Barry O'Regan
09-01-2011, 10:32 AM
Bohning Killer 4" Vane Review
By Barry O’Regan – Bohning Pro Field Staff
I have conducted a test of Bohning’s 4 inch Killer Vanes (http://www.bohning.com/resource-center/articles/product-review-bohning-4-killer-vanes).
The weather conditions to say the least were less than ideal, a mild easterly wind, cloud and some drizzle and mud!
The Setup
To ensure straightness and durability I purchased 6 broad heads, 6 field points, and 3 Easton Aluminum 2314 arrows and 3 PSE X-Weave 200 arrows.
I then cut the arrows down to ensure they would all weigh the same, approx 300 grains. All six broad heads weighed in at 125 grains each, all field points weighed in at 100 grains each.
I fletched the Bohning Killer 4 inch vanes using the Bohning Helix Tower (http://www.bohning.com/store/bohning-complete-tower-fletching-jig.html) putting a 2 degree twist on the Bohning Killer Vanes on three aluminum shafts (Easton 2314s) and three PSE Carbon X-weaves 200s.
I then placed silver duct wrap on the carbon arrows so readers would be able to differentiate between the black X-Weave carbon arrow groups and the black Easton aluminum groups. Photos on this review available on Bohning's Field Test Review (http://www.bohning.com/resource-center/articles/product-review-bohning-4-killer-vanes).
Both Bohning 4 inch Killer Vane (http://www.bohning.com/store/bohning-4-killer-vanes-100-pk..html) aluminum and carbon arrows came in at approx: 400 grains with 100 grain field points.
Both Killer Vane equipped Easton aluminum 2314 arrows (http://www.eastonarchery.com/products/product/10) and PSE X-Weave 200 carbon arrows (http://www.pse-archery.com/products/category/445.5.1.1.87693.87697.0.0.0#.Tl-M1o77K8s) came in at 425 grains with 125 grain Broadheads.
I will be shooting both sets of arrows (Generic Broadhead Tipped and Field Point Tipped) at 40 yards.
I also decided to shoot Bohning Blazer vane (http://www.bohning.com/store/blazer-vanes.html)s on my Hot Pink Victory 400 arrows (http://www.victoryarchery.com/VForceHV.aspx) which also came in at 400 grains with 100 grain field points. I wanted to see how my Bohning Blazer equipped Victory arrows would stack up in grouping and accuracy against the Bohning Killer Vane arrows.
For my test I used a typical compound hunting bow, my 2008 Hoyt ProElite Compound Bow (http://www.hoyt.com/compound_bows/) measure out at 29 inch draw length with a 58 # draw weight.
Field Test Results
Photo # 1 Testing with Field Points
My test using field points show the following:
• Bohning Killer Vanes on both Easton Aluminum 2314 arrows and Bohning Killer Vane PSE carbon X-weave 200 equipped with 100 grain field points.
• Bohning Killer Vane Easton aluminum and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows shot at 40 yards with my 40 yard sight pin into the target butt shown in photo # 1.
Results: I got great groups and awesome accuracy.
Test with Broad heads
Bohning Killer Vane arrow, both Easton aluminum arrows and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows outfitted with 125 Grain Broadheads and fired at 40 yards, using my 40 yard sight pin.
The Test Results
• The broad head equipped PSE X-Weave carbon arrows with Bohning Killer Vanes grouped low, but grouped together and the broad head equipped Bohning Killer Vane Easton aluminum arrows grouped slightly higher but grouped together. (As you can see in photo)
• All in all I received great groupings, though both the broad head equipped Easton aluminum and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows were 25 grains heavier, both sets of 3 arrows each showed a little right and low a couple of inches from the bulls eye! The groups were great in both sets of 3 arrows.
• A minor sight adjustment would put both Easton Aluminum and PSE X-Weave arrows into the centre of the bulls-eye.
Test using Field points and shooting Bohning Pink Blazers against the Bohning Killer Vane.
After removing the broad heads, I then fitted both the Bohning Killer Vane Easton aluminum and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows with 100 grain field points.
I then shot the Bohning Killer Vane equipped Easton Aluminum and PSE X-Weave Carbon arrows at 40 yards, and then shot the Bohning Blazer Vane Victory arrows using my 40 yard sight pin.
I was curious to see how all three types of arrows with two different styles of Bohning Vanes would group.
