Blazers
Key things to consider using a fob: No Whisker Biskets Harder to find arrow upon complete pass thru Lighted nock options may be limited or modifications to nock may be necessary.
Pros for me:
I have always hated refletching arrows.
I really like that I can just pop them on and off if needed.(Traveling to hunt maybe)
Finding arrows are not a problem if you have a bright wrap...white like mine are.
I think they do give me better accuracy at distance and with broadheads.
Cons for me:
You can’t shoot groups even at 50 yard...not a super big deal.
They look kind of stupid.
On a hunt you can pop off a FOB’s and lose them. On my elk hunt this year I was not paying attention and I lost every FOB off my arrows while riding a devil horse named Lazy Lucky. That’s why I had extras in my pack.
I got my elk.......
I'd pass them along to someone who'd like to try them out.
They are the size for "larger" carbon arrows (not Axis, etc.) and fit Carbon Tech Whitetail as well as any others of that diameter.
I found them to shoot fine (also Limbdriver Pro V rest) but I opted to stick with my Blazer vanes.
Plenty of Pro/Con discussion if you search past threads.
Ultimately it comes down to trying them and seeing what you think.
Shoot me PM if you'd like to try them & I'll pop them in the mail.
Carl
Please reiterate some of the "many disadvantages" that FOBs have. Have you even ever used them? I've been using them for nearly 3 years and have killed nearly 30 animals with them as well as won many 3D shoots with them. I find it hard to believe that you've ever even used them.
Bottom line, lots of guys use them and love them, myself included. You can't make the decision based on others experience. Get a pack and try them, I think you'll be glad that you did.
To answer your most recent question, Hunt-Big_SC, you have to shoot them out of a drop-away. They have a slightly lower profile than Blazers, so if you can shoot your Blazer equipped arrows with a fletch straight down without contact, you're good to go with FOBs. I use the LimbDriver Pro V as it attaches to the limb instead of cable and I never have to worry about timing issues.
Why I won't go back to Blazer vanes:
1: I always had adhesion issues. It didn't matter how well I cleaned the shafts or wraps, or what kind of fletch glue I used, I had adhesion issues. Either it would pull off too easily or the fletch glue that was strong enough was too brittle and it would break. Either way, I was losing vanes too often.
2: I hate creased or kinked vanes. I hated getting to a hunt or 3D shoot and finding out half my arrows had a creased or kinked vane, or had a vane torn off. No longer an issue with FOBs. Transport bare shafts, pop the FOBs on when you get there.
3: Much less time spent fletching. I can "fletch" a dozen arrows in less than a minute if necessary.
4: Easier passthroughs. Admittedly, if you have enough arrow in the animal to pop the FOB off, a passthrough isn't going to provide much more penetration, but I like being able to find my arrow on the other side of the animal. There's no vanes to hang up on the hide and it's just a slick, bare shaft slipping through.
5: They mark where the animal was standing. I know guys that get so worked up after a shot that they can't even remember where the animal was standing when it was shot. The FOBs popping off show, usually exactly, where the animal was standing, or at the least the immediate area.
6: They're better at steering fixed blades, particularly in crosswinds, in part because they start the arrow spinning faster, so they say. I can't prove that the arrow starts spinning earlier, but I will say that they do steer fixed blades better, even at very long yardages (90 yards on the practice range is the furthest I've tried).
7: More consistent than Blazers, or any vane. The vane itself isn't the issue, but I've seen some pretty sloppy fletch jobs, and that has to affect the flight somewhat, even if it's a minuscule amount.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
- They can get cracked relatively easily when hit by another arrow: don't aim at the same circle.
- Depending on your quiver, the FOBs may not clear each other, as each arrow is fully enclosed by a circle: you can't stagger the alignment like with vanes.
- That first shot can be a little stressful, as you have to KNOW that your dropaway is clearing: but after that first shot I never thought about it again LOL.
I like the concept, just ultimately didn't decide that they offered enough benefit over Blazers FOR ME.
I'm going to let Hunt-Big try them out and decide for himself.
Carl
Plus, I don;t think I could ever get used to shooting an arrow that looked like that! (with a FOB on it) "Not that there's anything wrong with it!" ;-)
Just curious what advantages the Whisker Biscuit has over a full containment rest like the Limb Driver Pro V or similar rest?
Ease of use and tuning/adjustment, and simplicity.
No moving parts to fail. No chords to catch brush. No need to add cushioning or silencing to launchers. Holds the arrow better than any other, not just "captured" for safety. Can replace a biscuit if need be with virtually zero affect on tune (though I have yet to need to do so in 4yrs). Zero noise on release (not so with most dropaways). Not as susceptable to even extreme bow cant. I can lay the bow down in front of me when calling or adjusting gear, with no concern for my nocked arrow.....it's a long list.
Not saying the Whisker Biscuit is for everybody....or that many other rests aren't used successfully by countless bowhunters. But I don't see another rest better suited for hunting. And their benefits are far more useful than anything I would get from FOB's to drop it. :)
Issues with fletching - simply use Blazers with shrink fletch. I own two fletching jigs and haven't used them in 3 years and likely never will, except for feathers.... The NAP shrink fletch are more brittle and come off or get damaged much, much easier than the Blazer version in my experience.
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Thanks! Those are my best over the last few years. I just wanted to show I've been using them for 5 years now in some extreme conditions and I've done well with them.
I would encourage the OP to try them and make his own decision based on his setup and preference.
MBMule- I would agree with that, too.
I have often been concerned about mechanical failure from the drop away, the FOB setup and mechanical broadhead - so I have an identical New Breed Nemesis that I take as a backup with a WB, Blazers and Slick Tricks - I like hunting with both setups.
Personally, I style ALL of my equipment so I don't have to think about equipment issues and can just concentrate on making the shot. Last thing I want is to be sneaking on an elk and have to check to see if my FOB is still there [that sounded a bit sexual, eh?]
My advice to many new archers- setup your equipment to be as bulletproof as possible- if a guy thinks thats FOB's- then OK.
