Is one better than the other, offset vs helical?

[lokidog]

I've been looking at fletching jigs and have seen straight offset and helical clamps for them.  Is helical more for feathers than vanes?  Is a 1 degree offset enough to stabilize the new faster bow/arrow combos?  I am not sure what the local place put on my vanes but I'd like to be able to do them myself.

Thanks.

[mallard79]

I use a bitzenburger to put right helical on every vane I do. Helical will stabilize the arrow/broadhead the quickest. If your arrow shoot good then I would find out what the shop did and copy that.  If you get the bitzenburger you can just buy a different clamp if you decide you want to switch later.   

[jrebel]

I want to see what everyones thoughts are on this topic.  I shoot 2 degree right hand offset and it seems to work well.

cheers

[Button Nubbs]

i shoot a helical with 3 blazers and my arrows fly great. i have a bohning helix jig but will not be getting another when its time to replace it. i have heard that the blitz will not put a true helical on blazers but thats just what i have heard.

[mallard79]

I put a lot of helix on my blazers with the bitz.......I will try to take a pic and post it up later 

[JLS]

i shoot a helical with 3 blazers and my arrows fly great. i have a bohning helix jig but will not be getting another when its time to replace it. i have heard that the blitz will not put a true helical on blazers but thats just what i have heard.

I don't know what "true helical" is, but you'll be hard pressed to put FULL helical on with a Bitz.  However, I don't know why you need to.  You don't need a whole lot of offset with Blazers to make those arrows spin fast.

[bloodhound]

i always shot offset 4 inch vanes, then just before late season last year i changed to blazer heli, and the difference was unbelievable. ill never shoot 4 inch offset again. they fly way better and much more consistent. i would always have one or 2 arrows that would fly a little left/right/high/low, but now they all fly the same and hit much closer to practice tips!

[jechicdr]

anyone shoot 4 helicals?

[bloodhound]

i think 4 heli would be to much. you would loose a lot of speed to drag, when your already loosing speed with a heli setup. and 3 seems to work great.

[Button Nubbs]

the speed you lose with helical is maybe 1 fps which is basically nothing.

[bloodhound]

the speed you lose with helical is maybe 1 fps which is basically nothing.

at what distance? 1fps at ten yards? or 100yards? im curious. cause if thats at 1 yard then at 100 it might be 50-60 fps and that would be alot!

[whitetailslyr]

I fletch 3 helical blazers, more than enough to stabilize a muzzy 3 blade

[JLS]

I have a helical clamp for my Bitz, and have it adjusted for quite a lot of offset too.  It's not quite a full helical with a 4" vane.  It doesn't look like much offset with the Blazers, but it will certainly do the job.

[Button Nubbs]

I have a buddy who is an excellent shot. He was curious if you lose any speed with helical. He fletched up 6 straight and 6 helical and shot them at 80 yards, guess where they grouped. Yep, all in the same spot. If there was any significant speed loss it would be seen at that distance.

[mallard79]

Done with a bitz...

 

 

[buckfvr]

I have a buddy who is an excellent shot. He was curious if you lose any speed with helical. He fletched up 6 straight and 6 helical and shot them at 80 yards, guess where they grouped. Yep, all in the same spot. If there was any significant speed loss it would be seen at that distance.

So there also goes the one more accurate than the other theories.....not many things in archery are cast in stone....anything can change frombow to bow, shaft to shaft, shooter to shooter, etc.

[lokidog]

A little research has found a series of articles.

http://archeryreport.com/2011/07/helical-straight-fletch-speed-deceleration/

[jechicdr]

I'll trade speed for a little more accuracy down range.  My Z7 gives me plenty of speed.  That speed however translates into a broadhead that will catch the air, and if not enough drag and spin, will result in close in wobble that can spread my groups out before the vanes have a chance to straighten it out.  I figure, the quicker the wobble goes away, the tighter the down range grouping should be.  I do notice a difference between straight fletching and helical. 

[jechicdr]

just read about setting vanes further back as well, that should improve control, but not add to the drag.