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How to pick the right aluminum arrow without charts!
Here's the deal: There are only nine arrow spines you need to start off with bows from about 18# to about 100#. (Note that this is an approximation and you’ll see why in a second).
IN GENERAL for 28" ARROWS +/- 1" (27 - 29") and 100 - 125gr heads:
18# - 23# 1516
24# - 27# 1616
28# - 33# 1716
34# - 42# 1816
43# - 52# 1916
53# - 60# 2016
61# - 70# 2117
71# - 80# 2216
81# - 100# 2219+ (Might want to play with 23xx, 24xx and larger shafts as it can get a little dicey at those weights, since bow efficiency starts diminishing after a certain weight.)
If you go to a 30" arrow, jump to the next stiffer spine number, if you go to a 32" arrow, then jump up two spines stiffer. Ditto for going shorter, 26" one spine number weaker, 24" two spine numbers weaker.
For example: If you have a 35# bow and use a 28" 1816, but would prefer a 30" arrow, choose a 1916; likewise going to a 26" arrow would require a 1716.
Head weight will also affect spine, however, it will require 45-50 grains to jump one spine number. For example, if you're shooting a 40# bow and using a 29" 1816 with a 100 gr head, going to a 150 grain head may require you to jump to a 1916.
This WILL NOT give you the perfect aluminum arrow for a given bow. It will give you a tunable arrow, and that's all you need for starters. Once the arrow is tuned, you'll know if you're compensating for a stiff or soft arrow by the tuning requirements. Then you can fine tune arrow choices by juggling wall thicknesses and diameters.
For example, if you have a #41 @ 28" bow and are using a 29" arrow, you'd pick an 1816, right? And that would work. If you find that you have to move the rest/strike plate out a little more than you’d like, then your NEXT set of arrows might be 1914s. They are the same weight as the 1816s, but a little stiffer.
Regarding Fastflight Fight (low mass/low stretch) strings. The difference between Dacron and FF is on the order of 5#, in a worst case scenario, so if the right arrow was chosen in the first place, it should still be within tunable parameters.
In addition, if I know a particular bow, I might suggest an arrow that's not one of the primary spine numbers. A certain #57 bow might work very well with a 2114, for example.
*Aluminum arrow nomenclature: the first two numbers denotes the shaft diameter in 1/64" and the second two are the wall thickness in 1/1000". For example, a 2016 has a 20/64" (or 5/16") diameter and a wall thickness of 16/1000".
For those of you who would like more detailed information, below is a table complied from Easton's aluminum arrow charts, showing the name, spine, weight and grains per inch for each arrow size.
To convert the spine (deflection in inches) to approximate draw weight, divide 28 by the deflection.
For example, an 1816 has a deflection of 0.756",
therefore: 28/0.756 = ~37#, the midpoint of an 1816's acceptable weight range.
Note that Easton does change their offerings from time to time, and therefore some entries may no longer be available and some new additions may not be listed.
Here's the deal: There are only nine arrow spines you need to start off with bows from about 18# to about 100#. (Note that this is an approximation and you’ll see why in a second).
IN GENERAL for 28" ARROWS +/- 1" (27 - 29") and 100 - 125gr heads:
18# - 23# 1516
24# - 27# 1616
28# - 33# 1716
34# - 42# 1816
43# - 52# 1916
53# - 60# 2016
61# - 70# 2117
71# - 80# 2216
81# - 100# 2219+ (Might want to play with 23xx, 24xx and larger shafts as it can get a little dicey at those weights, since bow efficiency starts diminishing after a certain weight.)
If you go to a 30" arrow, jump to the next stiffer spine number, if you go to a 32" arrow, then jump up two spines stiffer. Ditto for going shorter, 26" one spine number weaker, 24" two spine numbers weaker.
For example: If you have a 35# bow and use a 28" 1816, but would prefer a 30" arrow, choose a 1916; likewise going to a 26" arrow would require a 1716.
Head weight will also affect spine, however, it will require 45-50 grains to jump one spine number. For example, if you're shooting a 40# bow and using a 29" 1816 with a 100 gr head, going to a 150 grain head may require you to jump to a 1916.
This WILL NOT give you the perfect aluminum arrow for a given bow. It will give you a tunable arrow, and that's all you need for starters. Once the arrow is tuned, you'll know if you're compensating for a stiff or soft arrow by the tuning requirements. Then you can fine tune arrow choices by juggling wall thicknesses and diameters.
For example, if you have a #41 @ 28" bow and are using a 29" arrow, you'd pick an 1816, right? And that would work. If you find that you have to move the rest/strike plate out a little more than you’d like, then your NEXT set of arrows might be 1914s. They are the same weight as the 1816s, but a little stiffer.
