Aluminum vs Carbon what is your oppinion

[towerrat164]

It is winter once again and my spare time is turning to the making of my next batch of arrows. I have in the past crested, and fletched both aluminum and carbon arrows but they were originally made for my compound. Now that I have seen the light and shoot a recurve I want to make new arrows. What is everyone's (at least those who want to leave an oppinion) oppinion on arrows. Happy holidays from a soldier stationed away from home, may God bless all of you.
SSgt. V. Pratt

[Wahya]

Hey Sarge, thanks for being out there for us! Keep your six covered and happy holiday to you.

I know this isn't one of the choices here, but my preference is cedar. Just something about a busted cedar arrow laying on the dash of the vehicle, smellin good and bringing on some great memories. It tends to put a smile on this grey beards face every time.

Next to cedar, I cut and fletch up some of the old Easton aluminum Autumn Hunter shafts (when I can find them). I can buy 2 to 3 dozen of the shafts w/inserts for the price of a dozen good quality carbon shafts. Not that I find anything at all wrong with carbons. I hear they make a good and indestructible (almost, or they'd go out of business) arrow. They even look great all painted up and fletched with feathers. Wood (hehe) I buy carbons if I could afford them? You bet I woodn't. I'd buy more cedar arrows. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Make em sharp and shoot em straight, or leave em home.

[fredbearfan]

I keep meaning to buy carbons but I always seem to come home with aluminum. My recurve is 37# and really loves the Easton 1816's. I could save a little weight and get more durability from carbons and I may buy them someday.

For small game hunting I use cedar. If it gets stuck in an upper tree limb I don't get upset. It is wood and the tree is wood. If I stuck an aluminum up there, I would feel somehow obligated to climb up and get it.

[Josh Sorensen]

I have been known to shoot most any kind of arrow but I perfer carbon for use with broadheads and aluminum for field points. I can get good flight with heavy broadheads on carbons but not very good ith aluminums.

[Arthur P]

fredbearfan, then you should try carbon. Trees are made of wood, wood is made of carbon. Carbon arrow stuck in a tree, no worries. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> Really though, I do think carbon arrows are a good match for light draw bows.

towerrat, I use cedar, aluminum and carbon, depending on my mood at the time. Don't much like carbon on heavier draw bows because it's so light it gives me more handshock and vibration than I care for. They say there are heavier carbon arrows on the market now, but I haven't been able to lay hands on them, and so have no opinion of them as yet. I like the concept though.

Now, if they could just make a carbon that gives off the heavenly aroma of a well seasoned Port Orford cedar when they break... <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

My experience with broadheads is exactly opposite of Josh's. Can't get carbon arrows to put a broadhead in the same place twice while aluminums will go right where I aim them. Field points fly great for me from both aluminum and carbon.

Obviously, what works for one shooter might not work for another. Only way to find out is to give 'em a try and see what they do for you.

Thanks for your sacrifices in service to our country, Merry Christmas, and God Bless you and all the rest of our men-at-arms.





Edited by - Arthur P on 12/07/2002 09:14:02

[LBR]

Happy Holidays to you also SSgt. Pratt! Don't know where you are, but if you need some help getting supplies, just give a holler--be happy to help if I can.

Between aluminum and carbon, I really don't know. Depends on which one I thought was the better deal, I guess. I have shot both, and liked both--all things being equal though (if there was a pile of both in front of me and I was told to just pick one), I'd probably go with carbon because they are tougher.

That being said, I shoot PO cedar. Have tried lots of other woods, always go back to cedar. The main reason I went to wood to start with is to be able to shoot in the longbow class at tournaments, but now they have just grown on me. I don't like to switch around, so I use the same set up for tournaments as I do hunting.

Hope you have a good tour, and get your tail on back to the US safely!

Chad

Long Bows Rule!

[Bodkin]

As ArthurP says finding heavy carbons seems to be a problem. I like to shoot at least 9.5 grains per pound draw wieght and getting a 500grn arrow has been a problem. That said, I do shoot Cs from a #35 recurve indoors and they really work for me. In fact thats all I shoot at the range any more. I guess the answer is try them all and find what you like best. Thats whats great about archery ,there always something to keep you busy.
Happy holidays Sarg.From an old grunt.

[Strongbow]

Evening SSgt! Thanks for standing the watch for us all! I stood
the watch myself, 11 yrs. USN! Hope you have a safe tour and
don't need to remind you to keep your head down.

I don't have quite as near the experience as most of the fine
archers on this message board. However, it didn't take me long
to settle on carbon arrows. I own a Chek Mate Falcon and a Martin
X-200 and I've found that the carbons are a perfect match. Its
obvious that its all a personal preference as there are some top
notch archers here that love their woods and their aluminums.

Good luck on your choice of arrow shaft material. Whatever it may be I'm sure you'll be happy once you find the arrow material of your choice. God bless & stay safe.

[stealthycat]

I've shot all and like carbons.

My shooting aint all that, so I can't afford to have a bent shaft or warped woods. Carbons are tough too, and they take the beating that frequent misses give to arrows. Carbons will not come back to you if you shoot them into a really nasty thicket of briars and leaves, but thats about the only thing wrong with them.

Oh, and currently I am making up a couple of dozen wood shafts too. Why ? They are fun to make and theres some satisfaction in shooting what you make (I'll hunt with carbon though)
Stealthycat's Photo's

[CT Bowhunter]

I'm the opposite. I've shot both carbon and aluminum and have always gone back to alum. Now this has been shooting out of my compound. Now that I've seen the light, I'm still shooting Alum with my Crusaders. I just always was able to get better flight from alum as compared to carbons. That's just me. Haven't tried wood yet. Good luck where ever you're stationed! Take Chad up on his offer he won't let you down. Just be careful he has an evil spell that will cause you to have the uncontrolable urge to buy more bows<img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>