Fletching preference: 2, 3, 4? Shape? Size?

[Nativestranger]

I have tested 2 fletch feathers on one arrow in the past. It's 4" shield on GT 1535. It flew just as well as my other arrows. I don't have feathers contact issues with my 3 fletch at that time. But it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a 2 fletch oriented with the bottom feather pointing away from the riser will clear the shelf better than a 3 fletch with the bottom right hen feather pointing towards the riser. I am gonna try 2 fletch again when I build my 4 stumping arrows. Now the only question is how well they would fly with broadheads.

[Ulysseys]

3 5.5" shield cuts...more fletch than I need but the spin going down range is amazing and I can see them so well.

[drewsbow]

4, 4" shield   x2

[smokin joe]

3 - 5" shield
Or 3 - 4" of my own custom cut that I call "the delta dart"

I like three fletch. It is enough to do the job and enough for me to see the arrow flight pretty well.

[JRY309]

On a well tuned arrow it doesn't really matter.I did a few years ago on a dozen arrows,I fletched 3 with 3-4",4-",3-5" and 4-5" feathers.They all fly great and grouped together at 20 yds.They may not have the same trajectory when shooting 30 and 40 yds,but at hunting distances made no difference.I used to shoot larger feathers when I shot wood arrows like 3-5.5" and 5.5" banana feathers but my favorite has become 4-4" parabolic and shield with all my newly fletched arrows.I have tuned arrows with 2" Blazer vanes for an ILF.I feel tuning an arrow is more important then the size or number of feathers you choose.

[Earl Jeff]

4 4inch shielded

[Stump73]

3 4inch shield

[Mike Vines]

I have tried countless combinations for this fall's moose hunt, and the best performer for me has been the "MV" fletch.  4 feathers fletched at 90°.

685 grain finished weight (225 grain Tuffhead w/ 75 grain titanium adapter) giving me 12 gpp.  I've found the more FOC and proper tuning, the less fletching is needed.

     

[Mud_Slide_Slim]

Did the 2 fletch on my carbons last season...they flew just fine.  But since then, I have gone all wood.  The batch I have made for this season all have 4x5" fletching.  I won't be taking any shot over 20 yards...more like 10-15yds.  That close, I want my arrow flying as straight as possible as quickly as possible.

Bill-

[Green]

I've played with 2 fletch off/on for the last couple of years.  I shoot nothing but wood.  They do fine on species like POC and Sitka Spruce that recover from paradox pretty quickly.  The heavier woods like Ash seem to need that third feather for me.  Haven't tried it on Doug Fir.

[MnFn]

Three five inch is my preference.  I have played around with four four inch, but did not see enough difference in flight to warrant changing.  

Parabolic MAY be a little quieter than shield, but hard for me to tell.  For some  reason I like the look of shield fletch a little better.

[Nativestranger]

I agree that the heavier your shaft the more fletching it needs. For medium weight carbon shafts 8 gpi and below. 3x3" or 2x4" works well. Wood and aluminum shafts will need more.

[md126]

I've tried them all and found little difference between 3 and 4 fletch and between 4 and 5" feathers

I've had bad results with 2 fletch and see no advantage

[hunting badger]

I shoot 4, 4 inch shields, 60/120 degree, I do so for one reason and that is I get better fletch clearance off the shelf. I shoot woodies and have all my life. I shot 3 fletch for many years but I fought the self clearance issue until I switched to my current setup.

[Jwilliam]

3, 5"shield


Bill

[Anointed Archer]

Like many here I have tried both 3 and 4 fletch, then while at a local trad shoot a friend of mine showed up with 2 Flecthings on his arrows and they flew awesome. I have switched my aluminums and carbons to two fletch but I left my mircoflights 3 fletch.

 

[trasher]

I use 3x4" parabolic on all my Bezaleels.
I've tried 2 fletches it also works well, but that hurts my eyes.    

Also tried 4 fletches but for me that's overdosed!

[SlowTurtle]

After reading some about two fletch feathers, I decided to give it a try. Had a four fletch flu-flu that lost one feather...stripped another one off it and it seems to fly great (haven't check to see how far it now flies though). Put another two fletch arrow together and so far so good.

As a side note; I got my hands on some 2" feathers that are being used today. Figuring three 4" feathers gives you 12" of drag, I put 6 of these one two of my arrows and so far really like the way they are flying.

[jmar595]

Just going from what I've read from others, but the Ashby reports talk about the smallest fletch you can get away with while still having good performance and stabilization of the broached is what is needed. I haven't seen the two fletch much, but did see some fletching at my local archery store with eight and six fletch. It was fletched normally then had a smaller set in-between the larger. It made for a wicked looking arrow. It would be cool to see a two fletch this was with a smaller set (actually making it a four).

[Green]

I was stumping with friends yesterday with my two fletched arrows.  One of my arrows took a slice from someone else's and removed the middle 2/3rds of the quills from one banana feather.  The arrow continued to shoot just fine at all distances for the remainder of the time. YMMV, but if your tune's pretty good........