Well got some arrows made for my new long bow, got to go shoot longbow for the first time ever, and i must say what a blast it is. Still have alot of ?'s on stuff but i shot fairly well for the first time i think. Ok this might be a dumb ? but where are you supose to position the cock vane when shooting of the shelf? Also i lined my shelf with Felt but it seems to be wearing out awful fast, What should i be lining the shelf with? Mole Skin? Leather? Also i tried shooting both with 1 finger above and also three below, I liked the 3 below better, Is that normal? Any other pointers would be very appriciated!!!

Cock feather either in or out it don't really matter.

Leather would be the most durable and affordable for the shelf.

Shoot what way is more comfortable whether it is split or 3 below.

I don't shoot 3 Fletch anymore but when I did the cock feather was pointed away from the riser. Not sure If everyone does this now, back In the day everyone I hunted with did this.

I use mole skin. It's always worked fine for me.

More of a preference thing I believe. Some bows are tillered for 3 under and some are not. My bow Isn't tillered for 3 under and that's how I shoot It and I shoot fine with It.

Good luck and enjoy, It's allot of fun shooting/hunting with these traditional bows!

Welcome!

The wear on the rest could be from a bunch of different things. I'd suggest using leather.

cock feather never seems to matter much in my bowsetup, I use carbons and uni-nocks so rotating is easy

for shelves, I love seal skin

Something else ive been using, and really like it, is velcrow. The hairy part, not thehookey part. It is self adhesive, quite, and smooth to draw on.

1 more question. Im shooting a 55# Martin Howatt, with 5575 GT arrows with 125 gr. tips. Rememer this is my first time shooting. What total arrow weight should a guy shoot out of it. I think i am way light at 400 GR.?

as for where the cock feather goes just try diffrent postions and see where it shoots best my recurve shoots best with it straight up and try a bear hair rest (it just sticks on the shelf is the felt)it lasts alot longer and it dosent cost as much at other options like leather

Yes, you are a bit light. I'd try to get them around 550-600grains. I'd suggest weight tubes.

Ok, I see what your shooting now. I suggest you add a bunch of wieght to that tip if you want to shoot those arrows. Try 200gr. Your way too stiff, and light.

Gold tip has this weight system which I have mixed results using. Bascially when you find a good flying combo, you add equal wieght to front and back using brass wieghts they sell to raise your weight, but I would rather have wieght tubes. It worked great on my black widow longbow, but not so good on another bow.