Stickbow Target Archery Forums

I just checked my bitz jig. I have the bottom set 1/16 right of center and the top is set at 3/16 to the left, I shoot LW 5" shield feathers on 23/64 cedar shafts. I guess that gives me 1/4" of twist if I am calculating correctly. I get good arrow flight but I have always used this setup for hunting. Now that I want to try field and target this coming season, I was wondering if this would work or less twist would be better for the longer distances. I will be using 4" LW parabolic feathers on 11/32 cedar shafts. Thanks for the help. John

I don't shoot wood arrows but I do shoot a lot of field. All my current arrows are feltched with straight clamps set at a slight off-set. I have no idea how to calculate degrees on a Bitz so I can't help you there. On the field course I shoot out to 80 yards and all my arrows fly well and are adequately stabilized. I don't see the need for helical fletching as it just slows the arrow down. YMMV!

Dave

PS: I'm waiting on the arrival of a new longbow (the above is with recurves) but I see no need to change the style of fletching. Only difference will be feathers instead of vanes.

I wouldn't change the bitz. For one thing, it is nice to keep it the same you can replace a single fletch on either your target or hunting arrows and have it match the others. Also, I like plenty of stabilization on wooden shafts. They are imperfect to start with and get bent in use. I check mine regularly, especially in matches, but I sometimes get a surprise when I do, especially if someone else has pulled my arrows.

What you might consider instead is going to narrower shafts, 11/32 or even 5/16, possibly butt tapered and with lighter field points. If you do I would leave them longer so you could use a similar sight picture to your hunting arrows but get a lower starting angle to go with the flatter trajectory.

Longer shafts could require less spine and lighter points more spine, so they would tend to offset each other. Lighter arrows definitedly help you reach out to the long targets.

Keep in touch. We will be interested to see how it goes for you. - lbg

Straight, with a very slight offset, for feathers on my "target arrows".

I like a helical, but never tried comparing the difference. Maybe you should fletch one up wit a straight offset and see what you trajectory difference is. If it is only a couple inches at long distances, then it probably won't make a practical difference.