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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: cajuntec on January 16, 2008, 10:17:00 PM

Title: Which feather shape?
Post by: cajuntec on January 16, 2008, 10:17:00 PM
I've always prefered the look of Shield cut over Parabolic.  I'm getting ready to purchase a 5" chopper (or two... or three   :cool:   ), and I'm wondering if I should stick with the Shield cut, or experiment with some of the other offerings... like:

Traditional
Pope and Young (two different looks, depending on which brand I go with - Vario or Little Chopper)
3R Swift
THawk

Recommendations?

All the best,
Glenn
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: La. bowhunter on January 16, 2008, 10:31:00 PM
I have been shooting shield cut for about 15 years now in compound and recurve I dont know if they shoot any better but I think they look better so I keep on shooting them. I really dont think it makes a lot of difference.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: cajuntec on January 16, 2008, 10:33:00 PM
I don't think it makes much difference either - mostly looks.  I have heard that the "banana" shape acts a bit differently and some have commented that it is a bit "louder".  Don't really know though, as I have personally never shot it - didn't really care for the looks actually, although it probably looks good in a barred feather.

All the best,
Glenn
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: JDinPA on January 16, 2008, 10:49:00 PM
I shoot shield and parabolic. I like the shield the best but it's noisier than the parabolic.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Don Armstrong on January 16, 2008, 11:05:00 PM
I have found the banana cut to be quieter and seem to shoot better for me but it could be all in my head  :D  . Don
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Gatekeeper on January 16, 2008, 11:09:00 PM
5" shields for looks. This is what I like.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: 2Knives on January 16, 2008, 11:26:00 PM
I have a:
5" shield
5" parabolic
5" banana
3" parabolic

I've also used the shield chopper and then cut the back end off the feather with scissors, kinda like the traditional.
I don't have a favorite...I lose/break too many arrows to become attached to them...I'm keeping Easton/Gold Tip in business!!!!  :)
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: 30coupe on January 16, 2008, 11:26:00 PM
I have shot 5" parabolic, 5" shield, and 5-1/2" shield.

I don't know that there is a huge difference. I like the 5" shield the best. I think I get good flight and good looks with them. Never noticed much noise difference between them. I do think I lose a bit of speed with the 5-1/2" but doubt that it is significant.

I haven't tried banana cut. I'm not wild about the looks and they are harder to find since I don't cut my own feathers.

I also don't think there is much difference in 3 or 4 fletches, so I have been saving a feather and using 3 lately.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Tree man on January 17, 2008, 12:07:00 AM
I prefer shield. Parabolic are good and theoretically a tiny bit more efficient. Raptor cut get a lot of feather into a 5 inch chop but I don't love the look, nock interference or sound. Banana cuts don't appeal to me visually.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: JEFF B on January 17, 2008, 03:11:00 AM
shield and indian style fletching real cool i think its called raptor not sure. 5"
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: varmint on January 17, 2008, 07:45:00 AM
I have a 5 1/2" high back shield,but am really starting to like the looks of the Traditional and Pope & Young,oh yeah.......and the T-Hawk.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: BAK on January 17, 2008, 07:57:00 AM
Aerodynamically the parabolic is the most efficient and the quietest.  I've tried over a dozen shapes and still always come back to it.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: pointy sticks on January 17, 2008, 10:29:00 AM
I like 5" shield always have. When I do splicings I burn the shape I want. I end up with what looks something like a slightly modified "orca"

http://herbsarchery.com/orca.htm
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Paul Mattson on January 17, 2008, 10:45:00 AM
I prefer the 5" Banana cut.  Get yourself a Vario feather clipper, from herbsarchery.  They are better made, and will last alot longer than a feather chopper.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Jerry Jeffer on January 17, 2008, 11:24:00 AM
nanners, nanners, nanners that's the way to go
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Can Hahaka on January 17, 2008, 12:20:00 PM
I have parabolic and traditional. The traditional are much louder but seem to hold the line better in less than perfect conditions.
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Jeff Fortner on January 17, 2008, 06:04:00 PM
I like Shield Cut feathers.  I also make self nocked arrows with turkey feathers that I have ground.  I don't chop them though.  I lay them on the bench and cut them to length.  Then I take a 1 inch wide steel ruler and lay it up against the quill.  I cut the feather off in a clean straight line.  The feathers are really abrupt in the airstream so they are a tad bit slower than my other arrows but they reallly sound cool when you are stump shooting!
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Fletcher on January 17, 2008, 06:14:00 PM
Get a burner, then you'll have them all!    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: cajuntec on January 17, 2008, 06:47:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by Fletcher:
Get a burner, then you'll have them all!     :thumbsup:  
:D    No thanks.  I had a burner a while back that someone gave to me.  I used it... and then returned it with a "thanks".  Just not for me.  I didn't care for it at all.

I think I've pretty much decided to go with the Pope and Young cut on the Vario clipper.  Seems to be a good choice, and I like the looks.  Thanks for all the responses!

All the best,
Glenn
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: Ragin Bull on January 17, 2008, 07:20:00 PM
I have tried several types side by side and out of my bow nothing shoots like banana's
Title: Re: Which feather shape?
Post by: baretraks on January 24, 2008, 09:13:00 PM
Last summer I purchased a chopper for the "traditional" style cut....Imagine throwing a weedeater downrange, and you got the amount of noise these feathers make!!!!
I love shooting them though, just for the novelty of it during the summer when we go to 3D shoots, I've always got somebody coming over to look at my "Hollywood" arrows....
In hunting season however, I take a pair of scissors and cut the little point off the ends, converting them to shield cuts. Doesn't effect the flight, but stops the "scream" they make as they go downrange.