It is hard for me to leave tried and true Pro Hunters. No screwing around with a substandard insert and they are tough as nails and kill everything they hit.

Regardless of what Easton says, they have at least some problems with the 5.0. There is just too much smoke to not be some fire.

 

I agree. I miss that shaft allot.

 

I flexed one in the shop for a guy to show him why I recomend an all carbon arrow over FMJs... (I keep a bent FMJ for demonstration purposes) Then took the 5.0, expecting it to flex just like an axis or any gold tip... Scared the hell out of me when it exploded in 7 different pieces after barely flexing it. Needless to say, the guy bought the FMJs. They are definitely what I would consider "Fragile".

 

I’m sorry that happened to you. It’s scary as hell.

 

I had a problem with 2 shafts out of 36, I e shot them for 3 months now and not anymore issues so far.

 

I have heard the same thing about the 5.0. They seem to be super fragile and crack easily. Thanks for posting your story about them. I hope Easton fixes the problem.

 

Coming to ATA 2025

With a lot of broken 5.0

 

They wouldn’t pass near what the axis would. I would wear Kevlar. They go boom.

 

Out of curiosity, did the Easton engineer demonstrate how he expected people to be flexing arrows to check them before using?

 

Yes sir he did. He told me to grab the very ends and gingerly flex them and to also rub a Cotten ball along the carbon to check for any cracked carbon slivers.

 

Sonics are great

 

So treat the arrows as if they weren't meant to be accelerated up to over 300 fps, and will come to a full stop with 80 to 100 ft-lbs of energy? Basically treat it like a wooden shaft?

 

I guess so! 😂

 

What spine are you shooting? Curious if that has anything to do with it

I’ve been Runnin 250 spine 5.0s since they came out and haven’t broken any flexing or shooting animals…I’ve put half a dozen thru pigs with no breaks, one of them has been thru 2-3 pigs by itself

that’s the only dozen I’ve had though so if it’s hit or miss I might have just got a lucky batch

 

340 spine.

 

15 years with gold Tip Hunter Pro's and XT's with no problems. I have a few dozen of them and scoop up more when I see deals.

 

I shot 5mm Easton Axis for several years, then switched to 6mm with a progression of Axis/Aftermath/Hexx/Sonic. Never had issues like what has been reported a few times about the 5.0, but they definitely need to rework them for durability. That Easton exec is playing CYA and not thinking of the potential injury and resulting legal action that will likely follow. Especially with a savvy lawyer doing online research for corroborating discussions such as this one. Bummer to hear that Easton has yet to deal with this dangerous issue... 🤷‍♂️

 

Light and durable don't really go together. I haven't seen any issues with the arrow for what it is. It's not an Axis, FMJ, RIP TKO, etc. Expect the performance of any other light GPI arrow. For TAC events I'd say it's about perfect.

 

Easton 5.0 300 spine 8.4 GPI
BEA Rampage 300 Spine 8.7 GPI
GT AirStrike 300 spine 8.5 GPI
GT Black Label 300 spine 8.3 GPI
Victory Rip TKO 300 spine 8.8 GPI
Victory HLR 300 spine 8.1 GPI
Victory RIP XV 300 spine 7.1 GPI
Victory RIP 300 spine 8.8 GPI
Sirius Gemini 300 spine 8.65 GPI

Those are all the lighter 5mm/.204 ID arrows I could think of off the top of my head.

I know the RIP XV is considered fairly fragile and it's the lightest by far.

But after that I haven't heard about durability issues from any other shaft (HLR being fairly new with little time) other than I've heard mixed results on the Rampages.

Maybe wall thickness would be a better comparisons than GPI though.

 

Same here. I missed a target and arrow was barely in a pine tree. Flexed arrow to test and snap. Grabbed 2 more out of the dozen and same thing snap. I grabbed my victory rips and flexed them double the amount and no issues. I used rips with stock 60 grain ss last year. Trying hits with iron Will collar this year.

 

I love Easton! The 5mm Axis are one of the toughest arrows on the market. It’s only seem logical they would have to give up something to achieve the light gpi of the 5.0
Stiffer carbon material with less resin would seem to be a recipe for a brittle arrow.
I hope they figure it out.
I have no problem with my 10.7gpi Axis 300. They are tough and fly amazing

 

I'm planning to buy a dozen on Wednesday....... Maybe? Maybe not now?

 

I've seen several reports of issues with the 5.0 through a bunch of different social media platforms. Here's yet another one. I'm not surprised. It's still a superior shaft than others simply because of where it's made.

 

The last sentence changes drastically if you have a question mark or period at the end? Did you mean to put a period?

