Hi,

Quick question from a beginner....

I have been shooting recurve indoors for about 6 months, using a Petron pro extreme riser and Win+Win Pro Accent limbs. I need to replace my current arrows but am not sure what the best option is. I have spoken to a number of people who have all given differing suggestions.

I am currently considering Carbon Express X-busters, Easton Fatboys and Easton X7 eclipse or cobalts. Are there any alternatives I should consider?

What would you suggest is the 'best' arrow for indoor recurve?

Could you also give an idea of what size fletchings would be appropriate? Is it a case of 'the bigger the better' for indoors?

Thanks in advance

TJ

I use to use Fatboys, very light very fast but they are very very fragile if you don't shoot on 3 spot faces, I then tried X7's but also cracked these by pilling one into another. The X-Busters look a good option for the price.
4" feathers are a good option and save on having to re-fletch everytime you pierce one with another arrow..
I've now gone back to ACE's (scores haven't suffered)
Cheers

I would stick with xx75's (or gamegetters). X-Busters are great, but @ £120 per dozen...quite expensive

They are well priced and are easily replaced if needs be. At indoor distances I personally don't think you will see ANY difference in performance/accuracy between any of the different shafts.

Fletching-wise....I would opt for 5" feathers. They really stabilise the arrows well, and most importantly, they look cool!!!

What is your poundage and drawlength? Fatboys are great but only have limited spine. We have gent in our club turns out he uses fatboy 500's indoors. He draws about 28 arrow @32lb. Far too stiff for his set up.

Hi,

Thanks for the responses!

I am currently 30 inch drawlength with 32lbs poundage. I do not know the draw weight on the fingers but the limb poundage is measured at 28 inches if I recall correctly. The Easton arrow chart says this is group 'T6' (30 inch 30-35 lbs) which relates to a 500 spine Fatboy. I do note that the same spine is also listed for groups 'T7' and 'T8' which are 36-40 lbs and 41-45 lbs respectively. I guess that a 500 spine Fatboy shaft maybe a little too stiff then?

On the X-Buster front, the Carbon Express selection chart has a 600 spine listed for the poundage ranges 25-34 and 35-39 which would seem to be more suitable?

TJ

Just a quick follow up on this...

How do I know if the arrows are too stiff? What behaviour would you expect to see from arrows that are too stiff or from those that are too floppy?

TJ

One thing to remember is that limbs are normally measured at 28" as you correctly mentioned. If you draw 30 inch you pull 2" extra. Normally 1 Inch is equal to 2 pounds so you are pulling roughly 36lb. Your arrow is probably 31 1/2" if your draw is 30".

Considering my arrow spines you should be about the same as me. Think 5lb range (31-35) as 1 group and 1 inch as a group. Your arrows are 3 groups higher then me (2 1/2") but 2 groups down (I pull 47lb you are 11 down on me). I use 400 Fatboys with 150gran piles.

Regarding Fatboys I would suggest either 400 with 100grain. This should work! You are a group T9.

Ce Careful because the arrow chart is on Arrow length NOT draw length.

Thanks for this - I will get my drawlength re-measured as it has been a while and my form may have changed. From there I can calculate the correct spine.

I guess you selected your Fatboy arrows over X7s or X-busters so consider them to be the best option? Have you found that they are delicate / would it be worth paying the extra (about £2 / arrow) for the more robust X-busters?

I am, alas, not really good enough to 'pile one into another' on a regular basis and could start using three spot targets if/when this becomes an issue...

I tend to shoot 3 spot but I have never thought to my self these fatboys are too fragile. I like the fatboys as they are lite and as quick as my x10's.

By all means try the X-busters but I can only advise for fatboys as that's all I have used in recent years. However follow this rule for indoor arrows. Stiff and Heavy points! Go up one spine more then recommended and go for about 150grn piles. If you get more then one spine recommendation, easton always recommend one + a stiffer spine, go to the next one they do not recommend and heavy piles.

Got to admit if I had the choice of only shooting 3 spots I would use 400 spine Fatboys with 170g Pro-points, 4" shield feathers. I find tuning isn't ultra critical indoors..

I'm currently using 31" 2315 (340 spine???) Gamegetters with 5" feathers & 300gr points.

They are impossible to tune, but they know where the gold is.

Gamegetters can be had for £26 per doz shafts!!!

I don't see the point is a relative novice shelling out £100+ on a set of shafts that will perform exactly the same as ones costing £26....

Schme1440: Many thanks for the info.

southpark78: Would there be an issue using 400 spine Fatboys with 170g Pro-points and 4" shield feathers using a standard 60 cm single target face - such as would be used in a Portsmouth competition?

DarthTer: £26 for 12 shafts certainly is cheap! While the 340 spine is close to the FITA diameter limit (9.3 mm) the 500/400 spine shaft are rather thinner. I thought that there was a significant advantage in having the maximum diameter shaft? I also can't find heavy points for the smaller diameter shafts but have only done a quick check for them... Do you think that they perform in a manner that a newbie would not notice the difference compared to a Fatboy or a X-buster?

There was an article in a magazine recently (archery UK maybe? meh) that tested all sorts of "indoor" arrows, albeit off a compound. X7s came up top. No benefit at all from the carbons (not as well matched, less durable.. and you really need speed indoors ... ).

Alu all the way. Especially at those prices. Plats are like £4 an arrow.

Edit: max diameter = more linecutter. That's all.

X10's 500 or 3-28 ACC for my indoors, for me getting overspined huge diameter arrows that require mega point weight is a compromise situation, I'd always select the correct spine for my bow and the way I shoot and try and achieve my points tally from accurate shooting as personally it's more rewarding that way. X7's most acurate but can crack from side impacts, Platinums+ more robust arrow.