Arrow wraps and fletch configurations

[Bump79]

Agree with the noise difference between blazers and the 26 profile.

I will say I found the Q2i raptx to be just as quiet, if not quieter than the 26. Blazers are loud because the material isn’t very stiff. They flop. Q2i is stiff as a board. They’re less finicky to install, zero prep, brighter colors, and they’re a little lighter than AAE. You can also buy the redhead branded vanes from Cabela’s/bass pro, which are q2i’s without the logo, so there’s plenty of availability for them in a pinch.

I had great results with the max stealths but was tired of the prep work. Tried hybrids that I think had a bad batch of release agent. They would not stick no matter what I did to them.


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Fair points, I love Q2i vanes and deal them. I prefer the Predator X personally as they are a hair quieter than the Rapt-X. Fusion II are always solid too.

I did a bracket style test awhile back with a ton of vane configurations. Had my wife sit on the porch and rank them. Whittled it down like a bracket to find a winner. Rapt-X was indiscernible to the blazer to my wife and I. DCA Super Sabre and AAE 26 profile tied out. I like the Airrzr material best and it's quieter to the max and hybrid. No prep.

I've done the same test at a location I can shoot between two metal buildings. It amplifies the noise a ton. I found the same thing year over year when I test them out.

I actually really like the unpopular Easton Diamond 280... I can't tell the difference in steering between others and it's quiet, stupid easy to adhere and it's almost rubbery with about no memory. The super stiff vanes if they get smushed say in the truck they can hold that bend and not want to come back. I haven't been able to tell any broadhead steering difference. No more noise than any other 26 type profile. Plus they are cheap. I'm not personally sold based on my testing that stiffness or lack thereof is really making a difference in noise.

 

[fatlander]

Fair points, I love Q2i vanes and deal them. I prefer the Predator X personally as they are a hair quieter than the Rapt-X. Fusion II are always solid too.

I did a bracket style test awhile back with a ton of vane configurations. Had my wife sit on the porch and rank them. Whittled it down like a bracket to find a winner. Rapt-X was indiscernible to the blazer to my wife and I. DCA Super Sabre and AAE 26 profile tied out. I like the Airrzr material best and it's quieter to the max and hybrid. No prep.

I've done the same test at a location I can shoot between two metal buildings. It amplifies the noise a ton. I found the same thing year over year when I test them out.

I actually really like the unpopular Easton Diamond 280... I can't tell the difference in steering between others and it's quiet, stupid easy to adhere and it's almost rubbery with about no memory. The super stiff vanes if they get smushed say in the truck they can hold that bend and not want to come back. I haven't been able to tell any broadhead steering difference. No more noise than any other 26 type profile. Plus they are cheap. I'm not personally sold based on my testing that stiffness or lack thereof is really making a difference in noise.

That’s some pretty incredible work you’ve done! All solid points and I think we’re getting down to picking fly s*** out of chili when we’re talking about vane noise. Animals are all different, with every situation being different. Is there really anyway to know that XX vs YY vane would have made a difference in a given situation? Short of gross comparison like flu flus compared to heat vanes, probably not; and even then it may not matter in most hunting applications.

Further to that point about animals all being different, just the other day I was shooting with a couple buddies, one stood down range (safely) and listened to the difference of rapt x vs fusion II. He definitely thought the fusions were louder after a few shots of each.

For the vast majority of hunting applications, I think it’s safe to say that a 3-fletch of medium to high profile is the way to go. In my humble, unsponsored, non financially invested to the outcome, opinion, I think the 4+ fletching craze is solely based on the fact that selling 33% of any unit, in any business, is incredible for business.


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[CMF]

Be aware that using a wrap can hide a slight crack in your arrow-not super common, but definitely don’t shoot groups with wrapped arrows.

It could make it harder to see, but the wrap I used recently did split with a cracked arrow and actually gave some contrast to identify the crack

 

[Bcoonce117]

To be 100% honest I wanted to do a 4 fletch based off John Dudley. The guy is a legend with a bow. so I was just being a fan boy I guess. I went with the max stealth vane just because I have had them on arrows before

 

[CodeMonkey]

Don't overthink it! Aside: if you view my post history you can see that I need to tell myself that more often than not.

Wrap will add some weight to the back of the arrow, so not ideal if you're chasing FOC. That said, the pros are that the arrow will be easier to re-fletch and easier to find in the woods or after an errant 3-D range shot.

With the vanes you have listed a three fletch should stabilize every broadhead imaginable (assuming your bow is tuned). A four fletch is going to add more drag and make your arrow drop off at longer ranges.

 

[mflo]

Just here to pile onto the sentiment that a 3 fletch with AAE Max Stealths should be fine. I have a 2.5° right helical on my arrows, in that configuration.