Cock feather in?

[Gen273]

How Many of you guys shoot with the cock feather in rather than out? and Why do you shoot it that way?

I have shot cock feather in for about a year now on many different bows and using all kinds of arrows and I have noticed That I always seem to get better arrow flight with the cock feather in.

I am wondering if anyone else is in the same boat of if the better flight is just in my head....LOL

Thanks in advance!
Charlie

[canopyboy]

I noticed on my recurve with a wide shelf I got better flight with cock feather in.  I haven't noticed any degredation on the other bows, so  I shoot them all that way now.

[Old Vet]

I have shot with the cock feather at just short of 12 o'clock for quite a few years. This puts the inner hen feather in the channel between the shelf cushion and the pressure plate. Basically, both hen feathers are flat with the shelf. With the correct nock height I have noticed better arrow flight and less feather wear this way. I use this index for both recurves and longbows with good results.

[awbowman]

I do just about what Old Vet does, cock feather between 10:30 and 11:00.  It just seems to shoot better and is quieter that way.

On a well tuned bow, I'm not sure it REALLY matters where the cock feather is.

[Turkhunter]

I too have been shooting with the cock feather up but it is because I have a fat hand. For some reason if I shoot cock feather out the quill of the feather somehow contacts the backside of my hand at the base of my thumb and cuts the heck out of me.

[moththerlode]

My best flight comes from the cock feather about 1 o'clock , leaves one feather contact verses two , it is quiter and more forgiving .

   Scott

[kbetts]

Either way.  If I'm shooting 3 fletch, I just load and go.  Same as shootin 4.

[Reaper TN]

I first started shooting cock feather in after I started getting wear on the lower hen feather on a recurve I shot off the shelf, it was rubbing the velcro rest material. Now its just habit, I shoot all my recurves and longbow cock feather in that I shoot off the shelf.

[eminart]

Originally posted by moththerlode:
My best flight comes from the cock feather about 1 o'clock , leaves one feather contact verses two , it is quiter and more forgiving .

   Scott

Maybe a stupid question, but doesn't this just put another feather in the traditional "out" position? I'm visualizing it in my head and what I'm seeing just substitutes another feather in the usual place of the cock feather.

[Archie]

I shoot cock-feather in because when I don't, my 4 o'clock hen quill nicks the shelf of my bow (as it flexes around the riser) and it affects the flight.  It also started leaving marks on my new bow!  I get great flight shooting cock-feather in.

[Bill Turner]

I've been shooting cock feather in with good results for several years, after shooting the more traditional way for 35 years. TradGangs own "Ric O'Shay" encouraged me to try it. Thank you bud. Arrows seem to stabilize guicker, which allows for a cleaner, quieter flite and perhaps an increase in speed. Can I prove it, "No". Just my opinion, but I'm the one I've got to convince. Give it a try, you just might like it.

[PaPa Ron]

I think I'll give it a try.

[frassettor]

In the Masters of the Barebow series, they mention the same thing . I tried it with my longbows, but have not with my recurve yet. I think I will give it a try .

[joe skipp]

If your a RH shooter, using RW feathers...turn the cock feather in. Notice the odd hen feather is "UP" and this forms an upside down "Y".

Now..take an arrow with LW feathers and nock it normally, cock feather out. Notice the odd hen is in the "up" position.

Back in the late 60's, most arrows were fletched with RW feathers. After reading Jack Howards catalog and turning the cock feather in as Jack suggested, I called him. Had a lengthy conversation with him. Been shooting cock feather in all these years with RW and don't care when I use LW.

[SS Snuffer]

Works for me.

[Bill Carlsen]

If you try four fletch you will also see a great improvement.

[mahantango]

I don't believe it really matters with a correctly spined and tuned arrow. However, I shoot almost exclusively cock-feather in. Most of my favorite bows have a very small, narrow shelf - longbows and recurves both, and I get almost zero contact or wear this way.

[moththerlode]

Scott , not quite .. It is simply turning the knocks to get the best clearance fletch wise.. The bottom hen fletch is just outside of the shelf and the cock feather also close to contact bet not Quite .. Bare in mind that visual sitting on the string and reality where contact is concerned can be different , but it works with my set up

   Scott

[Red Beastmaster]

My right wing fletched arrows always flew great from my right handed bows. When I got a new multi fletcher it came with left wing clamps. I started getting a slight twitch in the flight right out of the bow. I really didn't want to buy all new clamps and just put up with it.

I heard about cock feather in a few years ago and tried it. Perfect flight!

I really don't worry about how I nock when just shooting for fun. When hunting with broadheads I always nock with cock feather in.

[KHALVERSON]

Originally posted by awbowman:
I do just about what Old Vet does, cock feather between 10:30 and 11:00.  It just seems to shoot better and is quieter that way.

On a well tuned bow, I'm not sure it REALLY matters where the cock feather is.

i started after watchin rick welchs accuracy factory
better arrow flight and allows me to touch the cock feather with my nose