by Jackson | Jul 22, 2014 | Archery Education
There is a lot to know about the different types of arrows available for archery. I’m going to try to give you the basics to help you understand the differences between them so that you can choose the right ones for you.
The first thing that you need to know about arrows is that they are extremely important to the accuracy you get. You can’t just shoot anything from a bow and expect to have great results. Arrows need to be tuned to each bow individually for the best results. I don’t want it to sound too complicated, but there are some things that you need to know to get the right arrows.
Arrow Spine
Arrow spine is the word that describes the stiffness of an arrow. When you loose an arrow from the bow, it undergoes compression and will bend either a little or a lot. You will want to match the spine of the arrow to what you’re shooting. Compound bows will typically favor stiffer arrows and traditional bows will favor more flexible arrows. Don’t worry because almost all manufacturers will have a chart to help you choose the proper arrow.
Fletchings
Most fletchings are plastic vanes but they can also be made from feathers. These give an arrow stability in the air and allows you to have great accuracy. Fletchings can make arrows fly straight with or without spinning. The only thing you need to know about fletchings are that compounds will use solid vanes and traditional bows with use feather style vanes.
Inserts, nocks, and arrow tips
The part of an arrow that attaches to the back and to the string is the nock. Nocks are important, but the main thing is to make sure that they are just keep the arrow on the string without being too tight or too loose.
An insert goes in the front end of the arrow and lets you change out arrow tips. Arrows are cut to the length desired and then the insert is glued in permanently. Some arrows will have the tip glued on and can not be changed.
Arrow tips are the pointy business end of the arrow. Field points, or target tips, are the ones you’ll normally see on arrows at an archery range. Hunting tips, or broadheads, are made for hunting animals and are very dangerous.
Balance
An arrow’s weight is normally measured in grams. Weight can be added to the arrow, taken away, and moved from the front to the back. Moving and adjusting weight will affect the way the arrow flies and how it handles obstacles. You’ll probably hear about the term weight forward of center, FOC. If you’re only going to shoot in the archery range, then you only need minimal work on the balance of the arrow, but for hunting, you’ll want to spend more time making sure your arrow gets the best penetration possible.
Types of arrows
Carbon Arrows
Carbon arrows are made from …….carbon and can be made to many different spines. Carbon arrows are particularly sturdy and can stand up to plenty of abuse, but I don’t recommend trying to abuse them. Carbon arrows are not fixable like some other arrows are. Once they are broken, they are done. I’ve found through my experience that if I break a carbon arrow, it would have broken any other type as well. Carbon arrows are typically the most expensive.
Read about the Best carbon arrows
Aluminum arrows
Aluminum arrows are light weight and hollow. Aluminum arrows can be bent and bent back into shape. This makes aluminum arrows really good if you’ve got a lighter weight bow. These arrows are also typically a little less expensive than carbon. You’ll find these to be a good choice that will work for most light weight bows.
Wood arrows
The most traditional of choices is a wooden arrow. Wooden arrows are typically made to have matching spines and covered in a lacquer finish. Wooden arrows will normally have feather fletchings and a glue on tip with no insert. The arrows exist in a range of prices depending on quality. Wooden arrows can be bent a bit and bent back into place. These types of arrows are the easiest to break.
Fiberglass arrows
Fiberglass arrows are an interesting choice and can work well for target practice. They are solid and will have a glue on tip. I’ve found that they are not very easy to bend back, but they are pretty sturdy. I’m not a big fan so I don’t really want to go about the benefits with these. They’re alright if you need something to fling down the range, but that’s about it. They’re normally pretty cheap.
These are the different types of arrows and the things that you need to know about them. The only thing left to do is make a choice about which one will be the best one for your bow. You still will have to fine tune it to get the most consistent accuracy.
photo credit
by Jackson | Apr 1, 2014 | Archery Accessories
Everytime I hear people talking about different archery accessories, you’ll end up talking about using lighted nocks. Just to be sure you know, a nock is the fitting on the back-end of the arrow that the string goes into. These definitely sound cool the first time that you hear about them. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to put a light on their arrow?
Reasons to use lighted nocks
The main reason to use a lighted nock is for finding your arrow. Lighted nocks help you out by making it a lot easier to find your arrow. Lighted nocks normally come in several different colors in a 3 pack. I prefer the blue just because it’s a lot easier for me to see.
Lighted nocks are also great for training by helping you to visualize arrow trajectory. If you think your arrows shoot flat, arc too much, or wiggle excessively, then you should try using lighted nocks.
Checking shot placement. There are many people who have used lighted nocks when hunting to help make sure you made a good shot and to aid in finding the animal afterwards. I haven’t used them during hunting, but I know several who have used them successfully.
