Any of you recurve or longbow hunters use four feathers fletching? Do you use 90*x4, 75*-105*, or 60*-120* mounting angles? What length of feathers?
I'd like to get a jig and start "rolling" my own.
I've heard four feathers stabilize broad heads straighter, but on 160 grain field points I hardly notice the difference, but I am not an accurate archer...yet.
Once I get my accuracy improved to a "reliable" level, from 10 to 50 yards, I plan to hunt "meat sow" feral or wild pigs in Nor Cal.
I've been buying Grizzly broad heads, 160 grains, but are there others better known for penetration?
Hey Chris....this would probably get a better response in powwow.
i use 4 x 4 inch feathers just cause i like the way they look. :) Most any cut on contact 2 blade or 3 blade will work as long as your arrows are tuned and your broadhead is very sharp!
Welcome to tradgang!
I am wondering about the different angles as well. I just made a 4-90 and a 60-120. I think on some bows I could get feather contact with the 4-90. 60-120 looks a little odd to me. I would like to try 75-105, but I don't have the indexer parts to do that. I will test shoot the other ones first to see how they work.
there are a lot of great heads out there.
Keep us posted on how you make out on that reliable accuracy works out at 50 yd. I am still trying to get thatat 25.
Welcome to TG.
I have shot 4 fletch set at 90 for years. I usually use 4" but have done some in 5". I like the bigger feathers so I can see them better. I have rather poor vision and like to see the flight of the arrow. Even the 4 5" does not slow the arrow out to 25-30 yds or so. Great broadhead flight.
75-105 is what I use with 4" (any shape) Ive spent months trying to create the perfect arrow and have used 5.5" to 3" of all shapes and the 4 feathered arrows are what I will shoot and like rastaman said the look cool :thumbsup: :archer2:
I forgot to mention all of the arrows flew nicely out of my bow with field points, but the true test was with identical BH with diff feathers was the key for me.
I shoot a lot of 4 fletch. Tried both the 90x90 and 75-105; settled on the 90x90 for me.
have been tunning on a bow last couple days. Had always heard 4x4 stabilized arrows better - figured the difference was marginal. While i'/m sure that well tuned arrows woudl not notice a difference, i like hte idea of more stability - the back yard is BEST case scenario. When in the woods, its far more likely that form will not be perfrect for a variety of reasons. After last couple days, i'll always use 4x4. i've only used 90degrees - someone else could likely chime in on the other set ups
mgreen
90x90 for Me.
75-105 for me. I use 5" feathers, too. Talk about stability.
And I haven't really noticed a problem with shooting out to distances of 30 yards. I have heard some folks say that the arrow slows down and drops too much, but I don't shoot much more than 15 or so yards hunting so it's not an issue for me.
90x90 for me as well.
I will be using 4 fletch next year but have not mastered doing it myself. Great info, thank for the great info!
I started using 4 fletch this year and I believe I get better flight. I have flected gold tips, axis and Beman MFX. the smaller shafts take a little longer to set up but not much. I'm using 4" feathers but I am ordering a feather chopper so I can get Banana cut feathers. I think they llok cool and you dont have to look when you nock and arrow. I dont know why but with three feathers shot thru muy Shrew I get a feather cut on my grip hand, not so with the four fletch.
Again most of all they just look "cool". You are increasing the cost of fletching by 25%.
I have been using 4-4" fletch 75*x105* with 125-145 gr points or Bear broadheads (horzontial) that fly like darts.
90x90 and I like smaller feathers 3-4 " sometimes 2 1/2 " .
4X4 for me for the past 8 years.
$ fletch for me,and I cant tell any differance for myself on the different angles between90 degree and the60x120.I use the 60x120 as it appears to give a lil more clearance.As far as the difference between 4" and 5".I get about 1 ft per sec.from 4 fletch in tests on 4 different bows that all will shoot the same arrow well.So I kind of like 5" feathers as big feathers disguise flaws in my technique,more forgiving with heavy heads etc.My main liking of 4 fletch is not having to feel/look to nock an arrow,and like the look.Makes for more feathers needed though thats for sure.
Iv been shooting 4 fletch for a few years and I find that they stabilize quicker and there are 2 problems the first being with the set up i use the feathers catch on the shelf. fraying the feathers after a hunting season I usually have to replace all of them. the second problem is that after 30 yards they loose a lot of speed. this fact cost me 2 nice bucks this year. that being said I wouldn't trade straight and accurate flight for extra distance.
I've used 4 fletch for close to 30 years and won't shoot anything else. Whether you chose 4x90 or one of the others is purely a matter of taste.
I find that distance matters not at all. Maybe if you had been shooting 3 fletch and picked up a 4 fletch to shoot a long distance target. Other than that you will quickly adapt.
4" 4 fletch is only more expensive if you buy die cut feathers. If you use full length it's actually cheaper.
i only use four fletch, 75x105, left wing 4" (carbon) to 4.5" (wood) long, 7/16" to 5/8" high, slight offset and no helical. plenty of steerage for the small feathers, no nock index needed. natural turk or canada goose feathers only.
