Aluminum or carbon arrows?

Which do you prefer and what won't break the bank to buy? I'd like to stay at or around $100/dozen and would be nice to find lower prices!

I prefer carbon/aluminum. I shoot ACC's

Beeman ICS carbon or Cabelas Hunter Extreme carbon. They are the same but the ICS is held to a higher straightness standard.

I shoot ACC’s too, but dang they have gotten expensive

Gold tip hunter xt. You can pick a dozen for about a $100.00

check out full metal jacket from Easton

I've killed Deer with both...still could but use carbon now.

The carbon/aluminum are incredible, but for the money, carbon works fine.

X2

For the cost aluminum and run of the mill carbons are about the same price now. Gold tip Hunters or PSE Radial X-Weave Hunters are good shafts and you can get into them for $100.

Shot placement is more important than the fancy color of your arrows or fletching.
Once you overcome all the marketing BS that's out there, focus on the variables that go into arrow selection, draw weight, arrow length, tip weight- this will help match your spine choice to you and your bow.
Sometimes you get what you pay for and price= quality of straightness and arrow recovery after deflection.
I shoot Carbon Express

Wow, they even make aluminum any more???? I don't care what the price of carbon is, I'll never go back to aluminum. Long gone are the days when I was a young kid shooting cheap True-Flite arrows that would actually sometimes bend when they hit the foam target! It's a logistical no-brainer. One shot with aluminum and it's done or shoot several animals with each carbon before you actually have to break it or lose it.

If you shoot the correct size arrow, aluminum doesn't bend like that. I have aluminum arrows that are over 25 years old and still as straight today as they were then. That's like saying you'll never shoot another carbon arrow because you shot one that was cracked and it blew up upon release. Well no kidding.

Both of these are what I have shot for a long time the Beeman's are in my quiver now.
J

I switched to carbon last year.
Way faster in my bow.
Changed from feathers to vanes also.
Have been getting deals on ebay.
Arrows cut to length and ready to go.

Carbon Express for me. Had way more problems with Aluminum, maybe it was just me. I use to bend aluminum ones too easy

Carbon for me. I have killed several deer with the same arrow. It can bend and goes back straight. As long as you dont lose or break them, carbon arrows are more better. I use gold tips. I have got some good deals buying used arrows.

I shoot aluminum because I'm cheap and I also don't see a significant difference in how they shoot. I am also able to tune the arrows more easily (for me). I'm not shooting 50 yard shots out West. All my shots are within 15-20 yards.

Just bought a dozen aluminum last week. Cut to length, Fletched, with inserts, $ 106.80. Fast shipping...had them in a couple of days.
Archery Supplies

I use river cane!

Nice Wallace. You have some hours into those.
For anyone else interested, check out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhUpi2efFs4

This video will take you to directions for the rest.
Here's another:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-SiUciW6Fc


Watch a few videos. You find out that you don't need expensive carbon shafts. .001 straightness looks great. That's what aluminum shafts have also. 99% of bowhunters are not technically capable (myself included) of seeing accuracy differences between .001" and .003". Much more important to get them flying good and straight. 15-18% FOC is easy to obtain (but not with a heavy carbon shaft). Pick something in your spine requirement that is 8-9 grains per inch and add a 50gr insert. Make sure each end of the shaft is square. Squaring tools are cheap. If you watch enough of these videos it all gets explained.
I happen to be shooting Carbon Express Hunter KV 250 shafts because I got an excellent deal on them. Standard arrow build with a 50gr insert and feathers gets about 17% FOC. 460grs total weight.

Forget carbon/aluminum shafts. Just carbon carbon is the way to go.

I'm old,old school!

XX75's is all I use.

1916s target to 2317s for hunting. And other spines too. 2016,2117,etc.

50 years of using them no problems, why change!
.

I'm right there with you . I have a PSE edge 25 years old . Don't change because it still shoots completely thru a deers body. PLUS dang WAYYYY too much money for a bow !!!!!

I'm shooting carbon, Gold Tip Traditional or Carbon Express Heritage. I prefer the weight (gpp) i get from the Carbon Express. I think some of the aluminum may weigh more per inch but I've already got my poop in one sock for this season.I

I do it the old fashioned way. Look for buzzards, run em off and take possession of the carcass.

If ya like heavy arrows, get a stiffer spine so you can front load for better FOC which will bring your total weight back up.

I shot xx75s for years 1916s when I was 13-16 2313 as I grew. I switched to the radio x weaves and prefer them. They will break but dont bend and can take a solid hit that will destroy aluminum. Once I was testing shooting a new bow at the shop. My shot went between the target hit the block wall bounced back 3/4 way down rand with no damage other than a flat spot on the field point.

Aluminum works great but carbon seem to hold up better.

Tomahawker on camera:

I use the carbon arrows that are on sale! Im not an expert but kill deer every year with a bow. Carbon lasts longer if you have a problem hitting the target.

Thanks guys! I guess I'm old school too, I love my xx75s! I thought I'd see what else is out there. I thought of going carbon and front loading a bit. I'm no closer to a decision but leaning towards the carbons.

Carbon hands down. Gold tips here