it and see if it works. If not, at least I tried.

1) Silencers can have a pretty big influence on spine. Lets say if you shot an arrow without any silencers your bow would shoot harder and the arrow would act weaker. Given no one should shoot without silencers,  try to get the lightest pair possible like beaver balls, etc, etc. Going from the extreme of rubber cat whiskers (est 50 grains) to beaver balls (est 15 grains) can make a difference. Your bow doesn't care if your throwing arrow weight or silencer weight...they all effect the recovery of the limbs. The bottom line is shoot the lightest and smallest silencers you can that still gives you the sound reduction that you want.

3) Be sure your nocking point is set at the ideal location on the string for the arrow your shooting as evidenced by shooting a perfect unfletched shaft with no up or downs. Even an 1/8" from the perfect spot has a pretty big effect on arrow dynamic spine. I find that aluminum, wood, and carbon all have different nocking points. Even a variation of head weight will change a nock point within the same arrow group. Heavier head weights require higher nocking points. Shooting the 'perfect' spine will make your dynamic spine weaker on any arrow group you shoot.

4) Drop your brace height. Dropping your brace height increases the power stroke and effects dynamic spine.

5) If you shoot a wrap and the spine is acting too stiff...take it off. Weight in the rear of the arrow increases dynamic spine while weight in the front decreases arrow spine.

6) Increasing your draw length weakens dynamic spine; but such changes are not realistic to most people unless you are short drawing.

7) I think most people know that increasing arrow length weakens dynamic spine. The same thing occurs when shooting broadheads VS field points due to the overall length of the arrow changes. Broadheads weaken the spine of an arrow dynamically...even more so if they are not vented.

When I shoot my 2018's out of a 52# PSA Widow, a 125 grain point on a 27.5" arrow; it bare shafts perfectly. It seems to me like the 2018 should work for you. I couldn't have shot a 2018 out of my 70 pound bows; I always needed 2117's and I have a shorter draw than you.
Mark

[Bob Palmer]

Thanks Mark…as fellow member of the over thinker club, I concur with everything you stated. I would add an elevated rest to your list as I feel it offers a wider spine range. I also believe release technique adds to the mix. I’ve always been able to shoot weaker spine. In the 70 lb range, I could shoot these 2018s bareshaft out to 25 yds or so.

[RIVERWOLF]

Another that "loves" Easton 2018's :^)
Man , I wish you had hundreds 29.5"-30"   

Bob my friend...I have been doing pretty Good with my 2018's 29"-30" out of 50#-55# Longbows for a good number of years.   

I'm not real familiar with the Titan's stats ...Likely least cut to center and or adjustable ?



Try some ALUMINUM inserts from 3Rivers with the threaded backends that except weights.    That is what I do to get my Montana's fine tuned with my 2018's and my choice broadhead.  Dependent upon what count string I build, silencers....This last year I got lazy and used an old string that was much higher string count . I ended up adding more point weight to get my SS Razorheads up  to 175 gr ....With the threaded inserts that except weights ,  you have options;)

You can purchase weight sets , or you can get creative and simply purchase some metal screws and cut to length/weight you need. 

I can't recall the thread size off hand on the backside of those inserts. You could also drill & tap your own aluminum inserts , but I just purchase 100 ct  from 3Rivers  .

This is a picture of my weighted (2 blade) SS Razorheads ready to load

Hope that helps .........Best with your quest my friend .....

[rustyspike]

I am  ALUMINUM shooter to. Not going to recommend any specs because my bows are 45#. But I use the threaded inserts. Very helpful to easily change point weight and try adding a little length.

Also I use hot-melt on the inserts. Makes it easy to change them if you need to.

Rich K.

[JohnV]

You may be trying to force your bow to shoot a spine it doesn’t want to shoot. 

[NY Yankee]

Glue-on points with brass or steel thread adapters.

[dnovo]

2018's are a great shaft. I shot them out of a 61#@ longbow years ago and I can still shoot them out of my 50# longbow. I think if you shoot them exclusively for a while they'll be fine for you. Drop your brace height just slightly and put the 175 points on and shoot them.

[Ben Maher]

Bob,
I literally just set up 2dz for the NZ Red Roar .
My Widow PL’s are 50# @29” and I’m running them at 29.75 with 200gn heads plus standard Insert.

Not sure that helps if you want to stay under 175gns but they are like darts with this set up.

[RIVERWOLF]

I "think" it be safe to say that 2018's are a VARY VERSITIAL shaft being of 5/16" dia. and with the thicker wall.
That small dia. equates to more center shot which has it behaving much weaker than it actually is ....yet stiff enough to recover very fast after the loose .....



As mentioned above, don't be afraid to try more point weight with these shafts. ..........Best with the quest .

[Wolfie2nd]

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but I couldn't tune a 2018 out of my 46#@28 MA  Widow . I tried forcing it with 125gr  and it still showed weak. I will say I like my cut at 29"
Love 2018s but the old girl wants 2117s. I suppose it's a good runner up.
Easton needs to bring back the 2020s

[The Whittler]

If your arrows are flying true but go to the left some just raise your brace height and it will pull them back to center.