Fast flight on a modern grizzly?

[savagelh]

So I just got a new to me grizzly. I believe it is a 2013 model as it says bg-13. I'm not a fan of the factory string and want to order a replacement. Do I go fast flight or stay away? I like ff for the no stretch aspect but speed also helps. Quiet is my number one consideration. Please help me out.

[meatCKR]

Get a good quality B50 string from stilldub.  You can find him on the big auction site.

[DanielB89]

I know several people who shoot FF strings on bows that say they aren't FF compatible and have for years.  

If I were you, I would get a FF string, but that is MY OPINION.  Take it for just that.

[Orion]

I put fast flite (D-97) on all my bows, modern as well as classic, padded loops, of course.  More speed, less hand shock and usually as quiet.

[Yewbender]

I have B50 on my 68 Kmag and 64 Grizzley. I dont shoot ff because i almost always shoot my ASL's. If i did shoot ff on the oldies i would have the loops padded for extra insurence. Some guys do and others don't, its up to you and is it worth it.

[ron w]

On a newer model they come with some sort of FF, your good to go if you wand to use newer string material. I still might pad the loops but that's just me.

[LBR]

If it's made to accept high performance materials, I would definitely pick one.  Dynaflight '97 is a great choice, my personal favorite is BCY-X.

A well made (and properly tuned) string will be quiet.  The big benefit (to me) of the high performance materials is stability, consistency, and durability.

[sticks&stringz]

the bear grizzly is one of only two bows in their lineup that is not fast flight compatible.you run the risk of snapping the limb tips, it also voids any pending warranty with the bow.

[savagelh]

OK another question. How does ff affect spine? If I have one bow that shows borderline stiff with b55 will fast flight add enough fps to straighten things out?

[Captain*Kirk]

Per the new Grizzly spec page:

    *Crowned, cut-on center arrow shelf with Bear Hair Rest and leather side plate
      *Dacron Flemish string  
    *58" AMO length
    *FutureWood

Here is a link to the web page:
 http://www.beararchery.com/bows/traditional/grizzly

So, no...use Dacron, not Fast Flight.

[Pine]

Just my 2¢ worth , but I like the way my Super Grizz shoots with B55 . Seems much smoother to me than the FF that came with it .

[LBR]

Not rated for HMPE materials, I'd go with B-55.

[damascusdave]

The question of how ff affects spine is way too generic to answer

DDave

[stagetek]

I've started replacing my old B-50 strings with B-55 on bows that I don't shoot FF on. It's still Dacron, but a different feel.

[59Alaskan]

I have seen dozens of similar threads to this one on various sites.  Here's my observation/personal deduction (i.e. - opinion, so it is what it is)

1.  The position of Captain Kirk, sticks&stringz, and LBR is 100% logical.  It makes perfect sense, and I am guessing you would void the warranty on that bow if you went FF.

2.  The position of Orion and DanielB89 has quite a bit of data behind it.  Across all the similar threads I have seen, there are dozens of guys who shoot padded loop FF strings on classic or other non-FF rated bows and have for many years.  I know guys who do all the time, as long as the tips are NOT micarta.  All with no issue.

I have not read/heard of a bow failure that could be attributed to using FF on a non-FF bow yet.  It's logical that it could, and it very well may have, but I have not heard of one.

So....I am going to try a 1972 Kodiak Hunter with FF this summer and I intend to hunt it if it performs well.  I will be ordering the string today.

I have never been dissatisfied with B-50.  I am just trying it to try it.

You can play with Stu's calculator and change nothing but string material and see what impact that has.  I find his calculator to be directionally correct.

[damascusdave]

The problem with the calculator is that it also is too generic when it comes to string material...there is little correlation between spine required by D97 and the new fibres like BCY-X or Fury

DDave

[damascusdave]

Bear does not really say what strings the Grizzly is rated for, only that they include a Dacron string...seems to me the Super Grizzly, which comes with a D97 string, has the same limb construction as a Grizzly...Bear may just do things the way they do to increase their profit margin slightly

DDave

[59Alaskan]

Dave,
I understand now what you meant by generic.  Your opinion is the concept of "FF" is too generic to properly answer the question.  I didn't understand that at first.  I don't disagree.

[Captain*Kirk]

Originally posted by ceme24:

So....I am going to try a 1972 Kodiak Hunter with FF this summer and I intend to hunt it if it performs well.  I will be ordering the string today.

You could be correct.
However...personally, I'm not going to risk destroying any of my vintage Bears for a few measly FPS. I shoot a FF on my Sage and find it to be more harsh and less forgiving than a B50 Flemish twist and call me crazy, but it hurts my fingers more (I use a deep hook).
I mean, it's your bow; use your best judgment and make your own decision, but personally I wouldn't do it.

[LBR]

How the string is built can make as much or more difference in feel and performance as the material used.  

A really lousy string can be made from any material, or a pretty good one can be made from most any material.

I have seen a couple of bows damaged by the string.  "Fast Flight" brand material, skinny strings with unpadded loops on old bows.  Literally sawed the tips off.

The problem as I see it on a lot of old bows is the string groove is cut into the limbs at the wrong angle.  Don't know about the Bear in question.

As far as using high performance materials on bows not rated for it...it's a crap shoot.

The string may or may not damage the bow.  I've never seen or even heard of any type of controlled test to prove or disprove it.

What I have seen is lots more bows "blow up" with a polyester (Dacron) string than I have with anything else, even a new one here and there.  I have a high dollar custom hanging in my shop that delaminated the first time it was pulled to 28"--never even shot (bowyer wouldn't warranty it).

That being said...99.99999% of the time, when a bow fails, the first thing anyone asks is "what kind of string did it have on it?".  If it has ANYTHING other than polyester (Dacron), the string gets blamed.  

If there's a warranty and it doesn't cover HMPE materials, guess what?  Saying "those guys on the message board said it would be ok" won't get you a new bow, regardless if it was the string's fault or not.

The easy solution, for me anyway, is I only buy bows that are rated for any type string material.  Problem solved.