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By Robert Janis
Selecting Arrows for Your Hunt
Hunting for game with a bow and arrow is the
most traditional form of hunting known to man.
From prehistoric through the traditions of
Native Americans and right on up to the skills
of today’s bowmen, it is something that will
always attract fans no matter how sophisticated
we become.
An arrow is not constructed on the concept of
“One Size Fits All.” For example, there are
arrow shafts made of all carbon, all aluminum or
alloy/carbon. Archers using “traditional”
equipment (those that prefer longbows and
recurves) still use and most prefer, wood arrows
usually of Port Orford cedar for their shafting
material if available. Moreover, arrows are made
with or without a variety of features that are
meant to influence their performance. In order
to choose the proper arrow for your goals, you
need to know about these differences and how to
analyze and balance them so that you will select
the proper arrow for the job you want it to do.
First, let’s look at the construction of the
arrow.
Carbon Express® Terminator™ Lite Hunter
FOC Arrows with Blazers |
The Shaft
Just as with a firearm, there are many
components that make up an arrow. One important
feature is the spine. The spine is important
when it comes to tuning, shooting, and grouping
arrows. You need to select an arrow with the
proper spine for your bow, or you will get
erratic arrow flight and poor shooting groups.
In other words, the proper arrow spine assures
the best accuracy.
There are two types of spines--a static spine
and a dynamic spine. A static spine helps
determine the amount of flex in the arrow. It is
measured by the amount of flex in the arrow when
an 880-gram (1.94 lb.) weight is suspended from
the center of an arrow that is 29-inches in
length and supported by two points which are
28-inches apart. The number of inches the arrow
deflects or bends because of the weight is the
spine size or measurement of an arrow. A dynamic
spine is a term that describes how the arrow
reacts to the stored energy of a bow as it is
shot. Several factors influence how an arrow
will act when it is shot. They include the
method of release (fingers or mechanical
release), amount of energy applied by the bow,
the bow’s cam system (single, round wheel, hard
or soft), weight of the arrow, spine of the
arrow, length of the arrow, point weight, nock
weight and *fletching weight. *Nock set material
(traditional brass or serving nock), string and
serving material can also influence dynamic
spine. Since there are so many variables
involved with dynamic spine, arrows are usually
measured using static spine.
The shaft of arrows, as previously mentioned,
can be made of all carbon, all aluminum, or a
combination of alloy/carbon. Aluminum arrows
have extremely precise manufacturing
specifications especially where weight and spine
are concerned. Also, it is weight and spine that
help determine the arrow’s accuracy. Aluminum
arrows generally fly better and tune easier
because they are heavier and transfer the bow’s
energy more efficiently when shot. Moreover,
they are “deadly” quiet.
Carbon arrows are generally lighter than
aluminum arrows. This allows the arrows to fly
at a higher velocity and flatter trajectory. The
added speed helps to compensate for errors in
estimating range. However, carbon arrows are not
as accurate as aluminum arrows. And, since the
carbon arrows are lighter in weight, velocity is
reduced more quickly and that means less
penetration into the target and less kinetic
energy down range.
Alloy/carbon arrows do what one might assume,
provide you with the best of both aluminum and
carbon. They have the strength and durability of
a carbon arrow and the spine consistency, weight
tolerances and accuracy of an aluminum arrow.
However, because of the sophistication in the
manufacturing of alloy/carbon arrows, they are
more expensive to buy than the all-carbon or
all- aluminum varieties. Hunters who prefer
aluminum alloy/carbon arrows like them because
they experience less wind drift than all-carbon
arrows and better down range speed than the
aluminum arrows. Moreover, since the
alloy/carbon arrows are made of both aluminum
and carbon, they feature the best elements of
each component. For example, an alloy/carbon
arrow is manufactured by combining a small
aluminum core tube covered by a layer of
longitudinal carbon fibers. The carbon cannot be
straightened but the aluminum can. So the
straightness of the arrow is assured by the
aluminum. Also, the carbon offers strength,
stiffness, and durability.
Hunters who want accuracy commonly select
aluminum arrows. Moreover, aluminum arrows are
heavier and hunters who prefer aluminum arrows
say that a heavier arrow shot from a bow has
more energy than a lighter arrow. Moreover, they
say that aluminum arrows are easier to fletch
than carbon arrows and easier to tune as well.
Hunters who prefer carbon arrows like their
better down-range speed than aluminum arrows and
have found that smaller diameter carbon arrows
have better penetration than aluminum arrows.