(http://www.tradgang.com/rob/grind/f19.jpg)
I've shot 4 fletch, mostly 4" feathers, though I've used 3" & 5", for about 20 years. I like it because you don't have to think about which way the arrow is loaded on the string - however the nock fits on, will work - no worries about the cock feather being in or out.
If you don't get too carried away with oversized fletching and too much helical, you won't notice any more speed loss at distance - in fact, because they are lower profile, 4 - 4" fletchs may have less wind resistence than 3 - 5".
I use a Bitzenburger jig, which I think is 75x105.
According to some of Ashby's studies, when you get into extreme FOC, you actually need less fletching.
4 fletch 5 minute downpour test - processed turk vs. natural canada goose, which one would you take hunting? :cool:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/wetarras.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by hightop_hunter:
Iv been shooting 4 fletch for a few years and I find that they stabilize quicker and there are 2 problems the first being with the set up i use the feathers catch on the shelf. fraying the feathers after a hunting season I usually have to replace all of them. the second problem is that after 30 yards they loose a lot of speed. this fact cost me 2 nice bucks this year. that being said I wouldn't trade straight and accurate flight for extra distance.
i don't see or have any of those problems.
in a 120 three fletch comparison to a 75x105 four fletch, there's better clearance with the four fletch, no matter whether a longbow cut shelf or recurve elevated shelf.
i've never seen more feather wear with four than three.
one concept with four fletch that i use is shorter feathers in both length and height - my 4" four fletched arrows are faster than most folks 5" three fletched arrows -easily.
if you experiment a bit - or a lot! - you'll see the distinct advantages to dressing yer shafts with four feathers.
and like charlie sez, cheaper if you chop full length feathers, too.
Rob- do you know a good source for goose feathers? Here in the great northwest, we need arrows that can handle the constant rain. As for me, I seem to hit 4 feathers off the shelf unless I get a great release-not a problem when I shoot 3 feathers with cock feather in.
I went from 3-5" to 4-4" fletched 90deg. Never had better arrow flight.
Rob, :readit: It is very close :saywhat: Just for you youngster/ newbie/ rookies, 4x4"'s = 16"'s of feather to help straighten your arrow. 3x 5" ='s 15"'s of feather. 3x 5 1/2"'s ='s 16 1/2 "'s of feather but I think that's a little overkill. :archer2:
QuoteOriginally posted by horsehairhunter:
Rob- do you know a good source for goose feathers? Here in the great northwest, we need arrows that can handle the constant rain. As for me, I seem to hit 4 feathers off the shelf unless I get a great release-not a problem when I shoot 3 feathers with cock feather in.
i think stringstretcher offers ground natural goose fletching, give him a pm or email.
i strip \\'n\\' grind my own canada goose feathers (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=000106) that i scout out every june during the molt - there are hundreds at the big pond down the road from my house.
I use four 4" parabolic, using a straight clamp and just a tiny bit of offset. They fly like rockets, err... darts.
QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
in a 120 three fletch comparison to a 75x105 four fletch, there's better clearance with the four fletch, no matter whether a longbow cut shelf or recurve elevated shelf.
i've never seen more feather wear with four than three.
one concept with four fletch that i use is shorter feathers in both length and height - my 4" four fletched arrows are faster than most folks 5" three fletched arrows -easily.
if you experiment a bit - or a lot! - you'll see the distinct advantages to dressing yer shafts with four feathers.
and like charlie sez, cheaper if you chop full length feathers, too. [/QB][/QUOTE
Rob, those four fletches look nice, I'm gonna have to try it myself. Thanks for the heads up!
4 Fletch all the way
i love it
dont have to look at the arrow whilst nocking it
great flight and control
easy to see in flight and where you hit an animal
etc..
3 inch - 4 fletch - 75 X 105 Shield Cut. Great shelf clearance and the same surface area a 3 4-inch fletch.
I don't know if it's a crutch for me or not, but I love 75/105 four-fletch 5" shield feathers, usually with a splice of bright color the last inch or so of the feather. When that arrow is departing, I see this nice ball of bright color heading downrange!
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/09TurkeyA012.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/09TurkeyA009.jpg)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/09TurkeyA008.jpg)
4" parabolic 90x90
Now Mr.DeStefano,That first four fleched banana feathered arrow is about the most classic thing Ive ever seen!Nice work.
Rob-thanks for the info-I know just the place to gather up goose feathers this summer, looks like I'll be making my own fletching soon...
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j456/jalariso/4fletch.jpg)
I got one fletched up.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j456/jalariso/ShrewN4fletch.jpg)
Ready to go.
(http://i1086.photobucket.com/albums/j456/jalariso/4fletchInTarget.jpg)
It works. 4 inch banana almost 1/2 high @ 75 X 105
using a Bitz fletching jig. They fly the same as my normally 3 fletched 4 inch parabolics.