I'd been shooting Easton 6.5 FMJ arrows for a while — heavy, chunky, built like a tank in 340 spine. They hit hard and punched through everything, but they were slow and you could feel the weight. When I switched to the Terra Firma Sicario in 300 spine, the difference was immediate. Flatter trajectory, tighter groups at distance, and an arrow that doesn't feel like you're launching a fence post. Here's the full build breakdown — vanes, glue, tips, and how to set it all up properly.
The Sicario: What You're Working With
The Terra Firma Sicario is a 5mm carbon shaft built in Australia, now with a growing following across New Zealand and beyond. It's a slim, speed-oriented hunting arrow — not a tank, but not a tissue-paper target shaft either. The 5mm outer diameter (.204" inner) is narrower than most hunting arrows, which means less wind drag, better penetration, and a slightly different fletching experience than what you might be used to.
Here's the full spec breakdown across spines:
| Spine | GPI | Outer Diameter | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 | 10.7 | 7.01mm / .276" | Heavy draw weights, max FOC builds |
| 250 | 9.8 | 6.85mm / .270" | 60–70lb, longer draw lengths |
| 300 | 8.7 | 6.73mm / .265" | 55–65lb, standard hunting setups |
| 350 | 8.2 | 6.66mm / .262" | 50–60lb, lighter hunting builds |
| 400 | 7.0 | 6.45mm / .254" | Lower draw weights, youth setups |
| 500 | 6.1 | 6.35mm / .250" | Lightest/fastest builds |
The 300 spine at 8.7 GPI is the sweet spot for most hunting bows in the 55–65 lb range. Compare that to the Easton 6.5 FMJ 340 at around 10.4 GPI — you're losing roughly 1.7 grains per inch, which over a 28" cut arrow means about 48 grains less shaft weight. That's significant speed, and it changes your total build considerably.
Each pack ships with 60gr stainless steel outserts plus alloy inserts, and TF's short-profile .204 nocks. The outserts are a smart inclusion — they add front-of-centre weight right where you want it on a lighter shaft, and the stainless construction means they won't collapse on impact the way aluminium inserts can on tough bone.
Sicario vs. Easton 6.5 FMJ: Why It Matters
If you're coming from a heavier arrow like the Easton 6.5 FMJ, the Sicario is a different tool with different trade-offs. The FMJ's aluminium jacket gives it exceptional durability and that dense, heavy feel that many hunters prefer for penetration. The Sicario gives up some of that mass in exchange for speed and a flatter arc.
In practical hunting terms: the Sicario in 300 spine with a 100gr tip will fly noticeably faster and hit with a flatter trajectory. The FMJ will retain more momentum through heavy bone and dense tissue. For most NZ and Australian hunting — deer, fallow, goats, pigs — the Sicario is more than adequate. For large, heavy-boned animals where penetration is the absolute priority, the heavier FMJ has the edge.
Vanes: What Works on a 5mm Shaft
The .204" inner diameter of the Sicario means standard vane tape jigs and fletching tools work fine, but the slim outer diameter does reward a slightly more careful helical setup compared to a fatter shaft. Here's what's worth running:
AAE Max Stealth — Best All-Round Pick
This is what I've been running. The Max Stealth is a low-profile, stiff vane — roughly 1.75" long and dead flat in profile. It generates excellent spin on a slim shaft without adding bulk, and it clears whisker biscuit rests cleanly. Durability is exceptional; they take a beating through target foam without peeling. The slim profile also means minimal wind planing compared to taller vanes.
Check AAE Max Stealth price on Amazon →
Bohning Blazer 2" — Budget Reliable
The Blazer is the industry standard cheap vane for a reason — it's consistent, easy to fletch, grips well with most glues, and produces good steering even with a straight offset. If you're new to building arrows or want a low-cost option that won't embarrass you in the field, Blazers are hard to argue with.
Check Bohning Blazer price on Amazon →
AAE Hybrid 23 — Best for Accuracy at Distance
A taller, two-tone vane designed for maximum steering. More drag than the Max Stealth but produces tighter groups at 60+ yards because the extra surface area corrects poor arrow exit more aggressively. Worth considering if you're shooting open country at longer distances.
Check AAE Hybrid 23 price on Amazon →
Spin Wings — Target Crossover
Thin mylar vanes that produce aggressive spin and minimal drag. Excellent for 3D and field archery, less practical for hunting — they're fragile and don't survive repeated contact with rest bristles or brush. Worth a mention for anyone who runs the same arrow setup between hunting and target work.
Fletching Glue: Don't Cut Corners Here
Carbon shafts need the right glue — not superglue, not hot glue, and definitely not a guess. The 5mm Sicario's outer diameter means the bonding surface area per vane is slightly smaller than on a fatter shaft, so adhesion quality matters even more.
