5" vs 4" feathers

[PeteA]

I am not an arrow builder so I buy my ready made arrows. Presently shooting a a 50# bear Take down, RH, off shelf, w/ a tab, split finger. Shooting XX75 500, 3 fletch 4" offset, parobolics- cut to 29" 125 field points / magnus stinger 2 blade heads. I have a cabelas gift card burning a hole in my wallet and need some new arrow. Cabelas has easton Legacy 2016 but with 5" shield cut feathers. Do you think I will see any notable difference in flight or preformance?

[Ragnarok Forge]

5 inch feathers will give you better arrow flight if your release is a little off.  They do drag a bit more, but not enough to change your point of impact much until you shoot past 40 yards.

[LKH]

If you hunt in the wind a lot (common out west) you will see greater wind effect.  I'm going to try some of the Beamans and smaller arrows this year to see if I can reduce the wind effect.

[hill boy]

I shoot both and can't tell any diffrence.But I don't shoot in high winds.Do yourself a favor and buy a arizona fletcher with your cabelas card and try some diffrent feathers and save yourself some money.If you do buy one contact me and I will let you in on some tips for using them.

[bentpole]

I shoot 3- 5", 3- 5 1/2", or 4- 4". My personal preferance is 4 -4" If you multiply 3x5= 15" of feather, 3x5 1/2 =16 1/2" [greatest  amount of feather] or 4x4" =16"s of feather. I like alot of feather just feel more feather on the arrow the better. That's my opinion.

[OS]

I've shot them all!!  3-4", 4-4", 3-5", 4-5", 3-5.5", and 4-5.5", shoot I bird hunt with 6-5.5" bannana cut!  When it comes down to bowhunting and thats what I do it is the 4-5" or 3-5.5" hands down.  With adding more feather you tend to make the arrow more forgiving to shoot.  When your cold, or twisted out of possition, and you don't get off the string as smooth as you like, more fether will stabelize the arrow faster.  In perfect conditions the 4" works great but add in the conditions surounding bowhunting and I'll take to more forgiving set up every time!!

[John Kennedy]

If you take the time to properly tune your arrows,you can shoot 2" feathers...

[Chimaster]

I had'nt done much arrow tuning until I met my friend Steve O. If the arrow is tuned to the bow you could shoot bare shafts and it will fly right. But if you don't want to take the time to do that, go with the 5". It will help with less then perfect conditions.

[rp65]

I also like the look of the longer fletch. You might also notice your arrows will be a little moe noisy.