New to Bowhunting need some help.

Sharp_newbie said:
Alot of great tips here guys. i was wondering what brand/ type of arrow would be a good starting point, should i just buy a box of brand X and shoot the hell out of them then move to brand Y etc. till i find a brand that i like? Or is there a clear choice when it comes to buying arrows. thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

You want to select your arrow after you have your bow (or at least after you know exactly what bow you are getting). It's important to match the spine of the arrow to the draw weight and draw length you plan to shoot. Correct spine is critically important with a long bow, slightly less important with a recurve and even less important with a compound (you can tune a compound to the arrow if you want, but with trad bows, you tune the arrow to the bow).

As to what sort of arrow, your basic choices are:

* fiberglass - used to be the goto arrow, not so much any more. probably won't find these in a useable spine for your bow.
* wood - pretty, heavy, classy. These, IMO cost more than any other kind of arrow and tend to be less durable. There's nothing quite like Port Oxford cedar arrows, but you will pay for them. Also, you need to be able to straighten these (by hand) and be prepared to do so regularly.
* aluminum - relatively inexpensive and easy to work with. Available in just about any length, spine weight you could possibly want. If you go aluminum, don't get cheap ones - the better ones tend to resist bending more than the cheaper ones but once an aluminum arrow is bent (may not be obvious), it's difficult or impossible to fix. Also, these arrows tend to be noisy (they clank together).
* carbon - expensive to purchase, but the good ones last ages. For me (I shoot lots), this is the least expensive option in that a dozen good arrows will last me many seasons. For added durability, you can use an inch or two of aluminum arrow tubing to 'foot' your carbon arrows (just epoxy the aluminum section to the tip of the carbon arrow).

IMO heavy is better than fast but you will get other opinions on that.
 
Sharp_newbie said:
Alot of great tips here guys. i was wondering what brand/ type of arrow would be a good starting point, should i just buy a box of brand X and shoot the hell out of them then move to brand Y etc. till i find a brand that i like? Or is there a clear choice when it comes to buying arrows. thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Arrows are like bows. They are very personal. Like bows, you don't have to buy expensive arrows, especially for practice.

The big difference on arrows is consistent straightness and weight between all of the arrows. If all your arrows are straight and weigh the same, you don't have to worry about having accuracy fluctuations when shooting, with the exception of shooter induced issues.
Most people, won't notice much difference with the arrows that have very tight tolerances though, especially when starting out. Arrows with very tight tolerances will cost more money.
The critical thing with arrows is to make sure which ever arrow you choose, has the correct spine for the bow you are shooting. Each company has charts to tell you which arrow will suit your needs. It all depends on what draw length your bow is, how many pounds you are shooting, and what weight of broadhead or field point you are shooting

Most people use Carbon arrows with compound bows, although some still use aluminum. They all work, but the aluminum arrows will dent and bend if you hit something solid with them. The carbon arrows will generally take more abuse IMO. There are a few companies that make good arrows. I'm not a target shooter. I shoot a lot, but don't do competitions. I focus on hunting. So I make my arrow selection on arrows that are tough.

I've used Carbon Express, Carbon Tech, and Gold tip arrows. Even the lower end arrows from these companies will give excellent accuracy. IMHO, if you are hunting, the broadhead is a more critical element. Again, there are quite a few good choices.

Carbon arrows are like compound bows. You need to look at them every time you shoot them, especially if you have hit something hard with them. Sometimes they will split. If you shoot an arrow that is split or cracked, it can explode. When this happens, you will more than likely be going to the hospital to have carbon fiber pieces removed from your body. Usually the hand and arm that are holding the bow.

It probably sounds like a pain in the butt, but once you get use to doing it, its no big deal and doesn't take very long to do.

Again, my comments about checking your arrows and bow for cracks aren't meant to scare or discourage you. Its just things everyone should know when they are first getting started.

EDIT: I just noticed GK typed faster than I do. Didn't mean to duplicate the info
 
thanks for the help again guys. it seams that carbon arrows is the way to go. i will remember what you said about checking my arrows everytime 338375.
 
coaldigger said:
So did you decide on a bow yet ?:D
Click to expand...

I sort of hijacked the thread a tiny bit since it was nearly spot on where I am at. I haven't decided yet, but I'm thinking recurve to start. Now, I'll need to figure out which one!
 
I'm happy with my Fred Bear Grizzly recurve. I took off the 'bear hair' rest and side plate and attached a rubber shoot around rest instead. I highly recommend just going out into the woods and doing some stump shooting. Good times!
 
I've never even thought about that 'footed arrow' trick - i'll have to try it out. I have a bunch of old aluminum shafts that I don't use anymore (they've become 'beater shafts' when I feel like shooting beer cans and bottles, and all the other stuff you're not supposed to shoot :D). I just need to figure out a way to make exploding targets...
 
nothinghappenedtoday said:
I've never even thought about that 'footed arrow' trick - i'll have to try it out. I have a bunch of old aluminum shafts that I don't use anymore (they've become 'beater shafts' when I feel like shooting beer cans and bottles, and all the other stuff you're not supposed to shoot :D). I just need to figure out a way to make exploding targets...
Click to expand...

There are a few places that make the exploding targets. I use to get them for shooting with my rifles :D.

You have to be a minimum of 100 yards away though, so they wouldn't work with a bow very well. They are a lot of fun. BIG BOOM :D
 
Bowhunter's Encyclopedia is a great place to start and was most used when I started with a compound bow. I still refer to it when I have a senior moment. I shoot Easton aluminum arrows from a 50# PSA bow. Shoot lots and good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top