Fletching noise

[Jarrod Reno]

Looking on some insight here. I'm using three 4" parabolic Gateway feathers. Right wing helical. They are loud as snot when in flight.

Got a 636gr arrow going 197fps.

Any recommendations on feathers that might be a quieter option? I've tried four fletch 2" rayzr's and they actually work well and are quiet but I can't stand the look of them  

[Alexander Traditional]

I'm using 3 five inch parabolic or shield on one set up,and i've also had good luck with 4 four inch low banana cut. Both of these with a good tuned arrow are quiet for me.

With the 3 five inch I'm using left wing helical,and with the other set up I'm using a straight clamp that I have offset a little.

[OregonTom]

I don't know how tall your feathers are but try trimming them down in height.  I have a dozen of the same arrow right now.  Most have a 5 inch long 5/8th inch tall shield cut three fletch.  They are  noisy compared to a few arrows with a five inch long  3/8th inch tall "bananna" three fletch.  The three arrows with the short feathers seem to fly faster also.

[Charlie Lamb]

If you've got a lot of spiral/helical on your feathers that can be a noise source. Try backing off a little.

Other than that I'd say make sure everything is smooth from the leading feather edge back to the tail end.

Sometimes if the feathers are a little different from each other that can affect how noisy they are.

[GANDGOLF]

What Charlie said. The more Helical you have the Louder they are.  I shot my Springbok in Africa last year at 29yds. It never heard the arrow coming. Straight fletch just a little offset. 595gr. arrow @ 187fps , 3x4" fletch 5/8" tall. All cut on a feather burner.  

[Jarrod Reno]

Thanks for the input. I just ordered a straight clamp for the Jo Jan, I'll be trying that out and comparing to the helical, I'm thinking it's the helical. Thanks guys! I'm just learning about fletching and such, first time I've done it myself.

[barewithme]

I've had problems with fletching noise also so what I did since I use EFOC/UEFOC arrows I started using the A&A fletch after tuning my bare shafts by doing it how Dr. Ashby explains by trimming down the fletching to a 1/2 inch height then trimming the length 1/4 inch and adjusting the slope until it shows slightly unstable flight then put on a new set of fletching that is either 1/8 or 1/4 inch longer, then put a turbulator band ( 1/8 inch wide strip of an arrow wrap) exactly 1/4 inch in front of the fletching. Since I've done this they are dead quiet. He also says that they should be put on straight but I like a slight offset

[Zradix]

4" parabolic shouldn't be loud.

If you're using a jo jan..you probably don't have a ton of helical.

Are your arrows flying straight?
If the feathers are having to make a lot of correction due to improper spine they can give a good hiss.

If you go with the straight clamps, make sure you do an offset if ya plan on shooting broadheads.

Personally I don't like offset fletch at trad speeds...compound speeds yes...trad speeds..no.

I'd paper test my arrows to see how hard my fletch is working to straighten thing out if I were you.

good luck

[Jarrod Reno]

Ah interesting. Didn't think about slight tuning issues contributing. That gives me an idea, the arrow is slightly over spined, thinking as much as a brace height change might help it out.

[Zradix]

Well...
That always seems like backwards tuning to me.
I like to find the Brace ht the bow likes and keep it there.

Then tune the arrow to the bow..not the other way around.
..but to each their own.

If you're arrows are only slightly off spine they shouldn't make too much more noise.

I don't know how I missed it but 197fps can make some noisy  fletch too....lol..especially with more than average helical.
I used to shoot a 300fps compound with feathers.
I used 3" parab's on offset which were pretty quiet..but still had a hiss.

I might try some shallowish moon shaped fletch.

The main things I've found to contribute to a noisy designed fletch are these..

1. The height of the fletch. Higher=louder
2. The length of unsupported barbs in the back.
3. ragged feathers
4. the combination of the above in the worse ways.

for instance, a shield fletch has taller sections of unsupported barbs in the rear compared to a parabolic.

A moon cut has really good support for the taller barbs since they're in the middle.

Another thought...
If you want to keep about the same total amount of "rudder" but use quieter fletch, instead of using 3-4"

Use 4-3".
Or 4- lower profiled fletch

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
If you've got a lot of spiral/helical on your feathers that can be a noise source. Try backing off a little.

Other than that I'd say make sure everything is smooth from the leading feather edge back to the tail end.

Sometimes if the feathers are a little different from each other that can affect how noisy they are.

Those shouldn't be noisy.... i use the same feathers and shoot close to the same speed arrows with no noise issues and i use a pretty good helical on mine. Check out Charlies recommendations  here... you got something else going on.

[Jarrod Reno]

Thanks guys. I know what I'll be doing all weekend haha