I have been thinking on carrying a couple of arrows fletched with vanes, especially during rainy weather. My question is...Has anyone found a vane that flies good off the shelf?
No. I just treat them with either the powder or dry fly float.
Instead of playing around trying to get vanes to fly off the shelf, either use an elevated rest and shoot both feathers and vanes or waterproof your feathers real well.
I have done this for exactly the reasons you state. I have shot FMJ's with 3" plastic vanes off a springy rest and off the shelf of some of my bows. The arrows are spined correctly for the draw weight.
I've found the vaned arrow shoots within the group of feathered arrows (Axis Trads 500 spine) at 13 and under. Beyond that, to 20 the FMJ actually shoots a bit higher -- it is a lighter overall arrow.
I plan to have some of these ready to go on a Moose hunt next fall. I don't choose to hunt in the rain at home. But, on a guided hunt where every day costs a lot more than my arrows, I won't skip out on the rain.
I have a Martin Savannah @60#s, I put together a half dozen GT 55/75s with 4" Dura vanes and they shoot REAL WELL off the shelf out of that bow, with that said the vanes in question, I purchased awhile back and they are extra flexible I would like to put some more together but all I have them in is red and white so I don't have a wide verity to choose from, I think I will see if I can buy some more in different colors.
I have shot vanes from the shelf with good results, just shoot cock feather in. With broadheads you may have to fool around with blade alignment a bit. But it works, I believe I learned this from a Fred Echlier video.
I made up some arrows with vanes for wet climate hunting and they fly well for me although I have never shot an animal with one of them.
I shoot off the shelf and I set the arrows up the same way I setup my arrows that have feathers.
My arrows are:
31.5" Carbon Express Heritage 250
Up front the arrows have a 50 grain brass inserts and a Woodsman broadhead with a 75 grain screw-in adapter. For a total front weight of 250 grains.
The vanes are 5" parabolic made by AAE Cavalier. I bought the vanes at Cabela's
I shoot with the cock feather up.
Bear rest, problem solved.
I only tried it with the Bamboo Longhunter I used to have. It didn't like them at all.
I have not tried it with my Hill bows, but if someone has been successful with it, I may give it another chance.
It depends on how your arrow shelf is shaped and how far it's cut to, or past center to know whether you'll get good enough clearance shooting off the rug....
Most guys that use vanes, use a Bear weather rest, or an elevated flipper rest of some kind. Either way, i'd recommend a low profile vane. Kirk
QuoteOriginally posted by Kirkll:
It depends on how your arrow shelf is shaped and how far it's cut to, or past center to know whether you'll get good enough clearance shooting off the rug....
Most guys that use vanes, use a Bear weather rest, or an elevated flipper rest of some kind. Either way, i'd recommend a low profile vane. Kirk
X2
My arrows fly good wet so I never needed them. And what Kirkll said.
Have tinker quite a bit with mixing vanes with feathers for rainy day arrows. Depending on the size, 5", 4", 3" even 2" feathers and vanes combined, even Blazers and 2" in 3 fletch, 4 fletch, even 5 and 6 fletch combinations. As long as the vane or vanes keeps away from the shelf or strike plate, they're good to go.
The trick is getting the colors to match...8^)
I have said this in other posts-- I get really good flight out of Blazer vanes (2") with cock feather in, as Ron said above. They move away from the bow at the shot (paradox) and since they're so short, they stabilize after leaving the shelf. Will use them on rainy days, but the feather aesthetic isn't there.....
Thanks...There is a lot of great info here.
My conclusion is just try it, and experiment.
Small vanes with cock feather in seems to be a good starting point.
video (http://youtu.be/Xk4Mqq0qo98)
I saw this video , Rick ****** don't have problem to shooting of the shelf .
Interesting... I've never messed around with vanes on my recurve
My best friend shoots his samick sage with vanes off the shelf and gets great arrow flight.