wood vs aluminum vs carbon

[Hoyt]

I started out with wood then fiberglass, aluminum...tried some made from transite..too light and now shoot nothing but carbon.

[windrunner]

thanks guys. i have a hard time changing to something new. But with all the feed back i might just have to have all three in my quiver at once.

[Goshawkin]

Originally posted by windrunner:
thanks guys. i have a hard time changing to something new. But with all the feed back i might just have to have all three in my quiver at once.

That works for me!!!
I've got, xx75's,GrizzlyStiks,goldtips,cedar,spruce and Doug fir in mine. The yellow fletched arrows in the front are doug fir shafts homemade from a doweling jig that was in TB magazine "how to" article years ago.
 

[mrpenguin]

I've shot all three and find alums a little loud but pretty consistent, carbons very fast and flat, not too loud and group consistently. Wood is the quietest, prettiest but finikiest for me. That said when I get the right wood shaft, it's as reliablely consistent as any carbon... But wood breaks easily.

[Roger Norris]

I am currently infatuated with wooden arrows, but have used carbons and aluminum extensively. Of the 3 materials, I rank them this way:

Carbon - When I am not interested in messing with arrows. I want a perfect missile for my bow, with very little effort on my part. Very receptive to spine change by tweaking point weight. I can have one shaft cover a broad range of draw weights.

Aluminum - Pretty close to carbon, but less tuneable. For me, a neat compromise between carbon and wood...aside from staining and sealing, they can be customized pretty nicely.

Wood - When you have enough time to build them right, nothing beats wood for silence out of the bow and tradition. I am always EXTRA satisfied with game taken with a wood arrow I MADE. Other guys make some beautiful arrows for sale, and I have bought some, but I am only "in love" with the wooden arrows I make. That is not a slight at someone elses workmanship, just my own strange thought process.

You mileage may vary, and it should  

[Al Dean]

Originally posted by mountain lion:
I shoot all 3, and I like all 3. It's whatever you want, aluminum is stronger than wood and carbons are are tougher than all. I shoot carbon out of my recurve  but there is something about shooting wood out of my longbow!

Ditto

[KentuckyTJ]

Arrow spines are different with all bow setups. If you can get a wood arrow to fly the straightest from any particular bow shoot it. If it is aluminum or carbon shoot it. Shoot what your bow likes the best. To know though you must have all three materials.

[SELFBOW19953]

I tried carbons for the first time this year-just not my thing.  I'm back with wood.  I will shoot aluminum or fiberglass out of my recurves, but it's wood only with longbows/selfbows.

[Gapmaster]

I've shot all three for years and am really partial to aluminum, especially when it comes to long lasting durability. My aluminum's seem to stay together and in really good condition for years after they are built. With carbons I seem to loose feathers over time, and the woods seem to always get a little bent. But, I like them all. Go shoot what you like. And if you get a chance, that Saunders NPV glue is dandy stuff. Flexable, long lasting and adheres really good. Good luck  

[hvyhitter]

I shoot 90% aluminum and 10% wood but all the points and nocks are all interchangable and have tons to tune with after 20+ years.........I've stayed away from carbon as I see no real life benifit to change and dont want to have to spend a ton on all the extras......points,knocks,inserts,special tools..........you can still find good deals on aluminum shafts if you look around too.......YMMV........

[Craig]

Can't beat carbons, but shoot what you like.

[Killdeer]

I resisted carbons for many years, but finally bit the bullet and started learning about them. (I still don't know from Uni Nocks!)
I started with Carbon Express, got some mismarked shafts, dropped down in spine and then found out that the brass inserts and nock adapters wouldn't fit the .600 spines. Tried Grizzly Stick Woodies.  Learned to foot them as they split very readily.

Went to Gold Tip Trads. Can't get enough! The inserts and adapters fit all the spines, so I can tweak point weight and use my glue-on nocks. I enjoy cresting them, and fool a lot of folks who think they are woods. I foot them, so they last forever, which makes it hard to justify buying more, just so I can crest them.

I shoot wood, aluminum, cane or carbon, out of any bow I want. Right now I am attempting to master the Hill bow with my bulletproof carbons. When I switch bows, I will shoot whatever works. I have some real Magic woodies, and my trusty 2013s. They are all good!

Killdeer
 

[Frenchymanny]

What a neet feather style you have on that arrow Killdeer!

       

F-Manny

[Killdeer]

Thanks, Manny!
I like 'em.

 

Killdeer

[Ben Maher]

Killy ... sweet set up !

And I think you nailed it on the head ... I shoot all three and enjoy the ehck out of all the materials on hand ...
*woodies are just great .. i LOVE them ! I still shoot , buy and make them regularly
* trusty alloys ... my 2016's are perhaps my fave shaft .. so easy and quick to make and set up ...
* carbons ... tough and consistant ... whats not to like ? Ad Trad lites and footed GT'S are super tough shafts ! accurate too !

[moththerlode]

My opinion is that in the long run Doug Fir is tougher than carbon.

[GRINCH]

I've got all three,just depends on which bow I'm shooting,love them all.

[RecurveRookie]

I shoot carbons (easton st excel), always straight, moisture not an issue.  You can get any kind of carbon you want, thick, thin, heavy, light.  Never shot aluminum. Wood IS cool, but I didn't want to deal with the straightness and varying weight issues.  I'm not an arrow expert, good luck.

[Roger Norris]

Killy.....thats nice work!

[ddauler]

All three! I did get out a cane arrow I made years ago and let my son shoot it he couldn't believe it shot just as good as his gold tips. Carbons are sure easier in the budget due to durability.