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Best for Deer Hunting
Carbon Express Maxima Red
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Summary
Built like a brick, and as accurate as they come.
Best Overall
Gold Tip Airstrike
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Summary
Accurate and durable, the Gold Tip Airstrike works at ranges near and far.
Best Affordable
Gold Tip Hunter XT
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Summary
Solid straightness, durability, and accuracy that can’t be beat at this price point.
Hunting arrows are often overlooked. Everyone obsesses over compound bows
and accessories, as they should, but rarely do they put the same thought or analysis into arrow selection. On a recent visit to a Colorado archery pro shop, I watched a gentleman fret for hours, asking scores of questions and testing various sight and rest options. He wanted to ensure his selections were perfect for his new flagship bow. When it came time to pick his arrows, he changed his tune, going with the cheapest he could find.
I see the attraction; sights, rests, releases
, quivers, and stabilizers boast a racy, eye-grabbing appeal. You can customize them to match your bow. That’s great. However, it’s the arrow that travels through the air toward your target. It’s the only accessory that actually leaves the bow and interacts with the thing you’re aiming at. If you don’t match the arrow’s spine (stiffness) to your bow’s poundage, you will struggle with accuracy. As such, here are our picks for the best hunting arrows.
Best Overall: Gold Tip Airstrike
Best for Elk: Easton 5MM FMJ Autumn Orange 100 Year Limited Edition
Best Long-Range: Easton 4MM Axis Long Range
Best Budget: Gold Tip Hunter XT
Best Lightweight: Carbon Express Maxima Sable RZ Select
Best for Deer Hunting: Carbon Express Maxima Red
Best for Kids: Victory VForce Junior
Best Technology-Rich: Victory Archery VAP SS
How I Picked the Best Hunting Arrows
During my 20-plus-year bowhunting tenure, I’ve slung plenty of carbon and aluminum downrange. In addition to testing each of these shafts independently with field points and mechanical and fixed-blade broadheads, I have also toted each shaft afield at least once.
During my range testing, arrows were independently weighed using a Hornady digital grain scale, and all were fired through a Caldwell Ballistic Premium Chronograph. Shafts were fired in crosswinds, headwinds, and tailwinds, and each shaft was fired at distances between 20 and 100 yards.
The Best Hunting Arrows: Reviews & Recommendations
Best Overall: Gold Tip Airstrike
Best Overall
Specs
.204-inch inside diameter with 204 Accu-Touch Nock included
Dyna-Tek Slick Shield coating
Built for speed & long-range accuracy
Pros
Shaft strength
Accuracy
Easy removal (Dyna-Tek Slick Shield coating)
Cons
Beefy nock collar to accommodate the .204 Accu-Touch Nock
has proven itself to me time and time again. Western bowhunters cheer the arrow’s micro-diameter build and its ability to blend speed with strength. The Dyna-Tek Slick Shield coating makes arrow removal from targets a breeze and helps with downrange penetration.
Whitetail goers tip a hat to its solid build and applaud the arrow’s ability to work at ranges close and far. I like this shaft for western excursions where the distance between the shooter and the target may stretch beyond 60 yards, but it is equally deadly when sitting 20 feet up waiting on a November giant. During my time in the bowhunting woods, I’ve harvested over 25 animals (elk, mule deer, feral hogs, turkey, pronghorn, and whitetail) with this shaft. It’s the type of arrow, the more you shoot it, the more confidence it provides you as an archer and bowhunter. This arrow could have easily been slotted into most any of the other “Best” categories in this article.
Best for Elk: Easton 5MM FMJ Autumn Orange 100 Year Limited Edition
Best for Elk
Specs
Hidden Insert Technology (HIT)
Built like a tank with an aluminum jacket over a carbon core
Deep penetrating, with easy target pull
Pros
Accuracy and reduced wind drift
Deep penetration
FOC easily improved with 5MM Brass HIT Break-off inserts
Cons
Aluminum wrap can require intermittent care
To celebrate 100-years of arrow-building perfection, Easton
crafted its 5MM FMJ Autumn Orange
. A tried-and-true arrow proven in the whitetail woods, sage-dappled plains, and the Rockies, you can’t go wrong when you sling this shaft. Of course, it’s a do-it-all arrow, and we could have easily slugged it as such. I’ve yet to shoot a shaft that more perfectly marries accuracy with deep-penetrating devastation.
