I shoot primarily carbons, and I do so because I want heavy arrows with a very high FOC. Carbons make this easier to accomplish. What I've found out through testing, is that straightness doesn't appear to be very important and that weight tolerances are almost completely unimportant. However, spine tolerances are critical. I shoot Goldtips quite frequently and have them flying well, but they were very inconsistant in regard to spine - often off by as much as .030 to .040 in a dozen. I've never tested a group of aluminums that was off by more than .003 - that's more than 10 times better spine tolerance.

I've gotten the Goldtips to shoot very well, but it takes a detailed procedure of spine tuning, arrow tuning and spine testing. I'm not sure the average bowhunter would be well served with low-end carbons, unless they can get this kind of help tuning their arrow.