Picked up some 2" feathers and made up a couple four fletch with them just to see.
Well they look cool and they fly great. I dont know how they would do with broadheads but with field points no problem.
If your arrows are tuned good enough that should work. But I like more just for better flight in case of operator errors :) .
Denny
I have shot them quite a bit, no problem with broadheads as long as they are tuned to your set-up. I only use 3 fletch so 4 would be even better! Shawn
Should work fine!!
With all due respect, if and should just ain't quite good enough for me.
I have tried two and three inch feather. And they fly great on a prfectly calm day. But take them out on a windy, or slighty windy day with a field tip and you get real live example why the greatest archers in the world use 4 and 5 inch feathers. Then, put your favorite broadhead on those same arrows in the same slighty windy days, and then mutiply that by a flaw in your form and then shooting through a thicket at your prize buck and clipping a limb.
Just my opinion I could be wrong!
Good luck!
Well gonefishing600 I said they fly good for me you dont have to use them, just another reason I dont post much.
Didn't mean to offend know one. If I did, please forgive me.
I guess I screwed up again!
QuoteOriginally posted by gonefishing600:
With all due respect, if and should just ain't quite good enough for me.
I have tried two and three inch feather. And they fly great on a prfectly calm day. But take them out on a windy, or slighty windy day with a field tip and you get real live example why the greatest archers in the world use 4 and 5 inch feathers. Then, put your favorite broadhead on those same arrows in the same slighty windy days, and then mutiply that by a flaw in you form and then shooting through a thicket at your prize buck and clipping a limb.
Just my opinion I could be wrong!
Good luck!
Pretty much my experience too, bought a bunch of those razer feathers, ended up using two of them in each position basically making a 4"fletch, flew pretty good then. And my arrows are tuned pretty good, and that's not just my oppinion!
PM sent.
Buck, don 't be too sensative. This site is full of guys who have shot stikbows forvtwo years and are experts on every aspect of the sport. Hold on awhile and some creditable guys may comment. No offense to any intended
We all need to keep in mind that we cannot 'hear' what someone has typed on these pages- and what may be well-intentioned advice could come across as biting simply because the author's style of writing is misinterpreted.
I can say that while i had my custom arrow business going years ago I experimented with all sizes and numbers of fletch and as suggested have found any combination of fletch that was under 12" total length very sensitive to winds, just like really big fletching, , and deflection by even the smallest twig when using broad heads. And, if you live or ever go west of the Mississippi to hunt -the wind will be almost always a big factor when shooting.
I personally would be hesitant to hunt with two inch feathers -but I also do not use the big high profile ones either. Extremes are usually where u get into trouble
Some like to whittle down sticks, tie on wild turkey feathers and a piece of rock with whatever works. Then shoot em with another whittled down stick. That system has worked fairly well for quiet a while.
I like 3, 3" shield cut with big Simmons Tree Sharks on MFX skinny shafts.
If you like what you shoot and it works for you I would use it.
here we go again, down that slippery marginal-at-best arrow feather fletch size route ....
while it's fine and dandy to experiment with all manner of arrow guidance systems, small area feather fletches mounted on hunting arrows meant for deer and larger game, that sport sharp blade points are a definite gamble of sorts when compared to large feather fletches, with large and generous surface areas, and a goodly twist to 'em. :readit:
this is PARTICULARLY TRUE for newbies to trad bowhunting. you have enuf to be concerned about let alone will yer arrow fletching be able to handle and properly stabilize those not-so-good releases. remember, a well placed straight flying arrow is lots better than a well placed wobble flight arrow, in terms of penetration on good sized game.
don't think so? still wanna use weenie 2" and 3" feather fletches that you know will fly straight and true no matter how good or bad yer release? have at it, friend - and good luck.
ps - this thread will not last long, promise.
These's a huge difference in arrow stability with field tips on a calm beautiful day than in the brush hunting on a dreary wet chilled to the bone day trying to achieve a smooth release with a broadhead tipped shaft with matted down wet feathers.
If everything isn't tuned exactly perfect or a perfect release, arrows fly like swirling bottle rockets.... Been there done that...8^)
Happened years ago and cost me a good buck using four, 4" shields. Shot and practiced the matted feathers the whole way out the woods that day and enlightened me how much wet matted feathers affects arrow stability...
I now shoot the 5-1/2" high backs, and lately have been playing with adding a Blazer vane or vanes to my wet weather arrows.
Even the big ones catch the wind and play hell with arrow flight. Been there and done that too. I have had a 5.5" fletched arrow turn sidewise when it passed thru a windy area. Feathers catch the wind. . that's their job.
While I definately agree that tiny feathers are not the way to go, I also feel that 5" or better feathers are not required for good arrow flight, if you did your homework, and you GOT to do your homework.
This is like a lot of other posts, with someone, typically someone new to the sport, with not a lot of actual experience asking about how to push the envelope. A lot of the envelopes have already been pushed, but a lot of what we do has also been based upon the "we've always done it that way" routine and some pushing might be OK.
In all things, Test your equipment in situ, that kinda means in the situation. Fletch them up five ways to heck, put on a big broadhead, a small braodhead, shoot it dry and wet (safely).
Then YOU have the answer you are looking for. Ask for opinions, sure, but do your own homework. That is called experience and it is a good thing.
