We wouldn’t say this about the majority of bowhunters, but we will say that a lot of bowhunters are like water — they tend to follow the path of least resistance.

What do we mean? With regards to hunting arrows, for instance, there are SO MANY to choose from that it’s often easier to make decisions based on price. You might just assume that choosing a more expensive shaft, you’re automatically getting a better performing product. However, selecting a new hunting shaft takes some research, some thoughtful consideration, and going through the test-and-tune process all over again. Sure, you can absolve yourself of the responsibility and let someone in the archery pro shop decide for you, but astute bowhunters know that is a hit or miss proposition.

So, with the bowhunting tune-up season upon us, we want to help you cut through the clutter and find the arrow that’s right for you. Is our recommendation biased? You better believe it, but that’s because we have field-proven reasons for our choices, namely, we’ve shot, tested, and successfully hunted with many arrow designs and brands over the years and our barometer points decisively to one design in particular — the Easton Full Metal Jacket (FMJ).

The thing is, even that bit of guidance isn’t enough for the veteran bowhunter or the beginner. Within the FMJ lineup there are several different models — each developed to meet specific bowhunting applications. What we want to do here is help you decide which model within the FMJ stable is the best for your hunting needs and budget. But first, if you are new to the bowhunting scene or are simply unfamiliar with the FMJ, we need to start with the fundamentals.

The Full Metal Jacket name, while certainly marketing savvy, is also quite descriptive of the product since it alludes to the arrow’s construction. Inside, the FMJ begins with a high-strength, precision carbon core that provides the inherent lightweight durability that carbon material affords.

Fused to the outside of the FMJ carbon core is an aluminum alloy jacket. Easton was the originator of the aluminum arrow that bowhunters have relied on for decades, and as with carbon shafts, the merits of aluminum shafts remain solid. They can be manufactured to the most precise tolerances for enhanced accurate shooting while offering added weight for improved penetration.

Together, the FMJ concept brings the two materials together so they work in concert to offer the advantages of both carbon and aluminum shafts into a single bowhunting arrow giving several advantages over a single-material arrow.

The greatest of these advantages for the bowhunter, and the reason these shafts sit at the top of our list, is the FMJ’s weight-to-diameter ratio.

By themselves, aluminum shafts in bowhunting weights have a relatively large diameter. Larger diameter shafts, of course, have more surface area, which means more friction when passing through game animals or even the atmosphere. They also catch more air in a crosswind, and that can lead to point-of-impact drift when shooting longer distances.

Carbon shafts tend to be narrower and lighter than aluminum, giving them good velocities at launch and a flatter trajectory. The downside is that their light weight doesn’t always deliver the downrange energy that is desired when shooting big game at longer distances.

The FMJ solves these problems. The carbon core permits the shaft to be exceptionally small in diameter — down to 4mm. That takes care of the issues with the large surface area of an aluminum shaft. Fusing an aluminum jacket to the carbon core adds weight (more kinetic energy) and an improved friction coefficient for better downrange penetration, solving the issue with the inherent light weight of a carbon shaft.

Easton has added to the FMJ line with varying feature sets and now offers several models at price points within range of nearly any bowhunter’s budget.

T64 FMJ

This is the newest entry into the FMJ family and the first carbon/aluminum alloy shaft of its kind. The T64 is a multi-diameter arrow that begins at 6mm toward the front and tapers down to 4mm at the nock end. The purpose of this shaft is found in its superior stability and penetration potential.

It is well established that a weight-forward shaft is more stable in flight than one that is more equally weighted from front to back. Archers call this front-of-center weighting, or F.O.C. Arrows with an F.O.C. percentage of around 10-15 stabilize more quickly after launch, making them more accurate and allowing them to preserve more energy for impact penetration. Additionally, this added built-in F.O.C. is accomplished without having to use overly heavy points and inserts so tuning is easier.

