I have always made and shot 3 5" helical fletched arrows. I don't know why...guess it's just because that is what I saw others shooting. I got to know a guy in our archery club. He is a very experienced archer. We were trying out the bows we had just built and he was shooting 4 4" fletched arrows. I tried them and was surprised at how much more stable they were in the air. When you have a less than great release the arrow still had great flight. So with the Bitz jigs I just got I tried a half dozen arrows with the 4 fletch. What a difference in consistancy. You probably loose a few fps. But to gain this degree of consistancy is well worth it. It's not that I am a poor shot. I am a pretty good shot. But it still helped me. 4 fletching all the way! :thumbsup:
I have stayed with 5" feathers 60-120 4 fletch since I first tried it a few years ago. I will go to 4" feathers once my supply of 5" is gone. Could be a few years though.
I do the same and I am very happy....
I noticed that. I've been 4 fletching lately. I like it.
Sure wish I found this out sooner. I have a lot of arrows that I've made up that are 3 fletch.
You could always sell the 3 fletch. I'm pretty new to it all and I've tried both. Can't say that I've noticed that much difference but so far I've been buying arrows or having friends make me up a few. I guess I'm going to have to start building my own and really experimenting. Interesting topic.
I've been told that 4 fletch are noisier than 3 - did you notice any difference?
No Dragon rider, I didn't notice any difference in the way they sound going through the air.
Try 4 fletch low profile parabolic or banana. They are just as fast, no noise, and the rain does not effect the flight...for me! If you have a feather chopper, you can just cut your present 5" feathers. JC (Joe Coots) showed me this 3-4 years ago and that's all I shoot now...Doc
I just bought a bunch of 4" parabolics. That's a good idea with the chopper. I have a 4" chopper. Thanks Doc.
I did the same thing and I think 4 4" are quiter
jmho
I made the switch also, I've been shooting 4 5inch shield cut.
Whitch is best for 4 4" feathers?
60-120 degree or,
90-90 degree?
Ken,
That is like the single or double bevel theories. Use which ever you like. Like on this post, some use different profiles, too. I think as long as they clear your bow, they will fly well.
I use 60 x 120 but some guys like the 90 x 90 and then you have the 75 x 105. Get them on correctly and they will fly. I just like the look of the 60 x 120 4" and out of my bow they work well. Rob DiStefano inspired me to modify the fence on my 5 1/2" high back banana chopper to make 1/2" high 4" bananas. I like em! Like Snag said, they are quiet. Many archived posts about them on here, also.
(http://i516.photobucket.com/albums/u329/rayginID/ModifiedBananaChopperedited.jpg)
Enjoy!
I love 4-fletch :)
I switched to 4x90 a while back and like it very much. Either with the 4x.5" bannana Ray posted with regular foc. Or the Adcock-2.5x.5", turbulator and efoc.
The only 4 fletch I currently have is a flu flu. I may have to try out some of my 4" feathers when I fletch some more arrows.
I've shot both over the years, but am happy with 3 fletch. I don't find it difficult to get very good flight with them. Glad you like the 4 fletch and that they are doing well for you. Always good to have confidence.
I tried 4 fletch years ago, and saw no real difference. If my arrows are tuned to the bow I am shooting either one works the same. I tune my bare shafts to impact with my fletched out to about 30 yards. Once the feathers are on they fly great. If you have a marginal tune, 4 fletch can stabilize the arrow a little faster than 3. Whatever works best for you.
I have tried 4 fletch a couple of times with 4" feathers, and they always fly well. But, they always hit lower than three 5" feathers, with all other variables being equal. I figure they must move more air.
I use 4 3" parabolics. You can chop 3 out of a full length. Or two and a flu flu left over.
YEPPER 4 fletch! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
30 odd years ago I did some chrono tests comparing 3 fletch to 4. I didn't find enough difference in the two to matter and if the four fletch gives me a little more stability, I'll take it.
Been using 75x105 4 fletch ever since.
75x105 5" low profile banna cut. Because I liked 'em and years ago few were using them in my area. Used to love the look on folks' faces when they asked "what the heck are you shooting/"
I started shooting 4" 4x90 parabolic last year. No matter which way you nock it's always right. I think they are a little quieter than the big 5 inch and stabilize my arrow almost as quickly.
Shot 4 fletch, 4"x90 parabolic for the first time this afternoon. Anybody in the market for about 4 zillion 3 fletched arrows?
4 Fletch will actually not be much slower. 4feathers*4infeathers=16in of fletching. 3feathers*5infeathers=15in of fletching so you only have 1 in more of feather drag. You might want to try 3.5in 4 fletch because that would give you 14in of fletching.
started shoot 4x4" para at 90deg earlier this year and I like them for several reasons. don't need to look to nock and arrow, fly just fine and I can usually get 2 fletch out of 1 full length feather. (although the last bag of 100 full length I just got have an awful lot more short feathers than they used to)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/hickstick/testbatch.jpg)