Excal Vortex & Easton PowerBolt Question
 

I have an Excal Vortex with a #2097 Flemish Super String. I bought some off the shelf 20" Easton Carbon Powerbolts to try out. Grouping at 20 yrds seems to be pretty good with the stock arrows. Past 20yrds I start to notice quite a decline in my grouping. I am shooting 100gr target points and will most likely be using 100gr NAP Spitfires for hunting this fall since I already have some. Here are some questions I have,

1. Should I go with brass inserts?
2. Are the plastic nocks okay or should I use the aluminum flat nocks?
3. Should I have got the 2" blazer vanes?

I may end up having some custom arrows made up before hunting season.
What would you recommend as far as Inserts, nocks, vanes go? If I have to do some modifying, I will probably use the Easton PowerBolts I already have. I think maybe the brass inserts would help by giving me more weight forward on the FOC.
There are so many options as far as combinations go it seems to get confusing. I don't have a lot of money so its hard for me to buy a lot of different things just to be able to experiment.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I also shot a Vortex, found that it prefers high FOC arrow and small vanes. Specifically: Laser II Gold Tips, with 110 gr brass inserts, aluminum flat nocks and 2" Blazers or Fusion vanes. This results in an arrow that weighs 405 grs (with a 100 gr tip) and +18% FOC. They fly remarkably well out of my two Excaliburs. When tipped with 100 gr Slick Tricks mags they fly so much like field tips that I no longer practice with broadheads. Personally, after having a bow blow up from using an overlooked cracked plastic nock, I only use aluminum nocks in all of my bows.

Thanks for the info. Do you think I could use the Powerbolts I have now and just add the 110gr brass inserts, aluminum caps, & change the Vanes? Would this work? Or at least change the caps and inserts?
My shots while hunting should be 30 yrds or less.

You certainly can use the Powerbolts, the several I still have left fly pretty much like the GTs by simply adding a 125 gr tip (rather than a 100) and small vanes. Not sure about availability of inserts and nocks for that shaft, though Dave AT WYVERN CREATION 603 659 0575 may be able to help you. http://www.wyverncreations.com/
I'd shoot what you have until you get more into the game and decide what is best for your application. Similarly, I started with making my own targets, then arrows from components to making strings and cables as well as bow maintenance gear.

Thanks! You've been a great help. I believe I will use what I have this season. Then I will start experimenting on making my own arrows. There are so many variables and different components its a little overwhelming. But I'll figure it out eventually. I appreciate your help.

I have had my best luck on my Vortex with alluminum caps and brass inserts. Blazer vanes at 2". FLY GREAT!