Aluminum Arrows vs. Carbon Arrows

Bow hunting requires a lot of equipment. Off the top of my head, you have to consider sights, rests, stabilizers, arrows, and broadheads. It's a lot to think about and in this post I am going to talk a little about just one small, but important, piece of equipment: arrows. There are so many types and makers of arrows out there, but the two main types are aluminum and carbon. Of course, there are positives and negatives to both choices.

Let's start with my favorite type, the carbon arrow. Here are some of the positive aspects of carbon arrows: Carbon is very light weight, so they fly far and fast. Carbon is also known for very tight grouping at the target block. Another nice feature is that they will break before they bend. The major downside is that carbon arrows are not cheap. Also, sometimes they don't penetrate as deep as the aluminum variety.

Now, on to the aluminum arrow. The pros: They are cheap, although nowadays the price is rising and, in some stores, they can be just as much as carbon. Aluminum arrows also penetrate deeper and hit harder than carbon. The cons: They don't fly as far as carbon and they don't have a tight grouping to them. They also bend easily, which can be frustrating.

So, in my opinion, carbon by far is the best bet for your money. What do you guys think?

Fixed Blade Broadheads vs Mechanical Blade Broadheads

The question of fixed blade vs mechanical blade broadheads is a source of ongoing debate between bow hunters. It's a very good question, and both options have their positive and negatives.

Let's start with the fixed blades. First, the pros: They have always been the strongest around- you can beat the crap out of them and they still fly true as the day you first bought them. They are also cheaper then mechanical blades, and if you chip or bend or dull the blade you can simply take it out and replace it. The major drawback is that fixed blades don't always give you a good blood trail when you make a bad shot on a deer.

Now on to the mechanical blades. The best thing about mechanicals is that they make one hell of a hole in a deer, leaving you a very a nice blood trail if you make a bad shot. They also fly nice too. However, there are some significant negatives to consider. Mechanical blades are not cheap, and you have a fifty-fifty chance of all the blades opening on impact. They also bend. Once they are bent and dull, you can't replace the blades unless you buy new broadheads.

Personally, I am partial to the muzzy MX4 100gr fixed blade broadheads. I love them and would never go with any other brand or type. My buddy Dan, on the other hand, swears by his mechanical blade broadheads. I would love to hear your comments on this topic- what kind of broadheads you use and why?