Antler tips, more vulnerable?

[Flying Dutchman]

I am thinking about antler tips for my new bow. I can remember I read somewhere that they are more vulnerable then normal tips(wood/fibre glass).
Especially when you are shooting skinny strings and low-weight arrows (8,5 to 9 GPI). You would have the risk that the antler tips come loose after some time. True or nonsense?

[cacciatore]

I never had a issue in 15 years of use with FF.I don't know with the skinnies.

[JRY309]

I have had bows with antler tips and haven't had any problems with them,FF type strings included.Most skinny strings have padded loops.

[billy shipp]

I've shot several bows with antler tips without any problems.

When Bob Thompson owned Zipper bows, he was very much against doing it. I never pressed the issue, so I always forgot about antler tips when buying a bow from Bob.

[Whip]

I have one bow with antler tips and have not had an issue.  But I have run into a couple of problems with them on customers bows, and I know that a couple of bowyers have expressed reservations about them.  

I like pretty bows as well as anyone, and antler tips sure do dress them up.  But I guess if it comes down to form versus function I would lean toward function and stick with a tip material with fewer questions around it.

[elkhunter752]

I have 2 bows with antler tips, both ff, and one with a skinny string and haven't had any problems.

[stickbowmaniac]

I have had 2 bows with antler tips with zero problems.Both ff

[Bjorn]

Dave Windauer recommended Moose antler for FF string. Said it glues the best and I trust his judgement.

[Tatersalad]

Moose is what Tim at Acadian Woods uses...must be for the same reason.

Michael

[Flying Dutchman]

And moose is what Abe from Cari-bow uses, must be for the same reasons   ))

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I prefer Jackalope!

My tips both started to separate.  The Bowyer said he has only had 3 ever come off (2 were on mine) I think he makes most of his bows with the antler tips.

That being said my bow was owned by 4 previous people before me so who knows what may have happened along the line.  Haven't had a chance to have a problem since.

If you really want them, ask the bowyer his advice!  Even if they dont admit it, they will see problems over time and will improve their bows accordingly.  Pick someone who has been at it a while and stands behind their work.

Good Luck      

[SL]

Every bow I have had with antler tips had a tip come off at one time or another. I shoot everyday and for some reason my luck with antler tips is bad.
I should add these were on some highly regarded bows. All were addressed promply, Im just glad the problem was in the off season. I'll stick with regular tips from now on.
SL

[GREATBROWNKNOCKEMDOWN]

My BIG RIVER has elk antler john said they are more porous so they hold glue better must be the same with moose antler and he also says to always use a stringer "dont beat the crap out of it like some guys do"

[myshootinstinks]

I've had antler tips on several bows and black horn tips on one.  Never any problems.  I've heard the buffalo horn material is really tough-stuff.

[SL]

I never had a problem with horn, just antler.
SL

[Curveman]

I had antler tips shear off twice. Jeff "Tippit" Springer fixed them for me (thanks again Jeff!). No problems since. I'd opt for carbon etc. in the future.

[Jock Whisky]

Antler tips (moose) on my longbow have both come off at least twice over 16 years and had to be re glued. Last Sunday I had an arrow nock break as I released the string. The bow dryfired and the string split the limb. I will say that the antler tips were not very wide at the string nock. They look very artistic etc. but I will not have them again.

JW

[KentuckyTJ]

Yep as Bjorn says, Big Jim also told me moose antler was the hardest and easiest to work with.

[smoke1953]

I had one fall off and one break at the point of contact with string. Also I saw a little problem with the push/pull method of stringing where the string would catch at the fade out. One bowyer had told me it's very difficult to thin out the antler enough to get that perfect transition and he uses fiberglass now. I had mine changed to wood.

[LimbLover]

My Bocote Bama Hunter has horn and I haven't noticed any problems. I do feel like it could be chipped. Nathanael told me that I could send it back and have it replaced with phenolic whenever I wanted and I probably will take him up on that in the future.

I shoot a 14-strand dacron though - not FF.

A friend of mine uses FF on his Ancient Spirits and that has horn inlay. He's been shooting FF on it for a few years without problems and he doesn't use tip protectors either.