There are a lot of deer hunting gear items that I would classify as personal preferences. Broadheads is probably the #1 item on the list. It’s hard to change someone’s mind on which one to shoot, especially after they’ve used it without fail for several hunting seasons. Arrows would rank up there, too, but here’s one category that has really seen some improvements over the years.

I have personally switched back and forth on both categories over the years, mainly because shooting the latest and greatest entries is part of my job here at Deer & Deer Hunting. It’s almost bittersweet, however, because I am a guy who does not like change, especially when accuracy and performance are at stake. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed to have been able to test some of the very best products in every category. When it comes deer hunting arrows, Easton Archery falls into that best-of-class category.

Specifically, the FMJ line of arrows has been so impressive that it’s really hard for me to delineate vast difference in performance (on deer). They fly straight, hit hard and penetrate deeply. And I’m talking all of the flavors in this brand. More recently, I’m talking specifically abou the 5 mm offerings that Easton provides.

If you’ve watched my exploits on Deer & Deer Hunting TV, you’ve seen me take down everything from hogs to deer with the 5 mm FMJs. Up until this year, I’ve been shooting the very cool Woodland Camo versions. This year, I’ve been testing out the new for 2020 Limited Edition FMJ Legend Micro diameter 5MM Full Metal Jacket arrows.

If you are unfamiliar with this new offering, here’s the skinny (pun intended): The arrow consists of a 7075 aerospace aluminum over high-strength carbon design that adds kinetic energy and precision to improve penetration and broadhead accuracy. The aluminum jacket makes pulling shafts from targets easier than carbon-surfaced arrows. Lower friction and aluminum/carbon composition combine for pass-through impacts and easier to follow blood trails on tough big game like whitetails, hogs, elk, etc.

What I like most is the weight. I’ve actually called this the “skinny/chunky” design because the arrow is streamlined yet has enough “oomf” to drive up that much-wanted energy. It comes in three sizes: 400, 340 and 300 — the provide shaft-grain weights (grain per inch) of 10.2, 11.3 and 12.0, respectively. Stock lengths are 31.5 inches to 32.5 inches.

From a pure performance factor, these arrows are super straight (±0.002) and spine-matched. They also include the HIT inserts, which provides for some of that accuracy. I’ve been shooting them out of my new Mathews VXR 28 (29-inch draw / 60#). Teamed with my Apex Covert sight, this is the most accurate setup I’ve had in several years. Granted, this COVID-19 shutdown has seen me cracking off thousands of more shots this summer than in recent memory. So, yeah, that obviously has something to do with it.

The bottom line is the FMJ Legend Micro is an arrow that takes a lot of the guesswork out of your hunting quotient. It’s skinny profile helps with downrange accuracy, and its thick-wall carbon-fiber core with 7075 aluminum metal jacket profile provides the strength and durability that most whitetail hunters seek.

One side note: I fletched my FMJ Legend Micros with the new Easton Bully vanes. These new vanes are 2 inches long by .568 inches high.  They weigh 6.5 grain each. I should note that Bully vanes are built specifically for shooting both fixed-blade and expandable broadheads, but I have found them to be exceptional while shooting field points on the 3D course as well. They are stiffer than comparable short vanes, which helps with tuning. In fact, I have not adjusted my rig since getting it dialed in at 40 yards this past March. Hey, I’m not a tournament archer. I’m just a whitetail hunting fool. For me to dial in a rig and shoot it for 4+ months without adjusting it is a testament to the equipment. 

I simply cannot wait for fall and that first white-tailed doe that makes the mistake of stepping within bow range!

 

About the blogger:  Daniel Schmidt has been with D&DH for 26 years and has bagged more than 200 whitetails archery equipment. He is host of D&DH-TV on Pursuit Channel. Tune in every Saturday night to see this show, along with DeerTech TV, Land of Whitetail and Steve Bartylla’s Grow ’em Big TV.