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01-25-2015, 08:57 AM
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Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 81
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Helical vs strait fletching
I'm in the process of repairing the fletching on a few arrows and am curious as to wether to fletch them using a strait fletch or to use a helical offset? How would that affect accuracy and speed?
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01-25-2015, 09:05 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Calgary
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I can't answer the accuracy part but it will depend on the rest that you have. If you have an WB, straight fletching. If you're using a drop away rest I don't think it matters as much. I remember reading that it mostly comes down to personal preference. It makes sense to he that a helical vane will provide a little bit better and faster arrow stabilization but have nothing to back that up.
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01-25-2015, 12:20 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Look behind you :)
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I like offset (2-3 degree) fletch personally, not helical.
LC
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01-25-2015, 01:55 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: southern alberta
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X2 what lefty said
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01-25-2015, 03:09 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 16,958
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I prefer Helical.. stabs my broadheaded arrows quickr... fly like darts. But it loses speed
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Alberta Bigbore
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01-25-2015, 03:48 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Calgary
Posts: 90
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I find on short fletching you can't tell the difference. I use a helical jig for 2" blazers and they may as well be straight. With 4" vanes you'd notice the S-shape and it might have more of an impact on flight.
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Hunting: Hiking with guns.
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01-25-2015, 07:16 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: WMU 303
Posts: 8,480
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Offset and helical. I normally don't use mechanicals. So I go for the most control I can get out of 2 inch blazers.
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01-26-2015, 06:45 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2013
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I use 2 degrees right hand offset with 2" blazers, in hunting deer and
turkey my range would be 25 yards shots or less.
If I was going to try to increase my range out to say 30 or 35 yard shots
I would switch to 4 or 5" fletching and still set them at 2 or 3 degrees
offset. I used fletch 4 or 5" vanes with a 3 degrees offset before I switched
to 2" blazers about 8 years ago and they worked fine without being helical.
But again was always 25 yard or less shots when hunting.
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01-26-2015, 08:21 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Wainwright
Posts: 4,499
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Old school rule avoid straight fletch like the plaque when using broadheads...
I personally us straight fletcher offset as much as arrow and vane have full contact...
Helical are very noisy...we stood safely behind a building as a shooter shot a target passed us [Not reccomended..under strict management]...
The helicals we could hear almost as soon as they left bow...quitest was the straight fletch...but refer to above...that test really sold me on offset...
* Note test was done on four and five inch vanes and feathers...have not listened to Blazers Helical
Neil
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04-13-2015, 08:08 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2014
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I use 2" helical blazers . And my broadhead group are night and day better at 70-80 yards . As for shot 20 -35 yards I see no difference .
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04-13-2015, 08:14 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE, Saskatchewan
Posts: 671
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ok to add more questions to the OP. -Sorry about that.
I have
Whisker bisket,
4" straight vanes
fixed broadhead
What is your recommendation.
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04-14-2015, 08:13 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Wainwright
Posts: 4,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 220 Swift
ok to add more questions to the OP. -Sorry about that.
I have
Whisker bisket,
4" straight vanes
fixed broadhead
What is your recommendation.
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You sure they are straight or offset ...look down the vanes closely and see how sit...this is straight for sure > | and offset will look like > /
With your set up of course at least offest is recommend...straight fletch should be avoided for broadheads...
I use the same set up sucessfully...but with offset...
Neil
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05-01-2015, 03:01 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 138
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helical through WB
I just installed some Bohning Blazer Stretch Fletch helical vanes on some 350 Maxima Blue Streak arrows. They are advertised as 3 degree helical, however I twisted them up to make the helical considerably more aggressive than that. I estimate they are more like 6 to 8 degree helical.
I shot them through a WB rest (with large apperature) and they shoot well, and should stabilize a broadhead quickly. I did a speed comparison with identical arrows with offset blazers, and found the following results.
Using an APA M6, set at 55#, with 400 grain arrows and a 28" draw, the offset arrows came off the bow at 274 fps, and the helical at 267 fps. This would be attributed to the extra drag through the rest. At 50 yds, the offsets were at 251 fps, and the helicals at 243 fps. I was surprised that the helicals didn't lose more speed at 50 yds, only trailing the offset blazers by 8 fps, and 7 of the 8 was lost to getting through the WB. I can't comment on the longevity of the WB or the vanes yet, but will post back after shooting a bunch more arrows. The Stretch Fletch vanes seem extemely tough however, and I will be surprised if they show much wear. They are heavier, as they are one piece construction, and this extra weight on the back took my FOC from 11.4 to 8.8, compared with the offset Blazers.
Last edited by Leather burner; 05-01-2015 at 03:21 PM.
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05-01-2015, 03:18 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: WMU 303
Posts: 8,480
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leather burner
I just installed some Bohning Blazer Stretch Fletch helical vanes on some 350 Maxima Blue Streak arrows. They are advertised as 3 degree helical, however I twisted them up to make the helical considerably more aggressive than that. I estimate they are more like 6 to 8 degree helical.
I shot them through a WB rest and they shoot well, and should stabilize a broadhead quickly. I did a speed comparison with identical arrows with offset blazers, and found the following results.
