FF string

[ranger 3]

Anyone shoot a ff string on a 69 bear sk?

[nineworlds9]

It can be done, but for a pretty vintage bow why take the risk?  A properly made B55 will perform excellent on an old SK.  Try Tenring Strings or Champion Custom Strings, they can make a B55 in all manner of colors that will shoot beautifully.

[A.S.]

I have had quite a few customers order FF strings for vintage bows.  I normally add a little more padding to the loops. It is definitely a risk, but I have never heard of one causing a limb failure.

I would say that if it's a bow that you really cherish, don't risk it.  A properly built B50 or B55 string will work well.

[David Mitchell]

For the difference in performance, I wouldn't risk it. I'm with A. S.

[crazynate]

I shoot only Dacron with my vintage bears. I wouldnt chance shooting FF but that's just me. I know guys do it but I'd be worried it would cause a failure.

[The Whittler]

I have a Bear Grizzly 1974-75 with FF material typ string. Have been shooting it regular for the past 2-3 years with no problems. And their are others who do also with no problems.

With said string it's like a different bow for the better and has nothing to do with speed. If it gives up the ghost it's not the string. If an older bow breaks with FF then the string gets blamed, but with Dacron it's just an old bow.

I am not trying to tell anyone what to use to each their own.

[ranger 3]

Thanks everyone

[LBR]

To my knowledge there's never been a controlled study to determine whether or not a string will cause a bow to fail.  All but one of the bows I've personally had fail (quite a few, mostly self bows) had a Dacron string on them.  The one that didn't failed mid-limb, so it was pretty obvious the string had nothing to do with it.

That said, I have seen two bows damaged by the string.  Both older bows, both with original "Fast Flight" string, both with unpadded loops.  The tips were literally sawn off of both.

I'm no bowyer, but as I understand it there are two big things that make a bow "fast flight capable".  Re-inforced tips (tip overlays made from phenolic, horn, etc.) and the string grooves cut at the proper angle (not at a 90).

I only have a few bows that weren't built for high performance materials...two collectables, and two gifts.  I won't put anything but B-55 on any of them.

Some folks get away with shooting old bows with high performance strings for years with no problems.  Some people hunt from tree stands for years without a safety belt and never fall.  Neither of these is worth the risk to me.

Lots of variables to consider.  Mainly (to me), draw length, arrow weight, and how that bow has been stored/treated over the years.  Someone with a shorter draw and/or shooting heavy arrows will likely get away with it longer than someone with a long draw and/or light arrows.

As noted, pretty much any time a bow fails the first thing that's asked is "what kind of string was on it?", and when it's anything other than Dacron the string gets blamed.  There are a couple of exceptions I've heard, but that's by far the rule.

No doubt in my mind that a well made string from one of the more modern materials would improve shooting characteristics...but there is a risk.  How much of a risk is there?  Nobody knows.

Chad

[Orion]

I dunno.  I've been running D-97 on white and red tip Bear TD limbs made in the late 70s, early 80s.  Of course, I pad the loops.  Have had absolutely no problems with them.  And the benefits are more than minor.  Substantially increased performance and less bow recoil at the shot.

I suppose there's a safety concern with using a low stretch string on old(er) bows, but usually, when a low stretch string ruins limbs, it's a skinny, unpadded string, (and often very small, unreinforced limb tips) and the damage is done to the limb tips.  The limbs themselves don't blow up threatening to whack the shooter in the head, but they may be damaged beyond repair.  

Regardless, in most instances, we're talking old(er) bows of which thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands were made, that cost perhaps $50 to $150 at today's prices. If one ever blows up on me, I figure I'l have gotten my money's worth and just buy another.

The only way you can guarantee a bow won't blow up, regardless of what type of string you have on it, is to not shoot it.

[mj seratt]

Back in 1997, Mr. Bob Lee told me directly, that, in time, fast flight would ruin his bows, and probably anybody else's.  I see that he now uses FF on his bows.  My wife and I will stay with dacron, as we would be too worried doing anything else.  All our bows are older, and mean more than a bit of performance is worth.

Murray

[Sirius Black]

I just received a B55 for my 1969 K-Mag, from Daniel, at Hunter's Choice Bowstrings. Awesome work! (Thanks Daniel if you see this!). Go with a B55 from him, Allen, or Chad. You won't be sorry.

[zepnut]

I also use B-50 on my old bows. To me its just not worth the risk and the deer don't seem to know the difference.

[Shadowhnter]

Im thinking the small amount of gain with a ff string, isn't really a big enough of a difference to mess with. More expensive too....

[stagetek]

I do not use FF on my older bows. But, as needed, I'm replacing B-50 with B-55. Not a big difference, but there is less stretch.

[Yewbender]

B50 for my 68 K Mag and 64 Grizzly.