Lusk has tested a few different Chinese BH's from Deepower and gave them some pretty good marks. I bought a dozen of the 1 1/2" fixed heads to try in early September, but have not gotten around to doing any serious testing. Even if they end up as critter heads or I try them for turkey hunting, the cost wasn't prohibitive for the experiment. However with arrow shafts, I have a completely different philosphy for safety, accuracy and consistency.....so I only shoot Eastons. I shot Axis for years and am presently shooting Hexx....an even more expensive type in their offerings. I don't want carbon fibers in the forearm of by bow arm....I don't want to dry fire my bow....I don't want spine or weight variations that could potentially mess up a hunting shot. Buy cheap boots or camo or binos or packs.....but not cheap arrows...especially carbon arrows. That is my perspective, whether right or wrong.

 

Not shaft or broadhead related but a guy I used to work for manufactured a particular banding device for the ag industry. Years ago (20’ish) he toured a plant somewhere in the Midwest that manufactured a ratcheting wrench that he planned to use. Anyway, this same wrench manufactured in this one factory was sold to many different companies, ie, snap on, Mac, craftsman, etc and they all stamped their name on it. They also sold it to him directly without the middle man being involved.
I think many of the knock off products are the exact same but I also realize some are not. I’d say if you like them shoot them until they prove you wrong.

 

AAH, got it…so you have zero experience with them.
Did you know some of Eastons manufacturing is not made in USA? Check the catalog, some of their shafts are made in Mexico. I have requests for info in to the different arrow mnfrs for updates but nothing yet.

Gold Tips appear to be made in Mexico.

A few guys I trust said these overseas shafts are very good…and either the same as what we are buying from the big namers or equal. …for less than half the price.

I get buying made in USA its why I have been shooting Easton shafts for decades…but something made in china…then marking it up and selling 100%-200% more just stinks.
.

 

AAH, got it…so you have zero experience with them.
Did you know some of Eastons manufacturing is not made in USA? Check the catalog, some of their shafts are made in Mexico. I have requests for info in to the different arrow mnfrs for updates but nothing yet.

Gold Tips appear to be made in Mexico.

A few guys I trust said these overseas shafts are very good…and either the same as what we are buying from the big namers or equal. …for less than half the price.

I get buying made in USA its why I have been shooting Easton shafts for decades…but something made in china…then marking it up and selling 100%-200% more just stinks.
.

What Eastons? Yes Gold Tips are made in Mexico. Yes many are made overseas. Yes the vast amount of carbon material comes from overseas.
But that doesn't make them bad. You get what you pay for and the Ali arrows are junk or rejects.
Arrows are not the place to cheap out, it's the business end of the whole setup.

 

A guy at my club bought some arrows from Ali Express...He had 3 shafts that were so bad he threw them in the trash without fletching them. 4 shafts still had a little wobble to them after cutting from both ends... but he shot them for practice and mechanical broadheads. When he got through the build/testing process, he had exactly 5 arrows that were "good enough" for him to hunt with fixed blade arrows...

He believes the shafts they sell on Alibabba, AliExpress, [any cheap arrows on Amazon] are made in the same factory on the same production line as some of the other "Popular" brands.... but these are the arrows that don't meet the QA/QC standard so rather than throw them away, they sell them at a very reduced rate with a different label....I've seen and handled those arrows.... as near as I can tell, I can't prove him wrong.

This being said, when his bow needed new strings, I refused to let him shoot those arrows in my shop.... He shot some of mine of the same spine and similar TAW to do his set up and I would be available for consultation when he did the final tuning.... just not here!!!!

 

I bought some to test them out. The AliExpress ones are not good, the carbon is poor quality.
When I cut the shafts, some start peeling the carbon right away .
I did test the spine and the points weight. Also tried shooting some. Just not good, couldn't make a good group and they fly is very variable.

If you are looking for cheap carbon arrows for lower poundage recurve bows, the AliExpress might be a option. Some of my students use on wooden school bows. But when you want quality and performance. Go for the great brands like Easton or gold tip or carbon express etc.

 

Some good commentary….

I do have friends that own companies that manufacture in China- apparel, shoes and BHs

They all say having your own QC process is critical. I recognize that some products that are literally made in the same facility can be different.

The comments Ive heard on the .003” Linkboy shafts has been good…not so much on the .006”

 

From Gold tip;

 

The aliexpress shafts can be really good deals, but are hit or miss. I had a batch of 24 of them that I've been shooting barebow with...they've been great, and had very good tolerances on their shafts and components as far as weight went. @EHartkopf had a batch which had less than stellar luck with one batch, but was corrected after reaching out to the company...so it's kindof a proceed at your own risk, and definitely check before building.

