Feather Length for Hunting Arrows

[Tatersalad]

What size feathes do you use on your hunting arrows.  I've been using 4" but heard that 5" will give me much better flight with hunting broadheads than 4".  

Penny for your thoughts?

Michael

[babs]

I like to use 5" inch feathers I think it gives me a little better broadhead flight just my opinion though

[jcar315]

I shoot 5.5" shield cut feathers for all situations. In the bright colors I shoot this is the size I can seem to see best.

Can't speak to the other sizes and how they do / don't help stabilize arrows.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

This year I'll be shooting arrows w/ 4" & 5" chopped from a banana shape chopper.
from left 2 right.. 5"full, 5"full, 4" forward cut, 5"full, 4"forward cut & 4" backend cut. You may also ask why are some of these fletchings set so far forward on some arrows. I'm playing with fletching set-up and they are set to brace check the string.
 

All Arrows fly like darts, but with an Arch. Weight ranges from 765grn to 795grn. I have a set of 2 matching arrows per batch. I also use Magnus 160 grn Snuffer 3-Blade BH's.

[Gen273]

I use 5 inch

[Bowwild]

My draw is only 25.5 inches and my arrows are 27.5".  I need and use only 3, 4" feathers -- parabolic currently but hopefully shield next week.

[Schmidtster]

I originally fletched my arrows this year with a 4" parabolic than switched to a 4" sheild back and they were flying great. I heard that the bigger the parabolic the better so I made a few with a 5" parabolic and had terrible results so I went back to 4" sheild back.I would try a little of both and see what you come up with, it ulitmately rely's on alignment and a good spine.

[seabass]

5.5 sheild and 5.5 bannana.seem to stabilize the arrow faster.for me anyway.

[Gray Buffalo]

4-4" sheild The same + wing service as 3-5" I chop them myself and get 2 per feather. I'm Cheep

[mrjsl]

I use either 3 or 4 5" shield cuts I think I am going to do more of the 4 fletch. They tend to group together at hunting distances.

[Night Wing]

I use three, 5" parabolic feathers, 120 degrees separation between them with each feather having 11 degrees of right hand twist since I use right wing feathers.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

If you have good form and your arrows are tuned properly it doesn't matter.  I, however don't have really great form so I use 5".  The bigger the feather the more forgiving it will be and the faster your arrow will recover.  Remember though bigger feathers have more drag which in turn means more noise as the arrow flies through the air.

[JEFF B]

i use 5" they just seem to work better with my set up. but it like the old saying if it aint broke dont fix it. so what ever flies the best out of your set up with broadheads and feild points just use it. but after saying that its fun to play around with different combos.  

[Kenneth]

I was using 4" 4-fletch but had some flight problems with broadheads on the front so now I'm just using 4" 3-fletch and flight is perfect even with big 1 1/2" + diameter heads but I have a few arrows fletched with 3 5" feathers just in case I have any problems.

[cbCrow]

I use 5" on my arrows and have for a lot of years. It ain't broke so I'm not going to fix it.

[Pointer]

I've always used  5 1/2" high back parabolic or shield cut. I've had no trouble with them

[Trad-Man]

5.5 inch 3 rivers cut feathers.  (cross between parabolic and shield) You can seem them and the feather size makes them very forgiving when shooting broadhaeds.

[Tatersalad]

Thanks for the insight guys!  As always good advice.

Michael

[Earl Jeff]

4 - 4" Sheilded

[Sixby]

Three five in Shield cuts. Always have and always will. I believe something that is missed a lot and I don't see it discussed much is tuning and balancing broadheads. To me that is just as important or even more than the fletch. JMHO Years ago I made a little Jig to tune my broadheads. since I started using it I have always had my broadheads fly like they are on a rail.  It is really simple consisting of two vs to set the arrow in and a nail in a board for a pointer. Just turn the arrow and make sure that the point centers on the nail all the way around./ That centers the head./ God Bless, Steve