I've been fletching my own arrows for a while now, and heard about a different way to set your vanes to have less resistance in flight. I placed each blazer 1/4" behind the other. They flew real well, I was surprised, I think they are better than standard..IMO.

Howdy Glockman55. I fletch my own as well. I haven't heard of that method. The vane's in the pic look pretty short so I assume there your target arrows. Have you tried them with Broad heads. How much Are they suppose to increase your arrow speed like that ?.
Joe

They are 2" Blazers, This way of staggering the vanes is suppose to carry further, less air resistance, and yes I've tried broad heads on this arrow, plus I've fletched 6 other arrows with the 2" blazers standard rt helical and all fly surpriseing true. This is the first time I've had my BH hit the same as my field points. But this staggered way is something I saw on a hunting show. I'm just playing with these to see how they work, I've got alot more testing before I do all my arrows this way, If you haven't tried Blazers yet, pick some up and start stripping.

Howdy. I'm stuck on using feathers. I have bin hearing a lot of praise for those blazers though. I may have to break down and give them a try. Keep us informed of your testing. What broad head are you shooting. I shoot Gold Tips with a 90 gr field point and they shoot identical to my 100gr 3 blade muzzys.
Joe

I here ya Joe, I've always shot feathers too, more forgiving( I need all the help) Since I went to a Ripcord drop away rest I can shoot just about anything. I use 100 gr. field points, and 100 gr. three blade Rocky Mt. Premiers. I might switch to Muzzys, the Rocky's are getting harder to find. With my old set up, two prong fixed rest I shot good, but I could never get the BH to hit the same as my FP. The broad heads would hit low left. I don't know if it's the rest or the blazers that made the differance, but they hit the same now. I'll have to get some feathers to try too. Plus I am shooting Gold Tip 5575 28" at #70, spine too weak. I backed my bow down to 60# and I have better control. Easier to hold on target. and getting too old. LOL. I shot today and am still amazed at the way those staggered vanes fly.
Later: Jerry

I Love the Gold Tips . It amazes me that those little blazers stabilize a broadhead . Other archers I talk to speak highly of them as well though. Those Quick Spin vanes are suppose to be pretty good also but I don't no anyone who has tried them though. Is the stagger suppose to work with feathers and vanes of larger sizes or just the blazers ?
Joe

The ones I've seen were done with 4" Duravanes. and I'm sure feathers would work too. What type of set up do you shoot Joe? rest, bow, release. etc.

I'm shootin a PSE ThunderBolt 70 #, 2 Prong micro adjust over draw, I use a Free Flight release. I no it's all out dated (LOL). 4 inch feathers on Gold Tips 5575s. I got it tuned pretty good it shoots well. I'm only 5'6" so I have a short drall length, and it makes it hard to get good arrow speed. This set up is shootin the gold tips about 278fps witch aint to bad with my draw length. I have bin shootin a bow as long as I can remember I enjoy it very much .
Joe

PSE has always been a Great bow. I'm was getting about the same FPS with my GT 5575. until I turned the poundage down..and until this spring I've used a Free Flight, and Quick Tune 3000 micro. rest. But then I got on a couple of Archery Forums and went all to H^^L. I have a Mathews Legacy, Ripcord rest. and a Carter Chocolate Addiction release. Totally messed me all up for a while. but I'm getting used to it now. I pulled something in my back is why I turned my bow down. I am trying a new arrow and like the way it's made and performs..Carbon Xtreme Maxima 350. That might be my next brand of arrow, Plenty stiff enough for 70#, and only 8.2 grs/inch.

Jerry

I prefer feathers also, fletching them with a right helical AZ E-Z Fletch. I had used vanes for a while but just could not get good groups with broadheads past about 40 yards. With 5" feathers I can keep my arrows inside a 10 inch circle at 70 yards,usually a little tighter, even with big 4 blade 125gr Muzzy Phantoms. I am still using aluminum shafts though, 2317 XX78 Super Slams.

You can't beat Feathers, Light, and better recovery. The weather is hard on em, but if you Fletch your own it's not a problem. I picked up a Bitzenburger with Rt. Helical clamp used for $34.00. I see that I can use Grayling clamps on this Bitz. jig..they are only $9.00 but are plastic.. I might get a straight clamp to try. The new Bitz. clamps are $28.00.

My dad ended up with my bitzenberger so I got a grayling jig and so far has worked just fine. I haven't had any issues with it at all and ya can't beat the price
Joe

Just as long as you clean the glue off before it dries, I can't see a problem either.

glockman55 wrote:

Just as long as you clean the glue off before it dries, I can't see a problem either.

Almost did that when I first got it Cleaned it off just in time.
Joe

Another issue in the 'vinyl vs feather' debate is that if you shoot traditional bows, off-the-hand or off-the-shelf, you have to use feathers. Vinyl vanes will not compress.

My problem with vinyl is that they are noisy. Everytime I've used them, I can hear the arrow 'buzz' all the way to the target.

Semper Fi!