Feathers?
 

I am switching to feathers this year and was wondering what you guys suggest 3'' or 4''? Is there a difference between Gateway and Parabolic and if there is which is better?
Thanks.

RE: Feathers?
 

I use 3", 4" and 5" feathers. I use the 4" the most.

Parabolic is a shape for the feathers.(as opposed to say a bannana cut or sheild cut)I use both Gateway parabolics and Trueflight parabolics.

RE: Feathers?
 

Christine, I have always been interested in shooting feathers. What are the benefits? Are they easy to apply to the arrow shafts? Anything special you have to do to make them shoot correctly? Thank you.

RE: Feathers?
 

From Trueflight's site (so it's obiviously has a bias)


Plastic vs Feathers
Where's the Advantage?


Plastic:
[ul][*]Low Cost.[*]Easy mass production. [/ul]
Feathers:
[ul][*]Excellent Guidance. [*]No arrow deflection on release. [*]No long yardage before stabilized flight. [*]Higher arrow velocities. [*]Up to 700% lighter than vanes. [*]Eliminate bow window clearance problems. [*]Can be shot off the arrow plate. No tricky arrow rest required. [*]Less chance of brush deflection when hunting. [*]Bow tuning is simple and less critical. [*]More forgiving of mistakes. [*]Extends useable spine range of arrow. [*]Target deflection caused by deflection of an arrow hitting the fletching of another is minimal by using feather vanes which simply push open to make room. [*]Orientation of arrow on string is not critical. [*]Unaffected by hot and cold temperature extremes. [*]Aging: Feathers are unaffected by ultra-violet rays. Plastic stiffens and deteriorates. [*]Ecologically: Feathers are natural bi-degradable products. [*]Aesthetic: Quality die cuts have a smooth soft natural and historic appeal that can't be matched by the "toy plastic" image of plastic vanes. [/ul]

Feathers: The confidence Builder!
Nothing equals feathers for:
[ul][*]Speed [*]Stability [*]Forgiving of mistakes [*]Accuracy[/ul]
____________________


http://www.trueflightfeathers.com/facts.htm
________________________________________________


This is perhaps a little overblown on feather advantages, but there is truth to most of it.A feather is noisier if you brush up against stuff. You do have to take a bit more care of them when they're wet but not as much as some think.They easily attachto shafts using glues or fletch tape.

RE: Feathers?
 

With feathers I use 4" over 3" anymore. The weight gain is next to nothing, and the 4" gives awesome arrow stability.

Spray them with some waterproofing,and you'll never have a problem with rain. I play with all sorts of fletching during offseason, and I'm sure I will again this year.

Next season will find me with feather fletched arrows in my quiver again I am sure.

Dan

RE: Feathers?
 

My local shop doesn't carry feathers is there a good place online to order them at a decent price?

RE: Feathers?
 

http://www.lancasterarchery.com/inde...ath=421_78_288

If it weren't for the brush and rain up here I'd be using 4" shield cut exclusively. For now I just use them on my trad gear.

RE: Feathers?
 

Check out www.meanvarchery.com

I don't think you'll find betterfeathers at a better price.

Customer service is also number 1 to make sure you get what you want. If I don't have itchances are I can get itin 2 days or less, but........................ I guess I am a little biased;)

Seriously we try to make every customer a Happy customer!

Dan

RE: Feathers?
 

Benefits.

Less weight. More speed. Better FOC. Work very well even if damaged. Can be applied with fletching tape, no need to use glue if you've dipped and or crested your arrows, or even wrapped them. Peel the feather off, rub off the tape, and refletch. They work when wet. They lay flat and look funny, but they work just fine. You will, however, get a puff of water in your face when you shoot them. Superior guidance. More forgiving, especially if they come in contact with something. They lay flat and stand back up, instead of deflecting like a vane does. And, perhaps the best reason of all......They look really, really cool.

RE: Feathers?
 

From you alls responses, I may be sold on giving feathers a try here soon.

RE: Feathers?
 

Feathers look cool enough on their own... but this is when they look their best. ;)



Even after sitting for several days they clean up good with a little soap and water. (one needed a new nock)
the top arrow killed three deer this season.

RE: Feathers?
 

I was converted to Feathers by Dan ( MeanV ) last year and he has kept me supplied ever since . They are the most accurate fletching i've used to date , I use the 4" barred parabolic with a slight offset right helical . Oh and they look the nuts http://www.hunting.net/forum/tm.aspx?m=3275714&mpage=2.

