3-5" feathers on carbons or 4-4" feathers???

michiganbowguy · March 11, 2009, 09:03:00 AM

the longer 5 inch feathers seem a bit much...im using traditioal pope style cut feathers on cx 150's and im thinking on switching to a 4"x4 fletch....

the arrows will be shot from a 57lb longbow and the arrow length is 29.5 inches...

the tip weight is 170grn...

the broadhead is the 4 blade zwicky delta.

do you have any thing to say about my feather setup?

jamie

Smallwood · March 11, 2009, 09:18:00 AM

I used to shoot 3-5" shields on my 5/16"s carbons, but switched to 4-4" shields just cause I like the look of them better.

Plus, there is an inch more feather on that shaft to aid in stabilization.

To be honest, i think 3-4" feathers would be enough. It's just personal preferance.
sammy

hunt it · March 11, 2009, 09:33:00 AM

I shoot up to 300 grs up front on my carbons. I tried the 4 X 4" few years back and I found flew the same as 3 X 5", no difference other than 3 X 5" is one less feather and cheaper.

KentuckyTJ · March 11, 2009, 09:42:00 AM

If your bow is tuned you can shoot two 4" or 5" feathers. Looks pretty cool to.

March 11, 2009, 10:11:00 AM

I shoot 3-4" parabolic feathers on my GT55/75's with 250gr up front. They fly great.

Bisch

Whip · March 11, 2009, 10:18:00 AM

Actually, I think the four 4" feathers are cheaper. Buy full length feathers and you can get two 4" out of each. Plus I don't have to worry about cock feathers.
I agree, they fly just as well if not better than the three 5".

Rob DiStefano · March 11, 2009, 10:32:00 AM

for all the above reasons i prefer a 4x105 or 4x90 lo-profile banana cut - a bit faster flying arrow, still plenty of feather steerage, quiet flight, get a pair of fletches chopped from one full length feather, no nock index needed.

Apex Predator · March 11, 2009, 10:37:00 AM

Yep, I made the same switch and will never go back. The four fletch looks so much brighter to me on the way to the target. I prefer chartruese (sp?).

michiganbowguy · March 11, 2009, 10:50:00 AM

thats what i prefer as well, i was also thinking of 3-4" in yellow feathers with the chartrues fur tracer to also aid in visibility and stability as they catch alot of wind drag as well.

i have enough feathers for 4 fletch...so ill wait for more responses...

jasonbker · March 11, 2009, 10:57:00 AM

I prefer the 4-fletch for the simple reason the feather allows me another reference point at anchor touching the tip of my nose... As above I have found no real differences performance wise in my experiences.

swampbuck · March 11, 2009, 11:43:00 AM

I've been using 4 4" because I can get an arrow done with 2 feathers (full length) vs 3 if I went to 5 of 5.5" lg

ozy clint · March 11, 2009, 11:55:00 AM

4x4" shield cut, very stable

Molson · March 11, 2009, 12:02:00 PM

I like 4" fours in both parabolic and the lp banana and they are every bit as stable, a bit quieter, and faster, especially the bananas. I went back to three or four fives though because of the visibility issue. The 5 inch feathers are just much easier to see in all light conditions (shadows, snow, etc). I've decided to trade off the benefits of the 4" for the benefits of the 5". As Rob would say....YMMV!

KentuckyTJ · March 11, 2009, 12:11:00 PM

No one is going to bite on my two fletch comment above huh. I've never done that but am getting ready to fletch one up just to see what happens.

With that said I've used four fletches in the past but didn't get any better flight. I did like the not having to worry about nocking them up or down though.

trapperDave · March 11, 2009, 12:16:00 PM

I have quite a few 2 fletch arrows and took my buck with one last year.

My carbons are mixed, some have 2x5" shields, some 3x5" shields, some 4x3" paras, some 4x4"paras, some 4x4" flu flu's, some 3x4"flu flus......I shoot em all intermixed sometimes,and they ALL go to the same spot at 18yds

hunt it · March 11, 2009, 12:50:00 PM

On another note, mine fly dang good with no feathers period. Been wondering for years why I even bother with em.

bentpole · March 11, 2009, 05:15:00 PM

My favorite is 4-4" feathers. That's equals 16 inches of feather versus 15 inches of feather on your arrows. It gives you another inch of arrow stabilization as far as I'm concerned. They look cool too.