four feather fletching

[aussieman8]

does anyone shoot arrows with four feather fletching, what length of feathers should i use and what shape works best

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I use 4" feather with a 5.5" high back nana chopper. Length and shape is all on the shooter.

[Soilarch]

Use the "search" button...try something like [four fletch]    You'll have plenty of reading.

After pages and pages and pages of reading it comes out to be just like 3 fletch...it's all a matter of personal preference.
The short version is:

-Yes, several guys like 'em
-Any length you want (You can use shorter feathers than you do with 3 fletch...if you want to)
-Any shape you want.

[tradtusker]

Ya Im sold on Four fletch.
I find better arrow flight, i dont have to think about nocking the arrow, and the increased color at the back of the arrow makes it easier to see exactly where iv hit the animal. Works for me anyways.

I used 4x4" and sometimes 4x3" always with a bit of Helical

Shape is up to you but i find parabolic to be the quietest or a low profile cut banana

[Ragnarok Forge]

I switched over to four fletch and prefer the shield cuts.  I just like the old style look of the shield cut fletch on my arrows.  They are a bit noiser than parabolics or bannana's.  Going to shorter fletch fixed that though.  4-3" shield cuts make no noise at all that I can hear.  

I did some measuring and number crunching 6 months ago, and found that 4-4" fletch have the same surface area as 3-5" fletch.  4-3" fletch are very close in surface area to 3-4" fletch.  I have dropped to 4-3" for my carbons and 4-4" fletch for my wood arrows. They work great and broadheads fly the same as field points with properly tuned arrows.  The lower profile and shorter lengths also seem to produce less drag on heavy cross wind shots.

I like that the surface area of the fletch is further back on the arrow.  The further you put the fletch back on the arrow the better control the have on arrow flight.

[aussieman8]

Thanks to all of you i now know what fletching i am going to use: four 3 inch shield cut.

[JoeArizona]

I'm just getting back into archery, so I wanted to do a little testing also.
I fletched up 6 carbon arrows with 4" parabolic...3 with 3 fletch and 3 with 4 fletch.  I think it may be my form but...some days I like the 3 fletch and other days I love the 4 fletch.  
It does seem that when my form is good, the 3 fletch is just a bit faster.  When it's not good, the 4 fletch is a little more forgiving.
I have not shot either with broadheads yet.  I'm shooting 45# at 28".
Just my experience so far...hope it helps.
Joe

[aussieman8]

if you used three inch the arrow might fly faster

[Ground Hunter]

Tradtusker nailed it.  H

[JoeArizona]

Originally posted by aussieman8:
if you used three inch the arrow might fly faster

Amen brother!

Just think how fast that 2 or 1 inch fletching would be!    

Joe

[JMartin]

Yep....what tradtusker said.

[Rob DiStefano]

don't get locked into a specific fletch size without some good testing.  

you want a good compromise of solid steerage with lowest drag.  of the two, steerage is most important.  

small feathers don't steer worth a hoot.  

there are  many factors that will point your shooting and your bow(s) in the better direction of fletch size than just surmising what you *think* will work best for *you*.  

feathers have height as well as length, and it's the sum of the surface area that counts most.  

if your arrows fly well sans any steerage, don't be lulled into thinking that smaller feathers are the way to go.  

consider the distance that you typically shoot at game.  bigger feathers will also help with a bad release, and plan that you *will* have a bad release at least sometimes.  arrows that straighten out quickest and fly truest will always yield the better results.

all my arrows sport 4-fletch, 74x105.  for carbons the feathers are low profile banana cut, 4" long.  for woodies, i chop a higher profile and they're 4.7" in length.

longer and lower feathers offer better arrow shelf clearance while still maintaining good steerage.  higher cut feathers may just fly different and take more time to tune.

again, there is much value in doing yer own feather flight testing, don't just assume what you think will work best, will.  'cause it probably won't.    

[Stone Knife]

4x4 parabolic works for me but Like Rob say's you need to try out what will best for you.

   

[Terry Green]

I went to 4 fletch....nothing wrong with 3 for me, just went to 4 for ONE reason....the no-look nocking advantage.

I shoot 5" Shields.

[Stone Knife]

I'm a cheap skate, I get two 4" out of one full length feather.

[string bean]

Originally posted by JoeArizona:
 

Originally posted by aussieman8:
if you used three inch the arrow might fly faster

Amen brother!

Just think how fast that 2 or 1 inch fletching would be!    

Joe [/b]

LOL I fletched some with 2-5" before and they flew purdy durn good for me.  Last night I even shot one with 2 1/2 - 5" feather and it shot right with the others.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I have to agree that feather testing is critical to your final feather selection.  I am using 4 - 3 inch fletch on carbon arrows that are perfectly tuned to my bow. The 4 - 3 inch fletch have almost the same surface area as 3 - 4 inch fletch.  I spent a year fiddling with a lot of different arrow sets ups and was intially resistant to going to 4 fletch.  I found that for me the advantages of four fletch out weighed my preference for three fletch.

I selected this set up for carbons after a lot of 3-d course shooting and stump shooting.  I shot from a bunch of different body angles and positions and intentionally used bad form on some shots to see how fast the arrow recovered.

[frank bullitt]

Well, with field points, for 3-D, stumping, and backyard shooting, smaller fletch will work.

Broadheads is a diffetent animal. If for bowhuntin, find a size that will work for them. The field points will follow!

[aussieman8]

i think i might go with four 4" shield on 340 carbon shafts. my experience with fletching is that if it has any points like shield or pope and young cut it is going to make some noise in flight

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by aussieman8:
i think i might go with four 4" shield on 340 carbon shafts. my experience with fletching is that if it has any points like shield or pope and young cut it is going to make some noise in flight

the quick answer is 'yes'.  but lots depends on that exact feather fletch shape.

parabolic and banana shapes typically are very quiet.