Anyway I used Easton forever and went to GT because I got tried of them changes models slightly, discontinuing models, adding too many models to the point you could never trust if your arrow would be around 2 seasons later. I shot 2315's for probably 25 years so I wasn't use to buying and changing for $hits and giggles. Being the new kid on the block with the new series arrow every year means nothing too me. What does is knowing once I find an arrow I like it won't be gone soon.

I would rather buy American 100% even if it costs a little more if the quality is the same or better but I'm not going to if the marketing director or whoever isn't thinking clearly. Easton needs to get back in the game rather than rest on their reputation IMO or try to make money changing lines every year. Make one good series that works and don't monkey with it. Geez it's pretty simple......call it your legacy series or whatever but just make a great series and leave it alone. I shouldn't have to tell them that.....it's like they are out of touch with bowhunters especially. Hey if you do decided to make a killing doing that Easton at least throw me a bone since I know more than your marketing team does............lol.

Monkey around with others lines for the people that need new models every season but make a standard OD simple tough arrow for hunters that we KNOW will be around for a while.

 

Good info guys. Saved some of us time/money. I’ve shot almost the entire GT line and no complaints here.

I’ve recently switched to Easton and have enjoyed thier target shafts. I will say the Eastons seem to crack easier but X10 PTs and GT Tours are not comparable shafts. However, the sonics and the GT ultralight/Velocity are very close (8.8 Gpi, similar diameter). They both are a great shafts and equally durable. I think the carbon technology isn’t quite advanced enough for such a thin walled arrow to also be durable enough for our expectations.

I hope Easton will improve the 5.0 durability, would be perfect for my wife’s bow.

 

The Victory HLR is of similiar specs as the 5.0. Ive been using them for a few months now. Zero durability issues so far. I always flex all carbon shafts before a shooting session but really never thought about if I was doing it right...lol. Im using the Ethics adjustable HIT (full length) with end cap. 65grs in a 350 spine.

 

I called Easton about this. They recommended hit with collar for insert, they also said yes they are more fragile than axis and your going to compromise strength for a lighter arrow, recommended more for open country. It won’t last on most pass throughs if it hits tree, rock etc. It solidified my thoughts and concerns, I’ll stick with the Sonics and axis. Love Easton arrows but they dropped the ball on these 5.0’s.

 

Any time some one mentions ''Grenade'' in Archery , im thinkin Bowtech or PSE

 

I'm glad I decided to stick with the GT Hunter Pros I've been shooting for the last 15yrs or so. Never had an issue with them and they are tough as nails. I do wish they were made in the USA though.

 

This is the industry working for the profit of the industry. The axis 5mm is the goat of hunting arrows in my opinion. But you have to keep people 'tinkering' despite having no actual complaints about the arrow that just works. Might be Rip TKOs for you. Might be gold tip hunters. Point is, there are a handful of arrows that have been proven over and over and over again. And people have to have lighter or newer despite what theyve seen with their own eyes.

So many threads where a guy says "i have no complaints about the arrow I shoot now, but want to try __." That should be your clue.

Theres no reason for me to ever go away from axis 5mm. Ive shot the others. None of them are overall better than the axis 5mm.

Its not specific to arrows. Broadheads are even worse. "I have used the exodus for years and theyve worked flawlessly, but I want to try __." Whatever you use, isnt going to improve upon flawlessly.

Go shoot.

 

I got 24 (400 spine 5.0) of them when they came out. I’ve had 0 issues that weren’t my own fault, bad shoot, Robin Hood, hit the walls past the local club targets. I have pulled them from the dirt and out of soft deadfall, no breaks. I flex every arrow every time it shoot because of these stories and never snapped one like that. I too nock tune each arrow but all went well. IMO these aren’t hunting arrows though and should be treated as TAC or 3D arrows. I’m a waiting on my bad arrow in the bunch but it hasn’t happened yet

 

I’ve never had any luck with easton besides the axis. I bought 6.5s those exploded the same way I was at a local 3D event and I started noticing cracks, the 6.0s they were okay but you miss a shot and man those things explode. Also nock tuning is a nightmare! I’m going to try out the Altra .204s next and see what this no spine tech is all about. If it’s true then that time being spent nock tuning for days will just get me outside shooting. I’m done with trying lighter shafts because that just tells me brittle and I can’t see spending the money to have them blow up like that. Was actually going to give the 5.0s a try but when I saw the GPI I went those things are not durable and shooting at TAC and hunting especially you need something you can depend on.

 

Guys buy these lightweight shafts then load them up with weight to get a heavier total arrow😜

 

Ya I see that a lot. I bought these to go way lighter like 324 grains.