Outside of bows and broadheads, arrows are one of the hottest conversion topics among archery and bowhunting enthusiasts. Â
Terms like FOC, Total Arrow Weight (TAW), spine, and grains per inch are more common and discussed than ever before.
For 2025, the team at Easton Archery has introduced two new arrow models that offer the industry-leading quality you’ve come to expect from Easton in a lighter-weight package that allows for added flexibility in your arrow builds.
It’s no secret that I love the Easton Axis 5mm arrow.Â
This has been my do-all arrow of choice for many years and I’ve harvested a lot of critters with them. In my opinion, this is just about the perfect bowhunting arrow.
However, if there was one thing I could change it would be having a slightly lighter weight option with the same straightness and durability of the Axis.
Enter the Easton 5.0 carbon arrow.
This new 5mm carbon arrow offers the same legendary Easton toughness and accuracy in a lighter weight.
This opens up more opportunities to add more weight to the front of your arrow to increase FOC without increasing your total arrow weight past where you want it to be.
For example, my 28.5″ Axis 5mm with a standard aluminum HIT insert, match-grade collar, 100-grain broadhead, and lighted nock weighs around 460 grains. This is right where I like to be for my whitetail hunting needs.
However, the FOC on that setup is relatively low for today’s standards – somewhere in the 5-7% range.
Increasing my FOC by adding point weight increases my total arrow weight to 500+ grains, which isn’t bad, but it’s a bit more than I’d like.
Building that same-size arrow using an Easton 5.0 shaft allows me to add 50-75 grains of weight up front in the form of either a brass HIT insert or the new Match Grade half-outs while keeping the same total arrow weight and bumping my FOC way up. It’s a win-win.
Easton 5.0 arrows are available in six spine options: 200, 250, 300, 340, 400, and 500.Â
If I had to pick a second favorite do-all bowhunting arrow, it would be the Easton Full Metal Jacket, or FMJ as the kids call them.
Built with a carbon core and then wrapped in high-quality aluminum, the FMJ is an absolute killing machine. BUT, they’re heavy.
I shot FMJs last fall, and with a standard aluminum HIT insert and no additional weight up front, I was already over 500 grains with a 340 spine arrow.
This didn’t allow for much wiggle room in adding weight up front without pushing me into a total arrow weight that was more than I bargained for.
Enter the Easton FMJ Max – a lighter-weight version of the venerable FMJ.
Just like the Easton 5.0, the FMJ Max weighs less per inch, which opens up a whole new world of options when it comes to building arrows that fit a specific FOC and total weight combination that you’re looking to hit.
Having options is a good thing!
Both the Easton 5.0 and the FMJ Max are available in Match Grade or Standard options. Â
The Match Grade arrows features .001+/- straightness tolerance and are factory fletched with 3″ AAE Hybrid vanes. They also include Match Grade HIT collars with purchase.
The standard versions come with 2″ Blazer vanes and have a .003+/- straightness tolerance.
Also new for 2025 are Match Grade Half-Out inserts. Â
Available in both 55 and 75 grain options, these high quality components feature a two-piece design with a collar that is permanently fused to the post of the insert.
This helps to reinforce and protect the end of your arrow shaft while also adding additional weight to increase both FOC and TAW.
Like all Easton arrows and components, the 5.0 and FMJ Max are made right here in the USA and are available at finer archery dealers everywhere.
