I like 4 feathers at 90 degrees.  I shoot all the same color so it doesn't make any difference how I put the arrow on the string.  With the lower profile and 4 feathers they seem to fly the same wet or dry.  Being lower profile the barbs of the feather are stiffer near the feather shaft.  I tune bare shafting also but that extra feather certainly gives me confidence in all conditions...rain, snow, and ice.  

I also use the Vario chopper in 4" hunter or parabolic.  I'll even throw in a few exotic feathers from my clients Parrots.  They seem to get a kick out of me using them for my arrows & flies I tie for fishing   :D   Doc

QuoteOriginally posted by tippit:
... I'll even throw in a few exotic feathers from my clients Parrots.  They seem to get a kick out of me using them for my arrows & flies I tie for fishing    :D    Doc

       

Doc said it all right there...4x4" Vario Hunters are on all my arrows.

As for nock/feather orientation, with 4x4"-90 fletching and a properly tuned arrow, I can twist the nock to any position and still get exactly the same flight. It should make no difference at all if the arrow is spot on. I like my 2blades vertical so I twist the nock wherever I need to in order to get the broadhead alignment I want. Course, this doesn't work for wood since you need to deal with grain orientation.

Were you guys getting the 4'' banana feathers? Some say they cut their own but the little choppers don't carry the profile in 4''. And none of the major suppliers carry them......stabow

For the guys shooting 4x4" nanners, are you using a moderate helical, heavy helical or just offset?

Have you noticed any difference between those, I would think the more helical you put on the more control, but the downside being more noise?

Taking that one step further would 3x5" shield cut with helical do the same job as 4x4" nanner with offset?

QuoteOriginally posted by stabow:
Were you guys getting the 4'' banana feathers? Some say they cut their own but the little choppers don't carry the profile in 4''. And none of the major suppliers carry them......stabow

The best is the Vario Hunter in 4" - this is a banana cut and will work with right or left wing feathers.  I have one and it's the best chopper ever, IMO.

You can slightly modify a Li'l Chopper high profile banana jig (or the low profile version) to cut 4" fletches - just remove the screwed down metal feather guide and replace it with a thin piece of wood or plastic or whatever that's double stick taped place.  Just takes a tweak or two to figure where to place the new feather guide, and what length it needs to be.  It's not the exact same shape as the Vario Hunter, but close enough and works just fine.  

 

Thanks Rob. Were could a person buy a Vario Hunter chopper can't find them listed anywhere......stabow

The Vario Clipper can be purchased from Herbs Archery, a sponsor on here.
 http://herbsarchery.com/herbvario.html

And at Git-r-Done Archery, another sponsor.
http://www.git-r-donearchery.com/

jc thanks....stabow

I'll second Herbs.....