Places to get 'trial' shafts and arrows

[casts_by_fly]

Hi All,

I'm into the tinkering part of the year. When I got this bow ~2 years ago I did a full shop setup. I'm not the person to work on my own bow. I've done it before and I'm not good enough. Coming out of the setup I ended up with Gold tip hunter XTs in a 340 spine with 3" AAE plastifletches and 100 gr heads. I shot 100 gr before and gold tips, so no surprises there. I have a bunch of 300/340/400 spined arrows here from various sources and times. The 300's were from my last bow when I was contemplating shooting 200+ grains up front (which are way overspined for me). The other arrows were older ones my dad gave me when he was still hunting (10+ year old Vapor buckhunters and gold tip 55/70's). I started to play with them to see if I wanted to build a light arrow or use the 340's as duplicates of my GTs. However, I don't think its worth my time to build them up. Instead, I'd like to play with some .204" and .166" shafts in a 340/350 spine and a couple fletching options. BUT I don't want to buy new by the half dozen. Is there any place that you can buy them by the three count? I've searched marketplace and ebay for used ones, but no good options.

thanks
rick

 

[Black Titan]

Hi All,

I'm into the tinkering part of the year. When I got this bow ~2 years ago I did a full shop setup. I'm not the person to work on my own bow. I've done it before and I'm not good enough. Coming out of the setup I ended up with Gold tip hunter XTs in a 340 spine with 3" AAE plastifletches and 100 gr heads. I shot 100 gr before and gold tips, so no surprises there. I have a bunch of 300/340/400 spined arrows here from various sources and times. The 300's were from my last bow when I was contemplating shooting 200+ grains up front (which are way overspined for me). The other arrows were older ones my dad gave me when he was still hunting (10+ year old Vapor buckhunters and gold tip 55/70's). I started to play with them to see if I wanted to build a light arrow or use the 340's as duplicates of my GTs. However, I don't think its worth my time to build them up. Instead, I'd like to play with some .204" and .166" shafts in a 340/350 spine and a couple fletching options. BUT I don't want to buy new by the half dozen. Is there any place that you can buy them by the three count? I've searched marketplace and ebay for used ones, but no good options.

thanks
rick

You could try calling Lancaster Archery Supply and asking them, or possibly Podium Archery. Other than that, I've seen single shafts sold and 2 of my local archery shops, and I think that might be your best option.

BT

 

[raisins]

Lancaster always did, now it seems they stopped....but I'd ask

Dumb business move based upon them achieving near monopoly status

 

[Will Harris]

my local archery shop will sell you multiples of 3. check around you.

 

[casts_by_fly]

We have two local shops (45 minutes away) but they have odd hours and it would be more of a pain to get there than just order some.

A call to Lancaster isa good shout. I thought they used to do any number of shafts last I ordered anything but they don't right now.

 

[Nosaj]

Sirius will sell 3 packs of their high end shafts.

Buy Standard, Small, Micro-Diameter Archery Arrows Online | Sirius Archery

Buy Standard, Small, Micro-Diameter Archery Arrows Online at best prices from Sirius Archery. Check out our some arrows series - Orion, Apollo, Vulcon, Tradstar etc.

siriusarchery.com

They also sell a 4 shaft test kit of all their shafts that includes 2 different spines (ie (2) 250 (2) 300) and different point weights to compare flex/flight/drop

Ranch Fairy Test Kits | Sirius Archery Products

Ranch Fairy Test Kits Ranch Fairy Test Kits Gemini Test Kit .204 ID Gemini Test Kit .204 ID Apollo Test Kit .204 ID Apollo Test Kit .204 ID Vulcan Test Kit

siriusarchery.com

 

[OSUTodd]

Sirius will sell 3 packs of their high end shafts.

