Carbon ExpressMaxima Triad XSD 350 6 PK Shafts, Fletched,Multi,One Size,51111

These arrows was giving me a tight pattern. I was able to get these cut down to length and get the inserts glued in yesterday so I was excited to get out and shoot them today. They was awesome. These are a little different than your typical arrow. They have a tip that you screw onto the insert and then you screw your field point or broad head onto it. That tip does add a little extra weight and make the arrow heavier which will be nice for impact. The I was not able to check my FOC percentage so right now I’m not able to give those numbers. I do know the shaft diameter is considerably smaller than most others. I just got this bow so I have t been able to test out different weights, shaft sizes, fletching sizes or the vane. I’m right on the line of shooting a 340 or 400 vane. Right now I am happy with these arrows and they have been flying true. Yes they are a little more expensive than others but there is a reason for that price difference. Unlike other arrows these have the 3 spine shaft. The center is stiffer while the inside and outside of the arrow has more flex which allows for better accuracy. Once you get your bow tuned up and sighted in then you can see the difference. Is it worth that extra money? Well that’s up to you. If you can afford it then it’s definitely something worth picking up. There is a difference in arrows and yes you can also see the difference. I will definitely be recommending this set of arrows to family and friends.

I hate to admit this, but I am shooting these as a novice. I have been bow-hunting and target shooting for about 12 months, having bought a starter set to see if I'd like it enough to buy some serious equipment. It's been a blast, so I picked these up after shooting Eastons for a while and a couple of my friend's Pile Drivers. Wow! What a difference! When I go in on something, I go ALL IN! So, I researched and researched ... and no arrows seem to match these in terms of accuracy. They also make things pretty easy because instead of 15 different sizes, I had .400 .350 and .300 to choose from. The 350, which I am reviewing have a GPI of 10.1. I am amazed by their accuracy compared to the less expensive arrows I've been shooting.Given the price, you want to make sure that you don't lose too many of these. I have not taken them hunting yet for that reason but have put my time in on the range. The science behind these is interesting ... you get a lot of it on the box for marketing purposes, but I will try to break it down as easy as possible because I love this kind of stuff. The first interesting tidbit about these is that every box is matched almost exactly as a set by weight. These are weight sorted to a deviation allowance of +.04 grains! To think about that for a second compared to what our grandfathers were shooting is fairly astounding! They have a .002" real straightness and have been laser tested to 1/10,000th of an inch. That says quality to me!The main difference between these and cheaper arrows is that they have Tri-Spine technology in XSD (Extra Small Device) hunting shafts. What that means is basically the arrow is made of 3 spines ... The 'Redzone' is the front and rear sections, which are made of more of a stronger/stiff carbon than the middle section made with a weaker center, for recovery out of the bow. Front and Center technology is all the rage in bow hunting right now. This means more accuracy, greater velocity through wind channels and a stronger penetration of the target. Each arrow comes with a 2-piece insert/outsert set for the front of the arrow. Each of these front areas weighs 97 grains. You cut your arrow to the desired length (or have an expert do it for you) and affix the insert with glue. The outsert (made of aircraft-grade aluminum) goes over it and you then screw your head on. I will opt to use broadheads or field points when hunting and would recommend Carbon Express' Native Broadheads based on recommendations from friends.This 2-piece insert is marketed as reducing the oscillation of a typical arrow by 1/3rd and the box also markets them as being 4 times more accurate than a typical arrow. Whether or not that is true ... or even measurable ... is debatable. However, I can tell you based on my experience that these fly! I find their accuracy and penetration to be second to none of the other arrows I've tried. These will set you back a lot more than your average set of arrows but I find the same thing to be true of archery so far, as I have of golf (and I am a pretty good golfer having played for over a decade) ... the better equipment is a better investment. I have shaved strokes off my game simply by investing in a good putter or driver ... I find the same to be true of arrows and bows. These just feel like something special when you shoot them and they make a remarkable difference, even for my novice shooting. The bottom line is I can tell by the results that I am using these vs. another arrow.I researched the brands and found that Carbon Express is sort of the gold standard when it comes to hunting arrows. They changed the game, making arrows more universal. There is very little variation between models and they have remarkable straightness across the line. They keep getting better ... case in point the .166 inner-diameter of these make them stronger and give a better penetration. Their marketing says that these are the only arrow made of 30-ton carbon, which recovers faster than single or double spined arrows. Basically, the smaller the diameter of the arrow, the thicker the walls will be making better wind drift performance and more durability. If you lose these ... that's not going to mean much to you. However, if you hit a target, you'll notice the penetration.My bottom line is that if you can afford these, they are worth it. I've been amazed at how much these help my straightness and accuracy. It's not just one or two good shots out of a quiver ... it's very consistent from shot to shot that it's just straighter. I like the way they look as well and the red makes them easy to find. The one thing I will say is that for the price, these are packaged like they were a twenty five dollar set of arrows. The cardboard box is cheap cardboard, which wrinkles easily. The Styrofoam inserts to separate the arrows is cheap ... and instead of a plastic case to place the 2 piece insert/outset pieces, they are tossed into a plastic bag. Given the price of these arrows, I'd expect much better packaging. I guess arrows are made to be pretty resilient given their usage ... but it doesn't feel very 'special' when you open these up. Other than the packaging, I find no faults with these and would recommend them to any hunter or target shooter.