Results
• Extremely tight groups. Interesting observation though, I fired 3 different sets of 3 arrows and got three separate groups. The Bohning Killer Vane Easton aluminum arrows grouped together.
The Bohning Killer Vane equipped PSE X-Weave arrows grouped together and finally the Bohning Blazer Vane Victory Arrows grouped nice and tight as well.
Novice Shooters give a turn with Bohning Killer Vanes and Pink Blazer Vanes
There were two novice Bowhunters, who shoot bare bow compound (Kyle and Kristen) at the range; both have only been shooting for a month.
I thought to myself, I wondered how Kyle would fare shooting both the Bohning Killer vane Easton aluminum and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows with field points.
I took my Bohning Pink Blazer equipped Pink Victory arrows and photographed Kristen shooting them at 30 yards.
I also gave the Bohning Killer Vane Easton Aluminum and X-Weave Carbon arrows to Kyle to shoot at 30 yards as well.
Results
The photos were surprising, as their current arrows (Jazz arrows) do not even come close to grouping as tight as the Bohning Killer Vane and Bohning Blazer equipped arrows.
What is just as interesting is again, the (silver tape wrapped) PSE X-Weave carbon arrows grouped together and the Easton Aluminum arrows grouped together.
Both sets of identical arrows fitted with Bohning Killer Vanes would just not mix it up preferring to group Easton aluminum arrows to Easton aluminum arrows and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows with PSE X-Weave carbon arrow grouping.
Bottom line seems to indicate the Easton aluminum arrows with Bohning 4” Killer vanes grouped higher, with little arrow drop when fitted with field points or broadheads.
Bohning Conclusion
In the hands of an experienced archer, your Bohning Killer Vanes, whether on aluminum arrows or carbon arrows will fly true and hit their mark consistently to give you outstanding groups. You can feel confident that even equipped with broadheads or field points your Bohning Killer Vanes will ensure great flight, accuracy and tight groups.
In the hands of any archer, including novice archers, like Kyle and Kristen, proves Bohning Killer Vanes or Bohning Blazers Vanes will steer your arrow more accurately ensuring Bohning equipped arrows hit what you aim at whether it be target or animal.
Kristen's Face says it all, Bohning products (http://www.bohning.com/store/bohning-vanes.html) "Improving a Bowhunter’s face value one shot at a time".
By Barry O’Regan – Bohning Pro Field Staff
I have conducted a test of Bohning’s 4 inch Killer Vanes (http://www.bohning.com/resource-center/articles/product-review-bohning-4-killer-vanes).
The weather conditions to say the least were less than ideal, a mild easterly wind, cloud and some drizzle and mud!
The Setup
To ensure straightness and durability I purchased 6 broad heads, 6 field points, and 3 Easton Aluminum 2314 arrows and 3 PSE X-Weave 200 arrows.
I then cut the arrows down to ensure they would all weigh the same, approx 300 grains. All six broad heads weighed in at 125 grains each, all field points weighed in at 100 grains each.
I fletched the Bohning Killer 4 inch vanes using the Bohning Helix Tower (http://www.bohning.com/store/bohning-complete-tower-fletching-jig.html) putting a 2 degree twist on the Bohning Killer Vanes on three aluminum shafts (Easton 2314s) and three PSE Carbon X-weaves 200s.
I then placed silver duct wrap on the carbon arrows so readers would be able to differentiate between the black X-Weave carbon arrow groups and the black Easton aluminum groups. Photos on this review available on Bohning's Field Test Review (http://www.bohning.com/resource-center/articles/product-review-bohning-4-killer-vanes).
Both Bohning 4 inch Killer Vane (http://www.bohning.com/store/bohning-4-killer-vanes-100-pk..html) aluminum and carbon arrows came in at approx: 400 grains with 100 grain field points.
Both Killer Vane equipped Easton aluminum 2314 arrows (http://www.eastonarchery.com/products/product/10) and PSE X-Weave 200 carbon arrows (http://www.pse-archery.com/products/category/445.5.1.1.87693.87697.0.0.0#.Tl-M1o77K8s) came in at 425 grains with 125 grain Broadheads.
I will be shooting both sets of arrows (Generic Broadhead Tipped and Field Point Tipped) at 40 yards.
I also decided to shoot Bohning Blazer vane (http://www.bohning.com/store/blazer-vanes.html)s on my Hot Pink Victory 400 arrows (http://www.victoryarchery.com/VForceHV.aspx) which also came in at 400 grains with 100 grain field points. I wanted to see how my Bohning Blazer equipped Victory arrows would stack up in grouping and accuracy against the Bohning Killer Vane arrows.
