"traditional" v. "regular" carbon arrows

[greenbear]

Hi everyone.  I'm a newer longbowman looking for my second dozen arrows.  I've been shooting GT Hunter XT with ok results.  My next dozen will either be the traditional style, or the basic ICS bowhunter.  I see that the trad styles have a higher gpi, but are they worth the extra 30-40 dollars a dozen?

Thanks for the advice.

[Ragnarok Forge]

In my mind they trads are not worth the extra money.  It is the same shaft with a surface coating.   The money you save can be spent on other equipment.

[Sirius Black]

I don't think so. I have used 3Rivers Trad Only shafts and they are great, but they are really just Beman Hunters(.003)ICS, eventhough they are marked Easton. I have been shooting the ICS Bowhunters(.006)and see no difference. I shot some of these thru a compound that I still have, and drove one shaft right into the back of the other at 30yds. I was using arrows of .001 in straightness with that bow, and after shooting the .006 shafts, I saw no difference in accuracy (at least to 30yds). Others thoughts maybe different, but I don't think there is a noticable difference....      

I shoot the black XT Hunters. The only "advantage" to the trads would be the extra weight added to the shaft by the coating. I got my black shafts up to 10gpp using brass inserts and 150gr broadheads. The only thing (to me) that would make the trads worth the extra money would be if you really wanted that woodgrain look.

Bisch

[dave19113]

buy the trad blems.... big jim has 'em... I think they are $42 a dozen.... I shoot em

[Hattrick]

put the weight up front an save $

[Bill Carlsen]

The woodgrain pattern on carbons I have seen are noisier when  drawing than regular carbon. I like the smooth shaft...it's quiet.

[greenbear]

So the extra gpi is purely from the finish?  I didn't realize that.  Any contact info for "big jim"?  Don't know him.  

Thanks so much everyone!  I'll be able to buy more arrows for the cost of the fancies.

[JRY309]

If you want a heavier gpi,I like Carbon Express Heritage arrows.They are heavier and a good quality arrow,very consistent in spine.Big Jim carries them for $69.95 a dozen.

[The Whittler]

Green bear, look in the sponsors list up top for Big Jim.

Here is the link to BigJims website:

 http://www.bigjimsbowcompany.com/

Bisch

[zinndl]

i like the ICS bowhunter shafts with a 100gn brass insert. i shoot the 400`s out of my 55# longbow. for my bow i only have to cut the full length shaft down a 1\\4 inch, with the brass insert i have about a 530gn arrow, flys great with good penetration. i have tried other carbon and alum but for the price you cant beat the ICS. and they are made in USA. I buy the .006 shafts (yellow lable)around 50 dollars for a doz shafts.

[Friend]

Everyone is entitled to their own preference.

Have owned two different dozens of wood grain coated carbons. They are nice to look at.

All black works great for me as I much prefer to have any additional wt up front. Have not been able discern a nickels worth of difference between the well known carbon manufacturers. Probably not a good enough shot nor ever be to note a difference.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I have seen a lot of comments here that mention the .001 vs .006 difference in straightness of arrows.  The difference is literally five thousandths of an inch. That is a ridiculously small number.  I do not think an olympic shooter would see a difference between the arrows and groups.

[Bonebuster]

No NEED for woodgrain.

[LongStick64]

I use CX Heritage shafts, they are a tad heavier than other shafts at the spine I use and they come in spines that afford the lower poundage shooter a chance to use carbon arrows.

[cajnhuntr]

I buy the ICS Bowhunters for about $45/ Dozen and add the 3 grain/inch weight tubes @ $12/dozen which allows me to shoot the incuded inserts and easy to find 125 grain heads. My 30 inch arrows are 530 grains and fly great with any point or broadhead I have tried.

[KentuckyTJ]

Biggest thing for me in my carbon arrows is the glue adhesion inside the shaft for the inserts. I like to use a glue I can heat and remove as I do a lot of tinkering. Some of the shafts don't hold as well with the glue I use and is why I like the 3 rivers trad only's and the Carbon Express Heritages.