The ics 400's have been good for several deer, although unless I get a pass through the arrow is usually toast. I shoot muzzy phantom 4 blades, and on all three I had complete penatration, one pass through, two burried to the fletching, resulting in both arrows getting broken. Like I said before, they fly good but are not as durable as the newer/more expensive arrows. Hench why I am experimenting with the gt's.
For the stike plate, I just have the basic bear rug with leather strike plate. No spacers. The last aluminums I shot were 2117s and they seem to have about the same penatration if I recall correctly, although the ics's def fly flatterdown range and are faster. Don't know any speed numbers but just from shooting one to the other the beemans are noticeablly quicker.