Hey everyone! I have a new bow on the way. It's a SWC GennIII at around 47#'s. I'll be shooting tapered spruce with a 200grn grizzly broadhead. I'll be needing some arrows for this bow. I'm wondering if I should go with 5" or 5 1/2" shield cuts. I'm leaning towards the 5 1/2" just for extra forgiveness. What are your thoughts?
Grizzly's are narrow and fly great. Go with three 5" feathers.
me likes 'um big!
I like 5 1/2" shields.
Besides what you said, If they get wet, there is more surface area remaining, and it is easier for your eyes to follow the arrow, and it is a little easier to find a lost arrow (if you use bright colors), and when I am at full draw I like touching the fletching to my nose, and they look nice.
Downsides: slows the arrow down faster, a little noisier, and a little more fletching to scrape when you want to be quiet.
John,
Just a brief reminder, don't forget your basic tuning and bare shafting should come as a first step with the new bow set up.
If you get your set up shooting bare shaft perfect, you can use the 5" with no problems. I use 4 - 4" shield too - but 3 - 5" is just a simplier design - especially if you are making your own arrows.
Of course more feather at the back IS more forgiving and all - but it comes at a price too.
My experience the 5 1/2" shields are a bit higher profile and a bit more noise in the air.
Chinook
Oh - I almost forgot .........
I also found the 5 1/2" feathers - with their higher profile - tend to brush up against "things" and make a noise - like just when you are trying to turn just a little to get a better body angle on that deer - and then "BUSTED".
Chinook
You bet chinook! I've learned that bare shaft is the way to go.
Flip a coin.
I find that 5" shield works great for me.
I've slowly gotten rid of all of my 5 1/2" cuts. They are just high enough to get past the oil line in most feathers and into the softer part of the quill. Makes 'em buzz more and wear faster.
I am certainlly not discerning enough to tell any true difference between the 5 and 5.5 inch shield. I prefer 5.5 inch shiled cut TruFlight feathers on all my own arrows. Just look a little cooler, easier to see in flight for me, and alot easier to find when I miss!
I am sure you won't go wrong with either size. Just don't use parabolic!
I know most of the 5.5" are high back so if you use a kwikee like I do the fletching will rub against each other. If you don't then use what you like and what tunes best for ya! Good Tuning! Jason
I've gone down to 4" and will try 3" next. I'd rather work on the arrow flight and get it down pat so I don't have as much need for larger feathers. I hunt a lot in the wind.
I really dont know if you'll see much difference.I don't-but maybe its because my shootings not good enough. :rolleyes:
QuoteOriginally posted by Zradix:
Hey everyone! I have a new bow on the way. It's a SWC GennIII at around 47#'s. I'll be shooting tapered spruce with a 200grn grizzly broadhead. I'll be needing some arrows for this bow. I'm wondering if I should go with 5" or 5 1/2" shield cuts. I'm leaning towards the 5 1/2" just for extra forgiveness. What are your thoughts?
it's not just length that matters, it's also height. takes both to figure out the surface area of a feather ... and even so, the fletch shape can make good or poor use of that area.
to answer your question, 5" is plenty for a 3 fletch on a well flying arra.
no matter what the fletch surface area, all bets are off if your arrow flies poorly. relying on a lotta fletch to help correct bad flight is not the way to go. a big o'l arrow that bare flights well can get by with 3" fletches, if need be.
i only shoot 4" 4-fletch with slight offset, no helical required or needed.
ymmv.
I shoot 5 1/2, but knock the height down a little
5inch
I used to use 5-1/2" but have swithed to 5 " and noticed less noise and seems to fly just as good...
Before, I decide on fletch, I would do a lot of testing with a bare shaft to tune your setup. Start with your field tips and progress to your broadheads. Then I would go with the least amount of fletch that I could get by with. Even though I love the look of the shield cut, I find it robs me of performance in arrow speed over parabolic or low profile bananna fletch.
Thank you for the input everyone!!