The reduced surface area gives the wind less to push against in flight, and HIT inserts create a seamless point-to-shaft bond. The arrow is available in spine sizes of 250, 300, 340, 400, and 500 in appropriate grain-per-inch (GPI) builds. The all-aluminum jacket wraps around the carbon core to penetrate deep and prevents bonding to foam targets. This great do-all shaft will serve you well on a variety of hunts, and is without question the best hunting arrow I’ve ever used for elk.
Best Long-Range: Easton 4MM Axis Long Range
Best Long-Range
Specs
Super straight +/- .001 build with nock collar
Smart Carbon Technology
Dyna-Tek Slick Shield coating
Pros
Accuracy
Speed
Toughness
Cons
High price
If you’re looking to become the most accurate bowhunter you can be and shoot at long distances, there’s no better arrow than the Easton 4MM Axis Long Range
. This innovative shaft reduces wind drift and cuts through the air like a laser-guided missile. Spine sizes are plentiful, and the Half-out aluminum inserts are easy to install.
This 4MM Easton offering accepts standard 8-32-thread broadheads
for the first time via the Half-out insert; no specialty broadheads or components are needed. The arrow promises excellent velocity and a build that holds up to heavy-bone hits. It’s a solid all-around choice, but if you’re looking to chase pronghorn, mule deer, or bighorn sheep out West, this is your shaft.
Best Budget: Gold Tip Hunter XT
Best Budget
Specs
Tired-and-true performance
.246-inch robust inner diameter
Smart Carbon Technology
Speed and penetration
Pros
Excellent value
Multiple options
Cons
Accu-Lite Inserts allow points and broadheads to rattle loose easily
A staple in the Gold Tip line, one could argue the legendary Hunter XT
has filled more freezers than any other shaft. For the money, you can’t beat this shaft’s +/- .003-inch straightness rating, bulletproof build, and incredible blend of accuracy and speed.
Engineered to be versatile, the arrow will work for any game species you pursue. The Hunter XT it comes complete with GT Nocks and Accu-Lite Inserts. Spine sizes of 250, 300, 340, 400, and 500 are available.
Best Lightweight: Carbon Express Maxima Sable RZ Select
Best Lightweight
Specs
Tri-spine/RED ZONE Technology
Lightweight build with +/- 1.0 grain match weight
+/- .001 real straightness
Pros
Boosted durability with Launchpad nocks and Bulldog nock collars
Flies fast and flat
Cons
A too-close-to-call GPI-to-bow-poundage ratio can lead to poor accuracy and lack of strength
Carbon Express’ Maxima line has given us some remarkable models over the years. For 2022, the story is speed. The Sable RZ Select
—available in spine sizes of 350, 400, and 500—was built to increase speed and reduce arrow drop.
The lightweight hunting arrow features TriSpine Technology with 360-degree spine consistency, and the .244-inch inner-diameter hunting arrow is made from 100 percent carbon. A solid choice for short-draw archers looking to boost speed and western hunters expecting longer-range shots.
Best for Deer Hunting: Carbon Express Maxima Red
Best for Deer Hunting
Specs
Large spin-size range
Stainless-steel nock bushing and inserts
+/- 1-grain weight tolerance
Pros
Tough as nails build
Accurate
Deep penetration
Cons
The Q2i Raptor vanes limit distances to 50 yards or less
Carbon Express’s original Maxima Red
is the best whitetail arrow ever created, as far as I’m concerned. Many bowhunters share this opinion, and it is no wonder why. The arrow manages dynamic spine very well. There are just a pair of spine sizes offered to cover draw-weights between 40 and 92 pounds. Of course, this reduces how much thought bowhunters have to put into finding the arrow with the correct spine.
But other top-notch features like a straightness of +/-.0025 inches and only sweeten the pot, and make this my go-to arrow for deer. The RED ZONE reduces arrow oscillation in flight and helps broadheads—fixed, mechanical, and hybrid—hit their mark. Packs of 12 are available, as are 6-packs of fletched shafts.
Best for Kids: Victory VForce Junior
Best for Kids
Specs
Multiple spine sizes
Rugged carbon build
Quality nocks and inserts
Pros
Versatile
Tough
Accurate
Cons
Must pay attention to bow weight and spine size to ensure combability
Young archers that chase their compound dreams on the tournament trail and bowhunting woods often struggle to find carbon that fits their needs. Not anymore. Dedicated to creating a shaft designed to meet the needs of every archer, Victory has crafted its VForce Junior
.
