feathers or vanes

[shaverd]

I shoot off the shelf with my Martin High-Speed bow as was intended. A friend of mine told me I should put an arrow rest on the bow because the arrows I was using had vanes instead of feathers. He told me you should only use the shelf if you shoot with feathers. Not a huge problem just wondered what everyone else thought about it.

PS. I used vanes because they were much cheaper and money is tight.

[Destroyer]

Very difficult to shoot vanes off the shelf. I know that some claim they have no problem because of 'archer paradox' but I could never get consistent arrow flight with them. Shooting with an elevated rest has other benefits too including being a little more forgiving of form and therefore making you more consistently accurate. It has it downside though, rests can fail so if your hunting always carry a spare rest.

[shaverd]

Shooting with an elevated rest has other benefits too including being a little more forgiving of form and therefore making you more consistently accurate.

Thanks. I made a quick rest to see how it would work. My shot was much better and I am even able to shoot from about 10 yards farther. It took a couple arrows to figure it out because my arows were hitting about 4 inches higher and a little to the right. My groups are amazing.

[Destroyer]

Good to hear. If you need help fine tuning the bow we can walk you through the whole process.

[peace]

I like feathers for most things but use vanes for backyard arrow plinking. I mean I really like feathers and use 5" right wing [like my politics] parabolics. Love the way they fly especially at long distances...

[shaverd]

I like feathers for most things but use vanes for backyard arrow plinking.

I bought arrows with vanes for the price. However, they seem to fall appart quick. I've used feathers on my target bow but I have never used feathers on this bow. Do feathers last longer than vanes. I will use vanes on my upcoming hunt because that is what I have practiced with, but I need to buy new fletching.

Hey everyone, Vanes or Feathers?

[shaverd]

Good to hear. If you need help fine tuning the bow we can walk you through the whole process.

This is the kind of thing that I do not know about. I just pick up the bow and shoot. I probably can use a lot of help with this. I shoot right handed and sometimes my arrows angle a little to the left on impact (at closer distances).

[Destroyer]

However, they seem to fall appart quick.

Vanes coming off?

Do feathers last longer than vanes.

Nope, just fly heaps better. They require a bit more care too but you cant beat them for accuracy.

I shoot right handed and sometimes my arrows angle a little to the left on impact (at closer distances).

What is the spine/model and your other specs like draw weight & draw length? Arrow could be a little underspined, try shooting a lighter a lighter field point if you can.

[shaverd]

Vanes coming off?

The vanes are not coming off. They tend to split or tear and get holes in them.

One of the arrows was not useable so I fletched it with the wing feathers from a turkey I shot this year. I figured I would try it and experiment. It shot wonderful. Maybe I concentrated more when I shot that arrow or maybe it is better than the others. I don't know.


I also think I fixed my arrow problem today as well. I had my bow set at a 7 1/2" brace hight. I found the specs. for my bow on the internet and it should be at 8". I put a few twists in the string and set it at 8". My arrows seem to be flying straight.

[Destroyer]

It shot wonderful. Maybe I concentrated more when I shot that arrow or maybe it is better than the others.

Could be but feathers create more drag so they steer better, can't beat feathers!

I put a few twists in the string and set it at 8". My arrows seem to be flying straight.

Good stuff. Brace height has a big effect on trad gear, changes more than just power stroke, etc.