With the carbon craze who out their shoots aluminum

I have, along with fiberglass and wood since 1962.

Wood my first choice aluminum second choice.

I believe aluminum is Byron Ferguson's first choice, anyway it used to be.

I do.

I do. 1716s 1816s and 1916s.

I shoot aluminum, woods and carbons. Got a ton of each.

I still do. Wood first though. Carbons aren't the be-all end-all of shafting.

I do also along with Woods and old style fiberglass.

I do.

Me

Never much cared for that new fangeled(?) stuff.(insert snicker here)For me,wood breaks too easy and I don't like the way carbon splinters.So,aluminum for me.

I do, no real need to switch.

Shot aluminum for years then got the primitive urge and shot cane for about 8years now I'm back to aluminum.

I do, off my bows that are in the 30# range.

I have a 30" draw length and find it easier to get aluminium shafts (1816's) that are spined appropriately; at least at a price that I am prepared to lose a few in the bush for 3D. ;)

Shooting 1816, XX75 Platinum, for me they are where price an quality meet.

I started shooting aluminium shafts in the 1970's, so I have experience with them.

I also have an Arten Arrow Straightener to check them with.

I have recently began using carbon, but still have lots of aluminum shafts I still pull our sometimes. Slower than carbon but quieter to my ears...easier to tune as well. God and Christ Bless

aluminum here.

Aluminum alumni here. 1616s, 1716s and 1816s, and all the "13 and 14" versions in between. Everything from 24SRT-x to XX78 or X7. Great prefer swedge nocks, over the "newer" versions.

1716, 1816 for target work. 1916, 2016 for hunting. Use some glass shafts, too. No carbons.

Except for a few wood arrows all I shoot is aluminium...carbon is too fussy to tune and I don't want an arrow through my hand.

Aluminum by choice. I tried to switch and found it difficult to select a carbon of comparable performance. Also, I am put off by the fact that the carbons vary by manufacturer, despite being numbered the same.

IMHO, aluminum selection was a benefit to the archers, whereas, limited carbon selection benefits the manufacturer.

The supposed benefit of durability in carbons is only due to aluminum sleeves on the point end.

I don't shoot aluminum, but I got a bunch of 2117's at a yard sale the other day. I don't know squat about aluminums, but apparently they are nowhere close to a spine I normally use. These things are like telephone poles.

Ive used wood and aluminum. I like the soul and feel of wood. But I feel aluminum is easier to work with. I may try carbon in the future

I own some carbon but I'm not currently shooting them. I shoot 2219, 2117, 2020, 2018, 2016 and 1916 aluminum depending on the point weight and which bow. I made wood arrows years ago but I'd rather shoot than make arrows.

Been wood for many years and wood only for the past ten years but I'm going to pick up some Alum for a light weight bow and take up 3D and maybe some other competitive aspects of archery.

Wood is my first love. But aluminum is hard to beat. Sometimes I can’t make my mind up which gets to go in the quiver at any given time. 2013 and 2016.

been using them for almost 30 years now,,,,,,,,,

Been shooting aluminum...since 1980. Still use them for all my western hunts and Canadian trips. Use wood for whitetails.

Been shooting aluminum arrows for 52 years...in my 53rd year now. Haven't found anything better for me. I do use wood sometimes as well, and still have some Microflite fiberglass. Never fell in love with carbon and it's inherent low mass weight. Nothing against any material at all, but just stick to what has worked for over half a century for me.

Aluminum all the way.

Cedar and aluminum. Leaning more toward aluminum in old coot years.

I went back to AL due to Kent Alan's and Wild Bill's good explanations.

I'll shoot Aluminum. 2018 and 2114 shoot well for me.

Aluminum here . Shoots great out of two bows , that differ 10 lbs in draw weight, but use the same shaft size. Vanes to boot.

1916 and 2016 for me .Sold all my carbons .Now I still love. My Cedar too.

They're all I shoot!

love those 1820 genesis shafts. specially out of my border. Finally bent one of them but boy do they stand up to abuse. :)

2018's for me. Has been for many years. I did make up a dozen woodies last year to play with, but aluminums are my arrow of choice.

