4" or 5" feathers ???

[acollins]

I am ordering feathers for some Easton Axis 500 Traditionals  Which would be better 4" or 5" feathers.  I  will be fletching with a Bitz straight clamp with as much offset as I can get

I use 4" on my Axis Full Metal Jackets! I only have a hunting setup that I shoot at everything, hunting, practice, 3D! I shoot 1.5" wide German Kinetic broadheads with no issues.

Bisch

[McDave]

For my hunting arrows, with broadheads, that I don't expect to be shooting over 30 yards, I use 5" for stability.  For target arrows, that I will be shooting out to 60 yards, with field points, I use 4" to cut down on wind drag.  All of my arrows are bare shaft tuned to fly true out to at least 20 yards without feathers, so I can get by with very little feathers with field points, probably less than the 4" feathers that I use.  I don't notice much effect from wind drag at short ranges under 30 yards, so I use the larger feathers to help keep the broadheads on course.

[screamin]

I use 4" shields on everything but I don't shoot broadheads over an 1 1/4 wide either.

[Drewster]

4" is plenty.  If your arrows are tuned properly, the 5" will only slow them down and make more noise.

[JR Williams]

I go with 4x4in shield at 90 degrees. I bareshaft tune and used to shoot 3x5in but changed so I can nock my arrows without looking. Both setups work for me.

[Crested Finger]

5 inch, see my sig  

[JamesV]

3-4" parabolical fletched straight off-set are the quietest and have served me well for over 50 years.

James

[Tajue17]

Mine I bare shaft tune and can use 3" feathers but I like 5" for some reason...... I will be fletching some with 4" soon and might go to 4" for next season especially after I just read what Bisch said about the wide broadheads

[bulldog18]

Last year I switched to 4 inch. They shoot just fine for me with field points or broadheads.

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

4x4" shield for me.  Quiet, great flight, love the look and can nock the arrow either way.

Bill-

[J-dog]

Used 5" all my life seriously. I have 4" now just because i got them cheap! no difference I can tell???

[acollins]

Thanks for all the info.  I ordered 4"shield cut.

[Scott Barr]

Like JR Williams said,  I fletch parabolic 4 x 4 "at 90 degrees so can nock an arrow  quickly without looking.  I figure fletch surface to be the same as 3 x 5 " for arrow stability with broadheads.

[LongbowArchitect]

I've been using 4 fletch 4" helical at 90 degrees with excellent results for the past few years after having used 3 fletch 5" helical for the previous 40 years. Out of curiosity I've been experimenting lately with 4 fletch 3" helical at 90 degrees because I read on this forum somewhere that they perform well, especially in cross winds. Last Saturday a buddy and I were shooting the local 3D course. I had him hide safely behind a large target butt while I shot arrows into the adjacent Rinehart deer target from 20 yards. I shot 5" 3-fletch, 4" 4-fletch and 3" 4-fletch. My buddy tells me that my 5" fletched arrow was pretty noisy, the 4" fletch less noisy and the 3" fletched arrow the least noisy. Since sound travels at 1,127 fps and my arrow is traveling at only 180 fps I should be paying more attention to the noise my fletching generates.

Later in our shooting session the wind really kicked up so I had a chance to shoot my arrows in a strong cross wind. It amazed me how much my 5" fletch was affected compared to how little my 3" fletch was affected by the cross wind.

 When I got home I installed broadheads on all 3 arrows and shot them into my broadhead butt and found all three arrows to stabilize my big 2-blade Cutthroat broadheads equally well. I imagine the shorter feathers fly faster than the longer feathers but it was not visually discernible to me.

It's may take me a while to get used to the look of the little 3" feathers but it's growing on me. Performance trumps aesthetics.

[katman]

Originally posted by Scott Barr:
Like JR Williams said,  I fletch parabolic 4 x 4 "at 90 degrees so can nock an arrow  quickly without looking.  I figure fletch surface to be the same as 3 x 5 " for arrow stability with broadheads.

x2

[Terry Green]

I like the performance of my 5 inch feathers....performance isn't just 'speed'. ...could mean speed in reduction of paradox...especially on close range game.....which means performance in penetration...., accuracy...and performance from unorthodox shooting positions...from horizontal shots to even reverse cant.

I can't shoot the difference in 5s and 4s at normal hunting distances, doubt many can...but I'll take the 'performance' of a stable arrow over the minuscule fps difference.....along with a well tuned arrow from the beginning

I also like big Bheads...so I like for my feathers to help correct them on unorthodox shots.

Being a bowhunter that may get a window to open and not have the 'perfect back yard shot' I like the confidence in my set up that I'll have a stable performing arrow no matter what type of shot scenario I get.

Not being argumentative...just something to think about...

         

[Fletcher]

Starting with a very well tuned arrow/bow setup makes a huge difference.  I paper tune and match arrows closely.  I find that I can shoot even big heads with three 4" feathers just fine, but my broadhead hunting arrows are usually 4" four fletch 90 degrees.  Like others, I like having plenty of fletch just in case.

[Babbling Bob]

Always shot 4-inch and had no problems but I don't use big heads.  Have 3.5-inch custom burned feathers on some of my arrows from Oklahoma Archery when they were in business and they fly good too.