toughness of ash shafts vs carbon

[gringol]

I use wood shafts exclusively.  I've used cedar, hickory, spruce, and ash.  I've settled on ash because it seems to be almost unbreakable.  I can bounce arrows shot out of my 70# longbow off rocks and trees and they rarely break.  All this bad shooting led me to wonder if carbon shafts can hold up to this kind of abuse.  I assume it can, but I've never used carbon.  What do you think?

[maineac]

I can't speak for all shafts. I use cx heritage.  Unless I put a collar from old aluminum arrows the insert can get pushed back, causing the end to mushroom.  I only do this on my stumping arrows.

[cyred4d]

Like any other shaft material it depends on what you hit and how you hit it. I've broken carbon shafts when stumping, but would have to say they take a lot more abuse than wood ever did.

[stykbow67]

FWIW i'm still shooting the dozen MFX classic's I bought over 2 years ago except for the 2 I lost on errant shots at turkey's. I also foot them with aluminum and have not had one mushroom on me yet. You would be hard pressed to find anything tougher than carbon IMO.

Steve

[Troy Breeding]

I'm totally suprised to see that you find Ash tougher than Hickory. I tried just about every type wood shaft and found Hickory to hold up much better. My only draw back to Hickory was finding shafts that would allow me to have a finished arrow under 750grs. Most ended up in the 800+ range.

Troy

[kat]

Footed carbons hold up extremely well, but like any material they can fail.
That ricochet or glancing shot can sometimes be the end of any arrow, carbons included.
Don't forget to check them regularly.

[gringol]

Originally posted by Troy Breeding:
I'm totally suprised to see that you find Ash tougher than Hickory. I tried just about every type wood shaft and found Hickory to hold up much better. My only draw back to Hickory was finding shafts that would allow me to have a finished arrow under 750grs. Most ended up in the 800+ range.

Troy

I've found hickory to be pretty close to ash in toughness, but harder to find, and the hickory shafts usually require some straightening.  The weight never really bothered me (I actually never weigh my arrows), but I'm lazy when it comes to arrow building so I prefer not to have to straighten the shaft...

[Smithhammer]

Originally posted by gringol:
I actually never weigh my arrows
 

   

What?!?

[JamesV]

When I shot 3D exclusively with aluminum shafts  any miss almost resulted in a ruined arrow. My friend was shooting Easton ACC shafts and could bounce them off trees with no damage. Got myself some $15 per each, back then, and I was amazed how tough they were comming out of my "other bow" at 280 fps. Now I shoot 3D exclusively with my long bow and wood arrows. What a blast.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Ash is some tough stuff.  Only problem I ever ran into with ash is that it's pretty hygroscopic.  You really have to it sealed well if you want to keep your arrows straight.

I shoot carbon now because I am just tired of constantly worrying about arrows.  I think durability is pretty close to the same on the two materials, if you leave the moisture and straightening challenges out of the equation.

[Pat B]

I think that cane arrows are about the toughest arrow material out there. My second choice is sourwood shoot arrows. Years ago I hunted with ash shafts. I shot an 8 point, must have been in the shoulder, but I only found the back half of the ash arrow and it was broken across the grain and only had a small drop of blood on it. My theory is that it hit a tree and broke. Never found the front half with the Grizzly head or the deer although, because of an identifiable hoof print, I saw that he was checking his scrapes the next weekend.

[donw]

i've used ash and found them to be very tough, indeed...but very difficult to straighten. i also use carbons...they are tougher.

i gave up on aluminum years ago. i got tired of straightening shafts after a day of stumping, hunting or target shooting.

ovedr the years i've found that i really like to make wood arrows...but...i prefer the carbons...

[Troy Breeding]

I made a ton of hickory shafts and loved them until I shot my first weighted carbon. Now that I'm into high FOC arrows i find the hickory would never make the grade for this type shaft.

Troy

[fmscan]

Troy, Weighted carbon??? What brand arrow is it and why do you like it? Is it made in USA? Thanx for any info.

[Troy Breeding]

fmscan,

We call it weighted, but mainly the weight is in the point.

The arrows I'm currently shooting weigh in at 700grs. The point and insert make up 415grs of that 700. As I said, I'm currently into high FOC arrows. These shafts have an FOC of 33.46%.

I'm also playing around with afew shafts that weigh in at approx 950grs. Here again the point and insert make up 625grs of that 950. These arrows have an FOC of 39%.

All this is something you could never do with a woodie.

Troy

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I love ash for arrows, I hate and will never buy carbon again. I got some bad carbon shafts a few years ago and well NEVER again will I spend money on them.

This coming spring Thunder Chicken season, I'm planning on using cane/boo shafts. Of what has been posted here and on some other boards. They are the best to have. Cane, Bamboo and wood all have a life force in Them. They where meant to be shot from a bow, Not made to be shot from a bow.

Now if I can just Cut them down and straighten them and heat temp them without breaking them so I can make self-made cane/boo arrows I'll like them even more ( I am working on making My own, But I need to work out what ever makes me break them first).

[Art B]

Hardwood shoot arrows such as sourwood and the cane/boo, with their radial construction, makes for one tough arrow. Not only that, they're faster than doweled shafted arrows and hit like the carbons. Being naturally tapered you get a certain amount of weight forward. Like Pat mentioned, probably the finest all around arrow material around, be it man made or natural...Art

[TommyBoy]

In a head-on against something hard - wood wins

In a glancing blow - carbon wins

This is just what I've observed throughout the years.

[fmscan]

Troy, Thanx for info, I will investigate...so many choices.

[JAG]

What would Troy know about arrows anyway?!!!!!!

I heard he's been seduced to the dark side.  And gave up the Gray for the Blue, Too!!    

JAG/Johnny