Carbon arrows for bow hunting
Carbon shaft dominates the modern hunt arrow market. Alloy (aluminium) shafts still ship, and the Full Metal Jacket family layers aluminium over carbon for penetration mass. This guide covers the pure-carbon shaft category: what spine, GPI, straightness and diameter mean in practice, and which brands earn a recommendation.
300 / 340 / 400 / 500
Match to draw weight and arrow length.
6.5 – 12.0
Grains per inch. Heavier shaft = higher FOC potential.
.001 / .003 / .006
Inch of runout end to end. .001 is target-grade.
.204 / .246 / .300
Micro shafts penetrate deeper, catch less wind.
Carbon vs alloy vs FMJ
Pure carbon (Easton Axis, Gold Tip Hunter, Victory VForce): lightest, cheapest per dozen, forgiving. FMJ (Full Metal Jacket, aluminium jacket over carbon core): heaviest for FOC-first builds, penetrates deepest, costs the most. Alloy (Easton XX78): traditional-archery choice, rarely used for modern compound hunt.
Every carbon shaft, honestly compared
Spine, GPI, straightness, and diameter are the four numbers that decide whether an arrow flies. We tune each shaft on the same 65 lb Hoyt RX-7, walk-back tune to a bare shaft, and paper-tune every dozen we recommend.