Nockturnal-X 3-pack Red
– These are some really great ones to use. The red color works really well and these will stay on for a long time. Just be sure to have a pocket knife or something to turn them on or off. Priced around $25 for a pack of 3 on Amazon.
Tips on using your lighted nocks
Keep them out of your arrows. Sounds weird, but these are a bit more expensive than regular nocks so you don’t want to lose them. Keep them out of your arrows until your ready to use them. That way if you lose an arrow, you won’t accidentally lose a lighted nock.
Turn them off after you’re done using them. This is a common sense thing, but it really makes them last a long longer if you take the time to keep them turned off while you’re now using them.
Get replacement batteries. These use little batteries and they’re not that expensive to replace so go ahead and get a replacement pack when you get the lighted nocks. This way, you’ll be ready to replace them when you’re out in the field if they go out.
Lumenok GT Nock (3-Pack), Green
– Check out these green lighted nocks on Amazon. These are another pretty good choice when you’re looking to try some out. Just be sure that they are the right size for your arrows. Priced around $20-25 for a pack of 3 on Amazon.
by Jackson | Feb 3, 2014 | Reviews
It’s extremely important to shoot the best that you can. One of the very best ways to make sure that your accuracy is good is to shoot the best carbon arrows that you can get your hands on. I’m a massive fan of carbon arrows for anyone getting into archery. They should be high up on your list of priorities in terms of equipment. They are the only thing that actually flies through the air and hits an object.
First time buying carbon arrows?
Don’t worry, these are all very good arrows and I’m only going to show you ones that already have vanes attached. There are a few things you should know when you buy arrows.
- They normally come full length ( about 32″)and you have to get them cut to your length and an insert glued in. If you buy arrows in person, this normally gets done for free.
- Arrows come in different degrees of stiffness called “spine.” You’ll find a chart for the arrows you want, normally on the box, that will tell you which one you should get. I also have a link to the right chart if I could find it.
- Don’t worry about which vanes on back of the arrow. Unless you’re shooting a very special setup, all the vanes below will work fine for a compound and the bottom extra arrows work well for traditional bows.
- If you do get the carbon arrows with feathers for a traditional bow, the nock will most likely not be lined up correctly. It’s set for a compound bow. You just turn the nock 90 degrees either way and you’re good to go.
The best carbon arrows
In no particular order
Carbon Express PileDriver Hunter Arrow –  The Pile Driver is a solid and heavier than normal carbon arrow. The extra thickness gives it extra weight, penetration, and durability. That extra weight makes for a hard impact no matter what you’re shooting at. They come in two spines of 250 and 350. Priced around $90-150 for a dozen, you’ll get your money’s worth out of them.
Gold Tip Expedition Hunter Carbon Arrows.
– A great arrow with solid craftsmanship. These arrows are tough and good on a budget. They come in three different spines. Be aware that these shafts are just a bit shorter than normal at 30.5″ if you have a long draw length. It shouldn’t affect 80% of archers. Priced around $65-85 for a dozen.
Beman ICS Hunter Arrow
High quality arrows with a 2″ vane makes for an excellent shot. These even come with a vibration dampener to help the arrow maintain accuracy. You’ll have a good experience with these. They come in three different spines. Priced around $90-120 for a dozen.
Easton Flatline Arrows
– These carbon arrows are light and fast. At 8.2 grains per inch, you’ll be shooting very flat. These have the 2″ blazer vanes for a tight spiral. Easton has a reputation for good products for a reason. Priced around $100-120 for a dozen.
Cabela’s Stalker Extreme Carbon Arrows – These arrows are tough and very good quality. They shoot very flat and stand up to a fair amount of abuse. They come in two different spines. I was surprised how much I liked these when I first tried them out. Priced around $85-90. Spine chart is on the product page.
Cabela’s Stalker Extreme with Feathers – These are the ones that I’m currently shooting on my traditional setup. Just pick the 55/70 spine for a traditional bow. They shoot very flat and hit hard. Priced around $50 FOR SIX.
If you want to buy the best carbon arrows for the money, then you’ll definitely get your money’s worth by choosing any of these. Be sure to check your arrows for any cracks or defects on arrival and after any miss. It only takes a second and could save you some problems.
Some of these links go to Amazon. They are affiliate links and I will make a small commission if you choose to make a purchase. It will not affect your price at all. It will go to helping make this a better site and resource for others.
Go have fun!
by Jackson | Dec 7, 2013 | Reviews
The best broadheads are used for hunting. A fixed broad head is one that does not have any moving parts. These are the most common and simplest to use. Some broadheads will be one piece and others can have changeable blades. These things are super sharp and you always need to handle them with care. So let’s get on with it shall we. I’ll cover mechanical broadheads in another article as they are very different and deserve their own space.
