Shooting Cock Feather In???

[PeteA]

How many out there are shooting cock feather in? This goes against my 30 years of compound shooting.
I am relatively new to trad and for some reason I find this the most accurate way to shoot for me. It gives me two anchor reference points, corner of the mouth with my middle finger and feather to the tip of my nose.

When I shoot cock feather out I go through bouts of string contact with my nose. I can't seem to get my head in the proper position.

Any advise welcome. Is this just bad tuning, bad form or both.

[bornagainbowhunter]

I have shot both ways, I use it as a tuning aid.  You know to check clearences.

[Firstarrow]

I have traditionaly shot with cock feather out, but sometimes when I have an arrow that flies screwy, I turn cockfeather in and it corrects the problem.

[beachbowhunter]

In works best for me.

[str8jct]

I have shot cock feather in with vanes, it shot the same as my feathers w cock feather out.

[ron w]

I have done it with vanes off the shelf,also have had an arrow with a broadhead not fly well....cock feather in and it flew like a dart. Whatever works!!!

[SpikeMaster]

I've shot cock feather in ever since Kelly of Arrows by Kelly recommended it in his archery tips. My arrows tune with a lower nocking point that way.

[Hud]

If you have to draw and nock quickly to get a shot off, it is not a problem. Unless the bow is center shot and the arrow is bending around the rest when the feather clears. The best reason for shooting with it out is to minimize wear on the feather. If you put some Talc or baby powder on the rest, you can see where the arrow or feathers touch.

[Chimaster]

I have tried both methods because I wanted to feel comfortable to go either way in a hunting situation. I like the cock feather in because the arrow seems to recover faster with the other two feathers facing out!

[4Blade]

Like Spikemaster says.  I believe it gives me the best clearance and allows a lower nocking point.  Some powder or chalk like Hud says make the mystery of straight arrow flight a lot less frustrating.  Having carbon arrows that you can easily turn the arrow nock helps to find the best option.

[Richie Nell]

every time

[Mint]

I know Mike Palmer recomended this to me when I was having problems with the feather getting caught on the shelf.

[saltwatertom]

FWIW

I switched to carbons a while back and once I got the tune figured out it doesn't matter any more for me. In or out I can't tell the difference.

[JDL]

Ok, I've got the talk on my rest and side plate. Now what?

[SS Snuffer]

Cock feather UP works best for me!! Hen goes between rest and side plate (if it touches at all).

[Hunter 709]

Very interesting thread. I shot a friends bow where he recommended that the cock feather be turned in, he said the arrow just flew better.  I'm going to try this on my set up, like others have said "whatever works".

[Jon Shade]

I intend to try shooting cock feathers in tonight. I've never shot an arrow this way before. Lets see what happens.

[ibehiking]

Most of my bows work best with cock feather out. A few are beter with the cock feather in. I will also shoot cock feather in, when shooting off the shelf, if I want to use arrows with vanes instead of feathers.

[Robert Miller]

I was told last year to try cock feather in to see if that helped my arrow flight and it did help for some reason, I bare shaft tune my arrows before placing fletching on them, so it kinda funny how things work with archery. Now my mind set has changed to try everything to see what works best for each set up.

[PeteA]

Thanks guys, so maybe I am not crazy after all.

The biggest advantage I see is that I have 2 anchor reference points with cock feather in, middle finger in the side of the mouth and a hen feather to the tip of the nose. My groups have tighten up dramatically. I often times have 2-3 arrows out of 6 touch in a 5 inch circle at 17 yards. Too much snow here in NY to get my 20 yard shot in. Will be heading to a range this weekend to see what i get.

PeteA