Today I experimented with shooting my arrows cock feather up as apposed to cock feather out. I couldn't really say one way was more accurate than the other. When you shoot cock feather out the two hen feathers brush the bow, one in the corner between shelf and strike plate the other brushes the bow high on the strike plate. When you shoot cock feather up only the lower hen feather brushes the bow in the corner between shelf and plate. So I was just wondering why some people shoot cock feather up, is it to prevent fletching wear because that lower hen feather no longer brushes the bow? Or does it effect accuracy having only one hen feather contact the bow instead of two? So which way do you shoot and why? Thanks-Matt.
Option C: cock feather in so that the top feather sits at one o'clock and touches my nose (lefty)
I'm not sure about other folks. But I tend to get better flight with the cock feather up.
cock feather in
When I shot cock feather in I got crazy arrow flight, I mean the arrow shot out way the left (righty) like it had sprung off a diving board. All I can guess is that the feather compressed against the bows riser and propelled it back off. Plus it corkscrewed down as it went left. Cock feather in, in my opinion defies traditional logic and physics. But as I say when it comes to trad shooting, if it works for you, do it. Thanks for your input BH.
QuoteOriginally posted by petalumapete:
I'm not sure about other folks. But I tend to get better flight with the cock feather up.
Why do you think?
QuoteOriginally posted by rolltidehunter:
cock feather in
Why?
How and WHY, why you shoot the way you do being the main question.
I don't know if it would be called in or not but I shoot with my cock feather so it slides in the corner of the cutout on my shelf.
Up, because I get better arrow flight.
I have been shooting Cockfeather in, I was at a 3d shoot with a fella older than me, he was mid 70's and I am 10 years his junior. Shooting wood arrows off the shelf, the paradox introduced by the string launching the arrow past the springs of the bow (limbs)let the feather clear the shelf properly, he had read a few articles and suggested that I try, my group tightened up subtantially that day. That was his opinion and I am sticking to it.
I went through this same dilemma about 2months ago . I tried odd color feather or cock feather in the 12 o'clock and I tried it turned into the riser . But found a better way for me anyway.
I kinda do both. My cock feather (off color) out but I turn the nock so it is out but down around the 8 o'clock putting my 2 same color feathers in the position of one in the 12' o'clock and the other in the 4 o' clock . So it's kind of both. I get the best arrow flight this way. It seems this way I get a wider space between the 8&4 o'clock clearing the shelf better.
I like cock feather for the reason you indicate...not sure it makes a whole lot of difference...just works for me
Should read cock feather up
A 4 Fletch arrow shoots good any way you use it....
4 fletch here as well. Hook 'er up and let fly.
I shoot cock feather out...anything else just looks weird to me. I've tried them all and didn't really notice a difference.
I shoot 4 fletch or cock feather in. I seem to get better flight. I shoot right wing feathers. I've read you shoot left wing with cock out and right with cock feather in. Don't know if that's a wife's tale or not.
I'm movin towards 60x120 4 fletch. Anything 3 fletch I shoot cock feather out. Mainly because I don't find much difference and It's easier to do with my jig and wood arrows where I cant rotate the nock.
I think an arrow which is really well tuned to the bow, it won'te matter at all where the feathers are pointing. I've shot plastic vanes out of some selfbows with nearly centershot shelves and achieved very very clean arrow flight. The vanes fully clear the riser and there is no contact. Feathers should also clear the riser.
I don't see much difference when I shoot. I have not tried up, but in and out. I have one bow in seemed to shoot better, but it may ahave been my focus as I tested.
I normally shoot with my cock feather out and the bottom hen feather lined up in the corner of my shelf/riser. When I hunt I turn it so my broadhead lies horizontal during the draw and one of the feathers (it does not matter which one) lines up in the corner. As long as one feather is in the corner, the other two are oriented the same as always; just sometimes the cock feather will be in any of the three positions.