Available in low-poundage spine sizes of 600, 800, and 1,000; these shafts come fitted with Bohning Blazer nocks installed, and aluminum inserts are included. The arrows can be purchased as raw or fletched shafts. Those that go with a from-the-factory fletch can expect two-inch Q2I Raptor vanes. This is a top-end arrow for youth archers with bow poundage that won’t reasonably accommodate a 500-spine arrow.
Best Technology-Rich: Victory VAP SS
Best Technology-Rich
Specs
Stainless-steel layers infused into a 90-degree carbon-fiber weave
High FOC
Micro-diameter with SHOK TL Broadhead Adapter
Pros:
Tech that works
Increased speed, penetration, and kinetic energy
Cons:
Expensive
Technology is only beneficial if it has a purpose. When you fill your quiver with Victory VAP SS arrows
, you can bank on the fact that its technologies will make you more accurate, produce hushed arrow flight, and promote a build that is as tough as they come. The micro-diameter shaft cuts through the air easily, and the stainless-steel infused carbon-fiber weave boosts penetration and overall arrow durability.
The build gives the shooter a higher FOC and bone-shattering momentum, and the SHOK TL Adapter accepts standard 5/16-inch broadheads with an 8-32 thread. This patent-pending system sports an impact-protection sleeve that strengthens the arrow tip from fracturing.
What to Consider When Choosing Hunting Arrows
Though they appear simple, arrow shafts have a number of important nuances that require your consideration. Take the following into account every time you purchase a set of arrows.
Spine
When it comes to arrow selection, the first thing you need to do is match the arrow’s spine to your bow’s poundage. The task isn’t difficult. Most arrow manufacturers have charts on their website to guide you, and you can always ask a pro shop professional.
In layman’s terms, the spine is the stiffness of the arrow. If you’re pulling a 70-pound bow and shooting a 500-spine arrow, the arrow’s build is too thin and too light to handle the energy transferred into it. Not only is this dangerous (the arrow can explode), but your precision will suffer greatly. The arrow will never stabilize in flight, and you might as well be throwing darts blindfolded.
It’s also possible to be over-spined. If you’re shooting a bow with a 40-pound draw-weight and an arrow branded with a 250-spine rating, you’ll experience slow flight speed, inconsistent accuracy, reduced kinetic energy downrange, and extreme arrow drop. Remember, the larger the number, the less stiff the spine.
Weight
It’s also important to understand that spine size is not overall arrow weight. For instance, if you’re shooting a 400-spine arrow, that doesn’t mean your total arrow weight is 400 grains. Total arrow weight is measured in grains per inch, commonly abbreviated as GPI. The stiffer the spine, the more grains per inch the arrow will weigh, but grains per inch and spine are different.
The relationship between speed and weight is ultra-important. If you’re shooting an arrow that’s too heavy for your bow’s poundage, your arrow will seem like it’s moving in slow motion as it travels toward the target. On the flip side, if you’re shooting an arrow that’s flirting with the minimum GPI rating for the poundage you’re pulling, you’ll get remarkable speed, but your arrow will never fully stabilize in flight.
Diameter
While diameter will play a bit into our next subheading, I do feel it deserves its own space. For years, there were standard diameter arrows and nothing else. Today, many manufacturer’s craft shafts in different diameters. Take Easton, for instance. This legendary arrow builder is well-known for its 6.5, 6, 5, and 4mm lines.
Why is this important? First, if spine and weight are matched correctly with your bow, thinner diameter arrows will penetrate better. The shaft’s slimmer build tracks perfectly behind the broadhead’s wound channel and dives deeper into game. In addition, arrows with a smaller diameter tend to fly better in the wind, especially at distances beyond 50 yards. The reason for this is simple: Reduced surface area gives the wind less area to press against.
What are you hunting?
Next, think about what you hunt. A pile of arrow designs will work as well in the elk mountains as they do in the whitetail hardwoods, but many boast features that make them a species-specific standout. For instance, some shafts sport boosted F.O.C. (Front of Center) features to increase accuracy and penetration, which is important when hunting tough, thick-skinned critters.
To simplify things, ask yourself what you plan to use your arrow of choice for. If the answer is spring turkey and close-range whitetails out of a tree stand or ground blind, you can get away with an economical arrow with few bells and whistles. If you’re a western bowhunter, or are infatuated with the long-range practice game, I can promise you get what you pay for. Top-end micro-diameter arrows with more weight in the arrow’s front half reduce side-to-side drift caused by crosswinds. And the pencil-thin diameter penetrates deep.
FAQs
Q: What are the most accurate arrows?
