4 or 5 inch feathers

[jtelkboy]

are 4 inch feathers adequate for a 30 inch arrow out of a modern longbow or do i need to have 5 inch feathers?

[matt matney]

I've playing around with feather sizes and I found I prefer 4".  I shoot 4 4" feathers on my 30" arrow.  matt

[Recurve50LBS]

I shoot 3, 5 1/2" shield cuts. My shafts are cut 26" cause I have short arms.

[Orion]

Either will probably work.  Depends a little on the head you're shooting.  4-inch feathers will stabilize most broadheads fairly quickly.  If you're shooting a wide broadhead, 5-inchers would probably work better.  I've shot 5-inchers for about 45 years now.  Don't see any reason to change.

[sswv]

I experimented with the 4"-5" feather issue. VERY little gain in speed (2-3fps to be exact) and poor flight with my Snuffer heads at longer distances BUT, with field points they flew just fine. I'll be sticking with the 5" feathers.

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Orion:
Either will probably work.  Depends a little on the head you're shooting.  4-inch feathers will stabilize most broadheads fairly quickly.  If you're shooting a wide broadhead, 5-inchers would probably work better.

Yep

[Bowspirit]

Wouldn't that depend on fletch# as well? I mean, a good 4x4 fletch is pretty stabilizing. Even with my big snuffers.

[donw]

i go with 5" for the largest part. i've been known to use 5.5", though especially with heavier arrows with wide broadheads.

[insttech1]

Larger feathers will help to alleviate underlying tuning problems, or help stabilize large heads quicker--as stated above.

If you bareshaft tune your bow, and get it set up properly, then you can go to smaller fletching.

I'm shooting about 4.5" medium-profile parabolics with large snuffers up front, and it's worked out pretty well.

I also picked up some store-bought 4" 'ers for another bow, because they didn't have shafts only, and see no difference between those and my other 5" 'ers that I had on hand.  

You just have to experiment, and ensure you are tuned properly in the first place.

Take Care,
Marc

[ejes]

I'm using four 5 inch feathers right now and have found I can pretty much strap on any head and it will fly great.  I just figure that way it doesn't limit me if I want to try new heads.  I can't tell a difference in arrow speed with 3 feathers or 4 or in 4 inch to 5 inch when I've tried them.  I'm sure a chrono would say different, but I'm more worried about where my arrow lands.

Now, last week I did switch to bright pink 5 inch feathers and they do seem a little faster!  

[casjoker]

I have shot 3" with field points and they shoot well. I notice no difference between the 3" and 5" with field points or broadheads (Snuffer 125) out to 20yrds.  That being said I use the five inch on my hunting arrows just to be on the safe side.  

I use two inch on my wheeled bow with 100gr Thunderheads good for 40yrds.

[Bill Shepard]

I've been using 5 inch, shield cut for my 29.5 in wood arrows.  They fly great.

[JC]

I've switched completly to 4x4" low profile nanners on all mine...very happy with the results with any broadhead/point under any condition. Personally, I think that particular configuration is better than any other I've tried.