ILF options are driving me crazy

[oxnam]

I recently purchased a like new Sky 17 TDX ILF bow with basic 60#, medium length limbs from brill16hockey.  I like the bow but I need to get "long" limbs for my draw length and want to increase the weight 65#.  I like how the bow shoots but it "seems" slow.  I know fps is often considered overrated, but for me it is a sign of the bows efficiency.

To be fair, I regularly shoot a 65# Centaur Chimera and a Martin Hunter marked at 65#.  I wouldn't think the 5# difference we seem so significant when shooting the same arrow.  I really should track down a chronograph to get some tangible data.  

From what I have found, I have 3 options in 65# limbs: Sky, Dryad, and Morrison.  I have been leaning toward recurve because of the slight performance improvement.  Do you think that claim is true?

Not having ever tried the high end carbon/foam limbs, I am not real excited about forking over $600 for a set.  For those that have tried them, were they that good?  Any disappointments with them?

If I go with a basic limb at 65#, $300-$350, would the Black Max at 60# match their performance?  Unfortunately the Black Max limbs are only offered up to 60#.

How do the Dryad ACS limbs rank?  I'm not sure what they will cost.

I could end up spending a lot on shipping trying different limbs from different manufacturers so I hope you guys can help me narrow my selection down.

Thanks

[oxnam]

I guess I should have mentioned I am not real interested in the Dryad static tip.

[riverrat 2]

oxnam,YOU PULL SOME SERIOUS WEIGHT!! ouch,my shoulder hurts just reading it! I have shot
and currently own a set of Morrison carbon foam
longbow limbs. I also have a set of Dryad static
carbon weave/bamboo core recurve long limbs,and
a set of Sky maple core long recurve limbs. I
have owned a set of the Tradtech blackmax limbs
also. In my opinion...The Tradtechs were the most
affordable and shot 175fps at 47# with a .500
and .125 up frt. The Morrisons are soooo smooth.
They are just as fast at 46#. The Sky's are a good limb and probably will be able to match that
poundage you seek. And I know you stated that the
static tips did not appeal to you,but I'll tell
ya' mine shoot SCREAMING fast!! no arrow drop at
25 yards with a .400 and .145 tip. They shoot
where I look.. The Skys,and Dryads both run
$400-500 on build. The Morrisons a couple $$ more.

[oxnam]

Thanks riverrat 2 for your feedback.  I wish it was easier to try them all back to back.  One thing nice about buying used bows is that if you don't like them, it is usually easy to sell them and get your money back.  That won't be the case with new limbs.  

I had understood that the static tips in general were tempermental, have you found that to be the case with Dryads?

[L. E. Carroll]

Sent you a PM with results on a set of limbs you may not have considered.. Those being a set of Hoyt G3 'longs'..... IMO, a "Best Buy' if you can find a set.    

Gene

[riverrat 2]

oxnam,they shoot great. The bow feels like it may
have a bit more "thud" through the riser when it
is shot. But it does not feel like hand shock if
that makes sense. they really drill those arrows
into my 3-d targets.

[oxnam]

Thanks for the PM Gene.  On Sky Archery's ILF limb page it says, "Built on the Master - Earl Hoyt JR - Presses."  Do you think they are building that same Hoyt G3 limb?

[LongStick64]

Tradtech Carbon/Wood limbs are your best buy, 1 for the money, 2 they perform as well as everyone else's so why pay more. Only if you are into fancy veneers or skins would I choose anything else. As far as all around, I'm sticking with TT.

BUT I am itching to see if Bill Dunn comes out with his ILF limbs, could be nasty perfect, but then again I think everything he makes is the best.

[Wannabe1]

I have a set of TT Black Max recurve limbs on my Hoyt and they are pretty darn fast if you ask me. Now, with that being said, I have a set of longbow limbs on order from Sky Archery and Jim Belcher is a great guy to deal with and answered all my questions and with great suggestions. I ordered them right then and there! I'll let you know what I think of them when they arrive.  

[oxnam]

Wannabe1 - Which limb did you choose?

So does anyone know if Sky Archery is making the same limb as the old Hoyt G3?

