i shoot 3555 g/tip out of my 55# recurve. FOC of 20%. 250gr up front. 585gr total. i fletch these with 3 4" shield feathers, offset. i hunt with magnus 2 blade b/heads. does anyone else use a similar set up? i get great flight, when my release is good.
QuoteOriginally posted by ozy clint:
i get great flight, when my release is good.
And therein lies the problem. ;) I don't shoot 3 4" feathers, so can't answer your question directly. But the whole idea of bigger feathers, or using 4x4" configuration, is the help the arrow straighten out faster when everything isn't perfect. If we all had a perfect release everytime, 3 4" would probably work OK. But giving up the extra stability and forgiveness of the arrow in exchange for the tiny bit of speed you might pick up with 4" is a big price to pay. Especially when shooting any type of broadhead.
Just my opinion - not based on fact, and others may make it work fine.
I agree with Whip, at the practice butts everything is perfect...no heavy clothes, no adrenalin rush, etc. Even then I'll still have that flyer or bad release where I didn't concentrate.
When hunting I hardly notice what I do with my shot. So I want all the extra help I can get from my feathers. I have switched from 3 5" shield cuts (due to noise) to 4 4" lower profile feathers. They seem to fly even better for me than the 3 larger feathers. But 3 4" feathers seem to take longer to stabilize. I'd sacrifice a little speed for a stable arrow any time as I've taken game with high end recurves to slow selfbows so speed isn't the issue for me. JMHO...Doc
Clint,
I agree with tippit and whip. Rather be setup for when things don't go according to plan or when they aren't perfect, rather than when they are.
I use 4" banana feathers, but I use four feathers instead of just three. I haven't tried using just three feathers as I get perfect arrow flight with four, and my arrows are still plenty fast enough with four feathers too! ;)
Nigel
One of the major advantages of bare-shaft tuning- it takes feathers out of the equation. When you're bare-shaft tuned, the function of the feathers is more to clean up your shooting variations than anything else. Once, shooting the Howard Hill World Championship in Wilsonville, AL, a thunderstorm soaked us all. With my feathers plastered down, I still managed a good score, when others were hurting.
With broadheads, it's even more important to have the right spined shaft. I can use 3 4" parabolics on my target arrows, but I go with 3 5" shields (trimmed until they're quiet) with broadheads.
Don
If you aren't getting good arro flight on about all your shots.You need to change something.Your setup looks good by you statement but tunning is key.Try a helical fletched arro instead of offset.
I too shoot 3 4'' fletch w/ a 160gr snuffer w/ as much helical as I can get out of my fletching gig.W/ a little tinkering it canbe done.
Add that 4th 4" feather. :D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/jc4fletch2.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/4fletch.jpg)
I guess I am the odd man here :knothead: I was shooting three 3 inch shield cut feathers but changed to 3 four inch shield cuts. I had no problems with arrow flight with 3 inch feathers but went to four inchers in case I did have a bad release. I shoot 190 grain interceptors and 130 grain no mercys with 75 grain adapters and they fly well with both feather set ups.
A year ago I would have said never to use anything less than 5" when hunting and preferably 5.5". Luckily I'm not that set in my ways and tried the 4x4 bananas. Even with the crappy shooting problems I've been experiencing lately, they still straighten out fast, I think as fast or faster than 3 5.5" feathers, and they are much quieter. Pretty hard to beat. I would add that fourth feather and not look back.
QuoteOriginally posted by Molson:
they still straighten out fast, I think as fast or faster than 3 5.5" feathers, and they are much quieter. Pretty hard to beat. I would add that fourth feather and not look back.
Yup, my sentiments exactly.
I agree with Whip 100%. I would also add archers paradox. Its your best friend untill the nock clears the riser. Then we need to get rid of it fast. Thats why we need helical fletch. I shoot 4x4 shield an like was said above im not looking back.
Huhh,,
I must really be the odd guy here..
I shoot 4x4 90 degree 3" parabolics. rh helical slightly
They handle every shooting situation, I have needed. shooting grizzlies to muzzies.. I religously bare shaft,and broadhead spin. SO To each his own.. What you sow you reap.
QuoteOriginally posted by BigCnyn:
Huhh,,
I must really be the odd guy here..
I shoot 4x4 90 degree 3" parabolics. rh helical slightly
They handle every shooting situation, I have needed. shooting grizzlies to muzzies.. I religously bare shaft,and broadhead spin. SO To each his own.. What you sow you reap.
