Building up my elk arrows. I am planning on shooting a Zwickey Eskimo 2 blade on an Easton FMJ 400 shaft. Just wondering if 4" fletch is enough to stabilize the broadhead and if it has any real speed advantage over 5" fletching or is it all just fashion? Thanks.
If your arrows are tuned properly 4" is plenty to stabilize a broadhead. You will probably pick up a fps or two and in theory your arrow should be quieter in flight.
On my Hill bows my brace on them almost insists on 4" feathers. On one I'm shooting 3 5" shields that the lower one rests on the shelf before drawing back. I think the brace is 5 3/8". Add nock length and the space between the nock and the back tip of the fletching and there you have it.
Got some 4" on order.
As was said above 4" should be plenty to stabilize arrow flight IF your arrow is properly tuned to your bow.
I had 4s, but now have 5s (with more helical). I'm really liking what I see with the increased size and helical and not worrying about a possible miniscule loss in speed. It is also a little more peace of mind when shooting a big broadhead, hitting a twig, or a bad release.
An Eskimo is a small head that flies extremely well. 4-inches is enough to control that head. That being said, I shoot 5 inches regardless of the head.
QuoteOriginally posted by jrstegner:
If your arrows are tuned properly 4" is plenty to stabilize a broadhead. You will probably pick up a fps or two and in theory your arrow should be quieter in flight.
This^^^^^
Bisch
I read in a book that said with lightweight carbon all that are needed are 3-4 in. feathers.They also said helical are impossible because the shafts are so skinny.They suggested feathers with a 1-2 degree offset or strait with an average sized broadhead.
Ive also read in another book that said for hunting helical are the only fletching that should be used.The guy shoots aluminum so I don't know.I'm going to use offset for my carbine and helical for my aluminum.I hope this helps..
I shoot big 5 1/2 inch high back parabolics, because in a hunting situation, you may have damp feathers, and every little bit helps.
I have used both with my 2 blade stinger broadheads and have seen no advantage with 5" feathers. My current setup based on excellent arrow flight are 4" RW helical feathers.
I fletch all my carbons with right helical and they fit just fine.
Bisch
I really like 4" 4-fletch on my Gold Tips, but I also use 5" 3-fletch on them from time to time...
I use RW Right Helical with no problems with either...
Hunting in the open, wind has worse effect on arrow flight than a bad release. 4x4. Or 3"x4 on skinny shafts works for me.
I dunno. I swing the other way. It's funny how little form issues tend to show up hunting (or shooting 3D matches) I believe that a 4" 4 fletch or 3 fletch with at least 5" feathers is needed then. Helical of course... In a stiff wind, you're pretty much screwed no matter what.
I think its more important that you have thoroughly "shook down" your set-up and other gear first.
I can't really tell any difference between the two but I mostly use 5" for insurance.
I made some arrows with four 4", I think I like it better than 5.5" fletching.
At the ranges I shoot (30 and under for targets and 20 and under for hunting) I can't tell the difference between the same arrows and broadheads with 4" vs. 5".
I've been shooting 4" for about 3 years. I'm going to hunt with 5" this season because I had thought to go to a larger broadhead (VPA 175 grain). I'm not going to use the 3-blade broadhead (sticking with 2-blade single bevel Helix) but I'll still use the 5" feathers.
My arrow is shorter than average (27" BOP) for my 26" draw. I'm also very particular about tuning so I'm sure I could get by with 3" feathers if I wanted to.
However, I'm thinking the 5" might save my shot in the off-chance I tick a sleeve or something at the shot?
I'm with Dan. If a little is good a whole lot must be better. I just did four arrows up as an experiment, two with 3 fletch, 4 and 5" feathers and 2 with 4 fletch 4 and 5" feathers. I'm liking the arrow flight of the 4-5" feathers the best. Chronograph can't tell the difference between them speed wise and neither can I. Plus it's much easier to see all that feather on the rear! Wind drift seems about the same as it's been really windy since I started testing.
I shoot 2 inch razors! Less feather is less noise, more speed. when your arrows fly straight without feathers you really don't need big feathers to off set your broad head. Yes your release is more critical but nothing wrong with a clean release!
On my 30.5" 5575s, I just switched from four 4" to three 4" and took an inch off my crest wraps (now 6"). Bare shaft 5575 with 6" wraps and 175 grain field points fly as well or better than the same shaft with a 7" wrap and 200 gr.