[Shawn Leonard]

oxnam, the sky limbs are smokers, they don't stack and you may get away with mediums unless you draw over 31"s. That said, I just recieved a set of Sebastien Flute carbon/foam that I really like as much if not more than the Sky/belchers and the price was pretty good!! I paid $255 and they came from across the pond thru parcel force global shipping. These limbs are buttery smooth and very quick, have not got to shoot side by side with the sky limbs but they seem as fast and as I said they are silky smooth and I have drawn them to 31"s. They are mediums and make a 58" bow on my 15" Belcher riser. I have not shot them on that riser yet but plan on doing a lot of that tomorrow. Also do not shy away fromthe Dryad with static tips absolutely an awesome limb as far as speed, stability and smoothness they rank with the best. I wish they would make some with foam, but that is just me. For some reason I love the feel of the glass/foam or carbon/foam limbs. Also SB Flutes come in a glass/foam and you can get a new set for under $150 and they are also very quick and smooth limbs.  I just got into the ILF thing myself but as you said it can drive ya nuts, lots of good and bad out there but it is all fun. Sorry for the long post but this stuff has me excited! Have Fun!! Shawn

[jdemoya]

Oxnam, do not forget that the TT Black Max limbs are rated at minimum preload. The 60# limbs should be about 65-66# with the bolts all the way down. That said, I love my Dryad Epic LB limbs, smooth and fast.

God bless,

José

[Shawn Leonard]

oxnam, what is your basic set of limbs by the way? Shawn

[oxnam]

I have the Sky XGM Mediums 60#.  It is their glass with maple core limb.  

Thanks Jose, I didn't know that the TT Black Max was the minimum weight.  Those probably would work fine.  I'll have to give that some thought.

I plan on getting a set of heavy limbs later which is another reason I have been considering the three companies I mentioned.  All three bowyers have said they can go significantly heavier.

[Blacky]

Oxnam,

Jim Belcher bought the presses, that Earl Hoyt used to make Sky limbs. The G3 were made by Hoyt USA quite a while after Earl sold them his old business, so he never made the G3 and the presses that Jim uses never pressed a G3 limb.

Blacky

[oxnam]

Thanks Blacky for the clarification.  Blacky you have tested a bunch of bows, have you seen that the high end limbs are significantly and consistently better performers?

Shawn, I went through every limb on their site and the highest weight I saw was 50#.  Are they available in higher weights?

On that same site, I came across this warning and wonder much of a concern it should be:
"Mix and Match Warning

The basic principle of International fitting limbs and risers is for all items, regardless of manufacturer, to be interchangeable. However, due to the re-design of certain manufacturers products this is no longer the case.

A particular case in point is the current range of Hoyt risers where the pivot point has now been moved back in line with the dovetail location. This pivot point on most other bows is on the leading edge of the pocket. This has resulted in some cases of poor fitting and non-alignment of limbs and in extreme cases even breakage due to the increased strain on the limbs.

All manufacturers will make their limbs and risers to specifically suit their own brand. Whilst most limbs and risers from all manufacturers will fit together, there are subtle differences in tolerances and the way they locate. Some use the end of the limb pocket as the pivot whilst other use the Dovetail location. Some rate their limbs at lowest limb adjustment, some for mid position. These are just two examples.

On this basis you can still "mix and match" limbs and risers from different manufacturers, but we are advising caution."

[Stone Knife]

You can't beat foam core limbs, I have a set of TT BF extremes, they smoke an arrow and are only 46#

[artifaker1]

My Morrison foam cores hold up to there reputation when compared to other limbs that I have, using a chrono and carefully measuring draw weight and the actual weight the bow is shot at etc. The long bow limbs are 5 fps than my non-ILF speed bows and the recurves seem to be even faster although I haven't checked that with a chrono (shooting a heavier spined arrow with the same riser and bow weight). I do all my checking at 12 to 13 grains per pound. And they gap at about 60 yards at that GPP. A lot of bows won't even touch that.
I haven't been able to try any of the other ILF brands yet, though. I did help a guy tune his new Trad Tech limb sets. They weren't working too well and I showed him how to tiller them and they shot way better. They were carbon wood I believe and shot pretty well. Even Tiller.

[Mudd]

I had a couple of ILF bows and what I found is that if there was any way at all to make adjustments I did it.

In fact I couldn't leave them alone and my shooting suffered terribly because of it.

There wasn't anything wrong with the bows but the shooter could've been smarter...lol

God bless,Mudd

[Shawn Leonard]

I too have been playing with my two ilf risers, one warf and one Blecher. My shooting has gotten better and what I like is I can tune the bow to the arrow in a lot of cases. Oxnam I sent ya a response. Lots of fun these ILF thingies! Shawn