3x4" feathers enough?

[ozy clint]

i shoot 3555 g/tip out of my 55# recurve. FOC of 20%. 250gr up front. 585gr total. i fletch these with 3 4" shield feathers, offset. i hunt with magnus 2 blade b/heads. does anyone else use a similar set up? i get great flight, when my release is good.

[Whip]

Originally posted by ozy clint:
i get great flight, when my release is good.

And therein lies the problem.     I don't shoot 3 4" feathers, so can't answer your question directly.  But the whole idea of bigger feathers, or using 4x4" configuration, is the help the arrow straighten out faster when everything isn't perfect.  If we all had a perfect release everytime, 3 4" would probably work OK.  But giving up the extra stability and forgiveness of the arrow in exchange for the tiny bit of speed you might pick up with 4" is a big price to pay. Especially when shooting any type of broadhead.
Just my opinion - not based on fact, and others may make it work fine.

[tippit]

I agree with Whip, at the practice butts everything is perfect...no heavy clothes, no adrenalin rush, etc.  Even then I'll still have that flyer or bad release where I didn't concentrate.  

When hunting I hardly notice what I do with my shot.  So I want all the extra help I can get from my feathers.  I have switched from 3 5" shield cuts (due to noise) to 4 4" lower profile feathers.  They seem to fly even better for me than the 3 larger feathers.  But 3 4" feathers seem to take longer to stabilize.  I'd sacrifice a little speed for a stable arrow any time as I've taken game with high end recurves to slow selfbows so speed isn't the issue for me.  JMHO...Doc

[LEOPARD]

Clint,

I agree with tippit and whip. Rather be setup for when things don't go according to plan or when they aren't perfect, rather than when they are.
I use 4" banana feathers, but I use four feathers instead of just three. I haven't tried using just three feathers as I get perfect arrow flight with four, and my arrows are still plenty fast enough with four feathers too!      

Nigel

[Don Stokes]

One of the major advantages of bare-shaft tuning- it takes feathers out of the equation. When you're bare-shaft tuned, the function of the feathers is more to clean up your shooting variations than anything else. Once, shooting the Howard Hill World Championship in Wilsonville, AL, a thunderstorm soaked us all. With my feathers plastered down, I still managed a good score, when others were hurting.

With broadheads, it's even more important to have the right spined shaft. I can use 3 4" parabolics on my target arrows, but I go with 3 5" shields (trimmed until they're quiet) with broadheads.

Don

[overbo]

If you aren't getting good arro flight on about all your shots.You need to change something.Your setup looks good by you statement but tunning is key.Try a helical fletched arro instead of offset.
I too shoot 3 4'' fletch w/ a 160gr snuffer w/ as much helical as I can get out of my fletching gig.W/ a little tinkering it canbe done.

[Rob DiStefano]

Add that 4th 4" feather.   :D

 

 

[Scott Gray]

I guess I am the odd man here    I was shooting three 3 inch shield cut feathers but changed to 3 four inch shield cuts. I had no problems with arrow flight with 3 inch feathers but went to four inchers in case I did have a bad release. I shoot 190 grain interceptors and 130 grain no mercys with 75 grain adapters and they fly well with both feather set ups.

[Molson]

A year ago I would have said never to use anything less than 5" when hunting and preferably 5.5".  Luckily I'm not that set in my ways and tried the 4x4 bananas.  Even with the crappy shooting problems I've been experiencing lately, they still straighten out fast, I think as fast or faster than 3 5.5" feathers, and they are much quieter.  Pretty hard to beat.  I would add that fourth feather and not look back.

[JC]

Originally posted by Molson:
they still straighten out fast, I think as fast or faster than 3 5.5" feathers, and they are much quieter.  Pretty hard to beat.  I would add that fourth feather and not look back.

Yup, my sentiments exactly.

[longbawl]

I agree with Whip 100%. I would also add archers paradox. Its your best friend untill the nock clears the riser. Then we need to get rid of it fast. Thats why we need helical fletch. I shoot 4x4 shield an like was said above im not looking back.

[BigCnyn]

Huhh,,
I must really be the odd guy here..
I shoot 4x4 90 degree 3" parabolics. rh helical slightly
They handle every shooting situation, I have needed. shooting grizzlies to muzzies.. I religously bare shaft,and broadhead spin. SO To each his own.. What you sow you reap.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by BigCnyn:
Huhh,,
I must really be the odd guy here..
I shoot 4x4 90 degree 3" parabolics. rh helical slightly
They handle every shooting situation, I have needed. shooting grizzlies to muzzies.. I religously bare shaft,and broadhead spin. SO To each his own.. What you sow you reap.

... and most importantly, Your Mileage May Vary.  :D

[owlbait]

Has anyone tried Gateway's 2 inch Rayzr? Wondering how 4 of those with the high profile would work. Anyone know if they come in left-wing?

[ozy clint]

okay then, what nock/feather oreintation do you four fletch guys use? cock feather in, out, up, sideways, inside out, you know what i mean, LOL. i'll have to fletch one up and give it a go.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by ozy clint:
okay then, what nock/feather oreintation do you four fletch guys use? cock feather in, out, up, sideways, inside out, you know what i mean, LOL. i'll have to fletch one up and give it a go.

The most popular 4 fletch arrangements are 90x90 or 75x105.  Here's the feather orientation as viewed from the rear on a right hand arrow rest ...  

 

[James Wrenn]

Well any more feathers that that I consider overkill on a small diameter carbon.If an arrow is tuned it takes a lot less feather on the back than most use.Aside from a bit more speed down range the 4" feathers are quieter than larger feathers in any type cut.3 4" parabolics is plenty to steer even a 2" wide treeshark or you just have tuning/spine issues on your setup.As far as quick recovery goes that is in the tuneing and your own ability to get off a shot and need not have half a turkey on the back of an arrow to get it.     jmo

[Rob DiStefano]

IMO, it's the feather shape that dictates flight noise, not the feather length.  I used to burn a custom 4" shield shape for my 4-fletch and without a doubt, the 4" Vario Hunter 'nanner shape is SO much quieter while still retaining good steerage right outta the gate. YMMV.

[James Wrenn]

Oh I agree with that but size does matter too.I like to shoot 4" low profile nanners as well.They can be almost as quiet as parabolic with the right cut.Of course on my wood arrows I always use big feathers to help with the inconsistancy s of wood shafts.On those I need all the help I can get.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by James Wrenn:
... .Of course on my wood arrows I always use big feathers to help with the inconsistancy s of wood shafts.On those I need all the help I can get.