No, you ain't gonna be the only one. Yeah, this horse has been beat to death and then stomped on, but I never mind giving it another whack or two. [8D]

I tried desperately to learn to like carbon arrows but wound up detesting the things. The ones in the price range I can afford were not straight, often not even to the sloppy tolerances in the factory specs. They were not consistent in weight. They were not consistent in spine, even at different points around the same shaft my spine tester gives different measurements. Even my old dogged out cedar arrows are straighter and more consistent than the junk I tested.

Also, the shafts' internal diameters were inconsistent. Very tight fit on the nocks and inserts on some, loose and sloppy fit on others. I could never get any of several different brands to shoot broadheads as well as I expect.

And then, say yougo on a trip to a tournamentand forget to pack your carbon arrows. It happened to me. [&:]You go to the local store to buy more and, sonuvagun! they don't carry the brand you're all tuned up for! [>:]

That's no problem with aluminum. You buy an aluminum arrow in New York, you'll find the same aluminum arrow in Fairbanks.(If the store still carries aluminum. Quite a few are dropping them. [X(])

Aluminums are straighter, more consistent and more accuratethan comparably priced carbons - and I'd venture to say better than most all of the very expensive carbons as well. Very rarely does an aluminum arrow not shoot well with a broadhead. Aluminums can bend, certainly, but the problem has been overstatedto a ridiculous degree. Usually they can be straightened right backto factory tolerances with a $20arrow straightener.

"Carbons are straight or broken." A myth. Laughable joke. Maybe they seem that way to guys who only shoot a few dozen shots a year. To someone who shoots all the time, they know better. Carbon arrows don't bend but they do warp. They will also lose their spine after some amount of use. Some sooner, some later, but all doeventually. It's subtle and sneaky.

One day you suddenly realize your accuracy - with field points - isn't quite what it was. You spend a frustrating week trying to retune your bow with no effect. Finally you buy another batch of the exact same arrows and bingo! The accuracy is back. Put those old arrows on a spine tester and thencheck them for straightness and you'll see exactly what the problem was.

The only thing carbons are good for is shooting fast. You can get a very light arrow in stiff spines with carbon.

With aluminum, you've got a lot of options on weight but, generally, the stiffer spine you need, the heavier your arrow will be. But I don't mind shooting slower arrows when I get reliable accuracy andeasy tuning - especially with broadheads.

You could always do like mobo does and shoot ACC's to get the best of both. My pockets aren't quite deep enough to buy ACC's though.