They like the stiffness and believe that this
feature is what helps in penetration. Carbon can
dampen out vibration during impact which may
direct more kinetic energy down the centerline
of the shaft. They also find that carbon arrows
are stronger and more durable than the aluminum
arrows.
Specs
knowing the proper spec ranges should also help
you in selecting the proper arrows for your bow.
Hunters prefer all-carbon arrows like the spine
deviation to be at worst and no greater than
.015-inches out when comparing each shaft in a
bundle of a dozen arrows. They also say that
weight should not vary plus or minus 5 grains
from another. The straightness tolerance should
be plus or minus .005-inch. If using fixed blade
hunting heads, you might want to try
straightness tolerances of plus or minus .003
inches in deviation.
Since many factors come into the selection of an
arrow, it is advised that you seek the advice of
the person who is selling them to you.
Beman ICS Camo Arrow Shafts
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Products
There are many well made arrows coming from a
variety of manufacturers no matter if they are
all- carbon, all-aluminum or an aluminum
alloy/carbon composite. What follows is a list
of some arrows that have been given a five-star
rating by hunters along with an explanation as
to why hunters like the arrow.
Beman® ICS (Internal Component System) Hunter
Arrows: According to the manufacturer, the
shafts of these arrows are weight matched and
very, very straight. They are extremely durable
due to their dense construction and they have
good energy transfer to the target. This
translates into better kinetic energy and that
means better penetration. They feature a smooth,
polished finish which make them extra quiet and
easier to pull out of the target. Vibration is
kept to a minimum by internal-fit nocks and a
ViBrake dampening inserts.
Rated: 5 stars by hunters. What hunters like
about this arrow is its price, its flexibility,
stiff spine, consistency (grouping), durability,
accuracy, straightness, weight and its smaller
diameter.
Easton ST Axis Arrows: According to the
manufacturer, these arrows are engineered for
deep penetration. It has a unidirectional
carbon-fiber core that enhances the strength
while the over-all diameter is kept to a
minimum. High strength composite fibers makes
the shaft durable and the black micro smooth
finish reduces wear when the arrow is resting on
the bow and also helps to eliminate draw noise
and assists in removing the arrow from the
target. The arrows come complete with X nocks
installed, vanes, HIT inserts, chamfer stone,
installation tool and HIT epoxy. Specs:
Straightness +/-.003-inch; weight tolerance +/-
2.0 grains.
Rated 5 stars by hunters. Hunters like the
arrow’s toughness, accuracy, speed, and ability
to fly straight. They also like the fact that
the arrows are offered in a variety of spines.
Gold Tip Pro Hunter Arrows: According to the
manufacturer, the arrow has been engineered for
extreme precision. The graphite shaft has been
tested to a straightness tolerance of +/-
.001-inch and a weight tolerance of 1 grain per
dozen to help assure accuracy and consistency.
Comes standard with GT Series nocks and inserts.
Rated 5 stars by hunters. Hunters like its
accuracy, strength, and durability.
Carbon Impact Stealth XLT 6500 Arrows: According
to the manufacturer, these arrows are the first
to feature a unique, built-in arrow stabilizer
that assists in eliminating vibration.
Rated 5 stars by hunters. Hunters like the
durability, the noise reduction level, and the
built-in stabilizer which minimizes flex and
helps the arrow reach the target faster. Weight
of the stabilizer is forward on the shaft so
penetration is good.
RedHead® Carbon Supreme Arrows
4'' DuraVanes |
RedHead® Carbon Supreme Arrows: According to the
manufacturer, these arrows are made of premium
multilayered carbon-composite fibers so it is
strong and flies true. Specs: Straightness
tolerance +/- .003-inch. Fletched with three
offset 4-inch DuraVanes and press-fit tunable
nocks and knurled aluminum inserts. Length 32
1/2-inchs. Diameter .285-inch.
Rated 5 stars by hunters. Hunters like its noise
reduction capability, built in stabilizer which
minimizes the arrow’s flex, and the enhanced
speed.
Before actually going out to purchase your
arrows, I would suggest that you surf the
internet for source material. You can start with
a Google search on “ARROWS” or start with the
list of sources below.
- Fletching: The feathers or vanes of an arrow;
the arrangement of such features
- Nock: The part of the arrow having a notch for
the bowstring; the notch itself
- Tuning: Trimming the arrows so that they will
clear the arrow rest on the bow. This helps to
assure best flight performance.
Sources:
http://www.cabelas.com
http://www.insightsportinggoods.com
http://www.gunbroker.com
http://www.basspro.com
http://www.eastonarchery.com
http://www.hunting-fishing-gear.com
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