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Vane tinkering

Camelcluch

Camelcluch

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2020
Messages
2,039
I have tried a ton of different vanes. It’s January and time to mess around. I have used the TAC Drivers for the past two seasons. I’m going to give the TAC Summit a try as well as the Flex Fletch Pro. The Pro is .2 grains heavier than the Driver. Let see what happens…
What are trying this year?
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I’m pretty set on the Bohning Heat vanes in a four fletch. I have tinkered with a lot of fletches, especially this time of year. It’s a good time to test/tinker to see what you prefer.
 
I've tried just about everything, and always come back to the Q2i Fusion 2.5" vanes. Tried Tac matrix and driver, buncha AAE and flex-fletch, bohning, blazers, even the sabres.... best combo of broadhead flight and silence I've found is the Fusions.
 
I’m trying the Q2i fusion x2 in 2.5. Lower profile to help with clearance. Going to see if I can get away with a 3 vane setup.
 
Ehunter said:
I've tried just about everything, and always come back to the Q2i Fusion 2.5" vanes. Tried Tac matrix and driver, buncha AAE and flex-fletch, bohning, blazers, even the sabres.... best combo of broadhead flight and silence I've found is the Fusions.
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Right as I posted about the exact same vane. Lol
 
WPS87 said:
I’m trying the Q2i fusion x2 in 2.5. Lower profile to help with clearance. Going to see if I can get away with a 3 vane setup.
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I'm shooting The Fusion II vanes. .55 tall I think. Use a 3 fletch left hand helical. Can shoot anything up to 1-3/8ths cut without any problems. Got some single bevel 1-1/2 in cut that fly perfect as well. Never had clearance problems or anything. Tough vanes too. The X2's in 4 fletch I tried worked for up to 1-1/8th cut fixed heads pretty well, anything over that and the flight suffered. I just like to be able to screw on any 100gr. head I have and have it fly perfectly. Usually carry a different head on each arrow in my quiver, all fixed blades. If you need some X2SL's let me know. Got a bunch I'll never use.
 
Last year on my lighter arrows that I used for TAC I ran the AAE Max 2.0 shield cut it a 4 fletch Xwing configuration for better clearance with my sight. That didn't work out so great as over 80 yards I started getting a parachute effect. Bye the time I realized it I didn't have time to change things up. This year I will run the same vanes in a 3 fletch.

On my hunting arrows I ran AAE Max stealths in a 4 fletch. This year I am thinking of trying the IronWill 2.5 vanes in a 3 fletch.
 
I like the Q’s but they are heavy. I love the Max Stealth but heavy. The Drivers are super quiet but they do have memory. The Heats are okay but I don’t really want 4 if I don’t have too. I have shot IW wides, GR Hades 4, Muzzy and a ton of other heads out to 80 with the Drivers. Blazers are amazing for control but looouuuud. The Summit seems to be much better so far.
 
Camelcluch said:
I like the Q’s but they are heavy. I love the Max Stealth but heavy. The Drivers are super quiet but they do have memory. The Heats are okay but I don’t really want 4 if I don’t have too. I have shot IW wides, GR Hades 4, Muzzy and a ton of other heads out to 80 with the Drivers. Blazers are amazing for control but looouuuud. The Summit seems to be much better so far.
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I've noticed that the blazers are really loud as well. I tried the Q2i Predators, and they are quieter than blazers, but still louder than a shield cut. Noticed a lot of memory from all the TAC vanes I tried, a long with being brittle in really cold weather. Only vanes I have ever had actually break because of the cold. I honestly don't mind a bit or rear end weight on my arrows. Contrary to what everyone says and thinks, I find a bit of nock end weight tends to drive an arrow deeper into a target. I use pin nocks on all my arrows for a little added weight. Still able to shoot 350 spine arrows at 270 fps out of a 62# bow with no flight problems, even with the tail end weight added. Limited, and not "scientific" testing by any means, but shooting with other people, they are always amazed at how far my arrows penetrate compared to theirs. Only thing that makes sense is the small amount of nock end weight being the difference.
 
I did this exercise before this season and settled back on the same ones I was suing before. The 2.8” aae plastifletch elites. I went from a 3 fletch to a four plus a wrap. I also added 40 grains up front. They fly great for me so that’s all that matters.
 
I have not shot the IW vanes but messed with the hunters. The control is absolutely the best. BUT, they sound like Chinook helicopter in the air, they are slow and heavy. The IW is still reportedly loud and will still be slow due the profile.
It’s pick your poison but I’m not will to give up speed and sound. I have no issues with control so IW is a pass for me.
 
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I am going with bohning black sky vanes. I always end up with blazers by season figure these are pretty much stiffer, quieter blazers so why not.
 
The further back the vanes are, the more leverage they have against the broadhead. For reasonable vane distances, it won't make a lot of difference, in most cases, but it can stabilize an arrow better further back. I always fletch one arrow, check for face clearance, and move the vanes accordingly. Might make the difference between a 1 1/8th head and a 1 3/16ths fly to same point of impact, or not. Keep the vanes as close to my face as possible without any contact. Keep in mind if you use a gaiter or anything while hunting.
 
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