shield cut feathers. 4 inch or 5?

[Puk]

Hi all,
Do i have to buy from the states to get 4 inch shield cut feathers, and do you recommend that i start with 4 inches, or should i get 5 inch ones? I like the traditional look of shield cut feathers, so i want them rather than parabolic.

Puk

[rory]

You can get em in Australia :D Archery Supplies Canberra has em :wink:

IM(humble)O, go with 5" just cause it's a bit more feather to help guide the arrow. I have shot plenty of fletch combinations, (using 3", 4", and 5" feathers) and if you can release a properly spined/weighted shaft cleanly then they all work.
8)

[Jeffro]

shield cut feathers make a noise as they fly through the air.

i use 4 inch and i chop them myself with a higher profile than the bought ones.

5 inch helical fletches slow the arrow down quicker than 4 inch aswell.

People like and reccomend 5 inch because they reckon it stabilises the arrow better. my arrows come out straight so i think 4 inch is ok.plus its easier to chop two 4 inch feathers than it is to chop two 5 inch feathers becuse sometimes the raw feathers you buy have irregularities.

[Puk]

thaks Jeffro,
Are you saying i shouldn't go for shield cut then?

Puk

[Friar Tuck]

The more surface area on a fletch the more drag created slowing the arrow down.

Feathers can also be a problem in the wet and require some form of water proofing which can be applied in the form of a powder.

We have 4" Shield cut feathers in stock in Yellow and Red and I think White at present - all RH. We have quite a few trad guys buy via Gecko and we have parabolic feathers in as well in limited selection 3" and 4".

As for slowing the arrow down at hunting distances of up to 30 yards I have found that it really doesn't make a huge amount of difference. I use 4 x 4" feathers for my hunting arrows as this will stabilise any broadhead very quickly and effectively.

We also will have very shortly 2" Blazers in stock which alot of hunters swear by including the new Tiger stripe blazers :lol: :shock:

[bear]

Gday Puk,
I use both para and shield they both good but like you I also like the trad look that shield cut give :D I've been usin 5" and they work good. I havn't noticed any notable noise coming from the shield cut feathers when they are sailing towards a target or big boars :wink: I think you best try em for yourself mate as only you can determine whether they are going to suit you or not :D

BEAR

[Jeffro]

Puk, I use shields cause i like the look of them too and friar is right at a proper hunting distance it would not make much difference.
At the range if you take varied distance shots it is noticeable with the ammount they drop with the different length feathers
I dont think a pig could jump the string at 15 metres or less even with a very noisy fletch.
Some of my arrows make more noise than others and some make none.
A deer or a rabbit could jump the string i reckon with a noisy arrow more so.
I have heard from others on ozbow that the shields make noise also.
It is good to cut your own feathers but the choppers are $100 . If you want one and also the full length feathers you can get it from John Mcdonald in cherrybrook,sydney,he ships all over australia and his number is 0298753032.He has poc,scotch pine,points,feathers, nocks,tabs,gloves.basically all you need for trad :D

[Clinglish]

Just a question Jeffro ,How Far do you Shoot?
I found the 5 inch worked better off my longbows so I use them for both longbow and recurve. They straighten up faster off the shelf so are better for shots under 5m I don't shoot past 25m so thew increase in drag IMO is irrelevant.

[Jeffro]

Clint, at the range we have practice butts ranging from 10m to 50m plus 3 field courses .

I only take shots at game out to about 20m but at the club i have a few longer shots just for practice.

I made some arrows for a friend of mine with 5 inch helicals and i could notice the difference with the longer shots.
The feathers were cut with a higher profile than the ones you buy precut in a packet and i had the fletching jig set up with a fair ammount of helicallness(cant think of a better word).
They appeared to slow down quicker but as friar tuck said in a hunting shot with trad gear at around 15 metres there would be no difference and if your bow and arrows are tuned the arrow should straigten up pretty quick(within 5 metres id say)
If there is something out of tune the 5 inch may be an advantage with more surface area to straigten the arrow up a little quicker :D

[adam]

I mostly use 5 inch shield cut feathers, I buy from the states as its cheaper and cut my own with a feather chopper. I've found no supplier in Australia that has a good range of quality feathers :? . I mostly use turkey barred these days.

For waterproofing puk, I use a silicone waterproofing spray(for like sneakers and now clothing)..credit to Piggy for the waterproofing spray.

I find no disadvantages with shield cut 5inch, if anything it helps to straighten an arrow up early and steers a heavy head well.

Adam

[Glenn]

I have a 4" a 5" feather choppers in both shield and parabolic and I also have a 5" pope and Young profile as well. You can cut one 4" and one 5" feather out of each full length feather. I grind and cut my own turkey feathers when I get them and some various road kill birds I find traveling around. Years ago the standard feather for broadheads was 5 1/2 inches, but with the chopper you can cut the longer feather or cut with a higher profile...Glenn...

[Clinglish]

" helicallness" Definately WORD OF THE DAY mate :lol: :wink:

[perry]

Cant sing the virtues of feather choppers enough , I imported one last years for around $35.00 from 3 Rivers . regards Perry