I'm fairly new to this forum but now have the traditional bug real bad.  I've been shooting a PSE impala for a couple of years and finally just bought a Martin x-200 recurve at 55 lbs.

My question is which size feather would be better for my setup.  i will be shooting beman ics hunters/bowhunters 29inch, size 500.  I plan on buying a dozen fletched and then get a bitzenburg for repairs.

That being said should i get 4 in feathers with the slight offset or get 5 inch feathers with the helical?  Or does it even matter.  I'm shooting off the shelf with the little piece of leather lace under the pad that martin supplies with the bow.

Thanks for any advice.

It's almost always easier to deal with too much rather than not enuf, so I'd go with the 3x5" helical.  Even with the 4", helical would be the best choice, IMO.  If you really want 4", try them 4 fletched.

For me if the arrow is tuned well,fletching 3x5 helical or 4x4 offset would just be a matter of personal preference.I fletch with a helical whether I fletch 3x5 or 4x4,I shoot both.It's more important to me to have my arrows well tuned.

acg: my limited experience show that the bigger and more helical the fletch the better the arrow will steer especially if arrows are not perfectly tuned.  The smaller the fletch and less helical - the harder it seems to hit.  Thats just my personal observation.

As a new trad shooter I would reccomend the 3-five inch feathers with strong helic.  It will be a while before your form tightens up and the exte fletching will help correct for form errors.

I can't tell the difference.

Thanks.  I will pick up a half dozen and give them a try.  Thanks.

I agree with Fletcher, for me 4in. 4 fletch with helical works best. Very stable arrow, love to watch em' spin!