265 replies to this topic

[LIK2HNT]

Hello,
What is the most accurate (or top three) crossbow bolts?  I just got a SZ-350 and trying to get the best accuracy possible.  I shot each of the first 6 bolts that came with the x-bow 6 times each.  Each bolt was numbered.  Four of the bolts shot into a 1 inch group at 40 yards shooting off shooting sticks.  One was always 2 inches to the left every time, and the last one was always 3.5 to 4 inches to the left.  Basically I am looking for a more consistent bolt.  Or do I need to buy about 2 dozen bolts and sort out the most accurate ones for hunting?  Thanks for any help anyone can provide.  By the way, I am shooting 20 inch bolts.

Thanks
Bill

Edited by LIK2HNT, 01 February 2012 - 12:32 AM.

[Jack Pine]

LIK2HNT, on 01 February 2012 - 12:30 AM, said:

Hello,
What is the most accurate (or top three) crossbow bolts?  I just got a SZ-350 and trying to get the best accuracy possible.  I shot each of the first 6 bolts that came with the x-bow 6 times each.  Each bolt was numbered.  Four of the bolts shot into a 1 inch group at 40 yards shooting off shooting sticks.  One was always 2 inches to the left every time, and the last one was always 3.5 to 4 inches to the left.  Basically I am looking for a more consistent bolt.  Or do I need to buy about 2 dozen bolts and sort out the most accurate ones for hunting?  Thanks for any help anyone can provide.  By the way, I am shooting 20 inch bolts.

Thanks
Bill

Bill, over the years I have found no shaft material that shoots as consistent as Easton aluminum.  I'm old enough to have shot wood, hollow fiberglass shafts, carbon, and nothing has produced like Easton.  Now, I can't say their crossbow arrows are good because I buy bare shafts and build my own.

Jack ><>

[Stalker]

LIK2HNT, on 01 February 2012 - 12:30 AM, said:

Hello,
What is the most accurate (or top three) crossbow bolts?  I just got a SZ-350 and trying to get the best accuracy possible.  I shot each of the first 6 bolts that came with the x-bow 6 times each.  Each bolt was numbered.  Four of the bolts shot into a 1 inch group at 40 yards shooting off shooting sticks.  One was always 2 inches to the left every time, and the last one was always 3.5 to 4 inches to the left.  Basically I am looking for a more consistent bolt.  Or do I need to buy about 2 dozen bolts and sort out the most accurate ones for hunting?  Thanks for any help anyone can provide.  By the way, I am shooting 20 inch bolts.

Thanks
Bill

Read my topic (Arrow spine question)in general crossbow discussion I think its on page 2 now good luck.

[Highlander]

Jack Pine, on 01 February 2012 - 07:22 AM, said:

Bill, over the years I have found no shaft material that shoots as consistent as Easton aluminum.  I'm old enough to have shot wood, hollow fiberglass shafts, carbon, and nothing has produced like Easton.  Now, I can't say their crossbow arrows are good because I buy bare shafts and build my own.

Jack ><>

Jack,

I take it you have not tried the Easton FMJ crossbow bolt shafts.  Carbon filled aluminum. I have read good reviews in some bolt building forums, stating they are even better than just aluminum. You haven't heard anything about this?

[Jack Pine]

HighlandHunter, on 01 February 2012 - 01:32 PM, said:

Jack,
...You haven't heard anything about this?

Yah, sounds real good but they're not made for tightwad rednecks like me.  Actually, a lot of my arrows are from garage sales, cut down then made into crossbow arrows.  Haven't heard any complaints from the end recipients, if you know what I mean.  When I find something that works, I don't waste a lot of time experimenting after that.

Jack ><>

[Highlander]

Pardon my ignorance, but what does Easton mean by 7075 alloy metal jacket?

Reading their description, these arrows are suppose to be a bit thinner than most bolts from my understanding.

Yeah, they are not cheap at around $7.50 per arrow if you buy a dozen with shipping. Although, I paid almost $10.00 per arrow for GameCrushers which is what came with my Xbow.  

Edited by HighlandHunter, 01 February 2012 - 02:41 PM.

[dropzone]

7075 is a aluminum alloy. It's a mixture of different alloys like Chromium, Copper, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Silicon, Titanium, and Zinc. It's commonly used in the manufacture of aircraft and other aerospace applications.

[Highlander]

Appreciate it DropZone.  

[retired05]

Have any one of you tried the Gold Tip II Pro shafts to eliminate the two or three shafts that don't fly right.

[Redhotscott]

I have been reading good things about Parker red hot bolts.has any heard differently.thanks

[FuzzyFultz]

I prefer to call them arrows. They are the same as the vertical bow, arrows. A bolt is a good-size projectile used in mid-evil times that had no feathers or vanes and was usually metal or wood.