... and most importantly, Your Mileage May Vary. :D
Has anyone tried Gateway's 2 inch Rayzr? Wondering how 4 of those with the high profile would work. Anyone know if they come in left-wing?
okay then, what nock/feather oreintation do you four fletch guys use? cock feather in, out, up, sideways, inside out, you know what i mean, LOL. i'll have to fletch one up and give it a go.
QuoteOriginally posted by ozy clint:
okay then, what nock/feather oreintation do you four fletch guys use? cock feather in, out, up, sideways, inside out, you know what i mean, LOL. i'll have to fletch one up and give it a go.
The most popular 4 fletch arrangements are 90x90 or 75x105. Here's the feather orientation as viewed from the rear on a right hand arrow rest ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/4f.jpg)
Well any more feathers that that I consider overkill on a small diameter carbon.If an arrow is tuned it takes a lot less feather on the back than most use.Aside from a bit more speed down range the 4" feathers are quieter than larger feathers in any type cut.3 4" parabolics is plenty to steer even a 2" wide treeshark or you just have tuning/spine issues on your setup.As far as quick recovery goes that is in the tuneing and your own ability to get off a shot and need not have half a turkey on the back of an arrow to get it. ;) jmo
IMO, it's the feather shape that dictates flight noise, not the feather length. I used to burn a custom 4" shield shape for my 4-fletch and without a doubt, the 4" Vario Hunter 'nanner shape is SO much quieter while still retaining good steerage right outta the gate. YMMV.
Oh I agree with that but size does matter too.I like to shoot 4" low profile nanners as well.They can be almost as quiet as parabolic with the right cut.Of course on my wood arrows I always use big feathers to help with the inconsistancy s of wood shafts.On those I need all the help I can get. :)
QuoteOriginally posted by James Wrenn:
... .Of course on my wood arrows I always use big feathers to help with the inconsistancy s of wood shafts.On those I need all the help I can get. :)
:thumbsup:
I like 4 feathers at 90 degrees. I shoot all the same color so it doesn't make any difference how I put the arrow on the string. With the lower profile and 4 feathers they seem to fly the same wet or dry. Being lower profile the barbs of the feather are stiffer near the feather shaft. I tune bare shafting also but that extra feather certainly gives me confidence in all conditions...rain, snow, and ice.
I also use the Vario chopper in 4" hunter or parabolic. I'll even throw in a few exotic feathers from my clients Parrots. They seem to get a kick out of me using them for my arrows & flies I tie for fishing :D Doc
QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
... I'll even throw in a few exotic feathers from my clients Parrots. They seem to get a kick out of me using them for my arrows & flies I tie for fishing :D Doc
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :biglaugh:
Doc said it all right there...4x4" Vario Hunters are on all my arrows.
As for nock/feather orientation, with 4x4"-90 fletching and a properly tuned arrow, I can twist the nock to any position and still get exactly the same flight. It should make no difference at all if the arrow is spot on. I like my 2blades vertical so I twist the nock wherever I need to in order to get the broadhead alignment I want. Course, this doesn't work for wood since you need to deal with grain orientation.
Were you guys getting the 4'' banana feathers? Some say they cut their own but the little choppers don't carry the profile in 4''. And none of the major suppliers carry them......stabow
For the guys shooting 4x4" nanners, are you using a moderate helical, heavy helical or just offset?
Have you noticed any difference between those, I would think the more helical you put on the more control, but the downside being more noise?
Taking that one step further would 3x5" shield cut with helical do the same job as 4x4" nanner with offset?
QuoteOriginally posted by stabow:
Were you guys getting the 4'' banana feathers? Some say they cut their own but the little choppers don't carry the profile in 4''. And none of the major suppliers carry them......stabow
The best is the Vario Hunter in 4" - this is a banana cut and will work with right or left wing feathers. I have one and it's the best chopper ever, IMO.
You can slightly modify a Li'l Chopper high profile banana jig (or the low profile version) to cut 4" fletches - just remove the screwed down metal feather guide and replace it with a thin piece of wood or plastic or whatever that's double stick taped place. Just takes a tweak or two to figure where to place the new feather guide, and what length it needs to be. It's not the exact same shape as the Vario Hunter, but close enough and works just fine.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/nanner.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/Dsc01482.jpg)
Thanks Rob. Were could a person buy a Vario Hunter chopper can't find them listed anywhere......stabow
The Vario Clipper can be purchased from Herbs Archery, a sponsor on here.
http://herbsarchery.com/herbvario.html
And at Git-r-Done Archery, another sponsor.
http://www.git-r-donearchery.com/
jc thanks....stabow
I'll second Herbs.....