Just want as much advice and knowledge on the subject of using three vs. four fletchings.
If your setup is tuned well there is no differece in flight. Costs you a little more to fletch your arrows. If you have a marginal tune the extra fletch can straighten up your arrows a little quicker. I have shot both and will continue to use 3 fletch.
It costs me more to 3 fletch! :) I can chop 2 4" feathers out of a full length and that's pretty much the main reason I started doing it. Much less effort to grind 2 feathers per arrow than 3!
Plus, I like the confused look people give me when they see the 60/120 4 fletch - "I think you may have screwed that sucker up!" LOL :D
As far as flight, the 3x5" and 4x4" arrows I made up at the same time had the same point of impact out to 35 yards (my point-on distance at the time).
I love four fletch, I don't use 4 inch when I use them. I use four fives, or four 5 1/2. I often reduce the amount of helical, sometimes straight, when I use four.
For hunting they are quick to load on the string, and give great stable flight, the downside is that at longer distances, such as 30 plus yards, they really drop.
When I use three fletch, I use three 5 3/4 inch feathers. I just like the Classic look of large feathers, don't need them, just love them. I guess that is why I hate cap/wraps, they are too short. Everyone knows that Classic Arrows were always capped at least 9 to 11 inches.
I guess I am just a T-Rex, getting a little long in the tooth.
Hey thanks guys for the info. This is my thing here. For christmas I am getting a fletching jig, and a big order of feathers. I by accident ordered a 4" feather chopper instead of the 5". I shoot 5" Right wing shield cut (three flethcings). Would it work out to just chop and use the 4" feathers with 4 fletchings.
How much does the fourth fletching affect the arrow coming off the shelf?
I`ve used all three kinds of four fletch and could tell no differance at all. With 4" you can usually get 2 feathers out of one full length feather,so it`s cheaper to shoot 4 fletch/4" than 3 fletch with 5" feathers.I have both 3 fletch and 4 fletch arrows and can really tell no differance at all in stability or flight of the arrows,all other variables being the same. Soooooo if you cut your own,shoot 4",4 fletch. If you buy precut,fletch 5",3 fletch. I assure you,you wont see any differance. Bob
I use both...can't tell a difference.
I will tell you that smaller 4 fletch 'seems' like it gets better flight...and also 'seems' like its faster....but I think its just because of the smaller fletch illusionary effect. I really can't tell a difference, nor does it amount to a hill of beans at normal hunting distances IMO. Neither is going to make or break your shot if you equipment is tuned.
I use three 5.5 inch shields at times, and four 5 inch shields at times. I've mostly switched over to the 4 fletch for two reasons.....one, I got tired of switching over my fletching jig, and I like the 'no look nocking' from 4 fletch.
Click below for another thread on 4 fletch.
Four Fletch Thread (http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=053664)
I have switched to 4x4" exclusively.