 

I've used link boy and accmosarrows those are good ones and link boy makes arrows for other companies and puts their labels on them.most the carbon arrows from over seas come from the same places

 

This ^ jibes with what I’ve heard from others

 

I have used some of them from Amazon that are good. I can’t remember the brand but I can stack them out to 60 yards so good enough for me

 

Linkboy 3k weave arrows are fantastic.

4mm accmos were really good as well. 1 grain between the dozen

 

If anyone thinks that inexpensive arrows can't shoot tremendously tight groups at long range I'd suggest watching a Youtube channel called Samuel White: https://www.youtube.com/c/SamuelWhiteArchery
The guy extensively tested this a few years back, and it's good stuff.

 

Wow, this guy does a great job on these comparisons- very professional.

When I saw the guys picture on the video page, I was a little hesitant because he looks like he’s 15 years old….glad I did, Samuel does a great job on these vids. Thanks BO for posting this….good info.

 

No experience with Ali Express. My wife raids all the Urban walmarts between late January and Febuary and picks up the carbon express Wolverines for $1.50 to $1 each. She goes where folks don't tend to be hunters and cleans house on the arrows. If the arrow selection looks like this.......you are gonna get some great deals come Febuary.

 

Hawk, that works if you shoot light poundage. It’s been my experience that it’s hard to find longer shafts and or heavy spine 300s and 250s at Walmart.

Amazon, Ebay and Ali Express have options to 200 spine…and carbons to 33”.

Why would someone need a 33 inch shaft you ask? Grin

I shoot a 32 inch arrow in my recurve…. And it’s always good to have a little extra arrow shaft when making up these as you can cut them for the straightest section.

 

The problem I've seen with Walmart is they never have shafts long enough or stiff enough. Maybe this is why so many guys are under spined.

FWIW, I had issues with the payment on Aliexpress. No problem, the same shafts are on Amazon and Bay....whom I would rather deal with anyway.

These are .003" straight, and a decent weight range plus they have the stiffer shafts in long lengths
Amazon link

I ordered some 250's and 300's sub $40/doz (factor you have to buy inserts and noks).....and will check them and report back

 

I'm shooting ACCMOS from amazon. they are great.

 

I have some ordered.

I did end up getting the Ali Express shafts

I will run all of these on my straight tester with micrometer when I have all of them- then report back.

 

Check local discount stores. Lucked into my local Bargain Hunt with a bunch of half dozen boxes of arrows. All for around $10-$15 a box. I got Gold Tip, Beman, Easton and Bloodsport. Maybe some other stuff. If you remember the Rage pack that was 3 arrows and 3 broadheads, i also got that for $15. Wish i bought everything they had. I still have plenty left to where i wont buy arrows for awhile, though.

 

I see no point in buying cheap arrows unless your saving money to buy scent eliminating cover spray or a scent lok suit😃. I just watch the classifieds on AT or Lancaster for deals. I like my Deep Impacts get multiple kills per arrow. If you figure deprecation your cost is maybe 5 bucks a kill. Cheap arrows are 1 n done.

 

You are one lucky Dude, I have never recovered an arrow I put through a deer. Mine are one and done because I can't find them.

 

My brother has been using the same 4 cheap azz mossy oak Walmart arrows I got him for $1.50 on sale for years, shoots a couple deer with them every year. I believe Victory makes them.
those arrows are far from one and done. You could shoot endless deer with them if they pass thru and even the most expensive arrows can break if it doesn’t

 

Not the exact same ones but I bought some Linkboy Archery arrows off Amazon and they there were a few minor issues with the fletching but if you shoot a drop away or biscuit it shouldn't be a big deal. They are however straight, fly well and seem to be well made.

 

If you get the twill accmos shafts they will be significantly heavier. I don't have them. Was able to use a heavy insert. But would buy them if needed.

 

wonder if these will cause the pricing of the USA companies to come down any.

 

Probably not, because guys justify paying 3 times more for the same shaft because an American company imports then and slaps their own label on them.

 

Axis are tough shafts wouldn't call em cheap. I have had multiple kills on same arrow with them (5 I believe). I shoot a lot of indoor 3-d. See lots of cheap arrows break. Black Eagle carnivore are one I see fail alot. Alot of those cheap arrows will have the spine break down after a while. Saw it happen last year after 8 weeks of league. See guys coming in with cheap arrows they don't survive a impact with the floor or target stand. The old gold tips normally would survive. I got some low end Victory s one year the didn't last long either.