Pros and cons of aluminum arrows

[cwd500]

I am thinking of getting some, about half the price and quiter, but what are the bad things

[DrenalinJunkie]

The only place I have seen them for sale anymore is Wal Mart and on line...... I like the fact that just about any GOOD hunting store carries a wide selection of carbon.

[bulldurham]

less penitration

[cschneider1]

Con straightness retention of the alum.

[jerp]

I switched from aluminum to carbon for two reasons. First I was always worried about bending them when pulling them out of anything other than a bag target. Second, you shoot a tight group and barely clip one with another arrow, it puts a crease in it then in the trash it goes. With carbon there is no question - it is perfectly usable or trashable.

[Old Goat1]

Good aluminum arrows are not half the price. Carbon now rivels the straigthness of good aluminum arrows but they usually weigh more, usually. Shot higher end aluminum for years but now that carbon has reach the straightness and, near to, grain variation of the aluminum, I now shoot carbon. Like said above, carbon are a lot tougher and don't take a bend. Doesn't mean good high end aluminum arrow aren't still good arrows.

[WyoHunter]

I stopped shooting them years ago.I was always buying arrows because of straightness issues. I went to carbons because they are either straight or not. Carbons are much more durable and penetrate better. I still have a few XX78's in my used arrow bin for old times sake.

[TMain]

I am considering buying an arrow straightner mostly for aluminum arrows. Has anyone used the Arrow Straigthners with success on both Aluminum and Carbon arrows? I hear carbon usually breaks versus bends but remember someone saying carbon does bend too.

[WyoHunter]

When I was shooting 3D tournaments I shot ACC's. They would occasionally take a slight bend and they could be straightened but I never heard of totally carbon arrows taking a permanent bend which you could then straighten. I think most would agree that pure carbon arrows break instead of taking a permanent bend.

[Bill]

I've never heard of a carbon arrow bending, or needing straightening. Pay the few $ more and get carbons. The only advantage I can think of for aluminum arrows is they can not splinter and injure you, but that happens very, very rarely with carbons and you should always bend and check them before you shoot, and ALWAYS after hitting a hard surface missing a target.

[Mudslinger]

Aluminums arrows are still used a lot in cetain areas of the country, but with the pros of carbon, it is hard to consider aluminum. As far as the penetration issue, carbons being thinner than aluminum shafts, I personally think that is such a minimal effect on animals that the vast majority of bowhunters would not see a major difference from one to the other with the weights of each arrow being the same. If you want to talk about the penetration issue, look at light arrows vs heavy arrows and you will see a difference there. Carbon may penetrate better than aluminum on targets and such, but it should no amount to a hill of beans on animals. Just my opinions. I had a lot more passthrus with aluminum arrows out of overdraws than I have ever had out of full length carbons and this is after almost 40 years of bowhunting. Of course, the petration issue could be arrow placement and weight also! Makes you think.

Pick whatever shaft you want and make sure they are tuned to shoot well out of your setup and get a good BH that shoots like your field points and you will be good to go, no matter what arrow or BH.

[Lowe]

Aluminums arrows are still used a lot in cetain areas of the country, but with the pros of carbon, it is hard to consider aluminum. As far as the penetration issue, carbons being thinner than aluminum shafts, I personally think that is such a minimal effect on animals that the vast majority of bowhunters would not see a major difference from one to the other with the weights of each arrow being the same. If you want to talk about the penetration issue, look at light arrows vs heavy arrows and you will see a difference there. Carbon may penetrate better than aluminum on targets and such, but it should no amount to a hill of beans on animals. Just my opinions. I had a lot more passthrus with aluminum arrows out of overdraws than I have ever had out of full length carbons and this is after almost 40 years of bowhunting. Of course, the petration issue could be arrow placement and weight also! Makes you think.

Pick whatever shaft you want and make sure they are tuned to shoot well out of your setup and get a good BH that shoots like your field points and you will be good to go, no matter what arrow or BH.

My thoughts exactly. I switched to carbon several years but would not have a problem going back to aluminum shafts if I had to, never really had an issue with them.

[rocky]

less penitration

I stopped shooting them years ago.I was always buying arrows because of straightness issues. I went to carbons because they are either straight or not. Carbons are much more durable and penetrate better. I still have a few XX78's in my used arrow bin for old times sake.

I've often wondered how a carbon arrow that is lighter for spine,and assuming both are spined properly, could penetrate better than an aluminum arrow when the BH cuts a hole (preceding the shaft) that is at least 7/8 inch, eliminating shaft constriction.

[Mudslinger]

Rocky, that is exactly what I am thinking in the carbon/aluminum debate. In an animal I think that the diameter of the arrow has little if any effect on the penetration. I believe that most of this comes from the penetration in a target and they are trying to transfer this to what it would do in an animal. To me the debate over a carbon having better penetration than an aluminum arrow on an animal is a load of cow manure.

[rocky]

I think advertising attempts to shoot holes in common sense.