AAE Max Bond — Best for AAE Vanes
Designed specifically to bond AAE vanes (Max Stealth, Hybrid, EP) to carbon shafts. It cures flexible rather than rigid, which means vanes flex slightly on impact and are less likely to peel under stress. If you're running AAE vanes, use AAE glue — they're designed to work together and the bond strength shows it.
Check AAE Max Bond on Amazon →
Bohning Fletch-Tite Platinum — Best All-Purpose
The standard for a reason. Works with virtually any vane material on any carbon shaft, dries fast, and holds up to heat and field conditions. The platinum formula is noticeably stronger than the original. Good choice if you're running mixed vane brands or just want one glue that handles everything.
Check Bohning Fletch-Tite Platinum on Amazon →
G5 Fletch Tape — Field Emergency Fix
Not a substitute for proper glue, but invaluable in the field when a vane peels mid-hunt. Double-sided tape that bonds fast and holds a vane in place long enough to get you through a day. Keep a few strips in your pack.
Check G5 Fletch Tape on Amazon →
Tips: 100gr vs 125gr on the Sicario
This is where the real tuning decisions happen. The Sicario 300 at 8.7 GPI cut to 28" gives you a shaft weight of around 244 grains. Add the 60gr stainless outsert, nock, and vanes and you're looking at a total arrow weight of roughly 440–450 grains before the tip. Here's how 100gr vs 125gr changes things:
| Tip Weight | Est. Total Arrow Weight | Approx. FOC | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100gr | ~440–450gr | ~14–16% | Speed, flat trajectory, target/3D, lighter game |
| 125gr | ~465–475gr | ~17–19% | Hunting, better penetration, more stable in wind |
For hunting, 125gr is the better call. The extra 25 grains up front pushes FOC into the 17–19% range, which is the sweet spot for hunting arrows — stable in flight, better penetration, and more forgiving on marginal shots. The speed difference between 100gr and 125gr is real but small enough that it won't change your effective hunting range.
For practice and 3D archery, 100gr field tips keep the arrow lighter and faster and are easier on targets. Many hunters run 100gr field tips through the off-season and swap to 125gr broadheads for the season — just be aware this changes your point of impact and you'll need a new sight tape (more on that below).
Check your FOC before committing to a tip weight. The Sicario's 60gr stainless outsert already pushes front weight higher than a standard aluminium insert, so your FOC with even a 100gr tip may already be in healthy territory. Use the FOC calculator at SightTapeGen to check your exact number with your cut length and component weights before building the full dozen.
Broadhead Compatibility
The .204" inner diameter accepts all standard .204 components. That's the same thread as most popular broadheads — 100gr fixed blades like the Muzzy 100, G5 Montec, and Slick Trick Magnum all thread in directly. The same goes for mechanical options like the Rage Hypodermic. No adapters required.
For hunting, the heavier stainless outsert is a real advantage — it won't collapse or deform when a broadhead contacts heavy bone the way lighter aluminium inserts can, so you maintain thread integrity and the outsert protects the carbon shaft on pass-throughs.
Don't Forget Your Sight Tape
If you're switching from the Easton 6.5 FMJ to the Sicario — or changing tip weight between practice and season — your sight tape needs to be rebuilt. The FMJ 340 and the Sicario 300 have very different GPI ratings (10.4 vs 8.7), which means different total arrow weights and different speeds off the same bow. An arrow that's 50 grains lighter hits a meaningfully different point of impact at 50+ yards.
The same applies when you swap from 100gr field tips to 125gr broadheads. Even 25 grains changes your trajectory enough that your 40-yard pin on a practice tape won't match your hunting setup. Rebuild the tape at SightTapeGen using your actual cut arrow weight, tip weight, and bow specs — it takes about two minutes and keeps every mark on your sight accurate when it matters.
Sicario Build Summary
Spine: 300 for most hunting bows in the 55–65 lb range.
Vanes: AAE Max Stealth for hunting — low profile, durable, great on slim shafts. Blazers if you want budget and reliable.
Glue: AAE Max Bond with AAE vanes. Bohning Fletch-Tite Platinum for everything else. G5 Fletch Tape in your pack for field fixes.
Tips: 125gr for hunting (better FOC, penetration). 100gr for practice and 3D.
After building: Check your FOC with the calculator, then generate a fresh sight tape matched to your exact hunting setup.
The Sicario is a genuinely impressive arrow for the price. It shoots straight out of the box, the 60gr stainless outsert system is a smarter inclusion than you'll find on most competitors, and the 5mm diameter punches above its weight on penetration for the shaft weight. Coming from the Easton FMJ, the switch takes some adjustment in terms of trajectory and feel — but once you've dialled it in, it's hard to go back to the heavier setup.