Using an APA M6, set at 55#, with 400 grain arrows and a 28" draw, the offset arrows came off the bow at 274 fps, and the helical at 267 fps. This would be attributed to the extra drag through the rest. At 50 yds, the offsets were at 251 fps, and the helicals at 243 fps. I was surprised that the helicals didn't lose more speed at 50 yds, only trailing the offset blazers by 8 fps, and 7 of the 8 was lost to getting through the WB. I can't comment on the longevity of the WB or the vanes yet, but will post back after shooting a bunch more arrows. The Stretch Fletch vanes seem extemely tough however, and I will be surprised if they show much wear. They are heavier, as they are one piece construction, and this extra weight on the back took my FOC from 11.4 to 8.8, compared with the offset Blazers.
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Wow. I like as much offset and helical as I can get using a standard AZ EZ fletch but this top everything. I like. I too am surprised at the speed it retains out to 50 yards. Tells us about grouping.........with and without BH's (type of BH's). I assume you use fixed heads.
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05-01-2015, 03:31 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CNP
Wow. I like as much offset and helical as I can get using a standard AZ EZ fletch but this top everything. I like. I too am surprised at the speed it retains out to 50 yards. Tells us about grouping.........with and without BH's (type of BH's). I assume you use fixed heads.
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will be using montecs, and will post the results. the field points grouped very well, often touching at 50 yds, at least when I did my part.
Last edited by Leather burner; 05-01-2015 at 03:40 PM.
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05-01-2015, 04:18 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: edmonton area
Posts: 873
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that's very interesting did you glue the fletch on so they keep the twist? thanks for sharing
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05-01-2015, 08:14 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rpm360
that's very interesting did you glue the fletch on so they keep the twist? thanks for sharing
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They are a really tight friction fit. Once they were in place, I ran a light bead around the leading and tailing edge to lock them down, but it probably wasn't necessary.
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05-01-2015, 08:18 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB
Posts: 16,958
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Probably sound like a helicopter landing to the deer. Lol
Quote:
Originally Posted by Leather burner
I just installed some Bohning Blazer Stretch Fletch helical vanes on some 350 Maxima Blue Streak arrows. They are advertised as 3 degree helical, however I twisted them up to make the helical considerably more aggressive than that. I estimate they are more like 6 to 8 degree helical.
I shot them through a WB rest (with large apperature) and they shoot well, and should stabilize a broadhead quickly. I did a speed comparison with identical arrows with offset blazers, and found the following results.
Using an APA M6, set at 55#, with 400 grain arrows and a 28" draw, the offset arrows came off the bow at 274 fps, and the helical at 267 fps. This would be attributed to the extra drag through the rest. At 50 yds, the offsets were at 251 fps, and the helicals at 243 fps. I was surprised that the helicals didn't lose more speed at 50 yds, only trailing the offset blazers by 8 fps, and 7 of the 8 was lost to getting through the WB. I can't comment on the longevity of the WB or the vanes yet, but will post back after shooting a bunch more arrows. The Stretch Fletch vanes seem extemely tough however, and I will be surprised if they show much wear. They are heavier, as they are one piece construction, and this extra weight on the back took my FOC from 11.4 to 8.8, compared with the offset Blazers.
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Alberta Bigbore
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05-01-2015, 08:35 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore
Probably sound like a helicopter landing to the deer. Lol
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yup, they sizzle through the air, no doubt there. I'm thinking the bow firing noise would overpower the arrow sound however, and if the deer was going to jump/ duck it would have already begun the process by the time the fletching noise comes into play.
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05-05-2015, 09:43 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: SE, Saskatchewan
Posts: 671
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so new to helical again, is the arrow above a right or left one.
when buying a helical fletcher, does right mean- this one is for a right handed shooter or does this mean a right wing on the bird?
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05-05-2015, 10:12 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: WMU 303
Posts: 8,480
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 220 Swift
so new to helical again, is the arrow above a right or left one.
when buying a helical fletcher, does right mean- this one is for a right handed shooter or does this mean a right wing on the bird?
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The one above will spin to the right. It doesn't matter. The arrow will spin left or right and again that doesn't matter which hand you shoot from.
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05-06-2015, 07:51 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Wainwright
Posts: 4,499
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In simplicity...the difference between left and right wing feathers is that right wing feathers come from the right wing of the bird and left wing feathers from the left wing. .
From the archer's perspective left wing feathers will induce a counter clockwise rotation [left] and right wing feathers will induce a clockwise rotation [Right].
Feather fletchings are very forgiving and stabilise the arrow very quickly. They have a built in natural spin when fletched straight, or are commonly fletched with a helical to increase spin and maximise arrow stability.
They are often used on traditional bows that are shot from the shelf or hand, as feathers do not deflect in the same way as a plastic vane, but simply brush past.
Although they are availible as ‘left wing’ and ‘right wing’, this does not reflect the hand of the archer. It is the wing of the bird, not the handedness of the archer. A left handed archer can shoot a right wing feather perfectly well. for consistency Just do not mix them! Choose one or the other and you are all set
Neil
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05-07-2015, 09:44 PM
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Join Date: May 2007
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Thanks again. You answered my questions.
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05-10-2015, 09:03 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 19
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Heard that helical fleshing is accurate but noisey, true ?
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05-11-2015, 08:41 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Wainwright
Posts: 4,499
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cwswanberg
Heard that helical fleshing is accurate but noisey, true ?
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With target or field points I wouldnt say they are any more accurate than offset etc....however with broadheads the more rotation the more stabilization so one could say more accurate for some...center of X is Center of X regardless of vane set up...
As a rule more rotation more noise...some sing all the way !
Neil
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