Over the years, I’ve killed big-game critters with shafts branded with industry-leading technologies and those created not to break the bank. After extensive testing, the most accurate arrow I’ve shot to date is Easton’s 4MM Axis Long Range
. However, this arrow isn’t the only shaft on the market that ensures exceptional accuracy. If you’re looking to take your shooting to the next level and put more arrows in the 12-ring, look for micro-diameter shafts that improve FOC, feature quality inserts, nocks, and I do recommend fletching your own. Also, if you’re a turkey/whitetail fanatic that rarely, if ever, shoots carbon over 50 yards, you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg on pricy carbon. Shafts like Gold Tip’s standard Hunter
and XT Hunter
will do the job just fine.
Q: What spine should my arrows be?
Remember, the lower the number, the stiffer the arrow. What spine you choose should be dictated by your bow’s poundage. Some draw-weight settings allow you to choose between a range of spine offerings. If you’re looking for maximum speed, go with a lesser-spined arrow that fits your draw-weight category and has a grain-per-inch rating that’s still safe for your poundage but will make the arrow lighter. If you’re looking for a quiet, hard-hitting shaft that ensures deep penetration, go with a stiffer-spined arrow in your weight category. These arrows will also sport a higher GPI build. I pull 70-pounds of draw weight and shoot arrow spines of 340 and 350. My wife shoots a draw weight of 45 pounds and shoots a 400-spine shaft. If she is looking for a tad bit more speed, she will shoot a 500-spine arrow.
Q: How much do hunting arrows cost?
The more accuracy-enhancing technologies a shaft has, the bigger the number on its price tag. Micro-diameter arrows, for instance, cost the manufacturer more to make, and these shafts often showcase the manufacturer’s top-end arrow technologies. Don’t skimp on quality, but don’t think you have to take out a second mortgage to put an arrow through the lungs of a 40-yard whitetail. Match the quality of arrow to your hunt and the accuracy expectations you put on yourself.
Q: What are the toughest carbon arrows?
You have to shoot what you have confidence in, and for me, that means Easton 4MM Axis Long Range
shafts for western big-game and Easton 4MM FMJ
shafts for whitetail deer. Both are tough. However, years of testing have taught me that Maxima
arrows from Carbon Express and Hunter Series
arrows from Gold Tip are nearly bombproof, and you get that build for a good price.
Q: What is the best arrow weight for hunting?
This is a tricky question. But having put a pile of big-game animals from elk to mule deer to pronghorn to bighorn sheep on the ground over the years, I’m confident in my answer. I will go heavy over light every time. Heavy arrows fly quiet and penetrate deep. Plus, extensive testing has proven them to be more accurate. Yes, arrow drop is more. And you may not be able to dial your sight tape to 120 yards. But you will blow through game at distances close and far if you go a tad heavy. Again, how heavy depends on your draw weight. I shoot 407.3-grain 4MM Axis Long Range
arrows out of my 70-pound Hoyt Carbon RX-5
and get a speed rating of 307 fps. Last year, while hunting Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, I blew through a massive-bodied ram standing at 64.5 yards. For whitetails, I limit my shots to 40 yards and in. I want a hushed shot and lots of kinetic energy. My RX-5
pushes my 480-grain 4MM FMJ’s
at 284 fps and those arrows hit with 85.95-foot-pounds. This build eats whitetails up. It’s also my elk go-to.
Q: Are heavier arrows better for hunting?
In my opinion, heavy is always better. I flirt with speed only when chasing spot-and-stalk pronghorn and mule deer. By flirt, I mean I don’t get crazy. I may drop down to an arrow with the same spine that weighs a tad less per inch. Those who shoot 65- and 70-pounds of draw weight should shoot arrows around 400 grains and go heavier if long-range shots aren’t likely.
Best Hunting Arrows: Final Thoughts
Best Overall: Gold Tip Airstrike
Best for Elk: Easton 5MM FMJ Autumn Orange 100 Year Limited Edition
Best Long-Range: Easton 4MM Axis Long Range
Best Budget: Gold Tip Hunter XT
Best Lightweight: Carbon Express Maxima Sable RZ Select
Best for Deer Hunting: Carbon Express Maxima Red
Best for Kids: Victory VForce Junior
Best Technology-Rich: Victory Archery VAP SS
I believe, next to your bow, which must fit you perfectly, having the best hunting arrow selection is the most critical piece of the fill-the-freezer puzzle. My biggest suggestion is to prove to yourself what arrow should rest between the nocking points inside your D-loop. The more you test and tinker and do your research—the more likely you are to find a shaft that fills you with confidence and puts field points and broadheads in the 10-ring.
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