Which reminds me , i'm gonna need some more very soon Dan ;)

RE: Feathers?
 

Hey Christine , do you feather tape or glue your feathers ?

RE: Feathers?
 

I'm not sure why feathers got pushed to the way side when vanes came Into play. Feathers to me are better to have on your arrow regardless of the type of bow your shooting. There forgiving which Is a big plus and the feathers getting wet and not being able to be used Is a bunch of BS. Feathers also are nice when Inspecting your arrow If you get a pass through on your animal. They allot of times will grab on to whatever there going through so It can help In defining where you hit your animal If your questioning your shot possibly.

More of a personal preference thing then anything as they both will do the job.

RE: Feathers?
 

I'm not Christine, but I'll give my 2 cents anyway. I use the tape, and IMHO for feathers, that's the only way to go. It's quick and is much easier to refletch, especially if your arrows are dipped. Just rub the glue off and refletch. I also feel like it holds better than glue, for feathers. I think the glue soaks into the base of the feather, and doesn't adhere as well.

RE: Feathers?
 

I agree with this 100% I have pulled arrows through my targets and had the feathers still on afterwards. Plus, one otherbenefit is, as soon as you put them on with tape, they are ready to shoot. No waiting for glue to dry.

RE: Feathers?
 

Thanks everyone. What is this feather tape you are talking about?

RE: Feathers?
 

I've used fletch tape and liked it. It held to my aluminums better than the regular fletch tite. I still put dabs of glue on the front edges of the feathers tho', otherwise the fronts of the feathers would start to peel back after shooting through enough brush, rabbits, squirrels..etc..

NowI just use Duco cement.

RE: Feathers?
 

http://www.3riversarchery.com/product.asp?i=5384

RE: Feathers?
 

I have been a 3" feather shooter ever since I started shooting a bow in 94'... A couple years ago I gave the blazers a shot and they didnt get to stay for very long.... I am a big fan of feathers I,like Christine, have used both true flight and gateways, just depends on which one I can find in the color I am looking for.....

RE: Feathers?
 

What is the diffreence in a barred parabolic versus a regular parabolic feather? Does it make a positive or negative difference if you are shooting over 300fps with your hunting arrow?

Thanks Jeff

RE: Feathers?
 

I little trick to save some money. Don't buy the fletch tite glue for applying your feathers, I use Duco Cement, about $1.50 and works just as good if not better, for all arrows, never lost a feather yet and I shoot A LOT of arrows!

RE: Feathers?
 

The barred ones have colored bands in them and the regulars ones are just one solid color.

RE: Feathers?
 

I use Fletch Tite Platinum or Fletch tape. The Platinum runs about $3 a tube and will do several dozen arrows, but like others have said The tape is really the way to go for most.;)

Dan

RE: Feathers?
 

I have gottena fair share of truflights and gateways and I would have to say that I think truflights have better bases. Sometimes I get a gateway that has a real thin base or is tapered so that one end is real thin but towards the other end it gets better. I liked MeanV2's feathers but haven't gotten enough of them yetto see if the bases will be consistant over the long haul.

RE: Feathers?
 

Do you fletch them helical,offset or straight? I am going to get a Bitz and was wondering which clamp to get or doesn't it matter?
Thanks!

RE: Feathers?
 

99% of my feathers are Right Helical.

Dan

RE: Feathers?
 

Luke/r, I recommend a helical clamp. Remember that if you buy left wing feathers you need a left wing clamp and vice versa.

I used to shoot all left wing feathers, then it became easier to find right wing feathers so I bought a right wing clamp. Now I got a bunch of left wing feathers so I'm back to them. I can't tell any difference other than left wing helical spin tends to unscrew your tips a bitwhen youhit foam. ;)

RE: Feathers?
 

Thanks! I was thinking of getting a right helical clamp and now that is what I am going to get. Thanks Again!

RE: Feathers?
 

I strongly recommend reading these two threads for those considering feathers ...

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2598903&mpage=1

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2729918&mpage=1&key=feathers&amp ;#2729918

RE: Feathers?
 

Thanks Greg!

Thanks Everyone! Just ordered my fletcher from Cabelas and my feathers from MeanV!

RE: Feathers?
 

Glad I could help!

(It helps to have an "understanding" with the search engine... I promise not to kill it if it helps me find things every once in a while. [8D])