Regarding Fastflight Fight (low mass/low stretch) strings. The difference between Dacron and FF is on the order of 5#, in a worst case scenario, so if the right arrow was chosen in the first place, it should still be within tunable parameters.
In addition, if I know a particular bow, I might suggest an arrow that's not one of the primary spine numbers. A certain #57 bow might work very well with a 2114, for example.
*Aluminum arrow nomenclature: the first two numbers denotes the shaft diameter in 1/64" and the second two are the wall thickness in 1/1000". For example, a 2016 has a 20/64" (or 5/16") diameter and a wall thickness of 16/1000".
For those of you who would like more detailed information, below is a table complied from Easton's aluminum arrow charts, showing the name, spine, weight and grains per inch for each arrow size.
To convert the spine (deflection in inches) to approximate draw weight, divide 28 by the deflection.
For example, an 1816 has a deflection of 0.756",
therefore: 28/0.756 = ~37#, the midpoint of an 1816's acceptable weight range.
Note that Easton does change their offerings from time to time, and therefore some entries may no longer be available and some new additions may not be listed.
| Shaft | Spine Size (inches) | Weight (grains) | Weight (gr/in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1214 | 2.501 | 142 - 24" | 5.92 |
| 1413 | 2.036 | 153 - 26" | 5.88 |
| 1416 | 1.684 | 194 - 27" | 7.19 |
| 1512 | 1.554 | 157 - 27" | 5.81 |
| 1514 | 1.370 | 184 - 27" | 6.81 |
| 1516 | 1.403 | 197 - 27" | 7.30 |
| 1612 | 1.298 | 170 - 27" | 6.30 |
| 1614 | 1.153 | 208 - 27" | 7.70 |
| 1616 | 1.079 | 227 - 27" | 8.41 |
| 1712 | 1.099 | 181 - 27" | 6.70 |
| 1713 | 1.044 | 200 - 27" | 7.41 |
| 1714 | 0.963 | 219 - 27" | 8.11 |
| 1716 | 0.880 | 261 - 29" | 9.00 |
| 1813 | 0.874 | 228 | 7.86 |
| 1814 | 0.799 | 249 | 8.57 |
| 1816 | 0.756 | 269 | 9.28 |
| 1912 | 0.776 | 220 | 7.59 |
| 1913 | 0.733 | 242 | 8.34 |
| 1914 | 0.658 | 269 | 9.28 |
| 1916 | 0.623 | 291 | 10.03 |
| 2012 | 0.680 | 232 | 8.35 |
| 2013 | 0.610 | 261 | 9.00 |
| 2014 | 0.579 | 277 | 9.55 |
| 2016 | 0.531 | 306 | 10.55 |
| 2018 | 0.464 | 356 | 12.28 |
| 2020 | 0.426 | 391 | 13.48 |
| 2112 | 0.590 | 244 | 8.41 |
| 2113 | 0.540 | 270 | 9.31 |
| 2114 | 0.510 | 286 | 9.86 |
| 2115 | 0.461 | 312 | 10.76 |
| 2117 | 0.400 | 349 | 12.03 |
| 2212 | 0.505 | 256 | 8.83 |
| 2213 | 0.460 | 285 | 9.93 |
| 2214 | 0.430 | 302 | 10.41 |
| 2215 | 0.420 | 309 | 10.66 |
| 2216 | 0.375 | 349 | 12.03 |
| 2219 | 0.337 | 399 | 13.76 |
| 2311 | 0.450 | 242 | 8.36 |
| 2312 | 0.423 | 275 | 9.48 |
| 2314 | 0.390 | 309 | 10.66 |
| 2315 | 0.340 | 338 | 11.66 |
| 2317 | 0.297 | 385 | 13.28 |
| 2412 | 0.402 | 280 | 9.66 |
| 2413 | 0.365 | 302 | 10.41 |
| 2419 | 0.268 | 422 | 14.56 |
| 2511 | 0.348 | 233 | 8.1 |
| 2512 | 0.321 | 298 | 10.28 |
| 2514 | 0.305 | 329 | 11.34 |
| 2612 | 0.285 | 280 | 9.68 |
| 2613 | 0.265 | 333 | 11.48 |
| 2712 | 0.260 | 275 | 9.5 |
The 2007 Easton catalog introduced a new version of their Gamegetter XX75 shafts.
Now sporting a black anodized finish, the shafts are available in four sizes,
based on their carbon arrow nomenclature. In 2009, the XX78 Superslam (digital)
shafts were given a shaft diameter nomenclature as well.
Essentially, a 500 series shaft is identical to a 2016, 400 = 2117, 340 = 2315, and 300 = 2317.
Essentially, a 500 series shaft is identical to a 2016, 400 = 2117, 340 = 2315, and 300 = 2317.
