ILF system newb

[RedShaft]

I have heard of the ilf system. But know nothing of it. There are some nice looking risers I see for these.
And what from I have seen so far there are multiple people making limbs for these ilf risers.
Where can I find out more about how this system works?
I seen you actually adjust poundage up and down to a small degree.
Some of the setups I have seen look really sharp. Especially those Olympic style looking ones. I seen carbon limbs and all kinds of neat stuff.

Many here that use this system?
I would assume shorter riser mean ability to have longer limbs and still stay within a reasonable length.
Those of you have these setup. How do you like them?

[The Whittler]

RedShaft, I sent you a PM.

[ron w]

ILF set ups offer you all kinds of options, riser length, limb length, overall bow length. Then there are the limbs, light for practice, heavier for hunting, glass/wood, glass/bamboo, Carbon/foam and any combo of all of them. If you can't find a combo that works for you, you never will. It just may take some time and few dollars.

[McDave]

I recently got my first ILF bow after many years of shooting non-ILF bows. The limbs just snap on and off, and as you say, are interchangeable. But then so are any takedown bow limbs, although unlike ILF, you are generally limited to the company that made them. The big advantages are adjustable poundage and tiller. No more worries about being a little too light or heavy, or whether the tiller will be right for 3 under or split. Although I've only been shooting ILF for a short while, I see no disadvantages to it other than the bow you want may not come with it. Many trad bow companies already offer long, medium, and short risers to accommodate different tastes.  ILF is not going to transform a bow you don't want to a bow you want, but it does offer you the opportunity to make some fine-tuning adjustments to a bow you are otherwise happy with.

[RedShaft]

I'm actually tossing around the idea of diving into this.
Are the hoyt "traditional" bows ILF?

[McDave]

Yes, the one I just bought, the Satori, is ILF. Hoyt's Olympic recurves are ILF also, I believe, but I don't think Hoyt's hunting type recurves other than the Satori are ILF.  Some may doubt that the Satori is traditional, but it does have "Traditional" in big letters on the limbs, so that should answer that question!    

[longbow fanatic 1]

I have two ILF bows. One is an Olympic style barebow. The riser is made in italy. It's called the 25" Gillo G1 and my limbs are Win & Win RCX100's, which makes a 68" bow. It's a great bow and is my 3-d rig.

I also have an ILF hunting bow. It's a 19" Trad Tech Titan II riser with BlackMax 2.0 glass/wood/carbon limbs, which makes a 60" AMO bow.

I really like the adjustability/tune-ability of the ILF bows. If you're interested in looking into them more, Lancaster Archery Supply has a wide range of ILF risers and limbs. John Wert is a great resource of information.

[no]

I have the Titan 3919in riser) & its 62in with med black max limbs, I shoot it way better than anything else right now.  Mike

[RedShaft]

I seen guys was using a Hoyt excel riser. Very sharp looking btw and is a good price to get started. Like $200 brand new.  

The more I look into it the more I'm interested. Swapping limbs out or risers makes it really nice. I have been debating on selling my widow pchx. I'm temped now.

Generally who I making the nicest limbs for these? I would be using this for hunting and 3-d/target both.

I like that you can use a rest. Makes tuning much more efficient and easier. Let a guy have more choices in arrow selection.

[M60gunner]

I have the Excel riser with TT limbs. It is 64" long. I have it setup with an elevated test. Easy to tune and it will accommodate heavy spined shafts for the draw weight because it cut past center so much. I had a BCY X string made for it. It's plenty quiet for hunting.

[Yooper-traveler]

******** limbs are great limbs for the money.  Lancaster archery.

[old_goat2]

Originally posted by McDave:
I recently got my first ILF bow after many years of shooting non-ILF bows. The limbs just snap on and off, and as you say, are interchangeable. But then so are any takedown bow limbs, although unlike ILF, you are generally limited to the company that made them. The big advantages are adjustable poundage and tiller. No more worries about being a little too light or heavy, or whether the tiller will be right for 3 under or split. Although I've only been shooting ILF for a short while, I see no disadvantages to it other than the bow you want may not come with it. Many trad bow companies already offer long, medium, and short risers to accommodate different tastes.  ILF is not going to transform a bow you don't want to a bow you want, but it does offer you the opportunity to make some fine-tuning adjustments to a bow you are otherwise happy with.

This sums up ILF quite well! The other advantage to ILF is in the numbers! If you have three risers and there sets of limbs with regular bows you only have three bows, with ILF, you have nine bows! That really ups your Internet Forum credibility  

[ron w]

I just put a set of TT longbow limbs on one of my 17" Zipper ILF risers......just because. Went out and shot a few arrows, carbons, woods, and some cedars. I was really pleased with the results....may need to mess with this a bit more. Why.......because it's fun.

[Scot C]

I have a 13" Skyfire riser and Sky Archery medium limbs that make a 56" bow. I really like the ILF system. I have made several takedown recurves over the years and have some high quality custom bows. I really like the ILF system. I love my Skyfire bow and wish Hoyt made a shorter riser than 17" to allow a longer working limb.

[Matt Parker]

I have never shot a ILF but thinking about getting a Satori for more tuning options. How much can you adjust the draw weight? Say if you get 45# limbs, will they be 45# maxed out or will they adjust up and down from the 45 pounds?

Originally posted by Matt Parker:
I have never shot a ILF but thinking about getting a Satori for more tuning options. How much can you adjust the draw weight? Say if you get 45# limbs, will they be 45# maxed out or will they adjust up and down from the 45 pounds?

Generally, limbs weights are measured at mid-range of their adjustment. That adjustment is usually 10%.  So... if you have 45# limbs, you can usually adjust the weight from 42.75# to 47.25#.  

Note the words, generally and usually.  All risers are not the same so things can be a bit different.

Some limbs are weighted on 17" risers; some on 19" risers; some on 21" risers and most on 25" risers.  Limbs will generally lose or gain 1# per inch of riser length.

[Matt Parker]

Thanks for the clarification Jim.