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Post by horizontalhunter on Aug 27, 2009 12:05:54 GMT -5
I have never worked with the carbon express crossbow arrows. The GT Laser II arrows I shoot weigh in at 424g which includes the 125g head and the brass insert. The Gold tip has a weight system so that you can add weight screws if you want to match the exact weight. They are very easy to use. Just use a little loctite on the threads. I know that David at Wyvern Creations makes a custom brass inserts and aluminum nocks for many of the crossbow arrows but I don't know for sure if he does for the Carbon Express arrows. Here is a link to his site: www.wyverncreations.com/ I would look it up but the site is down at the moment. The Arizona EZ Fletch will take the carbon express arrow (11/32). Their aluminum tool will fletch shafts 5/16” to 26/64." Use the jig that you are comfortable with. They all do the same thing. I like the EZ fletch because it does a good job and is pretty quick as it does all three vanes at once. With your FOC being around 12% you might find some problems with broadhead flight. I used to shoot the Beaman Thunderbolts which had a straight fletch and an FOC just under 12% with 125g Slick Tricks Mags. They would shoot high right and low left. If I paid attention to the orientation of the blades and lined them up vertically and horizontally I got repeatable accuracy. Refletching with 5" Duravanes with a 4 degree offset helped but didn't fix the problem. I just thought I would share my experiences with the Beaman Thunderbolts. As they say YMMV. Happy to help. Bob |
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Aug 27, 2009 16:26:05 GMT -5
With your FOC being around 12% you might find some problems with broadhead flight. I used to shoot the Beaman Thunderbolts which had a straight fletch and an FOC just under 12% with 125g Slick Tricks Mags. They would shoot high right and low left. If I paid attention to the orientation of the blades and lined them up vertically and horizontally I got repeatable accuracy. Refletching with 5" Duravanes with a 4 degree offset helped but didn't fix the problem. I just thought I would share my experiences with the Beaman Thunderbolts. As they say YMMV. Happy to help. Bob Carbon Express appears to be fletched with 1 or 2 degrees of right offset. When I tried 100 grain Thunder Heads I had flight problems but now I shoot 100 grain Boss Wasp and the fly and hit just like field points.  I have a personal dislike for expandables and will not shoot them. With my arthritic hands I have trouble removing broads from block targets so I do not experiment with different fixed heads. I plan to build a bag target that will accept broads in the hope that the removal will be less of a problem.  Ghost |
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Aug 27, 2009 16:49:35 GMT -5
The GT Laser II arrows I shoot weigh in at 424g which includes the 125g head and the brass insert. The Gold tip has a weight system so that you can add weight screws if you want to match the exact weight. They are very easy to use. Just use a little loctite on the threads. Happy to help. Bob Any suggestions on where to buy the Gold Tip laser II arrows? Keystone is $50 for 12 and I think Cossbow Nations Store is $43 for 12. Ghost |
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Post by horizontalhunter on Aug 27, 2009 20:59:29 GMT -5
The last batch of arrows I ordered where at the Bowhunters Super Store and they were $43.99 for a dozen bare shafts which came with the brass inserts for the front and the threaded aluminum nocks for the back. I have also bought them from Keystone in the past as well. I have had great service from both companies. Keep in mind that BHSS will only give you store credit on returns, not a refund. I use the American Whitetail Crossbow king for my broadhead target and it has held up well for what I use it for. I do not shoot a ton of broaheads, maybe 100 a year. This year I am trying the Spitfires so I haven't used it at all. It can be difficult to pull them out of the target though, especially when it is new. This is a broadhead target only though. If you shoot a FP into it you will have hell to pay getting it out. Been there done that. ;D IMO the best thing to get would be an arrow puller if you are having trouble pulling the arrows. There are two types of pullers that I am aware of. Excalibur has a T handle puller that threads into the back of the insert but it sometimes pulls the rear insert out. The other puller is made by Dan Miller and is basically a modified pair of pliers. Both are probably in the $10.00 range, or you could probably make a similar one on your own.  Bob |
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Aug 28, 2009 10:25:27 GMT -5
I am shooting GT laser II arrows with a brass front insert that are fletched with the Blazers using a 4 degree right offset out of my Excalibur Exocet and they fly like darts. One of my friends is shooting the same arrow out of his Exomax with the same results. I am using the Arizona EZ Fletch jig to do my arrows. From a rest I can put broadhead tipped arrows into the same hole at 40 yards if I do my part. Bob You are a good salesperson, I am good to ry the GT lazer II and since I need a different fletching jig I will try the Arisona EZ, Thanks again, Ghost |
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Post by horizontalhunter on Aug 28, 2009 19:40:33 GMT -5
Not trying to sell anything. This is just what worked for me. I should probably include the fact that I am a type AAA person that is more than a little AR. I have an anti cant device (bubble level) mounted on my scope so that I can ensure that the xbow is level. I square up the ends of my carbon arrows with the G5 ASD (Arrow Squaring Device), and my arrows weigh 424g. All of them +/- .5g. I actually take a file to the inside of the rear insert and remove some of the aluminum until all of the arrows are the same weight.