The links below are to Amazon. They are affiliate links, but will not cost you anything. I truly appreciate you reading these tips and I wish you the best in your archery experience. There is normally several different grains to choose from so I have just linked to one and you can choose the grain you prefer from there. I shoot 125 grains, but that argument is for another day.
Points on all broadheads
- All broadheads will be damaged if you shoot a rock, tree, and lots of other things. These are designed to go through an animal, not hit very solid objects. These can be damaged if they hit a rock after passing through an animal, so keep that in mind.
- Most if not all broadheads can be re sharpened.
- Many people say broadheads fly different than target points. So far, I’ve been lucky enough to only see very minor differences, but yes it can and does happen.
- No type of broadhead will ever make up for good shot placement. Accuracy is still the most important.
- I recommend shooting field points of the same grain as your broadheads to help lower shooting differences.
The 5 best broadheads
G 5 Outdoors Montec (3-Pack)
– The beauty is a one single piece broadhead. You’ve got a 1-1/16″ cutting diameter on this all steel head. re sharpen able for extended use. Everyone says they fly just like their field points.  The only downside is that if part of it gets messed up, then the entire head is not usable. Priced around $28-33 for a pack of 3.
Muzzy MX-3 Broadheads
– Removable 3 blade design with their sharp trocar tip make these very good quality and you can change out damaged parts for more life. They have a 1-1/4″cutting diameter. These very high quality and fly very well. They haven’t been making these for years without any reason. Priced $15-22 for a pack of 3.
Grizzly Three Blade Broadheads
– These are classic and good value. With a 1-3/16″ cutting diameter, these broadheads are one of the best value choices for those on a budget. They have removable blades that also let you line them up with the fletchings if you want. I’ve not noticed a difference in performance, but many people like them lined up. Priced $6-10 for a pack of 3.
Slick Trick Broadhead
– These are very short broadheads but pack it big with a 2″ cutting diameter. These are the ones that started the trend for the entire industry. They fly really well and pack a punch into all animals.  Priced $26-30 for a pack of 3.
Muzzy 225 Broadheads
These are an excellent broadhead by Muzzy who has an outstanding reputation. These come with an extra set of practice blades that you can attach so you don’t have to sacrifice one of the real blades. Priced $29-50 for a pack of 6.
These are the best broadheads, fixed at leat, that I know of. Be sure to choose which grain you’d like to shoot. I found the easiest thing is to buy different field points in different grains to see which one worked the best with my bow setup.
To your success and accuracy in archery (and hunting in this case).
by Jackson | Nov 13, 2013 | Reviews
Practice is fun and therapeutic for me. I don’t really consider practice because it makes me feel good and centered. I know that might sound a little out there, but the focus and concentration required of practicing makes me happy. One thing that makes me very unhappy is dropping my arrows. I just put the arrows in my back pocket and they fell out randomly making me go back to look for them often. An arrow quiver is the solution to that problem. These are the best arrow quivers that I’ve found for practice.
1.
Bohning Target Quiver
– This hip quiver, which I’m quite partial to, is light and does exactly what is says it does. You have multiple plastic tubes so you can keep your arrows separated. It has a couple extra zippered pockets for you to keep any extra stuff you need. The only downside is that the tubes are not made to handle broad heads. It also has right and left hand versions. These are priced between $25-30.
2.
Edge Bow Butler
– The coolest stand for a long time out shooting. It’s kind of like a golf caddy for you. You get a spot for your arrows and it even holds your bow for you. If you are going to walk from place to place and be there for a bit, then this is a great option. The only cons can be the drink holder being tipped at an angle. Priced at $40-50 you end up with a great product.
3.
Kwikee Kompound Kwiver
– The 6 arrow holder attaches onto your bow quickly and securely. If you plan to hunt with one on your bow, make sure to practice with one on there as well. The quiver works great for most arrows, some large arrows might not fit though. This quiver does exactly what you need and most people never have their arrows come loose. Priced between $25-30, you get a good value for your money.
4.
Tarantula Three Tube Quiver
– A three tube hip quiver that has two pockets for more items. The great thing about multiple tubes is that you can separate your arrows into different types or if they are for different people. This quiver is well constructed and will take care of all your basics for you. Priced between $17-25 you get a great value.
5.
Wyandotte Leather Back Quiver – This is the back quiver to get in my opinion. This back quiver does a great job of keeping your arrows secure and has several straps so you can fit it to your liking. Just remember that leather is a natural product and there will be color variations. If you are a bigger person or wearing a lot of clothing, then you might need to see about extending the straps. Priced between $60-75, this is my favorite back quiver.
If carrying your arrows around is a problem, then you won’t want to go practice. Make sure to take care of that with an arrow quiver. It will make your life better and that means you’ll get to go shoot more.
Have fun
These links go to Amazon, so you can look at the product yourself and make your own decision.Â
