hey guys, im gonna start fletching my own arrows. i was wondering if i should keep the vanes straight or go to the helical. my goldtips XT hunter come with a 1 degree offset.

I would say no less than a 3 degree offset if your going to use them for hunting. If your going to use them for target or 3D's only, I would say go with a right helical, as much as you can get a way with. I suggest right, only because it will tighten your field points as they hit the target; a hard helical will also give you tighter groups.
Food for thought (personal experience)...feathers will give you faster flight down range, will be more forgiving and you'll replace them less often, mine lasted 5 years, while still maintaining tight groups. They look like crap, but work, 296/300 fingers. Spray with aqua hairnet spray and they do fine in the rain out to 20-25yrds, you just have to worry about seeing through your peep in the rain.

Feathers are faster?????

Feathers are faster?????

Thats news to me :noidea:

Feathers will be faster out of the bow because they are lighter. They will be slower down range because they have more drag.

I GOT ONE WORD FOR YOU.......................BLAZERS:rockon:

well the statement was faster down range.......just wondering?

If we are talking same style fletch/same arrow weight...Feathers have less mass, on average, they start out 5 ft/sec. faster. On average they still maintain a 4 ft/sec lead out to around 29 yrds. Even out to about 60 yrds, feathers will slightly out gain a plastic fletch.