Does a couple of grains really matter when shooting at a set of vitals the size of a 9" pie plate? No it doesn't but I am who I am as they say. ;D
If you are going to buy a AZ EZ-Fletch get the one made for aluminum arrows. It has green and tan arms. As for glue I use the Loctite superglue gel for fletching. I have found it the easiest to work with for me. I have also used it for the inserts but I have lost a couple of inserts with it so I am going to try a rubberized superglue for the inserts on my next batch and see how they hold up.
Bob
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Aug 28, 2009 20:08:30 GMT -5
Not trying to sell anything. This is just what worked for me. I should probably include the fact that I am a type AAA person that is more than a little AR. I have an anti cant device (bubble level) mounted on my scope so that I can ensure that the xbow is level. I square up the ends of my carbon arrows with the G5 ASD (Arrow Squaring Device), and my arrows weigh 424g. All of them +/- .5g. I actually take a file to the inside of the rear insert and remove some of the aluminum until all of the arrows are the same weight. Does a couple of grains really matter when shooting at a set of vitals the size of a 9" pie plate? No it doesn't but I am who I am as they say. ;D If you are going to buy a AZ EZ-Fletch get the one made for aluminum arrows. It has green and tan arms. As for glue I use the Loctite superglue gel for fletching. I have found it the easiest to work with for me. I have also used it for the inserts but I have lost a couple of inserts with it so I am going to try a rubberized superglue for the inserts on my next batch and see how they hold up. Bob On I don't know about that but I use a home made target face for my bag target that has a dime size center dot and I expect to hit it dead center at 50 yards. ;D Do I get what I want? Sometime but not always.......I just keep trying and trying.etc. I think I am going with the metal fletcher with the 4 degree right offset. Ghost |
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Post by horizontalhunter on Aug 29, 2009 9:29:38 GMT -5
Me neither.
I am using the plastic EZ fletch with the 4 degree right offset. I also refletched my dad's arrows for his Parker Terminator HP and his groups tightened up by probably close to 50%. His arrows came with 4" or 5" Duravanes fletched with no offset or helical. My experiences have led me to the conclusion that a high FOC and a spinning arrow are essential to stabilize the shorter crossbow arrow.
I figure with all of the mistakes I have made in my life; if it is true that you learn from your mistakes I ought to be a freaking genius by now. ;D
Bob
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ghost
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Post by ghost on Aug 29, 2009 11:34:48 GMT -5
I figure with all of the mistakes I have made in my life; if it is true that you learn from your mistakes I ought to be a freaking genius by now. ;D Bob The saying is that with age comes wisdom, but also stubbornness and a tendency to be tight with money. ;D I have 12 carbon express arrows that I can not just dump, sooooooo I am thinking what if I take GT inserts and using my metal lathe turn them down I might find a use for the CX arrows. They will be a bit heavy.  but.....................  Ghost |
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Post by horizontalhunter on Aug 29, 2009 11:58:55 GMT -5
I don't blame you I wouldn't want to toss them either. I still have half a dozen of the Beamans that flew crappy because of the low FOC. I figure that I might find a use for them some day. I am a terrible pack rat.
Do you know what the ID is of those Carbon Express crossbow bolts are? I know that the ID of the GT Laser II's is .300". I know that David at Wyverns Creations makes a brass insert for the Easton Power Bolts which have an ID of .297". I want to say the Carbon Express bolts have the same ID as the Easton but I am not sure. Davids inserts are 112g and are 99 cents each but it would save you turning them down.
Bob
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but..................... 