Helical vs. straight vanes - Which fletching Jig?!!!

[ado250]

Hi all,

Trying to decide on a fletching jig to buy and am getting stuck with this helical vs straight stuff on the vanes. See I want to go a straight jig, something economical, but then again people keep saying that to hunt with broadheads you need considerable spin on the arrow and hence helical vanes.

to get one thing straight, does helical mean the actual vane is straight but is just glued on an offset or does it mean the vane is curved over its length?

Should I be to concerned with getting a helival type jig or should I just get a cheaper one and offset the vanes on the arrow?

Cheers,

Adonis

[ado250]

Ok,

Just read another thread and answered part of my question (ie what was a helical pattern).

So, should I be happy just to offset the vanes say 2 degrees on carbon shafts in a standard jig or should I really look to get a helical pattern jig?

Keep in mind I'm not shooting a drop away rest.

Cheers,

Adonis.

[Puk]

What style of rest are you shooting?
Just from experience, i would say to get a helical clamp on your jig, especially if you want to use a 2-blade broadhead, as they can wind-plane at times. It probably isn't as important with a three blade or mechanical heads, as the forces tend to equalise.

I just think it is safer.
Maybe you should use the "poll" option, give three choices, and see how many use helical, offset or straight. that might give you an idea.

That's one vote for helical. :wink:

Puk

[HOOD]

Two votes for helical

[Wellsy]

I've just changed from 4" straight offset to 5" helical and so far I would estimate my accurate distance with broadheads has gone from 30mtrs to 50mtrs :lol:
It really does make a difference, on the downside I had contact problems with the larger fletching, even with a drop away and had to modify the prongs on my rest. Some people say it slows down the arrow too much, but with my setup the pin gaps remained the same so I don't think my speed dropped much.

Wellsy

[Warlocke]

I have done a bit of experimenting with different degrees of fletching over distance.

With a slower bow it is more important to have a helical fletch but the faster bows will be just as accurate with an offset.

So some degree of offset is essential as straight fletching will not guide two bladed B/heads with any degree of accuracy.

Straight fletching does work well with field points and mechanicals, in a well tuned bow.

I have had Outback heads shooting well with straight fletching but as soon as the bow loses tune they are all over the place especially on the faster bows.

[ado250]

Hmmm,

Just thinking of a way to semi solve my problem.

If flip the spring on my Golden Key Futura rest, the prongs will then spring the other way (???) :)

All I need to do now is figure out a way to rotate the prongs back when drawn and I've just had a free upgrade to a drop away rest!! :D

I'm sure this is no revelation to anyone on here though, I'm probably a little slow to catch on :oops:

[Puk]

Mate there are many people who shoot helical with a normal prong-style rest.
Just make sure that the cock vane (The odd coloured one) points down between the two prongs, and the other two won't have any contact issues. I shot like that for about 2 years.
Puk

[ado250]

Hey Puk,

Yeah I have been told that and I make sure the nock is positioned as such. I also don't get how that could happen when the fletches vanes are already in the rest by the time the string comes to the end of it's travel (assuming the nock only leaves the string once it gets there).

How much rotation could it possibly undergo in that short travel through the prongs??

Anyway, I still like the idea of a free upgrade. :lol: