How much do strings really matter?

[Matagorda]

Forgive my ignorance, I only have rifle hunters in my circle of friends.

I just got a new to me bow (mattawoman Kimsha Archery), and it lacked a string.  The maker has passed away, and I had to guess at the correct length. 

As long as they don't break while the bow is strung, what difference do strings make?  How can you evaluate a quality string vs not so good?  Do strings affect accuracy? Do strings effect draw weight? Speed?

What stringmaker's do you recommend?  Is stringmaking a skill worth learning for a new archer?

I'll shut up and listen.  Thanks.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

It's best to just buy a string and get shooting. I know there are sponsors who build strings here.  Pick their brain, they will help you. They will help you determine length. They will also be able to tell if the bow is fast flight compatible.

I do not remember the sponsors names but think Daniel b88 is as 2ell as Alan last name escapes me in my agedness.

Kimsha bows are nice, its unfortunate the bowyer recently passed.

[GCook]

www.hcbstrings.com

[GCook]

And yes they make a difference.   The right length, strand count, material and quality can make the difference in a quiet easier to shoot bow on one end of the scale and on the other end cause catastrophic failure ofbthe bow on the other end of the scale.

[Matagorda]

Gcook do you happen to know what strings are acceptable for Kimsha Archery’s Mattawoman 2 bow?  It is 62 pounds at 26 inches—if that matters. 

[McDave]

I'm trying to learn to keep my mouth shut unless someone asks for my opinion, but a 62 pound bow for someone who doesn't know much about bows yet sounds like a prescription for failure to me.

[Matagorda]

Nah, Ive just upgraded from my Bear Montana 60 lb.  My girlish 25.5 draw length had me pulling about 42-46 pounds and I just can pull more so I wanted a heavier bow.  But I need to get the string right I see. 

[Ryan Rothhaar]

Silent but deadly is a sponsor here and makes graet strings, give him a call and he will help you out and tell you how to measure.

Tom Parsons built your bow. He was a heck of a guy and a great archer. Tom was a personal friend (to many many folks) and he is surely missed. Tom was one of the good guys.

R

[Orion]

Goes without saying that the string needs to be the appropriate length and sufficient strength.  Beyond that, the newer low stretch strings do increase performance and reduce hand shock.  Most are also a bit noisier than dacron.  For me, the biggest advantage of the low stretch string is how much more pleasant they make the bow to shoot. That's why I use them.  Your bow will accommodate low stretch strings.  Your choice.   

[Matagorda]

Thanks for the help fellas

[mahantango]

To answer the other part of your question, yes string making is a valuable skill for anyone interested in archery to learn. Especially if you end up with lots of bows like most of us. It's kinda fun, relatively easy and very rewarding with little initial investment.

[jhg]

Nah, Ive just upgraded from my Bear Montana 60 lb.  My girlish 25.5 draw length had me pulling about 42-46 pounds and I just can pull more so I wanted a heavier bow. 

42-46lbs spread, you can pull more, and adding 2 lbs? Or 2-4lbs?

I would have a string built rated for your draw length and exact pounds at that draw length. Having a string built for weight you will never use is a heavier string than necessary.

 I would stop ball parking weight and find out what your bows are actually delivering at your draw. Its easy to do and really important to know even if in the beginning it does not seem to matter.

[Charlie Lamb]

I didn't know Tom had passed. He was a good man. Any of the string makers here will take good care of you.

 

[Mike Mecredy]

Others might now share the same views on the importance of the bow string, but to me, a quality string can make an average bow shoot better and a low quality string can make an excellent bow shoot poorly.   The string is the part of the bow that does the most movement during the shot, so with that, it's important that it is of low mass.  The new modern string materials, such as D-97, 8125,  Deema, 452X, Mercury, X-99, force 10, (I know all those are BCY, but I'm a fan)  are superior in that not as many strands are required, even for heavier draw weights, such as your 62# bow.  That makes them lower mass, and the bow more pleasant to use. 

A bow string won't effect your draw weight, but putting a better quality string on a bow like a D-97, low thread count string, will give the bow better performance than a thick, heavy, Dacron string (B-55, or B- 50). 

I can't stress enough how learning bow string construction, and getting good at it, will enrich your archery journey.   But if one hasn't the time or patience,  Silent But Deadly, is a company that makes some that are hard to beat.  And check the sponsor list here at tradgang, you can bet if they are sponsors here they won't disappoint.   

[M60gunner]

I have used SBD strings with great success. Presently I am using endless loop strings from Chad at Champion bowstrings on my recurves. I don’t make strings, “every man needs to know his limitations “ , string making is one of mine.

[LookMomNoSights]

SBD

Any old string vs. a GREAT STRING (to me),  is like the difference between a Ford pinto and a Caddy SVT coupe.   It would be worth your money to buy one of each, set them up and shoot them and compare them against each other to feel for yourself what I'm talking about ...............

[GCook]

In 1985 I had a '74 Ford Pinto.  That thing was bullet proof.   I put several thousand miles on it while working multiple jobs while my wife finished college and we couldn't afford better cars.  She drove an old Mustang 2.  Now that was a pos.  The Pinto was an upgrade from the Plymouth Valient.  Some jack wagon T boned me in the Pinto one morning.  Fortunately I wasn't hurt.
That said I didn't buy another Pinto. 

I did just what was suggested.  Bought strings from multiple makes and styles and tried them on one of my favorite bows. 

And I ended up back where I was first sent.  Daniel at Hunters choice bowstrings.

I realize everyone has a favorite and often their choice is based on they stopped looking because what they found was better than what they had.  But cultivating multiple points of supply can prove advantageous when your in a bind for something.   Including a string.

[McDave]

Ah yes, a Ford Pinto, the only car I know of that was named after a bean.  Yes Virginia, size matters (unless, of course, you're talking about bowstrings, where skinny can be better). I'm much happier with my Ford F-250.

[LookMomNoSights]

 
The first time I put a skinny string on a bow,  regardless of center served area,  I had this thing in my head thinking the string was too thin and it couldn’t possibly be good for my bow or worse,  the string was going to break...... kind of dumb of me.  Anyways,  I got over that real fast as I liked the skinny so much more.

[Sam McMichael]

There are very many sources of good information on strings. The bowyer is a good place to start. Whatever he puts on his newly crafted bows is a logical place to start. As previously stated we have a lot of string makers on Trad Gang with experience building strings for just about everything out there. Lastly, we have a lot of experienced archers who have traveled this same road you are on who can share their experiences with you. I am interested to hear what you come up with. Fortunately, strings are priced such that trying more than one may be feasible.