Wood and aluminum is what I use. Lately I've been finding aluminum shafting for less than wood! Aluminum is the most consistent, by far.

can get a Dozen Easton (Jazz or Tributes) for like $30 /dozen

shoot plenty good and if loose or bend a few- at that price who cares

super easy to put a dozen together and more durablethan you might think- can invest or up grade to the higher $ classics for hunting arrows if one wants

I mainly use Douglas fir for hunting and stumping but for 3-D and gen all purpose, aluminum can't be beat

Aluminum may not be easy to spell, but they are very easy to understand. Most of my arrows are aluminum. Never saw any benefit to learning to use carbons. My old fiberglass are also easy to understand, but not near as good as aluminum.

I use carbons and aluminum...excellent results with both

Mostly shoot wood but also aluminum. Easy to tune to me

Aluminum only here.

I have a bunch of carbons and wood but 2016 2114 aluminum is all I need for my bows, with that said I will probably hunt with wood again.

Shooting aluminums since the 1980s. Shooting 2016 Legancys right now. Super easy to tune for me.

Swaged aluminum 2216's and tapered cedar for over 30 years. They work for me and I feel no need to experiment with carbon.

I shoot wood and aluminum 2016 , but shoot mostly wood arrows

You have to pay very high dollar to get carbons that are as straight as aluminium. 001 straightness was fairly common with aluminium. Cheaper carbons are usually + - .006 and you can't straighten them. Both have there purpose and I use both + wood and bamboo. Why limit yourself. There all good. >>>>-------> Ken

I shoot aluminum almost exclusively. 2016, 2114, 2117, and 2219

I am in the Aluminum crowd have been since I started shooting, occasionally shoot Woods, never have shot Carbons. I have seen no reason to. Though I know many that do, they prefer Carbon shafts, and won't shoot anything else. Nothing wrong with any of these shaft materials, it is all preference. DANNY

No straighter arrow shaft made that I'm aware of. Ive been shooting aluminums for 30 plus years. I shoot 1816, 1916 and some 2016's from my recurves. I still even shoot 2213 and some 2314's from my compounds. I've got carbons and different makes of carbons and some quite expensive shafts I have tried (from my compound) and still go back to aluminums.

I've been shooting aluminums, but why do you care what someone else shoots? They all will work somewhere.

Wood and aluminum . Mostly aluminum

I prefer aluminum arrows for several reasons. They are the best (straightness/wt.consistency)arrow for the money They have a much larger range of spines to choose from They bend so you can straighten them & shoot them again They have a smooth feel that I personally like (similar to wood). They are safer to shoot. (Ive seen a carbon arrow fail & run through the shooter's bow hand. The injury is really nasty. When it happens with a wood or aluminum arrow the injury is not nearly as bad.)

I do. Wood and aluminum. I wish Easton made the shafts they made in the '80s! They are a great arrow shaft.

Aluminum here also.2117 and 2018. Both shoot good out of a variety of bows.

Aluminum also, 2016's, 2018's and occasionally 2020's.

XX75 in 2213, 2117, 2216, and 2219. Current rig prefers the XX75 2117. I have a warf ILF coming to try and hoping that the XX75 2213s will work. Can't beat them for the price, straightness, and consistency in weight and spine

2016,1916, 2018, 1816. And 2117 varied bows. No such thing as a carbon craze.

Theres only what some say in their heads I think. Fake news!

I don't know why it has to be one or the other, but that seems to be a Leatherwall thing. Heavy or light, no in between space considered; fast or slow...no in between. Aluminum or wood or carbon. Why not all three. We are pretty fortunate these days to have the choices we do. Just chose one if you must, or be open minded.

??

That was supposed to be a thumbs up icon!

I do, for years and years. Easy to get great arrow flight and to work with. 1918's , 2016's and 2018's. And not a "Leatherwall thing" with me shoot whatever you like and works best for you.

I like arrows and will shoot anything.

George, I agree....I just don't seem to be able to stick with one arrow material. I shoot them all.

I shot 2018 XX75 for the longest time out of my 55-60# bows. Beginning last season, I went to size 2016 because my draw weight has dropped down to 50-55#. Both sizes are tough enough for my purposes.

Primarily aluminum (2219,2117,2114,2020,2018,2016,1916), sometimes carbon, occasionally wood.

I always thought 2219's would be too stiff for my 48-52# hunting bows but last year tried full length with ~200gr up front and got great results.

