Can't teach an old dog new tricks?? I have always fletched my arrows with 3 feathers & that goes back some...1980 to be exact. I use 5" shield cuts cause I like the looks. More importantly I felt that they stabilized my arrow fine. However it has always been a trade off for me as to noise/arrow hiss toward my targeted animal.
I hunted one day with JC at the TXS a few weeks ago and watched him take a nice goat. While he was field dressing it, I looked at his arrow set up...large Simmons Interceptor with 4 very small feather to stabilize it! If I'd seen that arrow and not the flight, I would have almost laughed. He said he got the best flight with that set up and hardly any Noise.
OK I was still a little skeptical but I tried a few yesterday. I shoot Beman ICS Hunter 500 & Axis 500 cut 28 1/2" with 200 grain up front. I really like the Axis arrow but it's flight is a little stiff from my 47# bow. Big problem...this is going to cost me
They flew better than any arrows I've shot. Now I have to buy a new chopper & some more shafts!
Disclaimer: This is JMHO for me...Doc
At 18 yards, Granted I'm not the shooter in JC's caliber or for that matter a lot of other tradgangers but I'm sold. Plus my Axis arrows were just as good as my Bemans now.