3 or 4 fletch

[Greg Mullins]

3 blazer vanes on a 300 ACC can't beat it.

[Jellymon]

I fletch 3 helical blazers with my bitz jig.  Great consistancy and accuracy with fixed blades.

[scottcrb]

Hey RAD. When are you teaching that archery seminar?  so many questions that need answers 

[RadSav]

Hey RAD. When are you teaching that archery seminar?  so many questions that need answers 

No one wants to listen to me talk.  And even fewer want to watch me on video.  Born with a face for radio and a voice for silent film.  That's why I have embraced this site.  Ask a way - If I don't know the answer Maybe I'll make something up

[Hornseeker]

Hey Rad, you should put a pic of one of your arrows fletched as above, just so I can see how much you are putting on there... I have been fletching my own for 11 yrs and have never put helical or offset on my vanes!! ugh... always on my feathers... I always felt like compounds were so much easier to get the tune just right, plus the release is so clean, that there was no need to use the offset or heli...

 

[JLS]

Hey Rad, you should put a pic of one of your arrows fletched as above, just so I can see how much you are putting on there... I have been fletching my own for 11 yrs and have never put helical or offset on my vanes!! ugh... always on my feathers... I always felt like compounds were so much easier to get the tune just right, plus the release is so clean, that there was no need to use the offset or heli...

 

It's pretty easy with a Bitz. 

The offset will make the arrows spin faster, and thus stabilize faster and better when you attach a broadhead to them.

[Hornseeker]

Yeah, Ive done a LOT of tuning arrows to my longbows and recurves, but very little to compounds. I have to get into that a bit more. Like I said, I just figured with the adjustable rest, plus the clean release a mechanical offers compared to fingers off the shelf of a longbow... that the compound arrows didn't need all that to fly good... I am open to new stuff though and am all ears to you guys that have been shooting compounds for a long time.
All i've used for fletching is a Bitz... probably never switch...

[et1702]

Been shooting compounds going on 36 years this year.  As Rad indicated, I too use a helical clamp, plus offset to do my fletching.  Always used 3-fletch until last year.  Tried 4 fletch and I like it.  But, I also shoot a 150gr two-blade BH and about 18% FOC.  I'm also one of those long-armed guys shooting 31.5" draw length and 68 to 70lbs draw weight.

ET

[Hornseeker]

How long ya been in Duvall et? Lived there from 74-89.

Thanks for the response.

I wouldn't mind setting up a good heavy and high FOC rig... thats how I shoot my trad bows...which 150 you shooting?

[et1702]

How long ya been in Duvall et? Lived there from 74-89.

Thanks for the response.

I wouldn't mind setting up a good heavy and high FOC rig... thats how I shoot my trad bows...which 150 you shooting?

Been in WA since December 1992 and Duvall since Sept. 2003.  I am shooting the AK BH's Masai & Samurai models in 150gr weight.  I also shoot Strickland Archery's Helix 150gr BHs.  All of them are quality BHs and all the deer and elk I've shot w/them drop fast.  FYI, the entry holes are much bigger than anticipated for a typical two-blade, as all three of the models I mentioned have right-wing beveled edges.  They really do seem to continue to rotate as they penetrate.  I've also broke elk rib bones on both sides of the animal with complete pass thru's every time.  Most of the animals I've shot w/them ahve dropped within 40 to 60 yards, max. and all of them have dropped within hearing distance (i.e., big crash when elk drops FOR THE LAST TIME).  I've also used the Magnus two blades, G5 stryker and Slick trick's in 125 gr models w/brass inserts in my arrows and/or extra brass weights behind the inserts.  Out of the last three BH's mentioned, the only one I don't like is the Slick Trick.  I know lots of people do, but I've never had good performance from them.  Another good two-blade w/bleeders is S&S Archery's 125gr BH.  The New Mex. bull in my avatar dropped to this BH in Sept 2012.

BTW, if you lived in Duvall between 74 and 89, you probably know a couple of my good hunting buddies.  Do you know or remember the Maxwell's?  Tom and Sandy, or their son Scott.  Scott is one of my best friends and hunting partners.  How about Paul Watkins?  Another good friend and hunting partner.  Or, depending on how old you are, maybe you know Gary Sheldon?

If you want any help w/your setup, just let me know.

ET

[Hornseeker]

Scott was just a year or two ahead of me in school... wasn't buddies with Scott so much, but we knew eachother and he was a good guy! The only Watkins I knew was Dusty... Gary Sheldon sounds familiar... not sure why? Scott surely remembers my mom, she was the secretary at Cherry Valley while we were there...

Thanks for the broadhead info. I've shot Grizzlies and ABowyers for a while now out of my longbows... love them. And yeah, they do keep rotating as they pass through animal, paper, foam...whatever.

Take Care!

[RadSav]

I always felt like compounds were so much easier to get the tune just right, plus the release is so clean, that there was no need to use the offset or heli...

The physics of arrow flight are the same regardless of what bow they come out of   Sort of like NFL quarterbacks.  Doesn't matter who is throwing the ball, if it's not rotating on it's axis it probably looks like a lame duck.

If I find the time I will try to get a picture or two.  But, Jelly's looks about as good as you will ever need!

[Hornseeker]

Thats cool! dont worry about the pic then!

You do understand what im saying... an arrow coming off a center shot adjustable rest... released from a mechanical set of jaws... is easier to get to fly nicely than an arrow released with fingers off a shelf that is 3/16 out of center... i always strive to get the perfect arrow/head combo for my longbow to get great flight... but when that far outta center and even a "clean" finger release introducing a huge amount of lateral torque... its nice to have 4 inch feathers... 4 of them... with a good helical and offset!

When I am shooting good... I can group bare shafts at any yardage with my fletched shafts... but insurance is still nice!

Thanks all!

[RadSav]

It's easier to get the arrow out of the bow correctly with center shot, fall away rest and a release, but once any distance has been covered the physics are the same.  As I look at it, if helical has the ability to get an arrow going through extreme paradox into alignment just think how stable and true it will make one that doesn't need such extremes when leaving the bow.

Another visual that might help;

Ever try and stay upright on a bicycle that is stationary?  It takes incredible balance and constant adjustment if the wheels are not turning.  Forward momentum has little to do with how easy it is to remain upright once the bicycle is in motion.  It's the gyro stabilizing effect of the wheels and tires well balanced and rotating on their axis that creates the stability.  Same basic principle applies to an arrow (or football) in flight.

[4fletch]

What I like about shooting 4fletch is that you don t have to look for the cock vane I just have to get the knock on the string. Bitz 2" straight fletchwith a small amount of angle