SA

Aluminum here. Have shot (or at least tried) all other types over the past several decades, but still prefer them as the best fit for my needs.

Liking glue on nocks and having a long draw that requires a 32 1/4" arrow, my only dismay is that Easton has gone to Uni-nock on Gamegetters and shortened up the uncut full length over the years to where they are barely 32".

Luckily I have a few dozen 2216 and 2219 in "stashed stock" running 33.5 to 34 inches long. Unfortunate and guess limited demand didn't warrant the small amount of extra aluminum?

Seneca,

Leaving them that long and adding that much weight do weaken them out. I know my 31" 2219's with a 225gr point weighs in at 700gr. Yours has got to be close to that. DANNY

never drank the carbon koolaid. aluminum for over 25 yrs. it just works!

Danny , what bow weight is that being shot out of ?

2020- to bad they quit making

2016s and 1916s.

Carbon is over rated/priced for the marginal gains.

I do. To be honest I prefer wood but I don't have the time or energy anymore to make them up.

2016, 2018 & 2114 shafts work fine for me.

okiebones,

First I have a 30 inch draw, so you have to remember that when I list these bows and they all have High Performance Strings. Martin Hatfield 60#@28", 62" Assenheimer 55#@28", 62" Assenheimer 52#@28", and a Hoyt GameMasterII 50#@28". The 55# Assenheimer I have mentioned before, it chrono'd at 179 FPS with that arrow. I get the same arrow flight shooting it out of all these bows. The only one I have ever Chrono'd was the 55#er, because the guy that challenged me was shooting a 80#@28" Jeffery's bow and he drew 30" and said his bow was faster because he was shooting more draw weight. We shot the exact same speed using the same 700gr 2219. DANNY

Aluminum shafts since 1971 with some wood shafts thrown in every so often. I have not found a reason to switch from aluminum over the years, so many spines to choose plus good selection in various arrow weights (GPI).

Linecutter, About 650 grains. Blew right through an 8pt last October. SA

I'm in ,been shooting aluminum for 40+ years, I don't see a reason to try anything else.

I do. I've been on the internet buying XX75's in my spines. I also shoot woodies. 50/50 No carbons. Ick!

Mostly wood of my own fabrication, but occasionally rade for some. Aluminum when I,m too lazy to make up arrows, and perhaps this year I'll throw some carbons that I've come across in trades. With my handle the fellas give me grief if I shoot metal arrows.

Longbows will never see carbons, but my Big River recurve may. 340's with Snuffers would be good for hogs.

2016's work for me for 40-50lb recurves. 2018's work for me for 45-55lb recurves. I have some 2020 shafts for when I get to go moose hunting.

Carbon craze? Carbon is what my WOOD arrows become after they burn. I have tried to shoot aluminum, but shooting at a metal target blunts my arrow tips. Sorry, since the mid-1960s I have never tried aluminum, or carbon shafts. They interest me almost as little as compound bows.

I recently got some 2018 and 2117 aluminum's.I still think Easton Axis are better but when I see those horror pics of some poor soul whose carbon failed big time...Well I might faze out what carbons I have left.I really like wood but they can bite you pretty good to.

Carbon craze? Carbon is what my WOOD arrows become after they burn. I have tried to shoot aluminum, but shooting at a metal target blunts my arrow tips. Sorry, since the mid-1960s I have never tried aluminum, or carbon shafts. They interest me almost as little as compound bows.

Question was "who shoots aluminum" , not " who doesn't and how come ? ".

Somebody's always gotta drop a turd in the pot. I like wood and aluminum but I don't poo one guys that like carbon. They're all just sharp pointy sticks.

Not so long ago life was much simpler when shopping for arrows at the local shop. If you could afford them you bought Autumn Orange XX75's. If money was tight you got the Gamegetters.

Aluminum is the third most common element in the Earth's crust. Just FYI.

Carbon arrows are just a passing fad. They will not last. Just foolish experimentation.

I shoot aluminum, wood, carbon, carbon inside of aluminum, and aluminum inside of carbon.

Unfortunately, I have not recently shot any of them.

Wood here, but aluminum when stumping.

Aluminum here.

I shoot 1816, 1916, 2016, depending on the bow. The EagleWing I picked up last year should be fine with 2018, 2114 of 2117, depending on point weight.

But you can make anything work if you’re willing to.

