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Choosing an Arrow on Straightness

Choosing the right arrows is a very important but often over looked part of the archery setup. Why go out and spend $120 to $200 on a dozen arrows if you can get arrows for $50 dollars a dozen? They both shoot the same out of your bow, right?

Well the answer to the question above is no. Different arrows of different quality will group different and have different degrees of durability to them. Arrow straightness is something that is easily compared and talked about often, and usually the one factor that affects the price an arrow the most. Arrows with a better straightness tolerance will be more consistent, especially when shooting with broad heads or at longer distances. I would group arrows into three different categories with straightness in mind, top of the line arrows, mid grade arrows, and lower end arrows.

Top of the line arrows, which cost between $120 and $200 a dozen, will have straightness tolerances between .001” to .0025” and are the straightest arrows available. Shooters staying within 0-30 yards will not see the benefit as much as shooters that are extending their range out to past 30 yards. At longer ranges, all imperfections in the arrows will be magnified and produce less than satisfactory results. Three arrows that we have had our best luck with in this category have been Carbon Express’s Aramids, Carbon Express’s Maxima Hunter and Easton’s Full Metal Jacket.

Mid-grade arrows are going to have tolerances that are between .003” and .004” and are the lowest tolerance that I would recommend for hunting, especially with fixed blade broad heads. These arrows usually run between $69 and $109.99 a dozen. They are a good quality arrow for the individual that is taking the majority of his or her shots inside of 30yds. The shafts that I would recommend the most out of this category would be Beman’s ICS Hunter and Easton’s Axis Nano Carbon.

The most economical arrows are going to have the worst tolerances as well. These arrows will work well for the person who is target shooting and is not worried about having an extremely accurate setup. The appealing thing of arrows in this price range is they are inexpensive and will run around $50-$60 dollars a dozen. Many of these arrows, like Beman’s Bow Hunter, are great for durability and will last the shooter a long time.

Arrows are manufactured into different qualities and price ranges, therefore, recognizing what will work best for your situation is important so you can have realistic expectations of your equipment and realistic results. Straightness is just one factor you need to consider, however, a very important one. If you are interested in learning more about arrows scan through the tips on this sight for more related articles.