Ok, here I go up on the soapbox again

As I’ve said, I have very good luck w/ the last 2 doz. Goldtip XT’s I’ve had, but very spotty results in the past. I’ll continue to evaluate them and continue the search for the perfect arrow. If finances allow next year, I’ll be back to ACC’s, which are not perfect, but are as perfect as you can find. They share the same positive qualities of XX aluminum, while also being very resilient (approaching the level of the really tough all-carbons), and surpassing both in every other area. I’ve shot fixed blade heads at over 300 FPS on ACC’s with the only trouble being the idiot pulling on the string. If cost continues to be a factor, I’ll end up w/ one of the premium carbon shafting types on the market like Gold Tip 3D Pro’s or similar as a compromise.

I love aluminum for the convenience, consistency, accuracy and ease of tuning. But, like Dale, I just destroy way too many (not bend slightly, but destroy them: crease them, obliterate the unibushing and back ends, etc). In 2000 I decided to switch back to alums (2315’s) and destroyed that dozen within a week while group tuning. I ended up buying two more dozens that year and ended up with only 4 decent ones by the time the season rolled around. I spent over $165 on three-dozen XX78 shafts when I could have purchased 1 dozen ACC’s for $110 and only destroyed 2 or 3. For those who like heavier arrows, The A/C Kinetic will fit the bill for all save those who really like the super thick wall alums like 2219’s, 2317’s etc. A 29” A/C KII 340 w/ a 125 -grain tip and three 5-inch AAE/ Dura vanes will give you an arrow weight of appx. 515 grains ( nothing to shake a stick at). For a guy who may only shoot 60 pounds a 400 KII w/ 125 grain tip and 4” vanes will come in around 480 grains at the same arrow length. Not much difference in the 2315’s and 2413’s you are shooting now.

As far as straightness, yep alum is as good as it gets but AC technology is virtually as good. I did some straightness testing this weekend with a bunch of different all carbons, alums, and AC shafts, and the A/C’s came in under spec (this time, as well as times past I have tested them) rivaling higher tolerance XX75 and close enough to XX78 that it really doesn’t matter. In fact the A/C full length shafts obliterated even cut to length premium carbons from other manufacturers. That is all fine and dandy if straightness is your be-all end-all to arrow shaft quality, but A/C will also match XX for spine consistency and surpasses it in weight consistency. Check out the weight variance tolerance for alum: it’s plus or minus 1%. For a 400 grain bare shaft that’s +/- 4 grains. A/C are weight matched to within ½ a grain, and even between the different letter codes the variance is as good as XX.

I keep seeing people complain that they have no option other than XX alum because cause all-carbons do not measure up, but the option IS there for you, plain as day. You may not like the cost, I understand that, but the shafts are there for your use.


P.S. And I sure wish someone from Easton would see how damn much I test and promote their shafts, cause I could really use an endorsement deal or a staff shooter position or something