I do like the fact that aluminum breaks off cleanly and easily if an animal runs off with it. Good survivability if it doesn’t drop, and no damning pictures in the local paper.

I started shooting aluminum's in the early 70's and still shoot them. 2016's 2018's 2020's 2117's. I like them because they are easy to cut without a high speed cut-off saw and I find the larger diameter makes for easier fletching with a full helical.

Arrow box contains a bunch of aluminums. A couple 2213s for a 46# ILF, 2216 for my 50# Covert Hunter (although a bit light in spine), 2117 that don't fit a bow I own, and some 2219s from last year when I shot a 55# CH.

I need it sell or trade all of those 2117s...

2020 legacy with 250 grain broadhead.

After going full circle I am back to aluminum. 1916 2016 and 2014's is what I am shooting now. I still have some #8 microflites that I shoot once in awhile.

Wood and aluminum, but prefer wood. I hunt with both. Never have to worry about aluminum not being straight. Wood is more forgiving and flies straight even if they aren't perfectly straight. Never shot a carbon except one that was given to me, a couple times into a target. It seemed to fly just fine out of my 45# Tigercat. I won't buy any though.

I shoot wood and 1816,1913, 1916,2016 aluminum.

Home made woodies, when I get lazy then aluminum. Carbons laying around that usually I just use to compare to woodies flight.

I still shoot aluminum arrows. Nothing against carbon but never had a reason to switch.

I do. Aluminum and wood. Always will.

I had to drop weight down to 40 to 45 pounds so my old aluminums didn't work. I'm using carbon and cedar now. Killed a lot of game with aluminum shafts.

1816's, 1916's shoot very well from bows in the 35 to 45lb range. I also like 2115's which for some reason are no longer made.

Nothing in my recurves but 2219 aluminum. If I find a way to bend a 2219 a couple minutes on the arrow straightener and it's good as new. I bought 1 dozen carbons, tuned them and went stump shooting with 6 carbons and 6 aluminums. I hated front loading to get a decent weight for one thing. And carbons out of my bow weight and long draw break too easy for my taste. Granted the area was a bit rocky but I went home with 2 bent aluminums and 4 shattered carbons. I trashed the carbons and spent 5 minutes fixing the aluminums then called a friend n gave the rest of the carbons away.

2219 Super Slams for me.

DDave

2016. Love um...

Swaged 2216's for thirty years, they're working just fine.

1816,1916,2016 depending on bow. I use them b3cause they are easy to tune.

i shoot aluminum and have no problems. Lots of different spines and the mass weight is heavier than most carbons and are a lot less expensive than most carbon shafts.

Just went back to shooting 2016s with my primary hunting bow. Was shooting carbons that I weighted in the point end to get some additional weight. 2016s come in a weight I like without any extra fuss.

Have shot wood and carbon off and on...but 95% of my arrows have been aluminum for the last 40yrs. Just grew up shooting them...they work. They are "traditional" to me. My dad gave me my first set of "real hunting arrows" for Christmas when I was 10....2018 Autumn Oranges...with Bear SuperRazorheads... Killed a doe last week...2219 Autumn Orange with a Bear SuperRazorhead.....AWESOME!!!

Love wooden arrows. but in alum. X-7s. 2114

I've always been interested in aluminum but always shot carbon.

Are the aluminum arrows tougher than people think? I always assumed they became bent fairly easily. The selection and naturally heavier shafts have always interfered me as well.

Are they quiter off the shot?

Like the late Jack Howard I am a big 2114 fan. A great shooting shaft out of a large range of bow weights. Fly great out of my Cari-bows, ranging from 43-52 at 28". Not to mention my 56@28" Jack Howard "Jet". I find aluminum shafts to be far easier to work with the carbons.

Ckelley2 wrote "Are the aluminum arrows tougher than people think? I always assumed they became bent fairly easily. The selection and naturally heavier shafts have always interfered me as well."

Tin arrows are far tougher than they're made out to be.

In the picture are two 1916 arrows with judo points that I have used for stumping for over two years...hundreds of shots. I put them on my spin tester in the early summer and they were perfectly straight.

They have bounced off stumps, ricocheted off trunks and deflected off branches. Some of the hits have made me wince, but no damage.

That is my experience with all sorts of arrows I use when stumping, including 1918's, 2114, 2115's and 2018's.

