Speed Crazy
Speed has its place; don’t let anyone tell you differently. Simply put, faster arrows flatten trajectory. Flatter trajectory provides a wider margin of error should a rangefinder provide a misreading, should the bow arm drop slightly during release.
Speed comes via lighter arrows. “Light” is relative to deflection, but I’d define light as anything lighter than 7.5 gpi in an average usable spine. Carbon Revolution/High Country Archery’s Speed Pro, hits the scales at 5.5 gpi in all grades; the stiffest handling bow weights up to 85 pounds. Their lightweight and high-quality construction make them the fastest arrows in the business.
Carbon Tech’s Cheetah is 6.4 gpi in 45/70 and 7.9 gpi in super-stiff 55/80 spine. Blackhawk’s Vapor Jets are speed demons, at 6.9 gpi in VJ-4000 spine, only 7.2 gpi in super-stiff VJ-5000. Easton’s Light Speed and Gold Tip’s Ultralight also qualify as speed shafts.
When I think long-range shooting I also think of the straightest, most tightly-matched arrows made. Straightness tolerances quoted in terms of +⁄-.001- to .002-inch and matched weight of .5- to one-grain per dozen--in models such as Carbon Tech’s XP or 3D grades, Gold Tip’s Pro Hunter, Carbon Express’ 3-D Select or Easton A/C/C (though some of these fall outside “light” parameters)--simply give a shooter confidence when a demanding shot is in the making.
Penetration Edge
When something big and tenacious is at stake, such as a mature bull elk or some African beast likely to hurt you if you anger him without killing him, you want a heavyweight contender in your corner. This also goes for anyone wielding limited Kinetic energy.
Boosting arrow mass, using a higher gpi-rated shaft, automatically gives you more penetration potential, all other factors remaining the same. Note that speed can instantly boost KE numbers, but the faster an object travels the more friction/drag it also exhibits while passing through hide and muscle. Momentum, not net Kinetic energy, is what determines penetration potential. We commonly employ the latter because momentum offers too many variables for quick comparisons. There’s also the factor of lighter, faster shafts sacrificing dependability on big targets that have initiated our wish for deeper penetration. To this end shafts in the 10 gpi-plus range are unbeatable.
The carbon arrow industry seems to be slowly reversing past trends of speed at all costs, heavier offerings becoming more commonplace. I’ll offer products such as Blackhawk Vapor V-maxx (10 to 11 gpi), Carbon Express’ Terminator XP Select (10.6 gpi in 6075), Rebel Hunter (11.3 and 13.7 gpi in 6075 and new 7590) and Heritage (11 and 12 gpi in 250 and 350), Carbon Tech’s Rhino (11.5 gpi in 55/80), and PSE’s Carbon Force Radial X Weave Black Mamba (9.2 gpi in 400 spine) which also include a 10.5 gpi Kinetic energy tube, as prime examples.
Efficiency can also materialize through better energy transfer and less drag through a target medium via more compact, small-diameter carbons. To supply needed stiffness--spine--these shafts by necessity include thicker walls, also providing power-packed mass. Faces in this high-impact revolution include original Easton ST (Slim Technology) Axis series shafts, Beman MFX Carbon (Team Realtree and Classic) and Trophy Ridge’s new carbon offerings. Of note are Easton and Beman shafts, including recessed H.I.T. inserts. The outside diameter of many standard screw-in point ferrules perfectly matches the interior diameter of these shafts, for more precise point-to-shaft mating. Easton ST Axis Realtree provide 10.3 gpi, ST Axis Full Metal Jacket 11.1 gpi in 340 spine, Beman MFX Team Realtree 10.4 gpi, MFX Classic 11.2 gpi in 340 and Trophy Ridge’s Crush 11 gpi in 300.
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