I've been looking to build a heavier arrow and increase the FOC (front of center) % on my arrow. My current arrow builds are about 425-450 grains and I love the flat trajectory, but I had one not penetrate an elk as well as I would have liked. It was a bit heartbreaking, but I've learned my lesson.Diving into the stats on these arrows, do an internet search for Gold Tip FOC calculator and here's the numbers of my new set up using these shafts:125 grains for tip weight, 97(!!) grain insert weight, 10.1 grains/inch, 27 inches long, 7 grains per 2" vane (3 vanes), 3.8 grain bushing weight, and 8 grain nock weight. I'm guessing on the nock weight-- but those numbers come in at 527 grains and a 16.2% FOC, both of which are a huge increase over my current setup-- most of that is due to the heavier shaft (10.1 grains per inch vs 8.9 on the Gold Tip Hunters) and the 97 grains up front with the insert.Couple the increase mass and FOC with a reduced side profile (18% less--0.247" outside diameter vs 0.302 on the Gold Tip Hunters) and this is a killer set up.The DOWNSIDES:Not unique to these in particular, but a heavier arrow means you're going to have more of an arch when you lob these down range (compared to a lighter arrow). That means you need to be more precise with your shooting distance as these drop faster. Being 4 yards off when you're shooting a laser isn't a bi deal, but it can mean a clean miss on heavier arrows.With that, keep in mind that if you're shooting a lighter setup, then you'll have to drop most of your sight pins a smidge when shooting heavier arrows-- so if your long distance pin is already at the bottom, you're going to have to decrease your max range if you can't move that pin any more.The UPSDIES:Shooting lightweight lasers has been all the rage for the last decade or so. It's been all about speed and limiting total drop. For target shooting that may work, but for hunting folks are starting to realize that reducing the weight leads to reduced penetration. And, a lighter weight arrow often has a lower FOC, which can reduce accuracy. These are heavier-- so they are going to penetrate more. The higher FOC and smaller diameter means that the will drift less.OTHER NOTES:Double check your arrow length and draw weight to make sure you get the right spine. I took a picture of the chart on the box, which also lists a website you can visit to confirm what works for you. These come uncut (32" from the crotch of the nock to the end of the shaft) and without insert glue-- both of which are pretty normal these days and shouldn't be a surprise. If you use lighted knocks, do check to see if they are compatible for the smaller diameter shafts. Finally, search for that FOC calculator I mentioned and punch in your current numbers and see how this compares. I think you'll be surprised of the heft that these skinnier arrows can pack.Good luck and shoot straight!