I wouldn't neglect 6mm shafts either. No need for components outside of the standard steel that comes on a Easton Sonic.I would recommend a standard diameter (.244-.246"/6.5mm) shaft with middle-of-the-road gpi (grains per inch) plus whatever combination of insert and head weight is needed to get to your desired total arrow weight. Black Eagle Outlaw, Easton 6.5mm Acu-Carbon, Gold Tip Hunter, and Victory VForce would all fit the bill and will kill just as effectively as trendier (but more expensive/complicated) small/micro diameter arrows.
450-500 gr TAW is a good range for most hunters IMO. Use a spine chart or calculator to determine what spine is recommended for your draw weight and approximate arrow length and front end weight. Then figure out exactly what component weights you need to hit your target TAW. Minimum arrow length is determined by your draw length and how far back your rest sits. Carbon-to-carbon arrow length 1-2" shorter than your draw length is pretty common.
If you plan to shoot mechanical broadheads, vane choice doesn't matter much, just about anything will work. If you plan to shoot fixed blade heads, you'll need more fletching to counteract the ability of the head to steer the arrow off course. Three 2" Blazer vanes is a common choice and typically works well with any broadhead.
Fair point. If you wanted to minimize shaft diameter while still being able to use a flanged RPS-style insert with standard threads, 6mm would be the way to go. Easton's Aftermath, Bloodline, FMJ, and Hexx are other 6mm other options in addition to the Sonic. Black Eagle Spartans are also of a similar diameter.I wouldn't neglect 6mm shafts either. No need for components outside of the standard steel that comes on a Easton Sonic.
To start I think it prudent to buy arrows already assembled and rely on the shop’s suggestions.Determine what’s within your budget$.
Parameters are important to you.
As time goes on you’ll discover that a multitude of arrows and components will work.
Are you assembling/building these arrows yourself?
@matsprtFor hunting arrows I try to stay around 7 GPP........grains per pound of draw weight. So for 70lbs~490gr total weight including heads. As for arrows.......a lot of great arrows out there, but I like shooting stuff.........so I want a very durable arrow that can hit some hard stuff and come out unscathed. So I've always leaned to what would be referred to as 5mm arrows these days. They are smaller diameter but have thicker walls so are more durable. But then you get into the world of "inserts" as well. I prefer either regular 16gr HIT (hidden insert technology) inserts or their 50gr or 75gr brass HIT inserts. Then there's fletching, and nocks.......etc. With more experience you'll figure out what works for you and what you like.
Ah, ok that's a good point.An aluminum half out with zero support on the outside of the arrow is a no go for me.
qSpine/OT2Go says 300 is nearly "optimal" at your listed specs. Note that TAW will be a bit higher than what you calculated because VAP 300's are 8.7 gpi (not 7.8).Hi guys,
I've spent the last 2 days deep in the weeds of forums (broke down and made an account here) trying to build a set of arrows. I would love some experienced reviews/confirmation if it sounds good.
I want to shoot mainly outdoor 3D courses out to 100 yards and hunt western big game with ideally no adjustment in between.
- Bowtech Solution, comfort setting @ 72# ish, 28" draw, 27.75" arrow length.
(The edge of the shelf is 27.5" for me- I know, that seems long. Maybe my string has some stretch because it needs replacing)
- Victory VAP Target V1 .166 arrows. The victory spine tool doesn't work for me so I'm guessing it will be a 300 spine @ 7.8 gpi
- Victory VAP Shok Alumimum insert (35g), standard 125g FP for 3D and Styker V2 125g for hunting
- Beitner hunter nock (7.5g), Bohning 4" wrap (5g), 3x AAE Max Stealth vanes (9.2g each)
The Gold Tip tool says I'm at 416.5 g TAW and 13.4% FOC with that build.
I wanted to try TAC vanes since they're lighter and more stiff but I've read a couple people seeing large variations in weight (can anyone back that up here?)
That change to 6 g vanes would put me at 407 g and 14.7% FOC.
My main question is- am I too light on arrow weight (keeping in mind 99% of my shooting will be at foam in some type of wind where the speed would help)? Or is my FOC too low?
Are there any components I listed that you have bad experiences with?
Ok, I got more confused for a second but now I get it. "Deep six" and "Day six" sound annoyingly similar.One more thing, collars tend to cover up about an inch of the shaft. You need enough length to have that collar out in front of your arrow rest contact point.
Thanks so much for taking time to input my specs in that tool! I really appreciate it.qSpine/OT2Go says 300 is nearly "optimal" at your listed specs. Note that TAW will be a bit higher than what you calculated because VAP 300's are 8.7 gpi (not 7.8).
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I don't shoot micros, but if I did I would use a HIT. The downside is that the Deep Six threads severely limit your broadhead choices.
Yes, the fact that the shaft ID is too small to accommodate a standard 8-32 threaded head/point is a major drawback of the 4mm/.166" arrow size. Your insert options are either a HIT with Deep Six (6-40) threads or a half-out/outsert with standard threads. Easton and Victory offer single piece 4mm half-outs in various weights/materials. Black Eagle, Day Six, Ethics, Gold Tip offer multi-component half-out + collar "systems." I stay away from 4mm arrows to avoid the insert dilemma altogether, but IMO even the best 4mm half-out will still be inferior to a HIT in terms of strength.With that in mind, it seems like I have to either take the 4mm arrow and live with the halfout (which I now agree is sub-optimal compared to a HIT/collar) to run a 8-32 BH or give up the 4mm arrow and get the HIT/collar and free reign on BH choices... Decisions, decisions...
Right, understood and agreed there based on my research today.Yes, the fact that the shaft ID is too small to accommodate a standard 8-32 threaded head/point is a major drawback of the 4mm/.166" arrow size. Your insert options are either a HIT with Deep Six (6-40) threads or a half-out/outsert with standard threads. Easton and Victory offer single piece 4mm half-outs in various weights/materials. Black Eagle, Day Six, Ethics, Gold Tip offer multi-component half-out + collar "systems." I stay away from 4mm arrows to avoid the insert dilemma altogether, but IMO even the best 4mm half-out will still be inferior to a HIT in terms of strength.