I was going to post this in the Bow forum but I wanted elk hunters opinions. Anyway I have been trying to decide if I was going to make the switch to carbons this year or not? I have now made up my mind, and ElkNut/Paul its all your fault! I am not the type to buy a new bow each year or every other year. I believe a lot of archers are better off staying with one bow for a few years and just like with rifles the longer you practice and shoot it, the more familure it becomes. In a way it becaomes a part of you, like a extension of your body. The only exception to this might be the competiton shooters who shoot for hours a day at 5 or more days a week, I think they can pick up any bow and shoot it well. Anyway my Martin Fury bought new by me in January of 1997 is showing its age, its still in good condition, but its so unforgiving and noise compared to todays bows. I have been wanting a Mathews for a few years now, but just couldn't justify it yet. Well to make a long story shorter a new dealer who took over a local pro shop here was offered a one time special buy from Mathews for becoming a new dealer. It was limited to a dozen bows, to be offered to family and friends only. Now I do know this dealer and we are friends, but we are not buddy buddy if you get my drift. But being a Archery Education Instructior I sent business/new customers to this shop, as well as other shops in our area. So the new shop owner calls me up the week before christmas and tells me about this deal. He states that he can get me a new Switchback, selling it to me for $600. Now the bow normaly sells for $730 to $770 depending on where you go. I have called shops all around S.E. Idaho and north Utah and all were within this price range. I told him that was a awesome deal but I didn't have a extra $600 being the week before christmas and that I might have to pass unless he could do a layaway. He told me he could do that, and that the left Hand Switchbacks were not even out yet, and I could have longer than 90 days if needed. But the 90 day countdown wouldn't start until the bow came into the shop. He told me that all he did need was $100 in down payment before Christmas day, if I wanted it buy it or he would offer it other friends. I told him I would think about it/talk to my wife and get back to him the next day. I did talk to my wife and she said heck no, and that was the end of disscussion. Little did I know that the next day my wife went and put the $100 down on the bow for my Christmas gift. Wow talk about a good surprize on Christmas morning. The left hand bows still have not been shiped in yet, and I will be able to shoot it while its on layaway. In the meantime I have been dreaming about what rest, sight, arrows and such that I will use with this bow. And that brings us to why I posted this. In the past I have hated Carbons for use with elk hunting. I like a heavy arrow/broadhead combo for elk. Well with Paul saying that he has had good success with the gold tips on elk for some time that has got me realy thinking. Also I did hunt with a friend from out of state for two years and called in two bulls for him. He too was shooting gold tips arrows, and both bulls were big bodied animals a 4 point bull, and a 6 point bull. The penertration was excellent with both bulls and he was using Muzzy Broadheads. I myself have shot Thunderheads for years with XX75 2219's. I like the Thunderheads and Muzzys are great too, but I want to use a cut on contact with a lighter carbon arrow. I have been reading about the cut on contact, 4 blade Magnus Stinger. They claim of it being excellent with light weight Carbons, and being shot from fast bows with outstanding flight. And that its shoots like a field tip. I have been a skeptic of that, but now with Paul stating he is shooting/killing elk with Gold Tips and Stingers combo, I think that is what I would like to try. Paul what speeds are you shooting at? Elkcrazy8/Chad I want to know you honest opinion. I want to shoot this arrow at around 270 to 280 f/s. Do you think that the broadhead/arrow will plane at that speed? Anyone else what do you think? Thanks Jason.