4" or 5" Feathers

[WndWker]

Iam going to set up a new bow with carbons
MFX classic 500. 52 @ 28 I have not bare shafted the carbons yet. 100 grain insert with 150 grain WW. After I get the arrows tuned would the 4" feathers be enough with the Wensel Woodsman ?

[Whip]

If you're thinking three fletch I would sure stick with the 5" for more stability.  The faster the arrow recovers, the better you will be, and bigger fletch will help it do that.

That said, I've been using quite a bit of 4" four fletch with very good results.  I use a full length feather and am able to get two 4" out of each one.  A little cheaper in the long run, and seems to give better flight as well.

[DesertDude]

I have been using 4x5" parabolics with great results. Perfect arrow flight. WW or Zwicky's. I know I could get by with 4x4" but I have alot of 5" feathers........

[sweet old bill]

I am using the bemen carbon 500 @ 29 1/4 with 125 gr Bh or field points and have found that the shaft do require 5.0 or 5.5 bananna feathers... if you go with 3 fletch.

 I did make a couple with 4 fletch and with 4 inch feathers. These fly well.

but overall I liked the 5.o feathers best..

[Stone Knife]

I have been shooting GT 3555 out of a couple old bears one is #45 the other #50, I have tried three five inch shield, three four inch parabolic and four four inch parabolic, all have a good helical and out of the three I'm most pleased with the four Fletch. I have shot field points and also some two blade zwicky eskimos. The arrows that have three four inch on them were that way when I bought them, they work good for field points but I would be a little Leary about actually using them in a hunting situation after seeing how well the four Fletch fly.

[LEOPARD]

It depends if you are shooting three or four 4" feathers. I shoot four 4" low profile bananas, and they are more than enough to stabilize Magnus Snuffers on the end of my CX Terminator Selects. But I think three 4" feathers might not be enough to stabilize a WW.

[KentuckyTJ]

I've just switched to three 4" fletches. All depends on how well your bow is tuned.  What I do like about the 4" is they are faster, less noisy in flight and tend to have less contact with the riser which promotes better flight as well.  I am shooting them from my blacktail, my Widow, and two Whisperstiks.

definitely give it a try.  I will say to go ahead and see if they will stabilize your broadheads before refletching all your shafts since that's the ultimate goal.  I tried them a few years ago with a different bow and they stabilized my field points just fine but I couldn't get them to fly my broadheads acceptably.

[Chris Lantz]

I’ve always used 5” feathers because I don’t think there is a big difference in arrow speed an trajectory between large and small feathers for shots under 30 yards. Even the difference between 3X5” and 4X5” feathers seems to be small.  However I find the larger feathers are more forgiving and help when my release is poor. Play with different sizes and see what you like best.

[oddan]

3 fourch in is 12inches surface arrow, 3- 5 is is 15 inches. With a well tuned shaft if its not windy outside I can shoot a 2 feather 5 in broadhead. Wensel and Magnus. For hunting I always shot the 3- 5in.

[Rob DiStefano]

You'd need to do some testing to see what'll work best for ya.  I prefer 4x4" 'naners.

[joe ashton]

good question.  I've shoot 4x4 for years and am very happy with them.

Joe

[Bowhunter4life]

3-5" and 4-4" no matter what the broadhead.  Usually use 3 for three blades and 4 for 4 blades for whatever reason.

[JEFF B]

me i am starting to use 4 x5" fletch  and so far i like em.