4 fletched

[B-DOG]

i tried a 4 fletched arrow with 4 " feathers and could not tell a differance in stability. do any of you use a 4 fletched with a 5" feather.

                     b-dog

[JEFF B]

i do some times they are good the stability is quick. i like the 5" better than the 4"  

[Golden Hawk]

I shoot 4-4" Banana cut feathers on all my arrows, but have played with 5". you might want to stay with the 4" if you are going to be shooting any distance. the 5" has more drag and will tend to slow your arrow more at longer ranges. on the up isde your short range stability will be amazing!

[DesertDude]

I have shot both 4x4" and 4x5" feathers. I like flight of both set-ups. I'm now playing with 4x5" shields. I like the way they fly. I shoot a Zewicky delta and like the extra stabilty I get.

[Flatstick]

I've used 4-5" fletch for over 20yrs now. I do believe it "stabilizes" an arrow quicker out of the bow (recovers from "archers paradox" in a shorter distance ). It will also tame some of the larger broadheads. I have no scientific proof of this, just an opinion based on my experiances.

[Mr.Magoo]

I tried 4 X 4" bananas (60x120) just last week.  They seem to stabilize just as well as my 3 x 5.5".  I can get 2 4" feathers cut from a single full length feather and it doesn't matter how the arrow is nocked.

[Charlie Lamb]

I've shot 4-5" fletch for years...30ish. Lots of pluses. Great stability says it all.

Recently cut back to 4 3/4" feathers and like it pretty well.  

[Rick McGowan]

Like Charlie, I have shot 4X5" for probably 30 some years, its on most of my arrows. I read a thorough test done by an engineer with a bow shooting machine YEARS ago. He found that more feathers are actually FASTER than smaller feathers out to past 40 yards or so, then the extra drag slows them down, but since they already were ahead the smaller feathered arrows didn't catch up until past 50 yards! Good enough for me.

[Artur]

When I started building my own arrows, I decided to use 4-fletch, just to see what they would do. Just because I like how they look, I'm going to stay with 4-fletch for a long time -- the fact that my arrows recover a bit faster with 4-fletch has very little to do with it.

I have always used at least 5" fletchings, by the way. Again, not just because of how they fly.

[wtpops]

The key for me is nock placement. I can nock an arrow without looking, no need to look down for a cock feather. And they do recover a little quicker

[JC]

While the 4" wasn't more stable than the 5", they certainly weren't any less stable even with broadheads. I know my 4x4" low profile nanners drag a lot less than my 4x5" shield cut did...you can tell a noticable point of impact difference at 30 and out (doesn't mean anything really for huntin unless you are capable/choose long shots...but I definately noticed a trajectory difference). I think the 5" are a lot louder too. And with my 4"chopper, I get 2 cuts per full length feather.

Charlie turned me on to 4 fletch and there's no looking back for me...

[RamiusEng]

IMHO....I used 4X4" parabolics on the only wood set of broad heads I have made.  The shafts were parallel taper Sitka.  I made 6 of those.  The remaining 6 I turned into bunny blunts.  I used 3X5" P&Y's on the blunts.  

I agree with JC on the noise.  4X4" parabolics are much quieter than the 3X5" P&Y.

[BaldingEagle]

I switched from 3X5" to 4X4" and have seen no change in stability or slowing down of the arrown. (No greater drop at 20Yds.)  The 4X4"=16" of feather, where the 3X5"=15" of feather.  I can also get 2 4"fletchings out of one full length arrow, whereas, many feathers only produce 1 5".  I just make sure that my feathers are cut "high".  i.e. 4" long by 3/4" high or more.  Don't know for sure if this really helps, but the shafts that are spined perfectly seem to stabalize very quickly.

[TSHOOTER]

Do you guys prefer 90 degree or some other configuration on 4 fletch?

[Rick McGowan]

I only use the 75-105 config.

[WestTnMan]

I use 4 X 4" too on my GT's. I would like to get some 4" banana's but don't have a chopper and can't get them locally. Is there someplace to order them? 3R's dosn't list them.

[JC]

Terry, you may want to check with Herb @ herbsarchery...he's a sponsor here that does custom cut fletching.

[RC]

I shoot 4-5" feathers. I like`em cause I can nock up quick with my eyes on my critter and not my arrow and it helps make up for my often sloppy release with big broadheads on the arrow.I try to shoot stuff at fifteen yards are less so i don`t care about "drag".RC

[BaldingEagle]

I like the 90° for my four fletch.  I don't think they fly any better than any other combo - just like the way they look.  RC was right about not having to look down to be sure you have the cock-feather sticking out.

[wtpops]

75-105
gives my good clearence by the shelf and riser