Bamboo, Carbon, Foam????

[Emilio]

Hi all,

I´m thinking on buying a new bow, and I would like to ear you about these limb materials. The truth is that I am actually thinking on buying a new bow and I´ divided between a new PSAV with bamboo limbs or a Morrison Cheyenne B handle and C limbs (don´t know yet which limb composition). I really would like to ear you about these materials. Maybe foam is more smooth?, maybe carbon is faster?, is bamboo a mixture of both???, I don´t know.....

Thanks!!!

[Charlie Lamb]

Emilio,

I'd rule out carbon first! In my experience it tend to make the bow noisier...there may be other opinions, but that's mine.

I hear a lot of good things about the foam core bows. Haven't run into anyone yet who doesn't like them.... that's not written in stone either.

I like bamboo, but think the benefits are minimal.

All boils down to personal preference and you'd probably be as well off tossing a coin... between bamboo and foam.

[vermonster13]

Depends on the carbon used. Carbon back with foam cores make for very fast, stable and quiet bows when done right and there are several bowyers here that do them right. Best thing is to try to get your hands on every bow you can and try them. Carbon has come a long ways the last few years.

[Steel]

I have Three Morrison's two Cheyenne's, a mini 14" ILF and a Widow PSA-X. First I will start with the Morrison Cheyenne which I had bamboo limbs ordered a new set of carbon/foam core this summer. The Cheyenne Recurve carbon/foam core limbs are faster and quieter than my old bamboo limbs. I have owned alot of bows the Cheyenne carbon/foam core recurve is my favorite bow right now fast,quiet,and easy to hit the target with. I also have carbon/foam core longbow limbs on my ILF they are not as fast as my Cheyenne Recurve but are even a touch quieter and shoot really good. The PSA-X I have is a very nice bow also one of the nicer bows I have owned. The fit and finish is top notch it's not as quiet or fast as my Morrisons I would say it's average FPS/Noise wise from bows I have owned. Still with that said the PSA-X shoots so well I feel like I am cheating sometimes a very stable bow and smooth drawing. I think there are many nice bows being made right now by several builders its mainly just picking the one that best suits your taste and style of shooting.I like short bows so the Morrisons,Shrews,Centaurs,Black Widow PSA I own are all 54" to 58" bows.

[amar911]

I agree with Cody (Steel) on what he says about Morrisons and Shrews. I would absolutely get the foam/carbon limbs for the Morrison. I have the first foam core Shrew ever made, and it is fantastic. Unfortunately, I have been waiting on a foam/carbon Shrew for more than a year (I changed my order from the bamboo core bows that I ordered in July 2008 as soon as I got my foam core Shrew at the end of last year). Fortunately, my wait is almost over, and Ron LaClair should be sending the first of my two new Shrews this way in the next few days! I expect from what I have heard from others who have already received their foam/carbon Shrews that they are wonderful. I will post when I get a chance to shoot mine. David Knipes tells me that the Black Swans with foam cores and carbon backing are the best shooting bows he has ever tried. And if David says something, you can take it to the bank!

I know there has been trouble with carbon limbs, and it sounds like Charlie has experienced it, but you will enjoy the foam/carbon bows from Morrison, Shrew and Black Swan, and probably a number of other bowyers. Some exceptional bowyers won't use either material in their bows and they have their reasons. I still buy bamboo core bows without carbon backing from some of those bowyers and don't feel like I am giving up anything because their bows are not designed to shoot with those materials but use the more conventional materials to their best advantage. An example would be something like the new Brackenbury Peerless.

Allan

[Emilio]

Thanks for your replies.

I actually own a BW PSAII 60 54@29 and I love it. I am planning to order the new bow 60 60@29. Unfortunately I live in Spain and there are no Morrisons here yet, so I can´t prove them.....

Onestly I feel the BW Asbel grip right for me, but you all speak so well about Morrison that I am considering to give them a try.

Thanks again....

[snag]

I think the benefits of "more speed" (sounds like we are developing the compound syndrome) is marginal when going to carbon. I believe the carbon thing started so bowyers could make their limbs narrower without sacrificing lateral stability. I'm very happy with bamboo core limbs.

[Ceb]

Good old fashioned maple or elm works for me just fine.

[BowZen]

I have two Morrison Bows, with one on order, should be getting it today!!   For me, the foam and carbon combination draws smooth and fast. You can quite the bow by silencers, although I shoot mine without.  I have a Shawnee 14" riser with 49# D longbow limb , thats as fast as some of my 54# bamboo bows.

karim

[soopernate]

I have to disagree with many of you...

1. My carbon backed and bellied bow is WAY quieter than my selfbows or my glass recurves. EVEN without silencers of any type.

2. I have talked to a guy who built limbs with bamboo and foam and the performance difference is negligible.  Cost is more for foam but maple, bamboo and foam cored limb speeds were all within one or two FPS of eachother

I know that the foam is cost prohibitive for many hobby bowyers and the one professional bowyer I talk with seems to be on the fence about cost vs usefullness saying that the only thing he can really see foam has over wood is its consistency (not having to deal with twisty grain etc). As a hobby bowyer I will stick with actionboo, maple, walnut and cedar laminations.

[joevan125]

I own several high end bows and my Morrison ILF with carbon and foam is by far my favorite bow. I cant get over how quite and smooth it is with my 30in draw.