Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: CherokeeKC on January 10, 2014, 01:18:28 pm
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Im interested to hear different peoples take on POC shafts. How well they stay straight? How many of you are using them? How durable are they in stump shooting or hunting situations?
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Didn't we just do this?http://www.primitivearcher.com/smf/index.php/topic,43689.0.html
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Never used them for my own arrows. I've shot a few when I first started making arrows and was not impressed. They break easy.
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Never used them for my own arrows. I've shot a few when I first started making arrows and was not impressed. They break easy.
But they smell great when broken . . . . . .
Excluding boo or cane, I am partial to poplar or pine, depending on whether I need a heavier or lighter spine.
Russ
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I thought the same thing Mullet.
I use them cuz I have a bunch I inherited.
Here's my take: Easy to come by, brittle/break by the point easy, and kinda light for heavier poundage bows. Shoot good though and quick as any dowel material to make an arrow and they smell good.
Check out the link Mullet posted.
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Yep, they do smell great. Smells good when burning too. >:D
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Cherokee,
They stay straight and are very easy to straighten...I find them brittle for stump shooting, but work well for a medium weight hunting shaft or target. Not the most durable choice. Probably the most widely used dowel material. I prefer Douglas Fir...
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They are by far and away the most popular shaft from commercial arrow makers.
That being said, popularity polls will have you believe that a MacSomebody's MacSoggyburger is far and away better than a 22 oz bone-in ribeye.
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Question of the Day here...
What are "POC" shafts?
I'm still a relative newbie, so go
ahead and spell it out...thanks.
Japbow.
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Question of the Day here...
What are "POC" shafts?
I'm still a relative newbie, so go
ahead and spell it out...thanks.
Japbow.
Port Orford Cedar dowel shafting. Cut out in the NorthWest.
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Interesting fact about POC...it only grows two places in the world, the Pacific Northwest(specifically Oregon) and Japan and it is indigenous to both.
I have made(assembled) and shot many POC arrows early on in my archery career and still have some around, made for my older bows. They are relatively uniform and straight and easy to work with but they are brittle. IMO they would be a good shafting for the beginner to start with then they can decide if another shafting would be better for their uses.
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I would love to get my greedy hands on a couple of 20 ft planks of 1x8 or 1x10 Port Orford Cedar. That is the stuff of dreams when you start thinking about building cedar strip canoes.
Of course, you know one of the last steps I will do when building a cedar strip canoe from cedar will be to inlet a broadhead in the bow of the canoe and three turkey feathers at the stern. ;D
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Thanks guys! I checked out the link Mullet posted. Those are really nice looking arrows. However, I didnt see where that thread answered any of the questions as to how they stay straight or how durable they are. Anyway thanks again for the replies.
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I like em. My favorite shafting material.
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cedar are good shafts...I just personally dont like them except for the tradition and the smell. I found them too easy to break and just did not care for them overall when I make a dozen arrows for a season and use 6 with broadheads and 6 with fieldpoints and they snap off behind the point before the season opens just from shooting into targets or hitting slightly off center.
I switched to douglas fir after also trying maple, ash, chundoo, sitka spruce.....I also like sitka spruce very well but douglas fir is my favorite of them all....slightly more durable...still fairly light....fairly straight....and I just like them.
Nothing against cedar...I just think there are better hunting shafts out their with a good compromise on both durability and straightness to meet the needs of 90% of the bowhunters.
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Yeah, POC isn't the ULTIMATE shaft but that's all I use. Like said before - I like the tradition and LOVE the smell ! I'll try something else when I run out the 500 I bought a few Years ago ;). Bob
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I started out with cedar and still have a bunch, no full sets, though ::). once I started shooting bamboo and saw how tough it was I was hooked.
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Having been involved with archery for 55 years including when my dad own an archery chop back in the 60's I have seen and used about every type of arrow around. Some are good and some are not so good. I am not too familiar with the new and very very expensive carbons but know enough to be dangerous about woods and metal.
Nostalgic wise, cedar is the best. When they are straight or straightened if stored properly they will stay straight and when broken they smell great. There are many newer type wood shafts that are made that are much better for straightness and durability but they don't have the old Bear Archery nostalgia going for them.
I have purchased many old Bear wood arrows at yards sales for little less than nothing, stripped the paint off and found some beautiful cedars to use. Having been pretty lucky to have been left with all my dads old archery "stuff" I can spine check the arrows to get matched sets.
I use arrows according to what and when I am shooting. I hunt with cedar as I never expect to get my arrow back or at least back in one piece much like gun hunting, you don't expect to get your bullet back after shooting. When I shoot in leagues I use metal or carbon for their durability.