I copied this from another post I made that is similar to this same question. hope this helps you. Most of the factory arrows are not built that perfectly or precise and the same. You are lucky to get 4 out of 6 that are true. Most time you get three that shoot here, and three that shoot over there. So I am like Jack Pine, I am what you might say a tightwad and build my own now. I do love the satisfaction of building my own, you would to.

No matter what you shoot, you need to tune the arrows first. Invest in an Apple Archer spin tester. A G5 squaring tool and tune the arrows. Once you get started you will understand the concept of building your own arrows. I have bowhunted for many,many,many years and still I learn something ever now and then. The folks here taught me about arrow tuning and I since have done so and they are absolutely right I always did as you and paper tuned and shot mechanical broadheads for years. But I always wanted a good fixed blade broadhead. I always did my own fletching and repairs and arrrow wraps and all that. But have now started getting a little deeper into arrow building. I found the Apple Archery spin tester on the bay for $24.00. The G5 squaring tool is a little higher. You can still square the inserts even after they have been glued in from the factory.

I was amazed at how much the big brand arrows where out of tune. The factories glue them ASAP and in the box they go. I since have bought some 2219 aluminum Easton shafts to build my own. I was surprised at how crooked some of the Eastons where right at the end of the shaft. So I just cut the most out of the bad end and straightened the shaft right up. I cut them with an 8 dollar small pipe cutter for automobile brake lines. Then squared the ends and built the arrows. Have a shoulder injury and can not shoot right now, I can not hardly wait to try the shafts.

Next I barrowed my brothers weigh scales and weighed the Carbon Express crossbow arrows and the 2219s I built. Carbon Express = 449.5 grains and the 2219 = 452.4 grains. So next on my list is an arrow saw and a decent set of slide scales.

[FuzzyFultz]

Redhotscott, on 01 February 2012 - 08:46 PM, said:

I have been reading good things about Parker red hot bolts.has any heard differently.thanks

Those arrows are made by Carbon Express. I have had very good luck from the Carbon Express arrows. The Red Hots are the weight forward design. I have heard good things about them. I do not own any of them. I own the cheaper ones made by Carbon Express and they are a respectful arrow for a manufacture built arrow. I prefer to call the arrows.

[Urban Legend]

I know of some new arrows coming out shortly that will be more consistent than anything else offered.  Manufacturers have a certain acceptable variance in spine measurement.  These arrows will have a spine variance of almost 1/4 of what most arrow manufacturers consider the norm.  Also, spine can very from one side of the arrow to the other.  Everyone of these arrows will be indexed and matched spine before fletching, and then fletched at that point.  If you think your crossbow shoots good now, wait until these arrows hit the market.

[Highlander]

Tease.  

[Urban Legend]

HighlandHunter, on 01 February 2012 - 10:47 PM, said:

Tease.  

Yep.

[Terminal-operator]

Urban Legend, on 01 February 2012 - 10:42 PM, said:

I know of some new arrows coming out shortly that will be more consistent than anything else offered.  Manufacturers have a certain acceptable variance in spine measurement.  These arrows will have a spine variance of almost 1/4 of what most arrow manufacturers consider the norm.  Also, spine can very from one side of the arrow to the other.  Everyone of these arrows will be indexed and matched spine before fletching, and then fletched at that point.  If you think your crossbow shoots good now, wait until these arrows hit the market.

Jeff,
Are these arrows priced like they sound??
Many times you get what you pay for, but times like they are....Just curious

[Urban Legend]

I don't have a final price on them yet, but they should be pretty close to what a normal dozen of arrows cost.

[dropzone]

Urban Legend, on 01 February 2012 - 11:11 PM, said:

Yep.

Man that is just wrong!!! LOL

[bigrnyrs]

The RED HOT arrow os a very accurate arrow. I have been playing with them quite a bit. The squaring of the arrow ends ect is pretty good advise. One of the reasons the CX/Redt Hot arrow is accurate is the hevi hit insert. The insert weights 50 grains and with a 100 grain point it has over 11% FOC. This really improves your down range accuracy especially at longer ranges.

[Highlander]

What is the recommended FOC for crossbow bolts when shooting broadheads.

This is what I have read for bow arrows:

"Recommended values for FOC (using the AMO method) vary depending on the application, target arrows (field points) should generally be in the 8-11% range and broadhead tipped arrows in the 10-15% range. FITA and longer distance shooters will often go for a 12%+ FOC, even though they are using field points, because of the long distances involved. Some traditional hunters have used FOCs of over 30% because with the right setup it can enhance penetration on animals."