Toxophilite Phil
Well-Known Member
With all the talk and praises being sung about Blazer vanes and Duravane Fusion vanes. It had also been mentioned about longer vanes slowing down the arrows and other comments. Also mentioned was the post on 4 fletching. I decided to do some weighing. I weighed some fletching. ALL FLETCHING WAS AAE VANES UNLESS NOTED OTHER WISE. ALSO NO FEATHERS WERE USED(sorry Scott).
AAE vanes......2.3"....3 fletching.....14 grains
2.3"....4 fletching.....17 grains
2.6"....3 fletching.....20 gr.
2.6"....4 fletching.....26 gr.
4.0"....3 fletching.....28 gr.
Blazer.........2.0"....3 fletching.....19 gr
Fusion.........2.0"....3 fletching.....25 gr.
The test arrows weighed on average 375 grs. A 100gr. 4 blade Muzzy head was on the front. No arrow wrap was on these arrows
but with the addition of a wrap add up to and average of 7 grains.Also a drop away rest was in place on my bow.
The extra height of the Blazers add surface area which is the added benefit in their ability to stabilize arrow flight. Also the extra stiffness helps in this also. Which is the benefit to these vanes with people using whisker biscuit rests.
The most common comment made was that longer or vanes other than those that were not Blazers was that the other brands slowed their bow down too much. In past experiments I have done it took almost 6 grains of weight to slow it down 1 foot per second. Since newer equipment has come out it has been said that 3 grains of weight will slow it down 1 foot.The difference in those numbers (3 4" fletching...28gr compared to 3 2" Blazer vanes...19gr is only 9 grains which in turn translates to 3 fps. This is less than an inch at 20 yds, which according to a survey done here on tndeer a few years ago was a tad over the average shot distance (18 yds). Most archers do not shoot that much or know their equipment that well to detect a fraction of an inch in a hunting situation. Just this past week I done some more experiments and contrary to most folks thinking my 4 fletched 2.3" vanes hit on the average 2" higher than 3 fletched 2" Blazer vanes. Left and right were identicial. My only conclusion for this is the 4 fletched arrow stabilized quicker due to increased surface area of the fletching. The 4 fletch arrow was also quiter in flight than the Blazer vanes. This isn't to start any arguments ,just to open shooter's eyes that by experimenting with your equipment you may find a better suited set up than what you are using.
AAE vanes......2.3"....3 fletching.....14 grains
2.3"....4 fletching.....17 grains
2.6"....3 fletching.....20 gr.
2.6"....4 fletching.....26 gr.
4.0"....3 fletching.....28 gr.
Blazer.........2.0"....3 fletching.....19 gr
Fusion.........2.0"....3 fletching.....25 gr.
The test arrows weighed on average 375 grs. A 100gr. 4 blade Muzzy head was on the front. No arrow wrap was on these arrows
but with the addition of a wrap add up to and average of 7 grains.Also a drop away rest was in place on my bow.
The extra height of the Blazers add surface area which is the added benefit in their ability to stabilize arrow flight. Also the extra stiffness helps in this also. Which is the benefit to these vanes with people using whisker biscuit rests.
The most common comment made was that longer or vanes other than those that were not Blazers was that the other brands slowed their bow down too much. In past experiments I have done it took almost 6 grains of weight to slow it down 1 foot per second. Since newer equipment has come out it has been said that 3 grains of weight will slow it down 1 foot.The difference in those numbers (3 4" fletching...28gr compared to 3 2" Blazer vanes...19gr is only 9 grains which in turn translates to 3 fps. This is less than an inch at 20 yds, which according to a survey done here on tndeer a few years ago was a tad over the average shot distance (18 yds). Most archers do not shoot that much or know their equipment that well to detect a fraction of an inch in a hunting situation. Just this past week I done some more experiments and contrary to most folks thinking my 4 fletched 2.3" vanes hit on the average 2" higher than 3 fletched 2" Blazer vanes. Left and right were identicial. My only conclusion for this is the 4 fletched arrow stabilized quicker due to increased surface area of the fletching. The 4 fletch arrow was also quiter in flight than the Blazer vanes. This isn't to start any arguments ,just to open shooter's eyes that by experimenting with your equipment you may find a better suited set up than what you are using.
Good info , Phil !
