5" or 5 1/2" shield feathers?

[Zradix]

Hey everyone! I have a new bow on the way. It's a SWC GennIII at around 47#'s. I'll be shooting tapered spruce with a 200grn grizzly broadhead. I'll be needing some arrows for this bow. I'm wondering if I should go with 5" or 5 1/2" shield cuts. I'm leaning towards the 5 1/2" just for extra forgiveness. What are your thoughts?

[beachbowhunter]

Grizzly's are narrow and fly great. Go with three 5" feathers.

[BobW]

me likes 'um big!

[Ken Taylor]

I like 5 1/2" shields.

Besides what you said, If they get wet, there is more surface area remaining, and it is easier for your eyes to follow the arrow, and it is a little easier to find a lost arrow (if you use bright colors), and when I am at full draw I like touching the fletching to my nose, and they look nice.

Downsides: slows the arrow down faster, a little noisier, and a little more fletching to scrape when you want to be quiet.

[Chinook]

John,
Just a brief reminder, don't forget your basic tuning and bare shafting should come as a first step with the new bow set up.
If you get your set up shooting bare shaft perfect, you can use the 5" with no problems.  I use 4 - 4" shield too - but 3 - 5" is just a simplier design - especially if you are making your own arrows.
Of course more feather at the back IS more forgiving and all - but it comes at a price too.
My experience the 5 1/2" shields are a bit higher profile and a bit more noise in the air.
Chinook

[Chinook]

Oh - I almost forgot .........
I also found the 5 1/2" feathers - with their higher profile - tend to brush up against "things" and make a noise - like just when you are trying to turn just a little to get a better body angle on that deer - and then "BUSTED".
Chinook

[Zradix]

You bet chinook! I've learned that bare shaft is the way to go.

[MSwickard]

Flip a coin.

[Pops]

I find that 5" shield works great for me.

[Jeff Strubberg]

I've slowly gotten rid of all of my 5 1/2" cuts.  They are just high enough to get past the oil line in most feathers and into the softer part of the quill.  Makes 'em buzz more and wear faster.

[jcar315]

I am certainlly not discerning enough to tell any true difference between the 5 and 5.5 inch shield. I prefer 5.5 inch shiled cut TruFlight feathers on all my own arrows. Just look a little cooler, easier to see in flight for me, and alot easier to find when I miss!

I am sure you won't go wrong with either size. Just don't use parabolic!

[Covey]

I know most of the 5.5" are high back so if you use a kwikee like I do the fletching will rub against each other. If you don't then use what you like and what tunes best for ya! Good Tuning! Jason

[LKH]

I've gone down to 4" and will try 3" next.  I'd rather work on the arrow flight and get it down pat so I don't have as much need for larger feathers.  I hunt a lot in the wind.

[Maxximusgrind]

I really dont know if you'll see much difference.I don't-but maybe its because my shootings not good enough.   :rolleyes:

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Zradix:
Hey everyone! I have a new bow on the way. It's a SWC GennIII at around 47#'s. I'll be shooting tapered spruce with a 200grn grizzly broadhead. I'll be needing some arrows for this bow. I'm wondering if I should go with 5" or 5 1/2" shield cuts. I'm leaning towards the 5 1/2" just for extra forgiveness. What are your thoughts?

it's not just length that matters, it's also height.  takes both to figure out the surface area of a feather ... and even so, the fletch shape can make good or poor use of that area.

to answer your question, 5" is plenty for a 3 fletch on a well flying arra.  

no matter what the fletch surface area, all bets are off if your arrow flies poorly.  relying on a lotta fletch to help correct bad flight is not the way to go.  a big o'l arrow that bare flights well can get by with 3" fletches, if need be.

i only shoot 4" 4-fletch with slight offset, no helical required or needed.

ymmv.

[Dan White]

I shoot 5 1/2, but knock the height down a little

[Plumber]

5inch

[Keefer]

I used to use 5-1/2" but have swithed to 5 " and noticed less noise and seems to fly just as good...

[Doc Pain]

Before, I decide on fletch, I would do a lot of testing with a bare shaft to tune your setup.  Start with your field tips and progress to your broadheads.  Then I would go with the least amount of fletch that I could get by with.  Even though I love the look of the shield cut, I find it robs me of performance in arrow speed over parabolic or low profile bananna fletch.

[Zradix]

Thank you for the input everyone!!