Speed penalty from aggressive helical fletch?

[DuckHunt]

I spent some quality time over the weekend with my Micro 335. To follow up on a question of mine, I decided to check and see how quickly my arrow shed speed over distance. My 16" Zombie Slayers weigh ~373 grains as equipped with 2" blazers, 80 grain insert, Lumenock and a 100gr tip. At the bow I clocked 321 fps. That sounds about right considering my brace height was tad higher than necessary which probably cost me a few fps. Then I moved the chrony back to 50 yards right in front of the target. At 50 yards the arrow clocked in at 299 fps. So it only sheds 22 fps over 50 yards when fletched with the EZ-Fletch Bolt. That's <.5fps/yard.

As far as I'm concerned, that confirms to me that the aggressiveness of the fletching does not have enough impact on arrow speed to be concerned about at it normal hunting distances.

DuckHunt

DuckHunt

[vixenmaster]

Thats some good data, ppl. always wantin to knowed how much their arrow slows down out at their huntin yardage

[racking up points]

Great post, I always like to read the tests of other forum members.

Jerry at SSAS told me about one where he shot Blazers with a RH helical versus a the SK300's fletched offset and the flex fletch vanes impacted about a foot higher at 100y than the Blazers. The reduced resistance resulting in flatter trajectory at extended range. I'd like to try this out.

[newbie]

Derrick did Jerry give any Data on the sk200?
I would be interested in a direct comparison fletched the same.
Those numbers arent apples to apples fletched differently .
Plus broadhead accuracy.

[DMc]

....So it only sheds 22 fps over 50 yards when fletched with the EZ-Fletch Bolt. That's <.5fps/yard....As far as I'm concerned, that confirms to me that the aggressiveness of the fletching does not have enough impact on arrow speed to be concerned about at it normal hunting distances....

That is some very good information, thanks! In the world of arrows, your 16"ers are on the light side when compared to older and longer ones. So I would suspect that your testing shows the worst case scenario.

As far as "aggressiveness of the fletching" though, more clarification is needed. I would include a 3" or 4" vane as being more aggressive than a 2". Your test only addressed "aggressive" in context of the 2" vanes. Aerodynamic and ballistic stability has always been a balancing act with performance. An example would be 3" vanes could give equal stability with less offset thereby increasing down range performance vertically but due to a larger side surface being more prone to wind drift.

[paulaboutform]

I spent some quality time over the weekend with my Micro 335. To follow up on a question of mine, I decided to check and see how quickly my arrow shed speed over distance. My 16" Zombie Slayers weigh ~373 grains as equipped with 2" blazers, 80 grain insert, Lumenock and a 100gr tip. At the bow I clocked 321 fps. That sounds about right considering my brace height was tad higher than necessary which probably cost me a few fps. Then I moved the chrony back to 50 yards right in front of the target. At 50 yards the arrow clocked in at 299 fps. So it only sheds 22 fps over 50 yards when fletched with the EZ-Fletch Bolt. That's <.5fps/yard.

As far as I'm concerned, that confirms to me that the aggressiveness of the fletching does not have enough impact on arrow speed to be concerned about at it normal hunting distances.

DuckHunt

Nice. Like R.U.P., I love these threads. I'd like to do the same test comparing the blazers to the SK200's. I'd also like to extend the range as far as possible. Hmmm, I've said it for years, it seems I should be hired by manufacturers as a product tester/r&d specialist.

Paul

DuckHunt

[racking up points]

Derrick did Jerry give any Data on the sk200?
I would be interested in a direct comparison fletched the same.
Those numbers arent apples to apples fletched differently .
Plus broadhead accuracy.

What he meant was the vane, combined with the orientation made for less resistance. It wasn't meant to be a direct comparison. He didn't even say if it grouped better. He made no mention of broadhead use. These were remarks he made in passing, so I didn't get a whole lot of detail. But I will be trying a side by side blazer to SK200 comparison at 100y this spring.

[newbie]

gotcha Derrick thanks.

[mingle]

I spent some quality time over the weekend with my Micro 335. To follow up on a question of mine, I decided to check and see how quickly my arrow shed speed over distance. My 16" Zombie Slayers weigh ~373 grains as equipped with 2" blazers, 80 grain insert, Lumenock and a 100gr tip. At the bow I clocked 321 fps. That sounds about right considering my brace height was tad higher than necessary which probably cost me a few fps. Then I moved the chrony back to 50 yards right in front of the target. At 50 yards the arrow clocked in at 299 fps. So it only sheds 22 fps over 50 yards when fletched with the EZ-Fletch Bolt. That's <.5fps/yard.

As far as I'm concerned, that confirms to me that the aggressiveness of the fletching does not have enough impact on arrow speed to be concerned about at it normal hunting distances.

DuckHunt

DuckHunt

Thxs for the info...

[DuckHunt]

That is some very good information, thanks! In the world of arrows, your 16"ers are on the light side when compared to older and longer ones. So I would suspect that your testing shows the worst case scenario.

As far as "aggressiveness of the fletching" though, more clarification is needed. I would include a 3" or 4" vane as being more aggressive than a 2". Your test only addressed "aggressive" in context of the 2" vanes. Aerodynamic and ballistic stability has always been a balancing act with performance. An example would be 3" vanes could give equal stability with less offset thereby increasing down range performance vertically but due to a larger side surface being more prone to wind drift.

Actually, the 16" arrows from my Micro are heavier than the 20" arrows I shoot from my ExoMax by almost 20 grains. But in both cases I'm probably lighter than most so I believe you are right. My test is about a worst case scenario for 2" fletching. I suspect with a heavier arrow it would retain momentum better, but I doubt there is a lot of difference at hunting distances.

By aggressive I was only referring to a significant helical like the EZ-Fletch Bolt applies. I wondered if the helical created enough drag to impact speed as compared to say a straight or lightly offset fletch. I was wondering if there was a flu-flu effect. I'm sure the helical creates more drag, but losing on 22 fps over 50 yards is a small enough loss for me not to be concerned with the difference. I'll take the added accuracy any day.

DuckHunt

[Normous]

I consider "brave", as placing your chronograph in front of your target at 50 yards when using a crossbow.

Some here on the forum have arrowed their crony's square in the heart at less than 10 feet.

[DuckHunt]

I consider "brave", as placing your chronograph in front of your target at 50 yards when using a crossbow.

Some here on the forum have arrowed their crony's square in the heart at less than 10 feet.

I would have thought twice if I hadn't hit a 2" circle at that distance a half dozen times first. I was shooting from a rest with calm winds. I felt confident, but I hear you. Many a chrony has bit the dust at much closer distances.
DuckHunt