Opinion on Limbsavers

[James Wrenn]

I like them and use them on all recurves.I use them on several longbows as well that I shoot light arrows from.I know they work and feel they protect the bow some with dryfires and when shooting light arrows.Might not see much difference if you shoot arrows as heavy as some on this site do but many of us shoot flatter shooting lighter weight arrows.They look just fine to me and a bow looks a little naked without them.  

[BowHuntingFool]

I'm curious as how these would help with dry firing your bow??

[vermonster13]

They absorb some of the energy that otherwise would just go into the limbs/riser.

[Kingwouldbe]

Originally posted by JC:
[ and look as appealing as the bolts coming out of Frankenstein's neck...

Franky pulls all the chicks.      :p

[jrstegner]

There was an article in the Jun/Jul 2009 Traditional Bowhunter by Paul Fender on which string silencers work best using a decibal meter to record sound. The author also tested for vibration with a piezoelectric transducer.The fact is the test bow was the quietest with the "rubber mushrooms"(limbsavers)and the "rubber slugs"(string leaches)installed. The author also concluded that limbsavers positioned as close as possible to the point of string contact with the limb without coming in contact with the string reduces noise better than placing them at the fadeouts.

[Three Arrows]

That is where I placed them on a recurve limb.  I just kept moving them from the fade out towards the tip until the noise went away.  But they are ugly as hell.  Took them off soon after.

[pebowbender]

For my r/d longbow, placing them at the fades signifantly quiets the bow. I can't imagine putting them at the tips. This would have to rob performance from the limb. But if you will notice....alot of people are making lots of money selling silencing material that robs performance(if you rob performance, the bow gets quieter...think about that....slow string = less noise...big puffy balls that are in no way aerodynamic, slow string=less noise...). I have tested most of the string silencers out there and the leeches are by far the worst for quieting the longbows and recurves I have tried them on. I will agree however that they do not rob performance because they are light weight and more aerodynamic than puffs or whiskers. Yarn puffs, 32 strands, no more than 2 1/4" diameter, between the bundles at 1/4 string length from where the string leaves the limb + limbsavers starting at the fades and moved tward the tips in 1/4" increments til the bow is at it's quietest, then pressed on firmly = the quietest I have ever been able to get a traditional bow! I have found, with this type of set-up, that once you get over 9gr/lb of arrow weight the bow doesn't get any quieter. That is to say that the bow is as quiet at 9gr/lb as it is at 12gr/lb. That is my 2 cents. If you don't believe me....try it for yourself, if it doesn't work, then I'll let you bash me about the head and neck at your favorite mall on Christmas eve.

[Overspined]

I can't imagine taking romance from my longbows with rubber doingies and doohickies and "promised to increase arrow speed" thingimaboppers. Doesn't change where you sent the arrow anyways. To each his own, but that stuff is not for me.

[Mo. Huntin]

Thanks jrstegnor. I read that article and honestly can't quote it but I know it must have said that they work really well or I would definately remember. I did not need that article to tell me they work though because I have seen the difference on several bows. I just don't know how to say it any other way JC I know that most people would notice a difference, I have never shot really heavy arrows so maybe in that case you would not.  I am really carefull to try to be as honest as I can on here and I honestly believe with out a doubt they work.  I hate having to eat my words because if I am wrong I will tell you I was wrong.

[SteveB]

I don't shoot bows for romance - find that elsewhere.

I use them on the limbs because they work for me - and I'll take working ugly over pretty for pretty anyday.

Steve

[str8jct]

I use the 'mushrooms' on one of my bows, but not on another that is exactly the same except for being 2in shorter.  I tried the leeches, they lasted about 50 shoots and fell off, I think the twists in the string cut them into.

[David Mitchell]

They really improved the sound and "feel" of my Hoyt Dorado.

[FrozenFew]

They work fine for me and make a noticable reduction in noise, but they are on my hunting bow, and its not exactly built for looks! they are kindda ugly though. Most recurves would be quiet enough without I would guess, but if it makes the difference on a wounded deer or a dead deer once in my life I would consider it a worthy investment.

[JimE.IV]

I'm not crazy about the looks of them on a traditional bow...But there is no question that they absorb energy.


 

 

[Bill Tell]

I have spent hours tuning, shoot heavy arrows, make my own quiet strings, and I still use the leaches and buttons.  IMHO they make a big difference in the land of quiet.