Epsilon Arrows 

NOTE: Scout Mountain is no longer in business, however, these same arrows can be found with Vital Bow Gear.

March 13, 2001 — A hunting friend introduced me to a new carbon arrow not long ago, the Scout Mountain Equipment (SME) Epsilon.  Being a die-hard Gold Tip fan I never paid much attention to the arrows until just recently.  

After fighting the loosing battle of trying make Gold Tip shafts be more quiet while drawing across an arrow rest, I starting researching the market for a possible alternative.  I remembered looking at the SME arrows and recalled the shafts being coated with a slick finish.  

I made a request to SME for some test arrows and received one dozen arrows -- 3 coated medium spine, 3 uncoated medium spine, 3 coated heavy spine, and 3 uncoated heavy spine.  

Looking over the nocks and inserts my hopes of the Epsilon being a better hunting arrow were starting to come true.  

The inserts are longer for positive alignment and fit very snug into the shaft.  The nocks are a well designed push-in style without the nuisance of a set-screw.  I have had problems in the past with nocks cracking and splitting that have a set-screw, no chance here.  The nocks fit into the shafts very tight and will not rotate with common shooting and use.

All arrows were tested and met manufacture's specifications for straightness of +/- 0.003 inches over 28 inches.  One of the uncoated medium spine arrows was shot into the ground (twice) at 10 yards with a bow shooting around 315 fps, no visible destruction could be found.  However, it was observed that the straightness had moved above 0.003 inches.  Before you start thinking negative things about these arrows, remember carbon arrows can bend, just not as much as aluminum arrows.  Try shooting an aluminum arrow into the ground at 10 yards and see what happens.

NOTE:  Epsilon shafts are woven like a basket weave.  When testing the straightness of these arrows, you may witness a reading higher than 0.003 inches, this due to the height of the carbon ribbon.  The testing of the straightness must be done over a 28-inch span.

The coated arrows add a very stealth draw cycle without the need of applying some sort of noise dampening material to the arrow rest.  Drawing a coated arrow and then drawing an uncoated arrow is the same difference as night and day.

In a nut shell, I am very impressed and happy with the arrows.  The added feature of the slick coating has pushed me to give them a try for this year's hunting season.

M - Medium Spine, 8.3 grains/inch, deflection 0.385" in 28"

H - Heavy Spine 9.3 grains/inch), deflection 0.330" in 28"

Straightness: +/- 0.003 in 28"

Concentricity:  +/- 0.001 from the center

NOTE:  Before fletching the coated arrows, the fletching end of the shafts must be roughed up with a little sandpaper in order to ensure a good bond with fletching glue. Also, before fletching and cutting the arrows to length, cut one inch off of the fletching end. By doing this it will give you the straightest possible arrow.

Contact information
SME - Scout Mountain Equipment
P.O. Box 4013
1553 E. Center Street
Pocatello, Idaho 83201
Phone: (208) 232-2818  Fax: (208) 232-3316
www.smequip.com