A carbon arrow
is a lethal tool.
Carbon arrows are extremely strong — but extremely strong does not mean indestructible. A compromised shaft fired at draw weight can shatter on release and put fragments through the bow hand or arm. Every arrow must be inspected before every shot. Read this page in full before you shoot anything we have built.
Read these. They keep
fingers attached.
Never shoot a damaged shaft.
Cracked, dented, splintered or impact-damaged carbon shafts can fail explosively on release. Carbon fragments can penetrate the bow hand or arm and cause serious or permanent injury.
Never draw and release without an arrow.
Dry-firing a compound bow stores energy that has nowhere to go — that energy will destroy the bow, the limbs, and frequently the shooter. A dry-fired bow must be inspected by a qualified technician before use.
Don't shoot the wrong spine.
An arrow under-spined for your bow's draw weight will flex past its design limit on release and may snap mid-launch. Use the Spine Selector if you are uncertain.
Broadheads stay sheathed until they're on the bow.
Reaper broadheads ship surgically sharp. Treat them as edged weapons. Use a wrench to mount them. Never test sharpness with a thumb. A broadhead cut is a hospital cut.
The six-step
pre-shoot inspection.
The Flex Test
Hold the shaft at both ends and apply gentle bending pressure with your knee while rotating slowly. Listen for any cracking, popping or snapping. A healthy shaft is silent. Any audible response — discard.
Visual Inspection
Roll the shaft slowly under a strong light. Look for hairline cracks, splinters, gouges, surface dents or any disruption of the carbon weave finish. Pay special attention to the front 6 inches behind the insert.
Insert & Point Check
Confirm the insert sits flush and is bonded — no rotation, no wobble. Confirm the point or broadhead is tightened with the appropriate wrench. A loose point on a heavy shaft will throw flight badly off.
Nock Inspection
Check the nock for cracks, splits or excessive wear in the throat. A compromised nock can release prematurely or fail to release at all — both outcomes are dangerous. Nocks are cheap; replace at the first sign of wear.
Fletching Condition
Vanes lifted at the base or torn along the length will steer the arrow off course at hunting distances. Reglue any partially-lifted vane before it tears free in flight. Re-fletch any shaft missing one or more vanes entirely.
Post-Impact Inspection
Any arrow that hits anything other than the intended target — a rock, a bone, another arrow, the frame of a target butt — must be re-inspected from Step 01 before being shot again. Hidden damage is the dangerous damage.
Range and field
safe practice.
At the range
- Never aim a bow — drawn or undrawn — at anything you don't intend to shoot.
- Wait for an "all clear" signal before retrieving arrows. Never break it.
- Stay behind the shooting line when others are at full draw.
- Confirm the lane is clear of people, pets and obstructions every time.
In the field
- Know your target. Know what is behind your target — for at least 300 metres.
- Identify the animal positively before nocking an arrow.
- Hunt only within your honest effective range. Group sizes lie at distance.
- Do not shoot from elevated stands without a full-body harness rated for the load.
With others
- One shooter per lane. Wait your turn.
- Communicate before you draw — verbally or with an agreed hand signal.
- Never shoot from an elevated position when a person is downrange of you.
- Beginners shoot under the supervision of someone qualified to call a stop.
With minors
- Adult supervision at all times — no exceptions.
- Draw weight matched to body weight and pull strength.
- Field points only until proper supervision and form is established.
- Treat every bow as if it is loaded. Always.
Storage and
transport protocols.
Hard case
Always transport in a fitted case. Vibration micro-fractures end careers.
Temperature
Don't leave shafts in a hot vehicle. Sustained heat softens adhesive bonds.
Humidity
Store in a dry environment. Fletching adhesives weaken in prolonged damp.
Vertical
Store vertically where possible. Long-term horizontal storage can induce shaft set.
Broadheads
Sheathed. Separate from shafts. Locked away from children.
Bow press
Don't leave a strung compound bow under a vehicle seat or against a wall.
African Reaper Arrows (Pty) Ltd manufactures premium carbon hunting arrows to strict tolerances. By purchasing, shooting or otherwise using our product, the user acknowledges that archery, bowhunting and the use of edged hunting equipment carry inherent risks of serious injury or death — to the user, to bystanders, and to property.
The user assumes all responsibility for safe handling, inspection, storage, transport and lawful use of the equipment. African Reaper Arrows (Pty) Ltd accepts no liability for injury, damage or loss arising from product misuse, failure to inspect, modification, use beyond intended purpose, or use by minors without qualified supervision.
Always comply with the firearms, archery and hunting regulations applicable in your jurisdiction. Hunt only with the appropriate permits and on land where you are legally entitled to do so. If you are uncertain — ask. We have a phone and we answer it.