Bisch
i bare shaft by arrows. so it flys strait without feathers. so when i flecth them they fly even straiter. it doesnt matter if they are left right in out out up or down.
For me, it depends on the bow. My NM Classic likes cock feather out, and on my Misty Dawn, I can only get good flight with the the cock feather in.
I shoot the same arrow out of both bows. Some have suggested that the spine might be too stiff for the Misty Dawn. Don't know about that, but I get great flight with cock feather in.
I shoot cock feather in. I shoot more consistent groups this way.
. 1
/ * \\ cock :thumbsup: feather up gives me my best arrow :goldtooth: flight :archer2:
Same as Rolltidehunter.
I fletch for cock feather out but when it comes to shooting I typically shoot cock feather in towards riser.... with my hand so close to the arrow shelf height...I sometimes get brushed or stabbed by errant quills....so cock in seems to put them away from riser and away from my hand better.
Corner, between rest and striker, but one feather must touch tip of nose on draw, and for those that know me, that ain't much of a problem !
Doesnt make a lick of difference for me. Grip n rip, baby.
Up. My nose lays over the outer hen feather as another point of contact.
i have shot with just 2 fletch one up one down and with cock fletch in and out dont make any difference as they all work if it works use it if it don't well hey start again you know back to the drawing board LOL!!!
I don't really shoot well enough to tell any difference, but I've started shooting with the cock feather in and my nose touching the hen feather at 2:00 O'clock (lefty). Seems to put me into a more consistent eye alignment.
I think it's 99% mental. If I think I will be more consistent, then I usually am.
c feather out, way I was tought.
Tried CF in but got really crazy flight.
cock feather in, seems to work better for me
I have always shot with cock feather out simply because that is the way the guy who introduced me to archery shot. I have tried feather up and saw no performance difference, though.
I shoot cock feather up, but I can nock it either way and still get perfect flight.
Hmmm, if it doesn't seem to matter where the cock feather is, they why do we have a cock feather at all?? Why not all the same color??? Just thinking out loud...
4 feathers here and wow what a difference it made, does not matter how I have the feathers flies amazing
QuoteOriginally posted by Roverrich:
Hmmm, if it doesn't seem to matter where the cock feather is, they why do we have a cock feather at all?? Why not all the same color??? Just thinking out loud...
Mine are all the same color and I shoot three fletch. Just prefer it that way. Funny this thread should come up right now. My long time shooting/hunting buddy always shoots his longbows with the cock feather IN. I tried it this week, and by golly, my groups got better. No idea why but it works better for me.
I use all the same color feathers so I shoot what ever way the arrow went on the string. That way I don't have to pay attention to noching my arrow especially if it is for a second shot. I see no difference in arrow flight.
Black Widow in their manual actually recommends the cock feather up.
Cock feather up, I shoot RH and LH with a double shelf bow. Don't even have to renock the arrow to go from one to the other, just swing it around and your good to go and both shoot the same.
When shooting cock-feather out, the quill of my 4 o'clock hen feather hits the outside corner of the shelf, scarring the bow shelf, and affecting arrow flight.
So, I shoot cock-feather in.
Kelly Petersen (Arrows by Kelly) used to have an article on his website regarding the why's and wherefore's of shooting cock feather in. It made sense to me and I've been shooting that way ever since I read it.
Unfortunately Kelly is no longer in the arrow business and I can't find that article.
Cock feather out. Why? Because it suits my sense of symetry.
4 fletxch 120` don't matter!
I've been getting good arrow flight shooting both cock F up and cock F out. I think I'm going to go with up because it just makes sense, one less feather touching the bow is one less factor on accuracy and one less feather to wear.
Your bow does not care what color your fletching is.
All it cares is that proper clearance exists.
As was said earlier, with the cock feather in, the hen feather touches the tip of my nose, I am at draw. I have been shooting this way for many years and shoot well at 3-D shoots and harvest my deer.