Arrows

How to choose hunting arrows by spine

Spine is how much a shaft flexes, and it is the single number that decides whether an arrow flies clean out of your bow. Draw weight, arrow length and point weight all push the requirement up or down. Every shaft maker publishes a chart. Find your draw weight and cut length on it, read off the spine, and shop that number.

On this shelf the Easton 5MM FMJ, Axis, Sonic 6.0 and 5.0 lines run in 300, 340, 400 and 500 spines. Gold Tip Hunter, Hunter Pro and Hunter XT appear in 300, 340 and 400. When you sit between two sizes, heavier broadheads weaken the dynamic spine, so lean stiffer if you plan to shoot 125 grains.

Shaft diameter: 4mm, 5mm and 6.5mm

Easton labels diameter right in the name. The 4MM and 5MM shafts put the same mass into a slimmer profile, which hunters pick for penetration and less wind drift. The 6.5MM line (Bowhunter, Hunter Classic, Carbon Legacy, Match Grade, Whiteout) is the more traditional size and works with standard inserts and a wider range of nocks. Small-diameter shafts need components built for them, so order points and inserts sized to the shaft.

Diameter also matters at the rest. Containment rests and some arrow rests have a shaft range, so check the fit before switching sizes.

Crossbow bolts: the crossbow decides

With a crossbow, you match the spec instead of choosing it. TenPoint, Ravin, Excalibur, Wicked Ridge, CenterPoint, Lumenok, Carbon Express, PSE and Victory bolts here run from 16 to 24 inches by name. The manufacturer sets the length, nock style and minimum total weight for your model. A wrong nock or an underweight bolt is how dry-fires happen, and dry-fires break crossbows.

Pair the bolts with crossbow broadheads rated for crossbow speeds, and with a quiver that fits your stock. Excalibur, Traditions and TenPoint quivers sit in bow quivers.

Finishing the setup

Once the shafts arrive, a tuned bow does the rest. A bow release you can trigger the same way every shot shrinks groups faster than any arrow upgrade. A bow sight with a pin for each yardage you plan to shoot keeps the math simple. Before the season, confirm your broadheads hit with your field points, then range your stand lanes with a rangefinder.

Traditional, youth and airbow arrows

Some shooters need something other than a stiff compound shaft. Gold Tip lists a Traditional arrow and a Lightning Youth shaft, and the Easton 6.5 Carbon Legacy sits on the traditional side of the shelf. Youth arrows should be cut and spined for the young archer's draw, which is usually much lighter than an adult's. Umarex AirSaber and AirJavelin arrows are here too, for those air-powered arrow launchers. Keep finished arrows straight in transit with a bow case that has arrow storage, and practice from the height you will hunt if you sit in a treestand.

Hunting Arrow FAQs

What spine arrow do I need?

Use the shaft maker's spine chart with your draw weight, arrow length and point weight. If you are between sizes and shoot heavy heads, choose the stiffer spine.

Are crossbow bolts and crossbow arrows the same thing?

Yes, the names are used interchangeably. What matters is the length, nock and weight your crossbow's manufacturer specifies.

Do these arrows come fletched?

Some listings name the vanes, such as the Easton 5.0 shafts with 2-inch Blazers. Check each product page for fletching, nocks and inserts before ordering.