Helical, or Offset???

[Predator1]

I am needing a new clamp for my fletching jig and currently use a helical clamp. I have been thinking of just getting a straight clamp and just offset the fletches. But, I still want to shoot BH,s. Will an offset fletch stabilize a BH? I am wanting just enough fletch but not overkill.

[Kingstaken]

yes  

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Yes, but not as fast as a helical Fletched.

[Longbowz]

Don't be afraid of a goodly amount of helical and fletch.  Better more then not enough.

[robtattoo]

You'd actually be surprised at how little offset you really need to stabilise a big head. I use 3-5" shields with maybe 1/32" offset (1/64" either side of centreline) & shoot big old Zwickey Deltas/Magnus I 2-bladers. I get perfect arrow flight at this. The less offset/helical you can use the faster & quieter your arrows will fly.

[Missouri Sherpa]

I shoot arrows fletched with 3 5.5 inch high shield feathers set in a 90 degree helical.  I will try and post a picture tonight.  I know they make a distinctive noise,  sounds alot like a big bird swooping in on a kill.  I suppose they slow down my arrows too but not enough to bother me.  Anyone that sees these arrows on their way to the target will tell you they have plenty of zip.  I shoot 650 grain carbon shafts (about 25% FOC for those interested in that) out of a Super Shrew drawn to 29.5 inches at around 66 pounds. There is plenty of power there to crush whatever I hit at whatever range I shoot from.  I have developed my shooting skills, arrow building techniques and equipment in somewhat of a vacuum.  I don't go to proshops, trad shoots, or any other functions where I interact with other Traditional shooters.  I have not had anyone tell me what I can't do and have not had any limits placed on my creativity.  I probably shoot at longer distances than most people find comfortable too but I can count the animals I have shot and not recovered in my lifetime on one hand, so that isn't an issue with me either.  The experts will tell you what you should do.  I am telling you what I do and it has been very effective for me.  The whoosh of my arrow is the last sound an animal hears.  If you shoot them through the heart they won't go far.

[Bowsey Wails]

90 degree helical? That's virtually a flu-flu. I can understand why they sound like a raptor.
Tim

[Scott J. Williams]

While I am guilty of shooting a lot of helical on my 5 3/4 inch feathers, I have shot arrows with straight off-set feathers of the same size.

I have shot them without ill effect with my broadheads, now that was not always possible for me. However, since bareshaft tuning, I have no problem doing so.

Throw in an arrow with good FOC, and you can make straight off-set work with the largest broadhead.  What are the advantages of shooting the straight off-set over the heelical?  

One would be a slightly faster arrow, especially down range.  If I were going to go on a western hunt, where my shooting was expected to be at 30 plus, I might consider it.  

Most of my shooting is inside the 30 yard range, and I do shoot 3D and Traditional Shoots on a regular basis.  I don't need a faster arrow, my equipment does fine within the hunting distances I limit myself to.

My biggest reason for shooting helical fletching, is simple, there are few things that look more beautiful than a quiver of white, or yellow capped arrows, with matching crest, and crowned with three 5 3/4 inch feathers(matching the crown dip)that are elegantly twisting around the shaft.  Yep! They just look good to me.

[Missouri Sherpa]

I have been shooting these for several years.  I am not so hardheaded that I can't change to a low profile less helixed configuration.  I think it might increase my range a little and make the arrow less noisy which would be good things.  I am not sure if the whoosh of this fletching disturbs animals much because it hasn't been an issue with the last half dozen animals I have killed.  I think it may have a familiar sound like a bird diving at the animal and they don't bolt as bad as they might another noise?  My conundrum is I have about 6 dozen of these and  I shoot them well.  I know where this arrow is going to land out to about 50 yards (my max practice distance)  If I cut back on the size of the feather and the amount of twist I will have to relearn the trajectory of my setup.  I am not sure if it will be worth it but after reading the Dr. Ashby thread on high FOC I am willing to experiment a little.   I fletch these free hand with fletch tape.  You don't need a new clamp to make arrows with.

[Son of Texas]

John showed me how to fletch free hand at Texas Sweat this year and I tried some when I got home and it worked great, as for as noise they made some, but I don't think it mattered much.I watched him shoot a hog at about fortyfive yards look at his avatar that is the result of the shot.

[myshootinstinks]

I'm finding that I don't need the helical I once thought necessary for BHs. I use LW feathers with about 1/8" offset and flight is just as stabilized as using the helical clamp with less noise.  Not 100% conclusive, still experimenting.

[deadpool]

I'm fletch my arrows freehand just like sherpa, but not with that much helical, simalar but not the same, I noticed terrible flight from the lighter bows but smokin darts from the heavier ones......wierd huh

[Diamond Paul]

:eek:  I didn't know that anything other than helical existed. . .  :rolleyes: