feathers

[rdrace]

I'm still new at this I shoot a Bear Montana at 55lbs at 29" draw I shot carbon arrows and they weigh in at 431 grains i shot them thru paper and they shoot great they came with 3" feathers i am going to flecth my arrows for the first time ever. I was wondering if i should use 4" or 5" feather and should use a right or left helical for them. Should i use 3 or 4 feathers right now i shoot great but never shot a broadhead yet. I have read you need a helical feather to shot broadheads. I take any advice out there. Thanks

[McDave]

I fletch all my arrows with 5" feathers.  It isn't really necessary for field points, but my guess is you would have your broadheads going all over the place with 3" feathers.  The reason is that the broadhead catches the wind and will cause the arrow to veer in unpredictible directions unless it is well controlled by fletches.  This is why it is hard to impossible to do bare shaft tuning with broadheads.

I like 3 feathers, some like 4.  Left or right helical doesn't matter, just remember that if you're using a right wing feather, you need a right wing jig, and vice versa.  Helical rather than straight is also a good idea for hunting arrows, as it helps control the arrow.  You don't need all that control for a target arrow; you could shoot bare shafts at the target if they are well tuned (well, under 30 yards you probably could).  But I like to practice with the same arrows I hunt with.

FWIW, your arrows are a little on the light side if you're drawing all 55 lbs of your bow.  Most people like hunting arrows to be about 9 grains/lb of bow weight, since that makes the bow quieter and also penetrates better.  Your's are about 7.8 grains/lb.

[hawgslayer]

 

All of my arrows are fletched with 5" feathers. I use left wing and for me, they make a good helical. Real good recovery with my 150 gn B/H'S.
Hope the info helps.

hawgslayer..............  

[Bowtie]

McDave pretty much covered everything. I fletch my arrows with three feathers, 5 inch left wing helical and have very good arrow flight with my setup.  There's a wealth of information on this site, as well as other websites on the internet. Best of luck!

[carphunter100]

McDave has you covered. I will say I shoot 4" sheld cut feathers and they work great for me. But I would stay away from the 3". I fletch lw but the only reasion I do is years ago I was told that lw was what a right hand shooter needs to fletch and I got a lw clamp. Worked and never found a reason to change. But it has been proven many times over that it does not make any differance (left or right) will work. I will say this, in archery shops around my part of the state of WV you can not buy lw feathers with out special ordering and the shop owners act like they are doing you a great favor by ordering them for you. But every shop around here are 99.9% compound. I chop my own feathers but I order my full length fethers from the Footed Shaft or 3-Rivers. I shoot a 54# Morrison T.D. with 3555 gold tips,a 100 gr. brass insert, 125 gr. zwickey, 3- 4" shield cut fethers, fletched lw. This sit-up works great for me. But for your first try left or right fethers at 5" might be your best bet. All archers usely plays around with differant sit-ups until they find what they like and what works for them. Good Luck

[Jerry Jeffer]

I like the 4" banana cut. They are a much more quiet cut. Other wise I would say the rest has been covered for ya.

[Three Arrows]

Banana cuts are quieter as far as I can tell also.  The back taper on them seems to give them a longer life.  They don't hit much as they go by the riser.  I like them in 5" lower profile.