Feathers or Vanes?
 

I'm trying to get the Highest FOC that I can with the arrows I have this year. I will be shooting Carbon Express Maxima Hunter cut at 29", 100 grain Muzzy insert and 100 grain rage. So my question is shoot I put Vanes or Feathers? If I should put vanes which ones would you recommend? And also which spine should I be shooting?

Thanks guys and gals!

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

4"Feathers or if you could get away with it, Try the new Razr Feathers I believe they are by gateway. They would give you the lightest backend to that arrow.

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

That's pretty darn close to my setup this year... except I went with the 50-grain brass insert from Muzzy and the MX-3.

Here's what's on the tail end of mine:

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2729918&mpage=1&key=feathers&amp ;#2729918

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Here ya go.... Here's a good look at both feathers and vanes.



Feathers give me 272 fps, an FOC of 12.93 and K/E of 67.86%.
Vanes give me 267 fps, an FOC of 10.78 and K/E of 67.77%.

Which ones more accurate? Feathers by far. I mean, the vanes are great and give me nice groups, but the feathers with the right helical fletching are unbelievable! :D Heck, when I first got these arrows from Hunters Friend www.huntersfriend.com I went to an indoor archery range and tested them out against each other. The feathers were so accurate, I had arrows touching at 20 yards and even ruffled the feathers on a few of the arrows!

I'm shooting feathers and won't go back (unless it's raining - then I'll shoot the vanes).

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Will it be problem if I hunt in a slight rain with feathers?

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Feathers have many more advantages than disadvantages.

I treat mine with waterproofing and never have a problem.;)

Dan

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Right on Dan.

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Dan,
What waterproofing do you use?

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Thanks Greg!

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

If you want, there's a product called No Sno or something like that; just give them a coating with it and you'll be fine.

I've tested feathers that were COMPLETELY soaked... I mean after sitting in a downpour after an hour or more. I've taken a field-point tipped arrow, picked out a leaf and nailed it -- on numerous occasions. The speed of the launch snap the feathers so violently that I believe they rid themselves of any excess moisture for hunting distances.

The myth of feathers being affected by rain doesn't hold water to me. ;)

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Ok so I'm leaning quite a bit on the Feathers right now. Should I go with the Razrs or 4" parabolic? I will be shooting Rage heads.

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

For real? I mean, I'm not doubting you, but, I was just thinking, WOW! I've always heard the opposite. A wet feathered arrow is darn near useless. Hmmmm....

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

It's your choice in the end,I have never shot the razors but I will tell you this, I have been using the 3" parabolic for 10+ years with expandablesandlast yearI tried the blazers but found them tonot stabilize my arrows like the feathers....I am back tofeathers...

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

The only thing I have against feathers is the noise they can make. I know they shouldn't make noise when they are nocked. I've heard it before. I just look at it this way: if i don't get a shot what diff does all the rest of it make? I like to eliminate anything that could go wrong since murphy is my hunting partner:D

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

I have never used any type of water proofing on my feathers and have hunted in many wet situations without any issues. The only time I could see a problem is maybe soaking them under water for an extended period. I am not sure if the different brand feathers have different characteristics but I use the gateway 3" para's....

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Magic that is a good point and it has happened to me before, however the deer didn't seem to be bothered, not sure but it did kinda sound like a leaf hitting the brush on the way down. Of course I was at least 18' in the tree and it was just my sleeve brushing along the feather, probably louder to me than them....

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

I've used a variety of things my 2 favorite are both spray on. Ignition sealer/waterproofer & Camp Dry;)

Dan

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

You usually hear that from people that have zero experience with feathers ;).

Check this link - http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2262756&mpage=1

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

OK so i'm pretty much decided on feathers, but now I need to know what spine I will need. 28 in draw (might go to 29" draw), 61 pounds, 100 grain Rage and 100 grain muzzy insert.

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

I was told by a local pro shop owner that in real cold temps (below 0) that vanes get stiff and make the arrow fly erratically. Has anyone else heard of this?

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Yep, seriously. I'm not sponsored by any feather company,and I've got well over a decade's worth of experience shooting them. The topic has come up several times in discussions in the tech forum over the years. Most of the guys who have shot them as much as me agree. If our search engine were better, I'd pull a bunch of threads for you. One guy (Louisiana Tomkat, perhaps? Or AF Hunter? Someone like that...) did an evaluation last year where they actually soaked their feather-adorned shaft in a bucket of water for a while before shooting it, and reached the same conclusion.

Now, just to clarify... I AM talking hunting distances (30 yards or less). I wouldn't want to take a shot further than that in a downpour anyway, for fear of the blood trail being washed away too quickly. But I have seen negligible differences in POI under those circumstances at those distances.

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

I could see it happening but no I've never heard of it before. Another thing too that were on the subject of wet feathers. A wet set of feathers would add weight to an arrow also wouldn't it? Thus that could cause your arrow flight to be off some if its legit. I personally don't like shooting an arrow with soaked fletching wrapped around your arrow, they have feathers on them for a reason to give the arrow good flight and keep them quite.

RE: Feathers or Vanes?
 

Sorry, Bruce... missed your post. Thanks for finding that.