For my test I used a typical compound hunting bow, my 2008 Hoyt ProElite Compound Bow (http://www.hoyt.com/compound_bows/) measure out at 29 inch draw length with a 58 # draw weight.
Field Test Results
Photo # 1 Testing with Field Points
My test using field points show the following:
• Bohning Killer Vanes on both Easton Aluminum 2314 arrows and Bohning Killer Vane PSE carbon X-weave 200 equipped with 100 grain field points.
• Bohning Killer Vane Easton aluminum and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows shot at 40 yards with my 40 yard sight pin into the target butt shown in photo # 1.
Results: I got great groups and awesome accuracy.
Test with Broad heads
Bohning Killer Vane arrow, both Easton aluminum arrows and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows outfitted with 125 Grain Broadheads and fired at 40 yards, using my 40 yard sight pin.
The Test Results
• The broad head equipped PSE X-Weave carbon arrows with Bohning Killer Vanes grouped low, but grouped together and the broad head equipped Bohning Killer Vane Easton aluminum arrows grouped slightly higher but grouped together. (As you can see in photo)
• All in all I received great groupings, though both the broad head equipped Easton aluminum and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows were 25 grains heavier, both sets of 3 arrows each showed a little right and low a couple of inches from the bulls eye! The groups were great in both sets of 3 arrows.
• A minor sight adjustment would put both Easton Aluminum and PSE X-Weave arrows into the centre of the bulls-eye.
Test using Field points and shooting Bohning Pink Blazers against the Bohning Killer Vane.
After removing the broad heads, I then fitted both the Bohning Killer Vane Easton aluminum and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows with 100 grain field points.
I then shot the Bohning Killer Vane equipped Easton Aluminum and PSE X-Weave Carbon arrows at 40 yards, and then shot the Bohning Blazer Vane Victory arrows using my 40 yard sight pin.
I was curious to see how all three types of arrows with two different styles of Bohning Vanes would group.
Results
• Extremely tight groups. Interesting observation though, I fired 3 different sets of 3 arrows and got three separate groups. The Bohning Killer Vane Easton aluminum arrows grouped together.
The Bohning Killer Vane equipped PSE X-Weave arrows grouped together and finally the Bohning Blazer Vane Victory Arrows grouped nice and tight as well.
Novice Shooters give a turn with Bohning Killer Vanes and Pink Blazer Vanes
There were two novice Bowhunters, who shoot bare bow compound (Kyle and Kristen) at the range; both have only been shooting for a month.
I thought to myself, I wondered how Kyle would fare shooting both the Bohning Killer vane Easton aluminum and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows with field points.
I took my Bohning Pink Blazer equipped Pink Victory arrows and photographed Kristen shooting them at 30 yards.
I also gave the Bohning Killer Vane Easton Aluminum and X-Weave Carbon arrows to Kyle to shoot at 30 yards as well.
Results
The photos were surprising, as their current arrows (Jazz arrows) do not even come close to grouping as tight as the Bohning Killer Vane and Bohning Blazer equipped arrows.
What is just as interesting is again, the (silver tape wrapped) PSE X-Weave carbon arrows grouped together and the Easton Aluminum arrows grouped together.
Both sets of identical arrows fitted with Bohning Killer Vanes would just not mix it up preferring to group Easton aluminum arrows to Easton aluminum arrows and PSE X-Weave carbon arrows with PSE X-Weave carbon arrow grouping.
Bottom line seems to indicate the Easton aluminum arrows with Bohning 4” Killer vanes grouped higher, with little arrow drop when fitted with field points or broadheads.
Bohning Conclusion
In the hands of an experienced archer, your Bohning Killer Vanes, whether on aluminum arrows or carbon arrows will fly true and hit their mark consistently to give you outstanding groups. You can feel confident that even equipped with broadheads or field points your Bohning Killer Vanes will ensure great flight, accuracy and tight groups.
In the hands of any archer, including novice archers, like Kyle and Kristen, proves Bohning Killer Vanes or Bohning Blazers Vanes will steer your arrow more accurately ensuring Bohning equipped arrows hit what you aim at whether it be target or animal.
Kristen's Face says it all, Bohning products (http://www.bohning.com/store/bohning-vanes.html) "Improving a Bowhunter’s face value one shot at a time".