Ultra slim,
micro-diameter
shafts have
changed how
bowhunters
look at
arrows.
Thin Is In: The Benefits
of Thin Diameter Arrows
are Hard to Overlook
B
owhunters, especially those of us
old enough to remember the wood
and aluminum offerings of yester-
year, have long thought larger di-
ameter arrows best fit the bill for this list of
demands. However, times are changing, and
the advancement in available materials and
manufacturing techniques have brought
about new options that should have every-
one from bare bow traditionalists to high
power compounds rethinking what they
load into the quiver.
While the shift to carbon offerings over
the last decade or so is nothing new, the
range of available options is quite large. The
newest additions to the world of modern
hunting arrows are ultra slim micro-diame-
ter shafts, but just how do these dainty darts
stack up against the proven performance of
other styles? Let’s break them down, and
dispel some myths while we are at it.
MYTHS The biggest misconceptions about
micro shafts are they are lighter in weight
and lack the strength and durability of their
larger counterparts. In reality, the walls of
micro shafts are very thick, which not only
allows excellent strength, but also produces
grain per inch weights that fall right in line
with standard sized shafts. Some models,
such as the Full Metal Jacket by Easton®
which features a high strength carbon core
covered by an aluminum jacket, can actual-
ly tip the scales at around 20 percent heavi-
er per inch than standard carbon shafts.
Wind can be a big factor when hunting
out west. Standard carbon shafts typically
have a diameter around 6.5mm, and aver-
age aluminum shafts around 9mm. A 5mm
micro shaft will have a 23 percent smaller
side profile than average carbon shafts (45
percent for aluminum), greatly reducing the
surface area being acted upon by wind, cre-
ating less arrow drift. Some shafts are avail-
able as small as 4mm.
Wind isn’t the only factor affecting arrow
flight. An arrow traveling through the air in-
curs drag from atmospheric friction. If you
had a baseball and a softball of the same
weight, you would be able to throw the
baseball farther due to the smaller surface
area reducing the amount of friction. The
same goes for arrows. Slimmer micro shafts
have less surface area, and lower drag. This
equates to higher maintained velocity and
flatter trajectory.
Speaking of friction, smaller shafts also
produce less friction when the arrow makes
contact with a target, allowing for deep-
er penetration. However, friction isn’t the
only factor in penetration. The energy of an
arrow is derived from the combination of
speed and weight. Higher energy produces
harder hitting, deeper penetrating arrows.
Because micro-diameter shafts have high
grain/inch weights, less drag and higher
downrange velocities, they produce greater
kinetic energy and supreme penetration.
As someone who’s crunched the num-
bers with a variety of arrow styles, I’m here
to attest, it’s thin for the win.
ERIC MARTIN
Tape That Muzzle!
As hunters, we spend precious time and money ensuring our rifles are shooting well and we
certainly don’t want to jeopardize that by not adding ten cents worth of tape to end of our
rifle barrel. Test after test has shown that adding a small amount of tape over your barrel won’t
negatively affect your rifle’s inherent accuracy.
One clog of your barrel could prove disastrous, if not catastrophic. High-powered rifles are
potentially dangerous tools, and during our hunts where we’re intently focused on finding that
buck or bull, it can be surprisingly easy to get debris like limbs, needles, dirt, or snow down our
barrels. It doesn’t take much in your barrel to mess things up quickly. A small, partial obstruction
might only lead to a missed shot opportunity, but a completely clogged barrel could result in
Taping the muzzle of your rifle with black
a very harmful explosion, as the ensuing pressure is too much for your barrel and action to
electrician’s tape will keep debris from get-
ting into the barrel, which could lead to a
withstand.
missed shot or something more disastrous.
The process is simple. Grab your favorite tape. I prefer black electrician’s tape as it’s plenty
sticky, stands up to weather, and doesn’t leave as much of a sticky residue as duct tape can. Place
a strip or two over the end of the barrel to make sure the opening is completely covered, then give a wrap or two around the barrel to secure
those strips and you’re good to go. KEVIN MADISON
www.westernhuntingjournal.com
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