I've seen alot of folks (generally staff shooters for certain companies) argue that their arrows are plenty straight because they tested them on an arrow straightener and got a "good" reading that was within the advertised tolerance.
pffft[:'(]
Several nights back at the shop I grabbed a half dozen of the new Beman Max-4 ST type arrows, as well as some Carbon Tech Whitetails (not the premium XPS). I'd been interested in shooting the Bemans and the CT's were a good match price-wise for comparisons sake.
On the straightener guage/dial, all the Bemans did fairly well...coming in at .007 TIR or thereabouts. The Whitetails roughly the same.
Now the kicker is this. That's only measured over a 28" span, and I *KNOW* from experience that an arrow that "reads" good, can still have awful wobble on point or nock end or both. But people never believe it til they see it for themselves.
So just to satisfy my curiosity, on Monday night I brought my handy/dandy apple arrow spinner to the shop. Grabbed the exact same Bemans and the exact same CT's.
5 out of the 6 Whitetails spun well, with just a little wobble on either end that could be cut out. The 6th was a tomato stake unless you wanted to make a crossbow bolt out of it.
The MAX-4s were attrocious. They hardly would stay on the spinner...nocks and points almost doing figure eights. I wouldn't put a broadhead on any of them..mech or fixed.
Remember, the Bemans and the CT's registered similar readings on the straightener.
I then grabbed a half dozen ST AXIS. Same thing as the Bemans.
I've got a damn good set of AXIS that I culled out of 3 different dozens and then matched in weight. Even then after cutting to 27.5" I was only able to get 11 shafts I'd put in my quiver.
Pretty damn sad.
I suggest everyone invest in one of these little things, and ignore arrow straightener readings/manufacturers advertised specs if you are not going to spend the $ on premium straightness shafting (and even then some of them will get some wobble on occasion).Great investment. I've had mine for 10 years now and it's saved me a $hitpile of $ and tuning/accuracy frustration (that wasn't self induced
)
http://www.applearchery.com/spintesters.htm
Caveat Emptor!