There’s a reason the long-distance rifle crowd loads their own ammo, use wind-measuring kestrels and top their quality rifles with scopes that push the dollar amount above $1K. That reason is precision. They want the best. When shooting at distances of 1,000 yards and beyond, there is no room for error.
Bowhunters looking to boost their range, whether that range be for practice or extending effective killing range, should take a play out of the long-distance rifle playbook. Of course, archery is a close-range sport. Few things make me happier than sending a shaft through the lungs of a 20-yard whitetail. However, throngs of bowhunters have found practicing at ranges double those they plan to shoot in the field makes them much more proficient. Plus, I’ve always preached that those that come West hoping to fill an archery pronghorn or mule deer tag need to be absolutely confident in making a 60-yard shot.
Of course, having a great bow, sight, rest and stabilizer is important, but it’s the arrow that cuts the air between the bow’s shelf and the intended target. For this reason, those looking to up their long-range archery game should focus on finding a shaft that will greatly aid their long-range hopes. Enter Easton’s 4MM family.
I’ve been a fan of the 4MM FMJ since its inception. The biggest reason for my obsession with the shaft is its ability to reduce wind drift. Wind can wreak havoc on an arrow. When shooting in a crosswind, the breeze will push against the shaft. This can’t be helped. Shooting an ultra-micro-diameter arrow, however, gives the wind less surface area to affect.
Personal testing has proved at distances between 20 and 40 yards, no hold adjustment is needed to double-lung a deer in a 12-15 mph crosswind. The 4MM cuts through the wind like butter and finds its mark. Of course, this will be different for every archer. Speed coupled with total arrow-grain weight can make a difference. The key is practicing in the wind and learning what your bow-and-arrow rig can do.
At distances of 50 to 100 yards, I get significantly less wind drift with my 4MM shafts than those branded with standard diameter measurements. Do I get some drift? Sure. Wind will affect a projectile. What’s awesome is that affect is significantly less when shooting a micro-diameter shaft.
Other benefits of a shaft in the 4MM range, side of increased accuracy of course, is how that shaft hits an intended target. Because left and right nock travel is reduced, field points and broadheads impact targets and animals much squarer, which means increased penetration. When it comes to shooting animals with broadheads, penetration is everything. Not only will micro-diameter shafts hit squarer, but friction behind the broadheads is greatly reduced.
Today’s broadheads, both fixed-blade and mechanical, make big holes. A micro-diameter shaft can track more seamlessly behind a broadhead. This means the shaft will have less contact with tissue, organs and the like, which will allow that shaft to drive deeper into the animal. More penetration allows the broadhead to cut more and cause increased trauma. This leads to shorter blood trails and more recovered big-game animals.
This past elk season, I sent an Easton 4MM shaft from a distance of 60 yards into the lungs of a slightly quarter-to elk. Before you tar and feather me, let me note months of practice coupled with exact knowledge of my arrow/broadhead setup provided extreme confidence. My arrow weight was perfect, my F.O.C. was very close to 12%, and I knew if the arrow was put close to the shoulder, it would angle perfectly into the bull. The shaft buried up to the nock. During the cleaning process, it was clear the broadhead went through one lung, caught the back-side of the other and devastated the liver. The bull went less than 100 yards before piling up. Yes, a long-distance shot, precision accuracy and maximum penetration.
For years, many would-be 4MM converts shied from the shaft due to inserts that would only accept Deep Six broadheads. That issue has been remedied for 2021. Easton’s all-new 4MM FMJ and 4MM Axis Long Range arrows come with aluminum 8-32 Half-Out outserts. Bingo! Now you can thread your favorite 8-32 broadhead into a micro-diameter shaft. Not to mention, Axis fans now have a 4MM option.
If you’re looking for the best in arrow performance, Easton’s 4MM lineup is second to none. Yes, the arrows will cost you some coin, but when you consider all that you do to put meat on the table and horns on the wall, why not go the extra mile when it comes to arrow performance? My advice: Grab a dozen and do some experimenting. Take note of how well they perform in the wind, their hushed flight and the incredible penetration they produce. Enjoy pulling them from foam targets without pulling your shoulder out of socket. Watch your accuracy grow, and when it comes time to step in the woods, you’ll have a quiver full of micro-diameter assassins that provide you with the confidence you need to get the job done.
Easton’s 2021 4MM FMJ and Axis arrows are available in spine sizes of 250, 300, 340 and 400. All shafts come with 4MM 8-32 Aluminum Half-Out outserts and are fitted with 4mm MicroLite Nocks.
