What's your opinion of Aluminum compared to Carbon arrows. Faster, stronger, easier to work with?
Thanks, Framemaker
Thanks, Framemaker
As I have said, I shot aluminum arrows for years and years. I cannot see one real life benefit of using them over a good carbon arrow.Aluminum arrows
Great tolerances and consistent spine
Aluminum arrows have some of the best spec’s out there. The spine is more consistent than most carbon arrows at any price. The weight differs less per shat, etc.
That only depends on what grade of carbon arrow you get. All of the upper priced carbon arrows has very tight tolerances.
IMHO carbons are a”dumbed” down marketing tool. You went from a system that gave many choices to a system that has .400, .300, etc and is used over a much broader range. The bad news is you don’t have as many choices now.
We still have lots of choices with carbons. Lots of people are fooled by the numbering process. Lets take a Radial X-Weave 300.... It's not a 300 spine at all. It's actually a .359 spine.
Can change arrow length easier
I buy new bows a lot. So if I can use the same arrows it saves me money. With aluminum I can just heat the insert and take it out and cut the arrows and reinstall the insert if they are too long. As you know even with the same draw length certain bow will take a shorter arrow. Too long, oh well but at least I have some options.
Great Penetration
I've been using the same carbon arrow lengths on a bunch of different bows, some with a lower DW, and they still were very accurate.
Carbon arrows will out shoot most anyone.
I mainly hunt these days so I shoot a lot of 3D targets. The aluminums pull so much eaiser than carbon. No soaps, slick stuff, pulling aids, etc and nothing to “stink” up my hunting arrows.
Yep, and it's also easier to bend an aluminum arrow if they are not pulled out of the target straight.
Aluminum arrows don’t crack and hide issues that can be dangerous. I don’t have to “bend” or inspect my arrows after each shot. Many carbon shooters do not do it either and well….that’s their choice. But either way checking them or not has its drawbacks. If an aluminum arrow bends slightly it will still shoot and won’t cause a safety issue…..if its bent bad enough to cause a safety issues it will be very visible.
Wow, it takes all of about 3 seconds to flex a carbon arrow.
Versatile
I still like to small game hunt and stump shoot. I can use older aluminum arrows for this. If they aren’t perfectly straight they will fly well enough and you can straighten them over and over with a jig. When they hit hard surfaces like rocks, trees, whatever, they don’t get cracks in them that are dangerous like a carbon. Plus since they are cheaper and can be straightened I can afford to use the arrows in this fashion. Carbons are either too expensive or too dangerous for this IMO. Great arrow for Judo tips.
Nope, aluminum arrows don't get cracks in them. But if you want to stump shoot, or miss and hit anything hard, you may as well kiss that arrow good bye.
Better for game
When you leave an arrow in an animal it can break. If an aluminum arrow breaks you pull out the broken piece and continue skinning the animal. If a carbon breaks you either cut around the break to make sure you don’t eat any carbon fibers or toss the shoulder etc…..either way it’s a hassle or a waste of meat.
I've never, in all my years with carbons, and with all the critters I've killed, lost any meat due to carbon fibers. Every time an arrow goes through a critter, the meat is blood shot anyway. So cutting a little away is just part of it.
Price
The cheapest arrow with the best spec’s you can find. Period.
You get what you pay for in arrows.
Toughness
Aluminum arrows are tougher than people think. The reason folks “think” they are not is simple. As bow speed became an obsession with archers and companies gladly filled that trough to increase sales aluminum arrows had to get lighter to compete with the trend. So they went to thin walled fatter arrows to gain spine while decreasing weight. The end results were faster arrows BUT they were very easy to bend. These were the XX12 & XX13 series arrows. The XX14’s are “in between” in toughness but the XX15, 16, 17’s are tougher than folks think. The XX19’s are just under rebar….lol. I routinely shoot through game wash the blood off my arrow and change the blades. A quick spin test and verification shot and it’s back in my quiver.
Conclusion
Aluminum arrows do have many benefits over carbon. Myths that they bend easy and carbons are either straight or broke while wrong certainly help to add to the confusion. Many folks that bash aluminum have never even probably shot one but continue to parrot the myths as fact. When you really get down to it….it’s all about speed……and always has been. With a carbon you can now shoot an arrow that is spined correctly and light enough to damage or blow up your bow. With aluminum you could do that so I guess that sealed its fate for many archers. But if you want a great versatile arrow and can live with a bow that does everything but drop jaws at the local pro-shop chronograph……..you might be surprised what a aluminum can really offer given the chance.