RE: cutting length off arrow
Some of the serious target shooters like to cut some off of each end anyway, so I'm sure you will be fine with cutting it off the nock end. Also, if you know someone with a precision machine lathe, this is a pretty accurate way to cut arrows. Use a Dremel tool with a cutoff blade - mount the dremel in the tool post - cut with the lathe running and the shaft held in a live center.