String silencers....noise and speed tradeoff.

[archer66]

I bought a used Black Widow that came with two pretty much brand new strings already set up for the bow.  The strings have both puff balls AND black widow spider string silencers on each end of the string.  I didn't remove either one but I'm curious now how much effect they are having.  What are your thoughts on having extra string silencers in terms of noise dampening and in terms of how much they might be slowing the bow.  I realize that a fast bow isn't my top priority but I don't want to slow it unneccesarily.

Thoughts?

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[Charlie3]

I have used both on a Black Widow, albiet not together. They both work great and will not cost you more than a FPS or 2, so I wouldn't worry about it.

[Thumper Dunker]

your not going to see the difference.

Apparently, the previous owner thought he needed them. Just take them out of one string and see for your self how much louder it is, and go with whatever you think is best.

Bisch

[archer66]

I missed a 32 yard shot on a BIG antelope in Wyoming on August 15.....by the time my arrow got to where he was he wasn't there anymore...lol.  Obviously he heard my bow and reacted....I wonder....do the hush puppy string silencers designed to wrap on the string where the string contacts the curve of the limbs silence the bow significantly...probably not enough for a high strung antelope but maybe enough for a relaxed whitetail????

[damascusdave]

Originally posted by archer66:
I missed a 32 yard shot on a BIG antelope in Wyoming on August 15.....by the time my arrow got to where he was he wasn't there anymore...lol.  Obviously he heard my bow and reacted....I wonder....do the hush puppy string silencers designed to wrap on the string where the string contacts the curve of the limbs silence the bow significantly...probably not enough for a high strung antelope but maybe enough for a relaxed whitetail????

You have to try that to know...I have bows that they make quite a difference on and bows they make little difference on...I also have bows that are dead quiet without anything on the string...it is all about string composition and brace height for a particular bow...there are no rules when it comes to making a bow quiet

DDave

[archer66]

Thanks all!!!

[9 Shocks]

Also play with the placement.  maybe try a set at the quarters of 56"s...so 14"s from the tips.  And the other set at the thirds...so 18ish inches from the tips.  play with brace height. shoot heavy arrows etc...so things to make a bow quiet.  I shot a widow recurve recently with a rest on it and two sets of silencers and it was pretty quiet.

[Birdbow]

I've found the String leaches at 1/4 down from the top and 1/3 from the bottom  work best for me and have little effect on FPS and are impervious to moisture. Heavy arrows also are very effective.

[redfish]

I think a whitetail can go from "relaxed" to "high strung" in a millisecond.

[archer66]

My arrows weigh 555 grains.....that should be plenty heavy eh??

[9 Shocks]

For sure!

[archer66]

Originally posted by redfish:
I think a whitetail can go from "relaxed" to "high strung" in a millisecond.

Yup!!!  But I've found antelope to be FAR MORE nervous......in fact they act like neurotic turkeys on crack. lol.

[md126]

I always cringe when I see a string with 4 silencers on it...

Well designed and tuned bow with heavy arrows and 1 set placed at 1/4 top and 1/3 bottom is all you need

[Arctic Hunter]

I prefer a tied on set of cat whiskers. You can move them up and down the string to wherever you want them. I've also noticed moving them further down will slow the string and stiffen the arrows considerably. I've found the extra weight from silencers makes a significant difference. Your mileage may vary.

[sticksnstones]

Looks like a longbow limb? If it's a PL I'd say remove the spiders and just run the puffs. Any extra grains of arrow weight will make it even quieter too.

After that start looking at your fletching setup as those are often louder in the air than the bow 20 yards away inside a blind.
My two cents.
Thom

[archer66]

Originally posted by sticksnstones:
Looks like a longbow limb? If it's a PL I'd say remove the spiders and just run the puffs. Any extra grains of arrow weight will make it even quieter too.

After that start looking at your fletching setup as those are often louder in the air than the bow 20 yards away inside a blind.
My two cents.
Thom

The bow is a Black Widow Short Ironwood recurve which is a precursor to their current PSR. specs are:

56"
51 @25.5"
Arrows are Gold Tip 500's (3555) cut to 27.25" with 3 five" feathers, 200 grain point and 100 grain brass insert. Arrows weigh right near 555 grains.  Brace height is 7.5". I shoot three fingers under off the shelf and I use a 0.5" fixed crawl finger placement.

[nineworlds9]

Originally posted by md126:
I always cringe when I see a string with 4 silencers on it...

Well designed and tuned bow with heavy arrows and 1 set placed at 1/4 top and 1/3 bottom is all you need

All depends on the bow md', I certainly agree 4 standard size silencers is overkill but I have had good luck lately on certain bows doing 4 small silencers such as Two Tracks String Scallops or 4 small rubber whiskers, if anything I feel the 4 smaller silencers will slow the string down less than two larger ones.  Fun to play around.