ChuckC
ihmo, and for the very most part ....
large helical feathered fletching and significant crosswind and targeted game at more than 20 yards is mostly an open hunt scenario, and not about what most woods hunters experience from treestands and ground blinds. 5" or longer full helical shields or parabolics will do just fine for most of us. there is no advantage with 2"-3" mini fletching. in fact, i prefer 3 x 5.5" full helical burnt shields ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/muzzy.jpg)
hunting open ground, such as out west in a pronghorn blind, is another matter that might mean re-evaluating fletching for added arrow speed and wind conditions. this is where i like a 4 x 4" banana fletch ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/feathers.jpg)
2" or 3" fletching? nope, not a high enuf consistent positive steerage factor under all conditions, including both the skill and luck of the bow operator. :saywhat: :)
Basically it's pushing the envelope and in bowhunting there is no need to push the envelope. It's best to stick with the tried and true if you want to be a successful hunter. Now if you're punching little holes in foam or paper then have fun and experiment.
QuoteOriginally posted by reddogge:
Basically it's pushing the envelope and in bowhunting there is no need to push the envelope. It's best to stick with the tried and true if you want to be a successful hunter. Now if you're punching little holes in foam or paper then have fun and experiment.
yessir. :readit: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I have to agree with ChuckC above. I hunt the windy west and for me, tuned arrows with big feathers fly worse than tuned arrows with little feathers in a cross wind.
I've followed Rob on this topic on countless threads. After doing my own experimenting I have found my top performer.
4 X 4 parobolics set helical with natural goose feathers from Magnus. High profile from a feather chopper and waterproof. Amazingly stable flight with complete confidence.
Given my location I need not speak to wind and rain. :saywhat:
Thanks Tech guy and thanks TG!
(http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu47/chromebuck/DSC00764.jpg)
:campfire:
~CB
Like I said in my first post..
If you like what you shoot and it works for you I would use it.
Three, 3" shield cut Magnus wild turkey feathers with big Simmons Tree Sharks on MFX 400 skinny shafts works for me.
They fly great in wind or whatever and get where they are going quicker and quieter than bigger feathers. I don't hunt in the rain anymore.
I like speed and everything in my set-up is geared towards it. I'd rather gamble on my arrow getting to a deer or turkey and hitting my intended mark at 20 to 25yds with a fast quieter arrow than a slower noisier one. As we all know (but is readily overlooked when it comes to discussing speed and stickbows) when it comes to jumping the string a fps or two counts.
If I have release or tuning problems I'll work on my form and shaft size before adding feathers.
One of the main reasons I hunt with recurves is because I like pushing the envelope.
OK, I am a bit confused. Some say bigger do better in the wind, others say the opposite. I shoot a lot of feather and they yaw in the wind quite a bit. Wanting to try less feather for that reason. I have always shot bigger and am resisting the notion that smaller is better in a crosswind. I guess experimentation is next.
QuoteOriginally posted by onewhohasfun:
OK, I am a bit confused. Some say bigger do better in the wind, others say the opposite. I shoot a lot of feather and they yaw in the wind quite a bit. Wanting to try less feather for that reason. I have always shot bigger and am resisting the notion that smaller is better in a crosswind. I guess experimentation is next.
if crosswind is an issue for most of your hunts, try a low profile 4" banana, either 3 or 4 fletch (i highly recommend the 4-fletch). with a 4-fletch, i prefer fletch offset only, no helical. you can easily modify a li'l chopper banana jig to make a 4" lo-pro shape instead of the larger 5+" shape ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/Dsc01482.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/jc4fletch.jpg)
here's a "fat" 4-fletch, 4" custom burnt shield shape ... lots of steerage, less wind resistance ...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/archery/4fletch.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by beachbowhunter:
I have to agree with ChuckC above. I hunt the windy west and for me, tuned arrows with big feathers fly worse than tuned arrows with little feathers in a cross wind.
I agree.
yes, well, it's a no-brainer than big, stable fletching will be affected by the wind far more than smaller, lower profile feathers.
if you hunt the prairie critters, you will need to get your tackle and shooting act more together than a woodland hunter. adding to the wind factor, your kill distances will typically be greater as well.
long, low profile fletching, particularly a 4-fletch, will offer very good steerage if you do your part. these kinda fletches will offer more and better control than a gaggle of 2" or 3" fletchings. do the testing and see for yerself.
i'll add - big feathered shafts will yaw in a goodly crosswind, but small fletchings and a bad release will do more than just yaw. experiment and use what works consistently best for you.
It has been my experence that larger "traditional" sized fletching straightens up much faster off the bow. I'm still not getting the ultra-light fishing direction here.
I have found that 3" 3 fletch shoot great, and even better in cross winds than 4" or 5", no tail kick at all, even shooting across 30 yds.
If its ok for a guy out west to shoot lower profile, why is it not good for the woods hunter to shoot the same?
QuoteOriginally posted by kenn1320:
If its ok for a guy out west to shoot lower profile, why is it not good for the woods hunter to shoot the same?
because big helical fletching will straight out a hunting shaft better than one with small, low surface area fletching.
Newbie here.......you mean that a four fletch high profile 2" feather combination will not steer a broadhead tipped arrow as well as a three fletched, 4 inch low profile combination?
Doug
QuoteOriginally posted by dougedwards:
Newbie here.......you mean that a four fletch high profile 2" feather combination will not steer a broadhead tipped arrow as well as a three fletched, 4 inch low profile combination?
Doug
maybe, maybe not.
there are many variables to consider. all that matters is personal good arrow flight, particularly in the case of one tipped with a broadhead. some broadheads fly better than others. some folks will shoot arrows with little or no fletching. some use lots of fletching area and twist.
consistent good arrow flight, particularly with a broadhead, comes from shooting experience. learn the basics and use proven broadhead arrow fletching first, then experiment, if need be.
consistent good arrow flight, particularly with a broadhead, comes from shooting experience. learn the basics and use proven broadhead arrow fletching first, then experiment, if need be.
Rob
That. . is the best answer, right there.
Lots of things are possible, but learn the basics first. Get your experience, then learn more using that experience.
ChuckC