arrow rotation

[hken]

I am installing new vanes that are designed to increase arrow rotation and improve accuracy. I have no complaints at all about them but I am curious if arrow rotation has any negative effects penetration. It seems possible to me that, because the arrow is trying to rotate when it hits the target (deer) that the rotation may cause drag on the broadhead as it enters the target and so it may negatively effect pentration. I may be over thinking this but I was wondering if anyone was aware of any studies about this.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

Not aware of any studies, but I'm sure someone has tested it. As far as conjecture I would guess shooting into a deer you would not have any penetration issues with an arrow that rotates at a high rate. Once the broadhead makes contact and starts slicing rotational force should not impede that action. Extra forces going on? Yes. Will it be a negative issue? No. Actually in theory an arrow with a higher rate of spin should stay stable longer and retain more speed and kinetic energy at farther distances.

Not a physicist, just an educated guess. I could be completely off base.

Don

 

[WTM]

i went from offset to helical and cant tell the diff in penetration, but it is supposed to lose some speed in flight. havent chronoed or anything but i cant tell, so it is probably not drastic.

i did read a test of broadhead penetration for african game once and it found that 2 blade fixed broadheads afforded the most penetration. didnt say anything about fletching though.

 

[Radar]

The opposite is true. The fletching adds stabilization to the arrow , therefore the energy is directed behind the point without any side to side forces , increasing penetration over a poor flying arrow.
Any rotation from the helical fletching would stop upon contact with the hide , without impeding penetration.

 

[pjridge]

No need to worry about the rotation of the arrow/broadhead impeding penetration.

 

[Hogbear]

I was shooting today with 3 helical fletched arrows and 3 regular fletched with the same size blazers and the helicals were about 1.5"-2" less penetration in a foam target from 40 yards and about 1" less at 30 yds. Couldn't tell any difference at 20 yards. The groups were a little better with the helicals but definitely less penetration using the same type field points. Don't have any good theories as to why, just what I saw today every time I shot 6 arrows. Used the Bohning helical fletcher to apply the Blazers.

 

[Radar]

I was shooting today with 3 helical fletched arrows and 3 regular fletched with the same size blazers and the helicals were about 1.5"-2" less penetration in a foam target from 40 yards and about 1" less at 30 yds. Couldn't tell any difference at 20 yards. The groups were a little better with the helicals but definitely less penetration using the same type field points. Don't have any good theories as to why, just what I saw today every time I shot 6 arrows. Used the Bohning helical fletcher to apply the Blazers.

Shooting depth into a foam target has no technical merit in determining penetration in game.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

I was shooting today with 3 helical fletched arrows and 3 regular fletched with the same size blazers and the helicals were about 1.5"-2" less penetration in a foam target from 40 yards and about 1" less at 30 yds. Couldn't tell any difference at 20 yards. The groups were a little better with the helicals but definitely less penetration using the same type field points. Don't have any good theories as to why, just what I saw today every time I shot 6 arrows. Used the Bohning helical fletcher to apply the Blazers.

Shooting depth into a foam target has no technical merit in determining penetration in game.

Ditto. Also had the target been shot before? Was the release of the arrow exactly the same? Many different things could effect it. If your shooting a modern bow with carbon arrows at even a moderate draw weight and hit them where you're supposed to, penetration should not be a problem.

 

[Living2Hunt]

The opposite is true. The fletching adds stabilization to the arrow , therefore the energy is directed behind the point without any side to side forces , increasing penetration over a poor flying arrow.
Any rotation from the helical fletching would stop upon contact with the hide , without impeding penetration.

EXACTLY!