If shooting a 3 blade BH which is better three 5'' feather or four 4'' feathers or does it matter as long as you're getting good arrow flight......stabow
Charlie, Terry, and several others have some good stuff on this topic here. (http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=091390#000000)
I have used both, and had similar results from each one. I prefer the 4 fletch, just for thesimple fact it looks different then most everyone else.
4 fletch means you dont have to pay too much attention on how you nock it.
6 in one, half dozen in the other in my experience
Both work great. 4 fletch for me. I can nock without having to feel the index point or look at the arrow.
I shoot both and like both,it doesn't matter as long as your arrow is well tuned.
Three, five inch feathers = 15" total inches of fletch.
Four, four inch feathers = 16" total inches of fletch.
All other things equal, looks like you'd have 1" more feathers to stabilize an arrow that might be a little questionable.
4 fletch for me. You can usually chop 2 4" feathers out of one full length. More bang for your buck.
3 fletch for me.
I use 3 4" feathers and if anything the arrows shoot better with the three blade on than field points. Since I shoot with the cock feather in I don't worry if I am in a stressful situation, as it doesn't matter that much if the cock feather is in or out.
Played with all combos over the years and i have found 3x5" for recurves and 4x4" for Longbows .What works for me!!
If using skinny carbons, you can generally get by with less fletching. The main thing is, the most properly spined arrow for your bow will get the best arrow flight, regardless of what kind of broadhead you use.
If your arrow is tuned to the bow, you could use any combination from 2 fletch on up. The more fletches, the faster the arrow will slow down.
I agree with Calvin - if your arrow is tuned properly to the bow - your feather design does not have a big impact.
If you bare shaft tune your arrows and get the bullet holes in the paper, your arrow will fly straight with any feather combinations. Provided you don't have a clearence problem and have the feather quills hitting the riser or rest to give the arrow a "kick" (had that condition one time - drove me nuts - but I've almost recovered)
That being said - I like 4 - 4" feathers on my arrows.
- I like the way they look on the arrow
I have been using 2 solid and 2 barred combinatins
- I never need to worry about right side up or not
Chinook
4
I use 4 fletch. Lower feather height...less noise. Doc
I use 4-4" parabolic because they are quiet and stabilize the arrow fast. :thumbsup:
5" Parabolics with a full helical.
Whump Sez; Well I basically agree with the posts unless you are shooting wood shafting. Cock feather orientation can mean everything on wood. I do think 4 fletch is a bit louder than 3 fletch since the feathers are what makes noise on an arrow-- 4 feathers, [fletch height being equal] to me are louder than 3 and I have shot both. The same reason a lot of helical makes more noise than a straight fletch--it is catching more of the wind, and I shoot helical fletch. Now if 4 fletch is working for ya and you are not having any trouble, then don't stay up two days over a witches pot putting a Gypsy curse on me. I am just stating what I have observed from my own experience. Hunt Safe
4 X 5 1/2 inch parabolics with lots of helical for me.
Believe it or not sometimes you don't make a perfect release...or there might be some wind blowing....or you may not be able to stand tall with perfect Olympic target archer form....or your feathers may get damp...or ..or..or....
When any one of those things happens and the biggest animal of your life (insert deer, elk, bear etc) is standing in front of you, trust me, you'll be happy for a little extra feather.
I really wonder how many guys that worry about "loss of velocity at long range" due to big feathers ever shot an arrow at "long range". Frankly, I practice to 50 yards and beyond...sometimes FAR beyond...all the time in our pasture and I can't shoot the difference 3 to 4 fletch, 5 inch to 5 1/2 inch, parabolic to shield cut. I doubt very many can.
Just my 2 cents from 30 years behind a recurve.
Ryan
QuoteOriginally posted by Ryan Rothhaar:
4 X 5 1/2 inch parabolics with lots of helical for me.
Believe it or not sometimes you don't make a perfect release...or there might be some wind blowing....or you may not be able to stand tall with perfect Olympic target archer form....or your feathers may get damp...or ..or..or....
When any one of those things happens and the biggest animal of your life (insert deer, elk, bear etc) is standing in front of you, trust me, you'll be happy for a little extra feather.
I really wonder how many guys that worry about "loss of velocity at long range" due to big feathers ever shot an arrow at "long range". Frankly, I practice to 50 yards and beyond...sometimes FAR beyond...all the time in our pasture and I can't shoot the difference 3 to 4 fletch, 5 inch to 5 1/2 inch, parabolic to shield cut. I doubt very many can.
Just my 2 cents from 30 years behind a recurve.
Ryan
Yep....what Ryan said...
QuoteOriginally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Been using 4x5" feathers since Hector was a pup. Let me respond to a few things I've seen here.
On a well tuned arrow, they DO help when steering large broadheads.
The size and number of feathers also affects the overall stability of the arrow...all the way from the bow to the target.
It almost takes a steel post to deflect one with 4x5" and you can be assured that the arrow will be flying in perfect attitude when it hits an animal (thus enhancing penetration).
Speed loss at 20 yards is negligible. I'll trade a couple FPS of speed for stability any day. It may be different for a target shooter, but this is about hunting arrows.... right?
I've never had a problem fletching 4x5" on any shaft.
Yep...what Charlie Said..and from the other thread I posted on....
I also use 4-5" fletch. Been using it for years now after, moving from 3 -5.5s for the 'no look nock'. You think my arrows are SLOW because of that? NOPE. Or slow down range??? NOPE, just asked my antelope. You think my arrows have serious tuning issues???...NOPE.
I can tell you one thing for SURE....
I NEVER have to worry what head, or how much rain, or how much mud, or how much cant, or how much reverse cant, or what contorted position I'm forced into, or any other thing that can happen in the woods while hunting with MY feather choice.
I agree with the fact that it really doesnt matter as far as controlling the flight of a broadhead but I shoot a 4 fletch for a couple of reasons.
1. I can chop 2 fletching out of a full length feather by cutting 3 or 4 inch feathers.
2. You can nock your arrow without looking because you cant nock it wrong.
3. Most importantly they just look way cooler than plain old 3 fletch.
Good luck with whichever way you decide.
I agree with what Terry and Ryan said. Gary