As for the sizes the beauty of aluminium is that there are all sorts of choices for static spine so starting with a tuneable arrow that hits near the mark is the norm, with minor bow tuning to fine tune it. The weight being in the shaft is an enormous advantage as it is evenly distributed and negates the need to fiddle around adding weight in the shaft or gobs of weight to the front of a too stiff spined arrow.

Here's a picture of 2114 stuck into a frozen stump in December in Ontario Canada.

Many people say 2114 is a pretty thin walled shaft...these 2114's did not bend after dozens of shots and deflections.

All of my FluFlu arrows are high spined aluminums. Flat shooting, hard hitting, very durable. I love them.

Ckelley2 stick with the thicker walled shaft n they're not bent that easily. And if you do bend one here n there just get an arrow straightener of Ebay and in 5 minutes they're good as new. My straightener straightens within .003 tolerance.

Mostly 2016s & 2117s. Easy to fletch, durable, consistent.

1914 X7s with 175 VPA broadheads

are 2014s still made?

I have never seen a 2014.

Just looked. Easton makes the 2014 in the X7 model.

Getting back into using aluminum again 2016's Where do you find the best prices on raw shaft black gamegetters ? Seem to fly pretty decent out of my 47 # recurve.

2018’s for me this year.

I shoot anything that fly's well from my bows, is long enough, and heavy enough. Having a 32" draw sucks for arrows.

I have a few 33" POC I made from some square stock, need to get myself a footing jig and I'll make some more.

Have x77s, x78s, gamegetters, camohunters (same thing?) Older stock, since they don't make them long enough for me anymore?

And I shoot 33" Dark Timber carbons.

Now im watching my Pseudosasa Japonica grow.

Since I don't cut my arrows to tune, I go stiff and add weight till theyre straight. Don't care what they are made from! Tho I am pretty interested to see what the new Gordon Plastics Glass arrows are going to spec out as. Heard they're focusing on compound arrows, spine wise that'll be fine for me, weight wise, we'll have to see.

Easton 1820s

“Getting back into using aluminum again 2016's Where do you find the best prices on raw shaft black gamegetters ? Seem to fly pretty decent out of my 47 # recurve.”

If you want to get tuned in on the cheap, you can use Tributes, which can be had for about $3/shaft and they come in any size you want as long as the wall thickness is .016”.... you do need to buy nicks and inserts.

2016 MIGHT be a bit stiff for #47, depending on arrow length, etc. You might also grab s few 1916s and even 1816s. Good deal at Lancaster is you don’t have to buy multiples of 6 or 12.

And they sell GGs for a little more, nocks and inserts included, but 2016 are as light as they go.

JMO, Tributes are good for tuning, buy they seem to be less durable than the higher-grade shafts.

Lancaster X 2

I would if I thought it was better... I think carbon has the edge and it's never coming back. Not to say you can't get'er done with wood or aluminum. Not sure I could be compelled to shoot anything other than my Gold Tips. There's no aluminum arrow that's as tough or offers the same fine tuning capability.

I would if I thought it was better... I think carbon has the edge and it's never coming back. Not to say you can't get'er done with wood or aluminum. Not sure I could be compelled to shoot anything other than my Gold Tips. There's no aluminum arrow that's as tough or offers the same fine tuning capability.

FireChief Jeff.....You are EXACTLY RIGHT !!!! AHHH the good old days !!!!

IMO I feel the aluminum shafts are more stable in flight than carbon and I’ve spent a lot of years shooting them both. With the aluminum shafts being heavier per GPI and a better straightness in shafts that a working man can afford, I think is the reason for this. I’m not saying carbon shafts are no good, I’ve taken lots of game with both and still use both, I do think carbon penetrates better. The aluminum shaft you don’t need to overload the tip weight to get perfect flight and a balanced stable arrow that penetrates more than enough to get the job done. Believe it or not we killed game before the arrival of the carbon shafts.

The demise of aluminium arrows has been predicted for 20 years...they're still making and selling them for a reason. They're very easy to tune, have the weight in the shaft and have a great range of spines.

They'll always be popular...

Haven't tried aluminum yet, but I keep getting tempted. My strings are served for Bohning Classic nocks on my woodies; would the nocks for 1816's or 1916's fit closely enough, or would I need a different string setup for aluminums?

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