New Carbons, which ones?
 

I'm in the market for new carbon shafts. I've been reading some good stuff on the Axis, but still not convinced. I've been shooting Beman ICS camos and like them, but the finish on them is the worst I've seen. Flakes off easily and difficult to fletch that way. I'll shoot the black ones before buying them again.

What is everyones recommendations for shafts? I will spend up to 75 or so a dozen.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

New Gold Tips are out with matched sets and incredible tolerances. Just caught a blurb from one of the boards, but can't remmeber where or what they're called.

Fritz

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

I have been shooting the Bemans too for over a year or so now (the black ones...:)) and I have been entirely happy with them though Jeff has me convinced I need a dozen of those Axis....ofcourse, I am still fiddling with some ACCs as well. :)

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

75 bucks?

1/2 doz. Acc's or ST AXIS shafts and you'll have some money left over :D

Otherwise, I'd go w/ Goldtip 3D pros. I've seen bare shafts w/ components going for right around $70 to $75 online.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Copied from Eders...

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Saw that as well..and X-cutter has a thread over at AT (if you can get past all his anti-Easton vitriol) that has some good info.

I'm sold on on A/C/Cs and these new ST AXIS, but I'll be checking out the new Goldtip stuff next week at the ATA show. They have a few new things that have caught my interest (that weight coding thing is one..and a couple of the new shaft offerings as well)

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

I have been shooting the beeman black ICS's over the last year. They shot good originally but over time my groups spread out. I too am in search of a new arrow for the upcoming year. I bought 3 of the a/c/c's the other day and fletched them up. they are very small diameter shafts. When chronod against the beeman arrow they were 2 fps faster. not a noticiable difference like I thought there would be. I am still in limbo as they are an expensive shaft around 13 dollars each where I live. they shot well through my prong rest but when I put them in my quiver they almost fell out as it wouldn't retain the small diameter shaft. My quiver is a hoyt quiver. I don't know if there is a special way to carry these small beasts???

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

I would have to say the Gold Tip 3-D Pro's are a good consistant arrow for a great price compared to the other comprable arrows!

I got a dozen of them, already fletched, cut to length, with nocks and inserts included for $79.99

So far I have shot about a half dozen of them and I havn't had a single flyer. They are hand inspected to insure they have the ratings that they are saying. I was reading reviews of them on the internet and one guy checked the straightness of them and out of the dozen, he had a difference between two arrows that was .0004

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Buck Magnet, I have considered the 3D pro's. My only concern there is weight. I like a little heavier shaft. But I'll still keep them in my mind.

Does anyone have any experience with the Blackhawk shafts?

JeffB, what is your final thoughts on the Axis shafts? I will pay a little extra if they are really that good.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

The 3D Pros should make for a great.........3D shaft. Hunting with them? I guess if you like light arrows for hunting.[:'(]

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

I shoot the Beman ICSCH, and have yet to have problems with them other than the exterior wrap wearing should I shoot them for 3D's. Many of our customers have great luck with the ICS hunters (black) and both Goldtips and Carbon Tech shafts also when it comes to pure carbon. I learned not to shoot my hunting arrows much for say 3D or into "rough" practice targets, so my hunting arrows look great-- I'll have this new dozen hunting shafts I figure until I take at least 12 animals.:D

ACC's are excellent as well, some of the finest shafts on the market for all applications, they get a big thumbs up from me.

The new Axis shafts I'm going to play with, but I always make sure all new products are " well worthy" before I head out into the field with them for a "real" hunt. This usually takes a few months, so it will be fun to be able to give them a full boat rundown later on towards spring when I can get outside in a bit more than 0 degree temps!;) JMHO, Pinwheel 12

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

The 3D pro's are not exactly super light, but not terribly heavy either. Using 75/95s (340 deflection), vanes, arrows in the 28" plus length will be right around 400 grains w/ a 100 grain tip.