Another advantage of the T64’s tapered design is that the reducing shaft diameter results in less friction as the arrow passes through an animal. Essentially, the larger front end clears a path for the back end of the arrow.

While the T64 is arguably the best-performing bowhunting arrow on the market today, it comes at a price … literally. MSRP for a dozen is around $299. It is, however, suitable for pretty much anything you wish to hunt.

4mm FMJ

Next in the line is the 4mm ultra-micro FMJ.  This FMJ is the smallest-diameter shaft in the FMJ line, at 4mm diameter.  As such, there is less surface area to create friction as it passes through an animal. This shaft is the go-to for any seasoned bowhunter looking to pull out all the stops in maximizing penetration.  The 4MM is field-proven over and over boasting nearly 10 years on the market with countless elk and moose hunters bragging its awesome killing penetration.

5mm FMJ

Sitting in the middle of the road is the most popular in the FMJ line — the 5mm. Consider this the 2500 of the pickup truck world — built to tackle most jobs — it’s the workhorse of the FMJ line.

The 5mm FMJ has a slightly higher GPI than the 4mm Injexion FMJ and a 1mm increase in diameter. As such, the 5mm FMJ is ideal if you are looking for an all-around top-performing performing shaft to hunt everything from whitetails to elk at distances ranging from in-your-face to way-out-there.

This shaft is also available in the Limited Edition Legend Series for 2020. Additionally, Easton offers the 5mm FMJ in a Match Grade model, which has a tight ± .001” straightness tolerance to add confidence in the shot for serious enthusiast bowhunters.

5mm FMJ Dangerous Game

Continuing our pickup truck analogy, the 5mm FMJ Dangerous Game is the one-ton bruiser on the lot. This arrow, as its name implies, is designed for maximum impact energy and penetration when hunting the largest and toughest big-game species. Given its specialized purpose, it is available one spine deflection — 250, so it is meant for shooting heavy draw weight bows needed to bow hunt the world’s largest game. The GPI for D.G. is 17.7 grains, putting it within reach where minimum arrow weights are mandated. Compare that to the 300 5mm FMJ with its 12.0 GPI. As you can see, the 5mm FMJ Dangerous Game is all about bone-smashing penetration. Just make sure you can handle the bow you need to launch it.

6mm FMJ

Those who are looking to get the advantages of a Full Metal Jacket arrow at a more price-friendly alternative, may want to consider the 6mm FMJ. Although a millimeter larger in diameter, the 6mm FMJ delivers most of the same key advantages of its stablemates. The primary difference, aside from the larger diameter, is its +/- .003-inch straightness (compared to +/- .002-inch for the 5mm FMJ) and subsequent lower price point. Consider the 6mm FMJ more than adequate for North American big-game species, with the side benefit of slightly more speed since it’s just a little lighter the its 5mm brother.

FMJ Crossbow

So, you like the concept of the carbon/aluminum alloy shaft but are thinking, “Hey, what about my crossbow?” Well, Easton has you covered.

The FMJ Crossbow arrow is the same song, different dance. We’ve busted plenty of game with both carbon and aluminum crossbow arrows, but there’s just something about the heft of the FMJ that draws us. The carbon core and 7075 alloy jacket give this shaft a robust 13.7-grain GPI on both the 20- and 22-inch shafts offered. To help boost weight, the FMJ Crossbow accepts Easton’s brass crossbow inserts, so you can take the weight up another 100 grains. The result is a crossbow arrow that shoots hard, penetrates deep, and, when well-weighted, can reduce crossbow noise and vibration.

Settling on an arrow that delivers the kind of performance you need is not as simple as grabbing the bargain of the week at your local pro shop. With today’s high-speed vertical compounds and crossbows, it is even more critical to find a shaft that maximizes your bow’s velocity and impact potential. At the end of the day, the ability to deliver an arrow where you want it and with penetration meeting or exceeding that which is necessary for a quick, ethical kill is the benchmark. From our experience, Easton’s FMJ series hits that benchmark every time.

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