Why use 5" feathers....?

[Tom Anderson]

...if 4" feathers will do?  Almost all trad. archers I see have 5" feathers on their shafts.  Why not use 4" feathers?  Just curious....

[BodarkOkie]

Want to stabilize and arrow quickly.  I usually use 5 1/2" feathers.
Never was much concerned about arrow speed unless it dropped below 140 feet per second.  JMHO
Deer just don't care how fast an arrow misses them.

Gene

[Killdeer]

Gene, you got a way with a phrase!
I use 4.5" feathers, I just like them like that. I am tired of thinking too much. Life is short, and I am gonna just do 'em how I like 'em.

Killdeer  :p  ~run and tell that!

[fowlarcher]

I was just thinking about this because I can see my arrows (w/4") are not spinning until about ten or more yards out. If I take a shot at a deer closer than that my arrow may not be flying as true as I'd like. I would hate to hit an animal with a sideways flying arrow...

 So, tonight I am going to fletch a couple 5" with more or less helix and try them out. Logic tells me 5" with more twist will stabilize sooner but slow down quicker and have more drop down range. At this time I'm thinking the 5's will work better in my effective range. What I'm curious about is how much (if any) more noise will they make.

[Matty]

5" high profile shield definately make more noise..

[Rick McGowan]

Why use 4" feathers which are SLOWER than 5" feathers until the extra drag takes effect at around 45 yards. Also penetration is better at close range as the bigger feathers straighten the shaft out quicker. Unless you are taking shots longer than 50 yards there is no advantage to the smaller fletching.

[KPaul]

I use 5 1/2" just because I like the way they look.I don't care how it affects speed.

[ckruse]

I've always gotten great results with 4" 4 fletch. Either 75x105 or 90 degree. They sraighten up really quick. I use RW helical with plenty of twist. I don't think you can set a standard for this. Someone with a better release than me can get by with less feather, just as every shaft stiffness will not fit all. Use what works! CKruse

[BodarkOkie]

Killy,  I take that compliment with great humility...coming from someone who I consider the "Queen of Quip."
   


Gene

[O.L. Adcock]

Yep, Fletching are only there to correct our mistakes and to have a little extra if they get matted down in a rain storm. 5" is just the accepted "norm". 4" work fine, 3" work fine with the narrow heads like WW's...The drag more fletching causes takes effect as soon as the arrow leaves the string however and is more significant then folks think. Running the ballistics between 4" and 5" shows only 1" difference at 20 yards on a 170fps 500 grain arrow but shows 3.5% less horsepower at 20 yds. That's the same as short drawing your bow 1".......O.L.

[sendero25]

Mr Adcock,
Are you saying that 5" fletch is 3.5% "weaker" on impact than a 4" fletch?
If so then I want to make some changes. I have some 4" parabolics I thought about trying but haven't gotten around to it yet. All of my hunting arrows are already fletched with 5" shield feathers.
My season opener is on Sep 20th, and I want all the advantage I can get!
Thank you sir.
John

[James Wrenn]

I use 4" feathers for hunting.The are plenty for even my treesharks.Flag less in a bowquiver and hold up better when stuffed up a tube quiver.On some bows it is easier to get good riser clearance with less feather.Light skinny carbons just do not work as well with a lot of drag on the back.I do use half a turkey on wood and bamboo arrows however because they need all the help they can get. :)jmo

[Tom Anderson]

I usually don't have to worry about much "stabilizing" because I tune my arrows/bow until it'll shoot bareshafts out to at least 25 yards into the same place as my fletched arrows.

Killy, 4.5"? I don't think I've seen any - you must be burnin' em, yes?

[hawgslayer]

[R.W.]

5.5 inch high back shields on my longbow shafts, 5 inch shields on the recurve shafts.
And 6.5 long fletches on the horsebow arrows....but these are only .250" high.

[BRITTMAN]

Went through the same thing recently and kind of still up in the air on the subject . Right now Im getting great flight from three 4in .parabolic so Im planning on hunting with this set up .

Mike

[Ray Hammond]

I like standard profile 4 inchers because

less noise
I shoot a 3 to 1 broadhead that doesnt wind plane
My arrows are tuned and dont require 'steerage' from the rear.

[electric blues]

I don't get what you people are talking about with noise. Im 20, and I'm fairly sure my hearing is better than most of you guys, and I dont notice much of a diffrence between bare shafts and fletched ones. Much less 1" smaller feathers. All I ever hear is the bow and the thunk of hitting the target, and my bow is pretty quiet from what I've heard. Sure, ther is a diffrence, but barely noticable. I have small diameter carbons with 5" 4 fletch. Most people say its too much, but I get waay more than enough power at even 40 yards (wish I could shoot good enough at that distance though). They accually fly and penetrate the target further than my gold tips that are 2 inches shorter, and have 4" parabolics.
Also, my arrows stabalise almost immedieatly, not more than 10 feet from the bow. If your not a professional bowyer and can't make a perfect arrow that didnt need feathers, then why not put a little extra fletch on there. Id rather have too much all of the time than too little just once.

[TNstickn]

Elictric blues, if you have a shed or something you can stand in, or a corner of a building you can stand behind that will put you down range near your target but at the same time keep you perfectly out of harms way. I think you will be shocked at the amount of noise your going to hear as your arrow SCREAMS by on the way to the target. If you have ever been to an air show or a nascar race you have heard the same effect just on a louder scale. Never the less, give it a try with a buddy, and you will hear what all the fuss is about. BE CAREFUL FOLLOWING MY NOT SO GOOD IDEA!!!!!

I use 5.5" Nanners cause I think they look cool    !!! I also dont plan on shooting over 15 yds, its real thick around here during bow season, and I dont stay in the same spot for long. Besides that I hunt refuges and its illegal to cut shooting lanes.

You should hear a feather vs plastic vane!!Wow what a difference. Still, Man I love those feathers!!!-Greg

[bbairborne]

Stabilization coming out of Archers Paradox.

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