Arrow too stiff???

[JSimon]

Hey guys,I'm fairly new to shooting trad bows and I'm getting some fletching wear on one fletch from contact with my elevated rest. I'm wondering if that is a sign that my arrows are too stiff (or weak). I've tried shooting cock feather in, out, up, down, and in between and it doesn't seem to be making a difference although all of the wear is from shooting cock feather out.

I'm shooting a 45lb. Quinn Stallion with an elevated rest and Dacron string. I just replaced the cheap rest that came with the bow with a Weather rest, but have fletch contact with both.  My arrows are 4560 Carbon Express cut to 31.75".  I'm shooting 125 grain points and my draw length is around 29".

I've shot one bare shaft (I didn't want to cut the feathers off too many of my new arrows!!) and it seems to impact near my fletched shafts, or at least not consistently left or right.  Broadheads also seem to shoot as well as field points. I'm satisfied with how I'm shooting with this setup, but I am just wondering if I had a heavier point, would the arrow flex around the riser and avoid this contact. The shelf is cut past center, so maybe the bow is just that forgiving of stiff shafts.  What do you guys think?  

Here are some pics of the wear and one of the rest with some feather dust on it:
 
 
 

[McDave]

Feather contact with your arrow rest is a totally different issue from spine.  If your bare shaft is grouping with your fletched arrows, and is impacting at more or less the same angle as your fletched arrows, that means your spine is close to okay.  Changing your spine if it is okay would just add to your problems.

I'm a little puzzled by your comment that "all of the wear is from shooting cock feather out."  If that's the case, then why are you shooting with the cock feather out?

If you are shooting with arrows that are properly tuned for your bow, then about all you can do is to rotate the nock until you minimize feather contact.  Or maybe try a different rest, like a flipper rest.  Ken Beck of Black Widow recommends trimming the feathers off one arrow down to maybe 1/8", and coating the edges with lipstick or something that will show up on your bow when you shoot it, because he feels that the only thing that will really hurt your shooting is contact by the quills or the part of the feathers right next to the quills.  The outside edges just brush by or fold in, like God intended when he made feathers for us to use in arrows.

I know, I know, you don't want to wreck any more arrows.  But you have to learn to refletch sometime, don't you?  And now is as good a time as any to get a Bitzenburger and learn to glue them back on.

[Snakeeater]

It looks like the hen feathers are getting the wear. Is that right? If so, maybe try to raise your brace height so that the arrow leaves the string farther away from the riser, giving it more time/distance to flex around it.

Definitely try the tip from Ken Beck to see what part of the arrow is hitting and where it is hitting.

[JSimon]

Thanks guys. It does seem to be just edge of the feather that is getting the wear and it doesn't seem to affect how it shoots. I'll have to play around the nock to try and minimize it. I'm sure there is a sweet spot somewhere. I'll also increase my brace height. I checked it last night and it is on the low side.

I definately need a fletching jig. Being new to this, I've managed to mess my feathers up much worse by missing my target! Thanks again