But when fletched, the three 4" flies WAY better than the four 4" especially at longer distances. I just ordered cock feathers and fletching tape from KK today.
Oh, and I suggest O.L. Adcock's bare shaft tuning method. Better, quicker, less painful.
Here's one of several URLs:
http://bowmaker.net/tuning.htm
Brad, that's a good point. I know my 35 year old eyes don't call a shot as good as when they were 18. Between that and a healthy debate with the gal at the pro-shop, I switched to pink True Flights before the 3D season kicked off here in MT. Those on a 4 fletch are like watching a tracer go away from you. Come to think of it, the last of my 3 fletch were all yellow shield cuts (I'd use the bump on the nock to tell which one was the cock feather.)
(http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL152/10882229/20647066/403246112.jpg)
I always thought I saw some "junk" on arrows that had a different color cock feather. Maybe I worry too much?
Also, from what I gather here in the Flathead Schafer was a fan of 4 fletch arrows. Which is probably why 4 fletch is so popular here in the Flathead with Tradguys.
I'm liking the way 3, 3", Magnus, shield cut, turkey feathers, are flying with my Simmons Broadheads..like darts.
I'll either be using them or 3, 4"...most likely the 3".
The Only Difference in Flight I have noticed is 4" are just a teeny bit Quieter. Not really so's you'd notice really, I just happened to be at the Right place at the Right time maybe. :goldtooth:
I use 5" feathers for all my hunting purposes because I want enough feather on there to stabilize even a bad release with wet fletching.
When I shoot my longbows , Ilike to draw the arrow so that there is contact on my bow finger. I found that if I am not taking the time to clean up the lead feather edge a right wing will cut my finger shooting a right hand bow and a left wing will do the same with a left wing fletch. However, with four fletch that goes the other way the left wing cuts on the right hand bow and not on the left hand bows.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bisch:
I fletch all my carbons with right helical and they fit just fine.
Bisch
I seem to get my best arrow flight with 3 5" feathers with a right helical - though with MFX shaft, the helical can't be too radical and stay on the shaft.
As mentioned above, you can probably find a book or article that'll support any theory you like, but the articles that say you don't get enough helical on a small diameter carbon arrow to matter make logical sense. On the other hand, what you can get looks nicer, so I do it anyway. :saywhat:
4 inch feathers are noticeably faster. I use them on carbon shafts but I stick with five inch for wood.
Buckeye... which tuning method do the tribal hunters use?
For everybody else... it's my opinion that no advantage overrides the stability of an arrow with 4x4" or 3x5" fletching regardless of how well the arrow is tuned.
Stability is everything in a hunting arrow.
3x5"
Charlie... didn't mean to offend. Just pokin fun!!
:saywhat:
No worries. You have shot WAY more animals than I have and with more general experience to boot! :thumbsup:
The question was about 4 vs 5 inch feathers. That's mostly why I pulled my posts. I got your point and it doesn't really matter if African tribesmen shoot 4,000 grain arrows, 40 yards at game without fletching. I didn't really answer his question. I might have even been leading the average hunter, which includes me, down the wrong path. Tuning is very important, but the fletching can and will save you on a number of occasions.
The bottom line is; The arrow has to be flying true when it hits the animal for maximum penetration. Bigger fletching helps accomplish that goal.
Just as a side note... the African hunters did essentially bare shaft tune their hunting arrows! They cut them or added bigger heads until the arrow flew well. Interesting info from Ashby.
Now back to the original question; 4 inch will work fine if tuning is done well. 5 inch will be better overall if you had any issues while bare shaft tuning!
Good luck,
-Charlie
Well said buddy!!
:thumbsup:
I've been using 4 4" for a while and am going to fletch up some new arrows with 3 5". I don't know enough about trad bows or shooting to really have a preference. I like stability and quiet.
Who has a preference on shield cut or parabolic and why?
No difference in speed between 4" & 5" feathers on same shafts out of my setup & they seem to fly & group the same out to 60yds.
Parabolic seems quieter
I don't see much difference in performance-- 5" fletching looks nicer IMHO, but you can get 2 out of 1 full length feather if you use 4" fletching. Since feathers are pretty pricey at this point, cost is a factor.