Buy Standard, Small, Micro-Diameter Archery Arrows Online | Sirius Archery

Buy Standard, Small, Micro-Diameter Archery Arrows Online at best prices from Sirius Archery. Check out our some arrows series - Orion, Apollo, Vulcon, Tradstar etc.

siriusarchery.com

They also sell a 4 shaft test kit of all their shafts that includes 2 different spines (ie (2) 250 (2) 300) and different point weights to compare flex/flight/drop

Ranch Fairy Test Kits | Sirius Archery Products

Ranch Fairy Test Kits Ranch Fairy Test Kits Gemini Test Kit .204 ID Gemini Test Kit .204 ID Apollo Test Kit .204 ID Apollo Test Kit .204 ID Vulcan Test Kit

siriusarchery.com

That test kit is the way to go. I think Grizzly Stik sells test packs like this as well, if you want to try the weight forward shafts.

 

[casts_by_fly]

I already have the field tips. I did a DIY version of the test kit a couple years ago and it was cheaper to buy a dozen field points of 4 different weights (150-225) plus some shafts from LAS than it was to do the kit itself. I guess what I want is to walk into a yard sale and find 3 .204" shafts just lying around for cheap. I'll have to get right on that.

 

[Camelcluch]

You can buy singles from South Shore Archery. I think the new place Jerry from SSA went to is the same.

 

[Iron_llama]

I've bought singles from Lancaster, but it was a while ago. You might call them and see if they could accommodate you.

 

[Jim DeSantis]

I bought single arrows last year from Lancaster, but it's 9.99 to ship, even for one arrow.

 

[Just_Hangin_N_GA]

I have heard of people buying blemished arrows. I am not sure what a blemished arrow means, is it just a run in the paint or is something more detrimental than that? I ask because I want to start tinkering with arrows but the cost of new arrows makes it a painful thought. Like shooting a $5 ammo round, yikes!

 

[Black Titan]

I have heard of people buying blemished arrows. I am not sure what a blemished arrow means, is it just a run in the paint or is something more detrimental than that? I ask because I want to start tinkering with arrows but the cost of new arrows makes it a painful thought. Like shooting a $5 ammo round, yikes!

I've not heard of blemished arrows but I would imagine it's something that's only cosmetic, or possibly cut too short for a customer and sold pre-cut maybe. It shouldn't be anything that would effect the integrity of the arrow or else that may open them up to liabilities. Damaged arrows can cause some nasty injuries.

Black eagle has some options that are fairly cheap if you want to tinker. And don't quote me but they may sell 3 packs. I feel like I remember that. You could always call them too.

Gold tip hunter XTs are also fairly reasonable for a dozen for bareshafts, and are actually really good arrows. It's what I used to shoot before going down the small diameter rabbit hole and getting hooked on Victory RIP XVs.

BT

 

[raisins]

I have heard of people buying blemished arrows. I am not sure what a blemished arrow means, is it just a run in the paint or is something more detrimental than that? I ask because I want to start tinkering with arrows but the cost of new arrows makes it a painful thought. Like shooting a $5 ammo round, yikes!

I can't believe Lancaster (after decades of doing so) stopped selling individual shafts. They sell so many, all they had to do was keep one pack out of 100s busted open to grab a shaft. Probably some kid in the warehouse couldn't handle the complication.

 

[Black Titan]

Also wanted to add, if it's different vanes you want to experiment with, throw on an arrow wrap. Much easier to remove than sitting there trying to peel and scrape all the glue off from the old vanes.

BT

 

[kbetts]

Safari Tuff just released a shaft and component system. You can order anything individually.

 

[Horn]

Is Lancaster only dozens now? What a bummer, I've been wanting to try a spine softer but not 12 arrows bad!

 

[raisins]

Is Lancaster only dozens now? What a bummer, I've been wanting to try a spine softer but not 12 arrows bad!

For the Gold Tips I looked at, yes. Only 12 packs.

 

[raisins]

Is Lancaster only dozens now? What a bummer, I've been wanting to try a spine softer but not 12 arrows bad!

PS....if you called, maybe they'd bust a 12 pack open. It's weird because they sell so many shafts that this service can't be hurting them and is a nice gesture that people really like. Maybe they didn't like cutting 1 shaft to length but they could get around that by only selling less than 12 in full length but also an experienced tech can cut to within 1/2" in no time.

 

[GeoFish]

Not sure what brand of arrows you want, but 3 rivers has some test kits.

test kits

Archery Arrow test kits are the BEST way to determine the correct arrow spine for your bow and shooting style. All test kits comes with tuning instructions.

www.3riversarchery.com