Four Fletch

Pine · June 23, 2016, 02:13:00 PM

How many of you shoot and like four fletched arrows .
And what is the pros and cons of it .
Thanks for your input .

Jake Scott · June 23, 2016, 03:06:00 PM

I am a huge fan of four fletch. For the longest time I shot 4 5" shields, but have recently switched to 4 4" shields. I think the 4 inch offers the same stability without compromising performance at longer distances.

The benefits as I see it are first and formost improved stability after the shot. I have slow motion videos of arrows grossly over spined being straightened up within 5 yards by four big feathers. On the flip side of the coin, you do lose speed as distance increases (think fluflu). I also like the benefit of not needing a cock feather to index in the times that I need to get an arrow on the string in a hurry (mostly small game).

I like 90 degree orientation, as it simplifies things. I haven't yet had any trouble with feather clearance on multiple different setups that couldn't be solved with a little quick nock tuning.

Many will argue that a well tuned setup doesn't need four feathers, and they would be correct. I'm a fanatical arrow tuner and I still sleep better on the night before a hunt knowing that fourth feather helps.

Just my two cents, hope it helped.

Jake

Danny Rowan · June 23, 2016, 03:37:00 PM

I have shot 4 4" fletch for many years. Love em. To me my arrows seem much quieter in flight than with the 3 5.5" I used to shoot.

D. Key · June 23, 2016, 03:51:00 PM

I love 4 x 4" Parabolics on 90 Degrees. They stabilize quickly and have little (if any) noise.

last arrow · June 23, 2016, 04:14:00 PM

I shoot 4x4 shields. I fletch in the method recommended by Kelly many years ago so there no fletch in a position to contact the shelf. It uses 2 cock feathers and 2 upper hen feathers when fletching with the 3 fletch setting. I am not sure it matters but have been doing it that way for a while and I like it.

bucknut · June 23, 2016, 05:44:00 PM

I shoot both 3 and 4 and see no difference in performance between 5" 3 and 4" 4. I can usually get 2 4" chopped out of a full length feather so it works out better for me. You do get double the use before wearing out too.

Scott E · June 23, 2016, 10:41:00 PM

I shoot four four inch parabolics. The best part about four fletch is that you don't have to pay attention when nocking your arrow.

azhunter · June 24, 2016, 12:50:00 AM

I shoot both 3x5" and 4x4". I don't see any cons to the 4 fletch. When fletching new arrows I am going all 4 fletch.

Pine · June 24, 2016, 03:19:00 AM

Well I'm going to do it , I got a very good deal on some Trueflight shield cut feathers .
All my stock of feathers are parabolics so I would have no odd color to make a cock feather .
Think they will be just fine .
They are pink bared and I'm a big fan of pink feathers .

FlintNSteel · June 24, 2016, 07:58:00 AM

I have shot 4 fletch a lot and love it. I shoot 4" parabolic. I haven't found a broadhead yet that doesn't easily stabilize with 4 fletch. I find 4-4" to be equivalent to 3 - 5 1/2" in stability performance.

JRY309 · June 24, 2016, 09:18:00 AM

I had shot 3 fletch for years but after shooting my buddies 4 fletch I was hooked.After that every arrow I made for my self was 4 fletch at 90.I like the way they look,fly.I feel the fly flatter with 4 fletch of a lower profile then 3-5" or 5.5" with a higher profile.

slowbowjoe · June 24, 2016, 10:05:00 AM

Went with 4 fletch 90/90 a few times; they did seem to stabilize quickly,though I can't say flight was better overall. I prefer the simplicity of 3 fletch,they fly fine, and settle in my quiver better.
I do sometimes shoot 'em cock feather in, which helps with feather contact on my set up at times.
If I try 4 fletch again (and I probably will somewhere down the road), I'd go with the 60/120 configuration as learned from Rod Kelly's tips. Take a look at it-gives the same lessening of feather contact with 4 fletch as you get with cock feather in 3 fletch.

Tradcat · June 24, 2016, 10:19:00 AM

Funny... I was planning on fletching some 4 x 4" tomorrow

Captain*Kirk · June 24, 2016, 11:50:00 AM

Not to be the fly in the ointment, but...
*4 fletch DOES add a significant cost per dozen...
*4 fletch also adds a 25% increase in damage vulnerability, though I've shot 3 fletch with half a feather missing with no visible flight issues.
Just food for thought.

Terry Green · June 24, 2016, 12:58:00 PM

Had a guy on here what is now banned because of he is belligerent attitude ....accuse me of shooting parachutes because I use four fletch... yet he never killed a damn thing.

I use four Fletch so that it clears my arrow of paradox faster because I shoot a lot of hogs at short distances in very thick cover and have shot more than one that have charged me .....

so I want my arrow as straight as possible .......it really doesn't matter if it's three or four as far as long distance that's a bunch of bullcrap hype .....when you make a shot and a hundred yards in the dark with four fletch it pretty much negates flthat comment or claim or whatever you wanna call it.

Nothing wrong with 3 fletch... either it's just what I prefer due to my hunting Style and terrain and the game that I'm shooting.

All this kind of stuff is a mind game if you want it to be that's all it is it just puts monsters in your head that don't need to be there

Terry Green · June 24, 2016, 12:58:00 PM

Had a guy on here what is now banned because of he is belligerent attitude ....accuse me of shooting parachutes because I use four fletch... yet he never killed a damn thing.

I use four Fletch so that it clears my arrow of paradox faster because I shoot a lot of hogs at short distances in very thick cover and have shot more than one that have charged me .....

so I want my arrow as straight as possible .......it really doesn't matter if it's three or four as far as long distance that's a bunch of bullcrap hype .....when you make a shot and a hundred yards in the dark with four fletch it pretty much negates that comment or claim or whatever you wanna call it.

Nothing wrong with 3 fletch either..... it's just what I prefer due to my hunting Style and terrain and the game that I'm shooting.

All this kind of stuff is a mind game if you want it to be that's all it is it just puts monsters in your head that don't need to be there.......

Hold on for a picture to prove my point......

Terry Green · June 24, 2016, 01:02:00 PM

Over 60 "Bloody Parachutes"

Terry Green · June 24, 2016, 01:06:00 PM

This was a shot I make at 12 midnight just as I rolled into camp and one guy I knew told me to show the 6 compounders shooting how to shoot.....

Jim Reynolds of Thunderstick archery got SIX bow orders off of that one shot....ask him...he'll tell ya.

Yeah...damded o'l 4 fletch...aint good for nothing down range.....BS!!!!!!!!

Captain*Kirk · June 24, 2016, 01:12:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Terry Green:
.
I use four Fletch so that it clears my arrow of paradox faster because I shoot a lot of hogs at short distances in very thick cover and have shot more than one that have charged me .....

In that sort of scenario do you also shoot heavy/high FOC arrows as well?

Terry Green · June 24, 2016, 01:16:00 PM

Nope....175 grain heads mostly....

Either WWs at 125 with 42 grain adapter or 135 grain Zwickey 4 blades with 42 grain adapter.....or 125 grain Zwickey No Mercy 4 blades with 42 grain adapters.

FOC is More HYPE....the weight of the arrow and arrow flight is MUCH more important than the weight of your Bhead. PERIOD...PROVEN....no matter what 'so called' claims you read...its all about overall arrow weight than just the head weight....and of course....arrow fight.