The Blackhawk carbons in my experience are horrid. There's a reason they are only about 30 bucks a dozen fletched (dealer cost). Their A/C/C knockoff (CAA's) are not too bad. Out of the 2 dozen I bought last year, most spin pretty straight (not all though), and weights are decent. Have not spine tested any recent models. The stock nocks are crap IMO. You will need to use a uni-bushing to keep the fibers from lifting up on the nock end. They also have a very noisy finish but if you are using fleece or teflon on your launchers they are fine. They also need to be cut slowly and carefully or the carbon will lift up. They do shoot well if those precautions are taken, and one can cut off the few that have straightness runout.

I have not used the ST AXIS on game, but I've been pounding the hell out of 6 of them now for about a month. So far I'm very impressed. More impressed with them than any other all carbon I've tried in recent years. Like the Blackhawk CAA's a few had some straightness runout, but they are not nearly as bad as the last couple dozen Beman ICSH and Goldtip XT's I've had. I've been able to cut off the bad parts and get some very straight arrows. Even without bushings they have been taking nock end hits with no problems so far (I've busted a handful of nocks and had to refletch 3 or 4 of them). I've left them out in this horrid cold we've had for days, pulled them out of the frozen targets w/ no insert problems, and they shoot fine. I'm not going to say they are the equal of an A/C/C for specs and accuracy, but so far they are pretty damn good.

I'll be trying some of the new Goldtip shafts too this year as well. Hopefully what I've been hearing under the radar about their improvements will prove true. But right now, IME the ST AXIS are hard to beat for an all-carbon.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

How do the Beman Carbon Matrix stack up? They seem to be quite a bit cheaper than the A/C/C's.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Gary,

They are cheaper because they don't use the same construction methods (only 2 wraps of carbon, thicker aluminum tube) and are not held to the same tolerances for straightness, weight or spine match.

I know a few guys who like them, but I've been a little dissapointed in the ones I've seen (as well as the A/C Kinetics which are the same shaft w/ camo). I don't feel they are any better than the BlackHawk CAA's really.[:'(]

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Thanks Jeff,
I figured it was something like that, I haven't decided whether or not to grab some A/C/C's or maybe try some Easton Selects, I really have a bad taste for the Blackhawks, the dozen Vapors I bought when I first bought my bow didn't hold up at all. Then again the ST's look interesting with the exception of the nocks.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Gary,

I can understand the bad taste after shooting Blackhawk's all-carbons. Mine hardly lasted one shooting session. But the CAA is a decent shaft. Not the best, but I've seen far worse for the same $. I've seen some very good prices online for them.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

GOLDTIP XT'S I THINK ARE THE BEST QUALITY CARBON ARROW FOR THE PRICE APPROX $ 65-70 A DOZEN. I SHOOT THE 5575'S AND WILL NEVER SHOOT ANYTHING ELSE, I HAVE TRIED LOTS OF DIFFERENT BRANDS TOO.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

I really don't care what brand name is on them. I just want them straight from the start and to maintain their straightness. Hard quality to find in most all carbon arrows.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Arkansas, you need to get a new gripper. I had a similar problem when switching from bigger diameter Gold Tips to ACCs (best move I've made in archery to date). A new rubber gripper will hold the smaller diameter shafts, but one that has been used to thicker shafts won't normally.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Len,
Couldn't agree more, I want something with consistancy, don't really if care if it's carbon or not , what's your thoughts on the Easton selects I've read good things about them? The A/C/C's obviously have a heck of a following but $$$$. Not that I have aproblem spending the money ,and like you I don't cares who's names on them just give me something that's consistant. I'm primarily a hunter so I like a little bit more weight than some folks.

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

Definitely stay away from the Blackhawk Vapor All Carbon Arrows. Like Jeff I had some bad experiences with them in terms of durability after only a short time. I have to admit, all this arrow talk has me itchin' to try something new as well. I want to try those Axis but I don't want to have to switch to a drop away and put that Infiniti in limbo...suggestions?

RE: New Carbons, which ones?
 

I've had my Vapor's for a year now and haven't had a problem. Everywhere I read people put them down and say how many problems they've had with them. But I haven't had a problem yet. They all still group great. Maybe it's still coming or maybe a got an exceptional dozen arrows. I guess time will tell!