Four Fletch

[Scott Barr]

I pretty much echo the points already made.  I have been using 4 x 4" set up for quiet a while. Fletching that hits the shelf lasts twice as long, and with a little rotation of the nock, lasts four times as long. Much easier in low light or quick shots to get to string and shoot.

[Bvas]

Originally posted by mangonboat:
My father was a machinist and made a 4 fletch @ 60/120 index for his fletching jig.  

If your not a machinist, 60/120 can also be achieved by using your 3 fletch adapter. Simply fletch two feathers, then take arrow off jig, rotate 180 degrees, place back on jig, and fletch the other two feathers.
Or you can put three on, flip arrow, and do three more. And have 6@60 degrees.    :eek:

[JR Belk]

I love four fletched arrows. I fletch most of my woods 4/4. Some arrows will get a standard 3 fletch if they're small diameter. I've never noticed any real negative effect on distance shots either.

[stagetek]

I may have fletched a few up many years ago. I can't remember. Now I will have to fletch a couple, just to see for myself.

[J-dog]

Never used 4 fletch, just three, gonna use 4 this year? No reason - just gotta try something different.

[flyguysc]

]web page[/URL] I just think they are cool

[flyguysc]

]web page[/URL] I just think they"re cool looking.  

[Pine]

Ooooo , thems perdy .  

[CDR]

Thems some lookers for sure!! I love the 4 fletch!

[Fritz]

4 4" feathers, 90x90. Enough said for me.

[Frenchymanny]

I recently switched to 4 feathers. The arrow stabilizes quickly, and I don't have to care how I put the arrow on the string.

I like it!

F-Manny

[Steve Jr]

I have been shooting 4/5" shields for quite a few years, but I have recently started getting and shooting 4/4" low profile banana feathers from Josh (feathers by the dozen) and they shoot great. By far my favorite feathers!!!    

[Tajue17]

I may try 4-fletch but I have two questions that might of already been mentioned. I'm on my phone at work so not enough time to read everything in this thread so apologize if this is redundant..

1. do any of you notice when fletching with 4-fletch if the arrows shoot better after the fletching breaks in,, shooting cock feather in I've noticed the arrows just shoot nicer or get smoother once the fletching ends soften.

2nd.  I know a few said theres no difference in trajectory, but with 4 fletch do you keep the same size fletching or drop to a lower size if your arrows are already tuned for 3 fletch.

[Orion]

I've shot 3-fletch for about 60 years.  For those who fear mixing up and placing the cock feather in during times of high tension, let me tell you, it doesn't matter.  In fact, a lot of folks shoot cock feather in for better arrow clearance.

The only thing I have against 4-fletch is is purely cosmetic.  Most who shoot four fletch shoot 4-inch feathers.  To me, they just look too short on the arrow.  That probably comes from looking at 5-inch feathers for the past 60 years.

Imagine my reaction when I see 3-inch or shorter feathers on arrows.  This old school, old fella can hardly take it.

Yeah, I know I could shoot 5-inch four fletch, but that's just more than I need.  Going to give 4-inch 4-fletch a try and see if I can get my mind around them.    

[BWD]

4x4" stabilizes more like 3x5 1/2" than 3x5", to me.

[Terry Green]

Orion...I shoot 5 inch four fletch(as in the photo)...I want paradox reduced right this damn minute for the scenarios I use hunting hogs at times.....the other times when its not needed, like 60 yard shots at gofers.....I don't care...cause I'm covered either way.

   

[Pine]

Terry , my eyes play tricks on me . When I just read your post I saw golfers .      
But I think that would be OK too .

[HALFCAWKT]

I switched to 4"x4 fletch a few months ago and tend to echo all the things that have been said already.  I started with5.5"x3, than went to 4"x3 shields because of Wyoming cross winds and getting two from a FL feather.

Ran out of feathers one day and had to go to local shop to buy a dozen.  All he had were paras, so got them because need arrows asap. My only complaint with para is everyone uses it.  So I grabbed my strait clamp and cut the last roughly half inch off the quill.  Now my arrows are very easily distinguished from others with the modified para 4"x4 fletch configuration.

[Squirrel Hunter]

Some years ago I did some fairly extensive computer modeling and some controlled experiments on fletching effects. I found that the arrow stabilizing effect depends only on total feather area and degree of helical or offset -- feather shape and three or four fletch make no difference. Arrow drag also depends only on area and degree of helical -- there's no way to get one without the other.

Of course, there are other reasons to use or reject four fletch, like cost, ease of fletching, nocking, visibility, etc, but not stabilization.

[Orion]

Squirrel hunter. Wouldn't four 4-inch fletch have as much or more surface area than three 5-inch fletch?