3 or 4 fletch

[Ryan Rothhaar]

4 X 5 1/2 inch parabolics with lots of helical for me.

Believe it or not sometimes you don't make a perfect release...or there might be some wind blowing....or you may not be able to stand tall with perfect Olympic target archer form....or your feathers may get damp...or ..or..or....

When any one of those things happens and the biggest animal of your life (insert deer, elk, bear etc) is standing in front of you, trust me, you'll be happy for a little extra feather.

I really wonder how many guys that worry about "loss of velocity at long range" due to big feathers ever shot an arrow at "long range".  Frankly, I practice to 50 yards and beyond...sometimes FAR beyond...all the time in our pasture and I can't shoot the difference 3 to 4 fletch, 5 inch to 5 1/2 inch, parabolic to shield cut.  I doubt very many can.

Just my 2 cents from 30 years behind a recurve.

Ryan

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Ryan Rothhaar:
4 X 5 1/2 inch parabolics with lots of helical for me.

Believe it or not sometimes you don't make a perfect release...or there might be some wind blowing....or you may not be able to stand tall with perfect Olympic target archer form....or your feathers may get damp...or ..or..or....

When any one of those things happens and the biggest animal of your life (insert deer, elk, bear etc) is standing in front of you, trust me, you'll be happy for a little extra feather.

I really wonder how many guys that worry about "loss of velocity at long range" due to big feathers ever shot an arrow at "long range".  Frankly, I practice to 50 yards and beyond...sometimes FAR beyond...all the time in our pasture and I can't shoot the difference 3 to 4 fletch, 5 inch to 5 1/2 inch, parabolic to shield cut.  I doubt very many can.

Just my 2 cents from 30 years behind a recurve.

Ryan

Yep....what Ryan said...


 

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Been using 4x5" feathers since Hector was a pup. Let me respond to a few things I've seen here.

On a well tuned arrow, they DO help when steering large broadheads.

The size and number of feathers also affects the overall stability of the arrow...all the way from the bow to the target.

It almost takes a steel post to deflect one with 4x5" and you can be assured that the arrow will be flying in perfect attitude when it hits an animal (thus enhancing penetration).

Speed loss at 20 yards is negligible. I'll trade a couple FPS of speed for stability any day. It may be different for a target shooter, but this is about hunting arrows.... right?

I've never had a problem fletching 4x5" on any shaft.

Yep...what Charlie Said..and from the other thread I posted on....

I also use 4-5" fletch. Been using it for years now after, moving from 3 -5.5s for the 'no look nock'. You think my arrows are SLOW because of that? NOPE. Or slow down range??? NOPE, just asked my antelope. You think my arrows have serious tuning issues???...NOPE.

I can tell you one thing for SURE....

I NEVER have to worry what head, or how much rain, or how much mud, or how much cant, or how much reverse cant, or what contorted position I'm forced into, or any other thing that can happen in the woods while hunting with MY feather choice.

[La. bowhunter]

I agree with the fact that it really doesnt matter as far as controlling the flight of a broadhead but I shoot a 4 fletch for a couple of reasons.
1. I can chop 2 fletching out of a full length feather by cutting 3 or 4 inch feathers.
2. You can nock your arrow without looking because you cant nock it wrong.
3. Most importantly they just look way cooler than plain old 3 fletch.
Good luck with whichever way you decide.

[sagebrush]

I agree with what Terry and Ryan said. Gary