Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

I was just wandering for those of you who shoot aluminum, why do you stay with it? I went to carbon two years ago and I like it better for a couple of reasons: 1) they don't bend, I've shot them through deer and hit rocks with no damage to the arrow. 2) they're faster and lighter. Just wanted to know other people haven't switched.

RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

I switched a couple years ago, will NEVER go back to aluminum.

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RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

A few reasons I still use aluminum.

1. I still like to keep the weight of the arrow at 9 or 10 grains per pound pulled. Just more accurate for me.

2. I like to use heavy broadheads (150-190 grain), about the only arrow that I have found to work very well with the setup are 2419's or 2613's. FOC is right around 14%. Again, more accurate for me.

3. I like to be able to get four helical fletchings on the shaft to stablize broadhead flight

4. More KE downrange

5. I like to be able to pull arrows out of my 3-d targets

From my experience, I just have not found any carbons to fly very well with my fixed bladed cut on contact broadheads.

RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

Well, I switched to carbons but keep aluminums for my back up bow. It's an older PSE and is noisy if you fire those light weight things in it. I call my back up my buffalo killer. XX78 Super Slams, 525 grains at 252 fps. Great penetration, K.E., cheaper and quieter. I'll keep it that way too. Lots of reasons to use aluminum.

RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

This same question came up on the 29th last month in a thread titled 'Reasons?' and this is what I posted there:

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I can tune my bow to an aluminum arrow in less than 15 minutes and have it as good as it can get. I've spent HOURS tweaking around on carbons and not had them tune in. I can usually just screw ANY broadhead, on and have it spin true. And if it doesn't spin true, it's VERY easy to reposition the insert. With carbons, it's always been a chore for me to get broadheads to spin true, and most of the time there are only a few in each dozen that will do it. So, I can be hunt ready in minutes with aluminum vs too many hours of wasted time, tweaking with carbons.

My 2315's and 2317's weigh 100-150 grains more than the carbons I've tried. They make my bows much more pleasant to shoot - quieter, less shock and vibration. The heavier weight doesn't stress the cables and string as much, so less creep and less retuning and less frequent replacement. I lose 30 fps or so due to the weight, but I feel the gains in other areas are worth it.

Durability with my arrows is not quite as good as carbon maybe, but it's not far behind. Most of the arrows that do get bent, I can easily restraighten to factory tolerances with my arrow straightener. I've spent far more money on carbon than aluminum over the past 5 years and have yet to find any carbon arrows that shoot good for me. So, aluminum is cheaper for me over the long run.

My philosophy for hunting is, if I can't get within 30 yards of an animal, I have not earned the right to draw my bow. Trajectory differences between carbon and aluminum inside 30 yards are practically nil. For 3D, I have to be a bit more precise in my yardage estimates than carbon shooters but that's okay. Once I figured out that I didn't HAVE to win each tournament I entered, I started enjoying them more. And I still pick up an occasional trophy.

Penetration, I have no practical basis for comparison. All I know for sure is aluminum has never failed me and I have never been able to get carbons tuned up good enough for me to even consider hunting with them. As for how far carbon penetrates 3D targets vs aluminum, I've explained, in depth, many times on this forum why I feel trying to equate penetration in foam rubber to penetration on a living animal is a flawed idea.

However, since carbons do penetrate deeper in foam, and since the extra speed generates enough heat to weld them in, that brings up the primary reason I prefer aluminum. I don't have to smear on soaps, oils, ointments, lotions, potions or unguents to lubricate my arrows, nor do I have to wrestle with 3D targets to reclaim my property. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>

Add in less strain on the bow and better longevity for the bow and accessories (not too important for guys that have to have the hottest new bow on the market every year, but it's vital for me), the fact that aluminum causes less frustration and more enjoyment, and it shouldn't be too hard to understand why I don't mess with carbon any more.



Edited by - Arthur P on 02/03/2003 10:18:16

RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

BobCo and Arthur P spelled the reasons out nice! Besides &quot;I like em, alot&quot;.

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RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

I guess my main reason is that I have never been told a good reason to switch. I am not a speed freak, could care less about speed.

Plus, I have never liked the warning that accomponied the carbons. You know the one that says if the arrow breaks don't consume any meat from that area. Why would I want to throw away a nice piece of shoulder meat because of carbon splinters. I know, I know....it takes a lot to break them, but you can't tell me that it don't happen.

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RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

Cause they kill the deer when I shoot them.
I don't bend/break many so they do last me a long time. THey are cheap. My bow is already tuned for them. I get preformance that hasn't let me down yet. I see no reason to fix what isn't broken.

RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

I've been killing deer with aluminum arrows for years and see no reason to switch. I'm happy with 'em. I'm sure that carbons are as good as anyone says but I guess I'm just set in my ways <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: Why do you still shoot Aluminum????
 

I can't afford carbons <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>



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