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Gold Tip Kinetic Big Game XT 200 Arrows

Arrows

By Jace Bauserman

A few nights back a good friend dropped by the house to show off his new bow rig. The child-like smile on his face only widened as he pulled it from the box. It was a stunner. A beautiful new 2011 model loaded to the hilt with technology. The bow and its 80-pound draw weight were an ideal choice for his upcoming African safari. He was beaming with joy—that is until the talk turned to arrows.

He had put a serious dent in his wallet by buying a top-end bow but wasn’t willing to shell out a little more green for quality, heavy-duty arrows. Like many archers he was trying to cut a corner, but cutting the arrow corner is a big mistake. Arrows make up a pivotal part of the archery equation. Aside from the bow and strings, arrows may very well be the most important piece of equipment you buy. They must be customized to meet the demands of each specific hunt. And since he is going after dangerous game, his life will depend on whether or not his arrow can get the job done. My friend made a bad choice—don’t do the same.

Many arrow companies produce amazing shafts, and Gold Tip is one of them. True to form, this innovative company has hit the 2011 arrow market with force. Its Kinetic Series is phenomenal. This line of small-diameter, bone-crushing arrows is Gold Tip’s most advanced to date.

Field-testing these arrows was a joy. With an upcoming bison hunt lingering on the horizon, I decided to give the Kinetic Big Game XT 200 Arrows a whirl. I was impressed! As usual the wind was howling during my shooting session, but due to the arrows’ small diameter, they were able to cut the wind like butter. I wasn’t having to compensate left or right nearly as much as I normally would. Regardless of the wind speed, I was able to shoot kill-shot-sized groups out to 50 yards. This feature should attract the attention of any hunter who pursues heavy-boned game.

Hunters often shy from small-diameter shafts because they don’t want to sacrifice knockdown power, especially when going after big game. The Gold Tip Kinetic Series remedies that worry. The company cooked up a special blend of high-quality materials, which ensure deep penetration from each shaft in the Kinetic arsenal. My 29-inch Big Game 200s are set up to hunt, and delivered 75 pounds of kinetic energy from my favorite rig. The trauma caused by such a vicious blow will make for short tracking jobs. Now push that same arrow with an 80-pound bow setup and the kinetic energy will be more than enough to bring down animals like the Cape buffalo and other dangerous game. Some may call this type of setup overkill, but seriously big animals call for drastic measures.

The Kinetic Big Game XT 200s sport Gold Tip’s popular +/- .003 straightness rating. Knowing you have a straight arrow sure adds to an archer’s peace of mind, and a quality company like Gold Tip wouldn’t have it any other way.

Like all Gold Tip arrows, the Kinetic Big Game XT 200s are tough. This was proven thanks to one of my decrepit bag targets. On several occasions my arrows blew through the target, making contact with foreign objects in the background. Not once did the carbon crack, and the nock held its square fit into the shaft. Just your basic Gold Tip ingenuity at work.

These arrows easily accommodate the hunter who chooses or needs to pull more poundage. The 11.6 grains per inch and 200-spine create a beefy arrow designed to deliver maximum penetration. That 200-spine is very stiff, which prevents excessive flex as the arrow leaves the bow. This ultimately increases accuracy. Many archers often overlook or ignore spine tolerance, but in my opinion, it’s the most important part of the arrow shaft. Being that the Kinetic Big Game XT 200s are made from such quality material, they hold a consistent spine around the entire circumference of the shaft.

Another notable benefit of these arrows is their ability to deliver large, fixed-blade broadheads with spot-on accuracy. Broadhead tuning can be difficult, especially when a hunter is trying to push a bowling bowl with a noodle. Many arrows simply have too soft a spine tolerance to stabilize heavy, fixed-blade broadheads. The Kinetic Big Game XT 200s may have a small diameter, but don’t let that scare you. The ultra-stiff spine allows the arrow to achieve perfect broadhead flight for those heavy heads in the 125- to 150-grain category.

As you can see the Gold Tip Kinetic Big Game XT 200s are a great choice for the hunter wanting to bring down oversized game. These are small-diameter arrows that pack an enormous punch.

The Big Game XTs are just one of many in the Kinetic lineup. There are Kinetic shafts designed to meet and exceed the demands of any hunting scenario. To find out more information about these high-tech shafts, log onto Gold Tip’s website at goldtip.com or call (800) 551-0541.

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