Any of you guys use aluminum ?

[bolong]

I shoot all three.  1916 and 2016 both shoot real well out of my 48 lb. longbows.

[Swamp Yankee]

I shoot aluminum (2117's) for hunting and wood for 3D, stumps and the like.  Messed around with carbons but just don't like them.

[SuperK]

I use all 3.  I started out with aluminum back in the 70's.  They were and are very consistant and now-a-days, they are about the cheapest arrow shafting you can get.
I have been playing with carbon and I have finally got a carbon arrow tuned perfectly to my bow.  I can honestly say that I have never had better arrow flight and my confidence with my equipment has never been higher.  
I love making wood arrows but there has been times in the past when I couldn't get one to fly a broadhead.  I tried some sitka spruce lately(from Hilldabrand) and I have NEVER had better wooden shafts in my life.
So what is the purpose in all this ranting?  Its all fun!  Shoot what you enjoy and enjoy trying different things.

[paperenginner]

I have only shot aluminum.  Mainly because I shot aluminum out of my compound and when I switched over I didn't want to go to a new arrow also.  I like aluminum but one hit of a tree or a rock and you are left with a useless bananna.  I am considering going to carbon because they are tough and do not bend.

[BUCKY]

Carbon for me.

[reddogge]

I shoot all three but have been shooting aluminum all winter in 3-D. You need an arrow straightener to get them back to really straight like I like them, preferrably one with the dial.

[gobblegrunter]

I hung up the wheels for trad only a year ago, and have only shot aluminums since (i shot carbons with the compound). I started with them because I read that they were durable, and also because they seem to be more affordable. I like them and will continue shooting them.

As some others have said, I've got small children and don't have the time to tinker with woods.

Carbons seem to be more expensive.

The things I'm not sure of concerning aluminums are:

A) I worry about bendability/denting of the shafts

B) I don't care for the "twang" noise you get when the hit something harder like a stump (trivial, as it be)

[Red Beastmaster]

I switched from wood to aluminum a few years ago and wish I had done it sooner.  

I really like how every shaft is perfect and they all fly the same. The last dozen cedars I bought were stuck together from the sap. That was the last straw, I had enough.

I can't see me changing to carbon anytime soon. I haven't met a carbon user yet that didn't go through a long tinkering process just to get good arrow flight. I gave up tinkering when I gave up the compound. I like simple things. Feathers, nock, insert, point, go kill something!

[Covey]

I shoot aluminum only! I've tryed wood and carbon's and went back to aluminum. Nothing against the others, but carbon is expensive. I can buy a dozen 2117's for about 40 buck's. I might have 50 dollar's in the whole mess when I'm done with fletching and such. Aluminum does bend, but I broke alot of carbon's and wood's when I shot them. It's about as broad as it is long. Just shoot what you like. I guess I'm just cheap   :D   but in today's economy..that might be a good thing!

JMHO! Jason

[Robert Honaker]

I love aluminum!  Been thru the carbon thing...too much fuss for me. Buy few different sizes in xx75, see which one shoots best then go hunting.

The weight is already there, spine never changes and durable.
Plus I love the sound of them banging against brush as deer run off on the death run!

[Doug in MN]

I use all 3 as well, I love making wood arrows and they shoot as well as I do.

I do have a thing for Aluminum arrows they are very forgiving and have a great level of consistency.
I have a great supply of 1918, 2018, and 2020’s I seem to get them to fly out of any of the bows I have.
I would love to find some more 1920’s again.

I have tried several different carbon shafts and think they work fine.
I will say however that I like the Easton FMJ shafts a great deal.

[Jake Diebolt]

I use aluminum only, 2117. They're getting harder to find up here as most shooters I know have switched to carbon.

I've found that aluminum are really easy to tune, and they have a good weight to them.

[JDunlap]

Returned, last fall, to shooting on a regular basis. Tried different spined carbons but have gone back to aluminum because of the weight. Using 2016's mostly bec they are 10.6gpi, and shoot well out of my 54# recurve and 46# longbow. also 2213's and 2114's have shot well for me; and like someone else said, they are easy to tune.

[Bow Bum]

I think if I'd purchase an arrow straightener I'd be way ahead of the game with regards to the "carbon is tougher" idea. I've shot both, and find that the durability is nearly equal. most hits that bend my aluminsum would have damaged the carbon to the point of uselessness. If I'd have a straightenr. I would be waaay ahead.

Aluminum is also easy to fiddle around with cuz you can cut it with a tubing cutter.

Regards,

Brian

[lilbobby]

Never shot wood just carbon and  aluminum, 1916's and 2016's Legacy's are my choice. Never has a problem!

[Trab]

There seem to be a LOT of guys using aluminum. Again, I can be rough on my arrows, but like I've said, I have had decent results using metal.....So at this point I am thinking "why change a good thing ?" ............or as the immortal ???  Aw hell I don't know who said it but it sure seems to be true....."If it ain't broke, don't fix it"  !!!!!!!!!!...................Thanks for all the input guys. Much appreciated!!
Trab  

[jackdaw]

My father shot since the late 40's and shot aluminum exclusively all throughout the 60's. He thought I was crazy for wanting to shoot all cedar...so I shoot some 1916's and 1816's just to passify him! That being said....aluminum is plenty tough enough and straight enough to fly great! I just CAN'T make myself shoot carbons out of my traditional bows...it's a personal thing...I LOVE the whole 40's,50's,60's heritage to these bows and carbons weren't part of that era...it's my own personal hang-up. Maybe someday, but I haven't lost a 3-D or grocery shoot because my woodie/aluminum arsenl was lacking....just me!......my opinion...John

[yukon chuck]

Shoot em all the time. Love the old autumn orange xx75 shafts especially. I'm a sucker for wood shafts, but shoot aluminum an awful lot. Cheaper than carbon and more durable than wood most of the time. On the other hand, I love the smell of port orford cedar.

[Pops]

I started with aluminum but, now I shoot
woodies most of the time. I have used carbons
not a big fan. During winter 3d if its real cold
I'll use my 2016's. I hunt Deer & Bear with wood.
I got a Hog hunt soon but, I think 2016's will
get the call.

[Roots]

Aluminum for me, 2016, 2114 for a 45lbs bow. A 2016 is a 2016 regardless of where you buy it, and I had problems getting properly spined and weighed wood arrow.(long time ago). The other reason was not properly sealing the wood shaft, I was hunting deer when it was piss pouring rain for three solid days, my wood arrows got warped and bent out of shape, from then on have never shot anything else but aluminum.