I've always shot the 5mm Axis shafts, but the 4mm with the titanium outserts have piqued my interest. I've got some Western/Alaska/Canada hunts upcoming in the next few years, and would like to maximize efficiency regarding wind drift.
I heard somewhere that the 4mm arrows are more sensitive/difficult to tune-any truth to this?
That said, I’d likely go with 5mm Axis shafts today if switching shafts and be happy.
The problem with the 4mm is not the shaft itself but the system. You need expensive components to get concentricity with your BH's- ie; long machined outserts.
Compare that to the 6mm shafts I'm buying for $40, including insert and nok- then I buy and fletch. It's more fun in the woods when you aren't losing a very expensive arrow.
I looked at this earlier this year and we had a pretty good thread on it. Decided not to go for it. They are not lighter or cheaper or more durable than the 5MMs. I stuck with 5MM
I'll find the old threads for you they are already well informed and responded to
Maybe i'll just get the Match grade 5mm shafts & instead play around with a bunch of different fletching combo's rather than the 4mm w/super expensive insert systems.
Broadhead wise I'm finally dialed in- Iron Will wide's for whitetail, and the Iron Will solid 125's for when I'm encountering wind.
Good idea to look at fletching, it matters and someone shooting flex fletch 360's is going to get more wind drift than someone shooting Blazers. I know guys shooting 4 fletch with the small Blazers and getting great performance and groups with BH's at long range without the parachuting effect of large fletch.
Some guys like the additional stabilization of more fletch. If you are only shooting short shots, it doesn't hurt you. I find it doesn't matter much for me as long as my bow is tuned. Even with my recurve I use 3-3" feathers....and it groups BH's.
Re 4mm. I shot them for years when Beman was giving them to me. Great shafts but the components sucked back then. Now, if you use an outsert with a long [3" or more] prong inserted into the shaft, they are pretty good. I've heard a friend of a friend has developed a very long outsert for those micro shafts- something like 5" or 6" and those will no doubt be excellent. It makes sense; they draw from the straightness of the shaft.....AND the additional surface area of the long inserted section spreads the impact out over more arrow shaft.
My problem is; I've had great success with the cheap shafts I'm using now....and same for the Axis with hit inserts I used to use. I can't think of a single arrow thats failed in the last 3 decades. Anything more than that is overkill for me unless I was going after Water buff or something- then it makes a lot of sense.
Also installed the Deep-6 stainless insert to regular depth for reinforcing and a bit of more foc. They have proven super tough as a system for me. No issues with tuning or getting great concentric spins on broadheads.
—Jim