Carbon or Not?

[MrBadExample]

I am in the process of ordering a new bow and just want some opinions from everyone regarding if you would recommend a carbon fiber core lamination or not and why.  Are there any benefits or drawbacks other than the obvious price increase?  I'm relatively new to this and this will be my first "custom" bow so I want to get this right.  I have spoken to the bowyer and trust his opinion, but just want some feedback.

Thanks

[Diamond Paul]

Seems like it makes the bow a bit faster, as it stiffens the limb while lowering weight.  It seems to help longbows more than recurves, not sure why.  Some people claim that it creates a different kind of sound when the bow goes off, and that deer, et al., hear this pitch more intensely than the one created by wood/glass bows, creating a ducking issue when hunting.  I guess it all depends on whether you think 5-10 fps will make a real difference in your ability to hit things.  I personally wouldn't pay a lot more for it if it was an option, but would probably get it if it was a fairly reasonable option.  Good luck on your choice, Paul.

[styckbow]

I had a Tomahawk with a carbon core and didn't see much of a speed increase yet I have shot a Black swan and did see a speed increase but in my opinion it had more to do with limb design than the carbon I tend to agree with Paul on this if it is expensive I wouldn't bother but what you could do is attend some 3-d shoots around your area and see whats out there and shoot as many different bows as you can both with and without carbon and make your decision based on that Good Luck Delin

[bowdude]

Limb design is whether the carbon helps for speed, but it will help durability if you have a long draw on a short bow.  It is more uniform in the draw and stacks less.

[LBR]

From what I can tell if a bow is designed around carbon it will make more of a difference vs. just adding carbon to a bow designed around glass.  

I've only shot one carbon limbed bow that got my attention in a good way, and that was a Turkey Creek--but there's quite a few I haven't shot.  

I have noticed a different pitch in carbon limbed bows, but I think that can be taken care of with proper silencer placement and tuning.

If I were in a situation where I needed to squeek out every fps I could (serious tournament archer, short draw/low poundage, etc.), or if I just had the money to spend, I might opt. for carbon in the limbs, but I don't see it as being a big advantage.  

Chad

[MrBadExample]

Thanks for the input guys, it is much appreciated.  I am not looking for any speed demon, just looking at overall performance.  From what I have been able to gather it seems that if the carbon is on the outside of the limbs (back/belly) then measurable gains will be seen.  In this case I am only referring to a core lamination and most seem to agree it offers minimal benefit (more uniform draw/less stacking).  LBR, how did you guess I was looking at a Turkey Creek!        Again, I am not considering having the limbs done, can't keep my eyes off of some of the veneer woods, I was just considering the core lamination with carbon fiber.