Why such interest in 'ILF' limbs???

[jarhead_hunter]

The ILF limbs seem to have some kind of perceived advantage over 'regular' limbs.

Why is this so???

Charles.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

You can switch limbs and riser to make different set-ups.

[jarhead_hunter]

OK.

I can do that already with my Bear Take Down bows. Or with my Hoyt Gamemaster....

I don't understand why ILF limbs are perceived to be an improvement over regular limbs.

Maybe you can explain why ILF's are better???

Charles.

[wingnut]

Charles,

ILF stand for international limb fitting.  Using this system you can mix and match limbs and risers from different bowyers.  

Your Gamemaster can use the same limbs with a different fitting so you have some experience.  The advantage is being able to use the system and the flexibility it provides for tuning.

With a regular bolt up limb setup you are fixed with that bowyer.  Now if that's us . .then it's ok. . .LOL

Mike

[Fletcher]

The ILF's go well beyond a regular take-down system.  ILF's are a standardized system.  Limbs and risers from different mfg's can be interchanged.  There is also some adjustment to the system so you can set tiller and change draw weight a bit.  Most of the limbs also use the latest materials and designs.

Nope, I don't have one.

[jarhead_hunter]

Are there ILF limbs of different construction, such as carbon/fiber, that are perceived to be better or shoot faster, smoother, etc???

Charles.

[s_mcflurry]

ILF is just a standard in limb connections.  Bear, from what I understand, is close to ILF but isn't (correct me if I'm wrong) and means that you're limited to what Bear offers.  On the other hand, you can interchange between brands that conform to ILF giving you more options.  Performance is not guaranteed to be better...you just get to choose from more stuff.

[Bill Carlsen]

jarhead....When Bob Gordon designed the Warf bow and David Soza improved the design  by designing a hunting riser that would accept these limbs they were the best recurve limbs in the world. Olympic/FITA bow manufacturers have put tons of money into designing and R&R on how to get the best, most accurate shooting limbs  for international competition. Although the term actually refers to the way the limb is attached to the bow, the Korean, Chinese and Japanese companies that produce those limbs were considered to be the best in the world...both in terms of the shooting characteristics as well as materials (i.e., carbon/foam limbs were designed by Asian bowyers). At that time, 5 or 6 years ago, the only US company making that type of limb was Hoyt and they were reluctant to use their ILF limbs on a hunting bow (they have a new model coming out in Oct.). Many US bowyers, Bob Morrison, being one of the first, collaborated with Dave Soza and he soon had a wood ILF riser and soon afterwards started making ILF limbs. Now there are a number of US bowyers making ILF compatable limbs and risers. However, it is simple to make a limb that has ILF fittings. It remains to be seen if the US bowyers limbs can live up to the performance level of the Asian bowyers. So, just because a limb has an ILF fitting does not mean it has ILF performance...that is, compared to the limbs used by international ILF shooters, most of which come from Asia, primarily Korea and Japan where FITA competition is very popular and competitive. One exception would be Border Archery in Scotland.

For me, I am pleased to see US mfgrs. getting on the band wagon. In general it simply raises the bar on bow performance and the new technology is already beginning to show its benefits.

I hope I have answered your question. ILF limbs, when ILF hunting bows first came on the scene, were the best performing limbs in the world.

In addition, which is a whole different conversation, ILF limbs are very tunable, interchangeable and come in "beginner" and high end models. You can do a lot with one ILF riser and a bunch of ILF limbs.

[jarhead_hunter]

Gentlemen:

Thank you for the education and information.

Special thanks to Bill Carlsen.

Charles.

[LongStick64]

For me it's not about one pair of limbs or riser, the fact that I can mix and match numerous limbs, longbow or recurve on several risers with different grips and tiller settings, and I can create a setup that fits my goal. And the best part is you can use limbs and riser from different manufacturers to really get yourself a true custom bow.

[vtmtnman]

I think also they are one of the most handshock free setups in the trad world.I haven't shot much of what's out there but what I have shot (7-8 setups?) had the least amount of handshock than any other trad bow I've ever shot.That is a huge plus in my book.

[koger]

Jar Head, what Bill said about the R&D is true.  have a set of Samick/TradTech Black Max Carbons, made in Korea that are quality wise, smoothness, speed, and all around performance, right up there with limbs costing between $400-$600, best buy in the business I have found, and they cost $220, in 3 different lengths. The Tradtech Titan riser aint no slouch either, as good as any ILF riser could be for hunting.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Are the bows quiet?  Most of the FITA bows I have heard shot sound like a 30-06 going off.

[Shawn Rackley]

yeah most arent so quite.    however i will say i purchased some hybrid ilf limbs from dyrad. i am very happy with the speed and performance on these limbs. its my lightest bow 38#@30" and smokes a rocket a 188fps. i put the limbs on a W&W 25" riser makes for a 68" bow. i shoot this bow better than any other bow i have. even if i dont wanna admit it    another great thing about my dryad limbs, they dont have all that expensive stuff in them and there still fast. i dont really care about speed. i normaly shoot hill style bows. just saying i couldnt beleave at the poundage how fast they are.

[Bill Carlsen]

If any of you know Joel Riotto I was shooting with him last year at the Muzzy stump shoot. Joel has been around the block a dozen times and is very active in P&Y and Comptons and PBA. He asked me about my bow. I asked him what piqued his curiosity and he said it was the fact that my recurve was the quietest recurve he had ever "heard". Yes, because they are so tuneable you can get them whisper quiet. Just have to find all the sweet spots....as you would on any bow.

[Davt]

Good question. I really like a custom bow that has the hand of the bowyer in it. The ILF system seems to be moving away from the direction I am taking, less technology. But that's me and I am starting to shoot my selfbows again more and more.

[jarhead_hunter]

Koger -

Do you have any contact info, literature references or web/internet links to the Samick/Trad tech limbs???

Thanks.

Charles.

[koger]

Charles sent you a pm, pm me back for more info if I can help buddy, fooled around with a lot of ILF. And as to you other guys questions about quiet, with two small bundles of wool yarn in my Titan/B Max limbs, 10gpp weight arrows, There is no bow sound, period. I can hear the swish of air of the feathers, and the shaft sliding back, and forward when I release, that is it! I use a D-97, flemish I make myself, 14 strand.It does have a set of limbsavers at the fadeouts. A lot of ILF target shooters dont worry about sound, just performance. I do, since hunting is my #1 priority, and my target suffers if I make a bad shot.

[Margly]

This was a very educational thread with lots of good info!
Thanks    

Margly

[bucksdown]

to each his own. i turly don't want to start any kind of debate.         i perfere the bows that are made with the personal touch. as far as quietness goes it's how a bows tuned, string siliencers, arrow wieght,ect. As for as how a bow shoots,(in my opinion) it's the person behind the bow and how much time they are willing to spend praticing. as for asian, korean,etc. that is a sore spot, i'm a retired auto worker and have had two plants shut down under me. they do make good prouducts i will addmitt, but how many jobs will we lose because we want to save a dollar. i choose to buy american bows, made by my americn brothers.