Best string for Hill bow

[Chain2]

I am going to get a new string for my Hill Wesley Special, It is 70" long and is #50 @ 30". What string is best ? Thank you

[BowHunterGA]

I posed this same question to Craig Elkin when I got my Crocodile. His response was something to the effect of: "You can use FastFlight but it will shorten the life of the bow".

I bought both a B-50 and a FastFlight string and I use the fastflight. I am shooting a 780 grain arrow and based on how the bow feels when shot I do not think the FF string will have any effect on life. This might be different if I was shooting a lighter arrow, don't know. For the cost of a string I would recommend buying one of each and see which you like best, then buy a spare of that type. Oliverstacy is a sponsor here and makes FANTASTIC strings at a reasonable price. Contact him and I am sure he can set you up with what you need.

Regards,

[LBR]

My personal choice would be 12 strands of 8125 or Dynaflight '97.

Chad

[Rob DiStefano]

there is no such thing as a generalized "best string" for any bow.  ditto for arrows, or most anything else.  there is only what works well, or "best", for .... you, and not anyone else.

the fear of any bowyer is that the hmpe bowstring will not be built properly, padded in the loops, and that can easily be a problem for both bow and shooter. so, there is no reason to fear using hmpe bowstrings (ff, df'97, d10, 452, etc) on any stick bow that's built right in the limb tips.  all current howard hill bows are fully capable of handling modern string fibers.    

all my bows sport hmpe bowstrings because of their consistency in all conditions = low stretch and creep.  since most hmpe (polyethylene) bowstrings are more than twice the breaking strength of dacron (polyester) bowstrings, low strand count bowstrings are quite feasible.

ymmv.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by LBR:
My personal choice would be 12 strands of 8125 or Dynaflight '97.

Chad

12 strands of 8125 for me, too.

or 8 strands of d'02.  

[Chain2]

I have read the words "Fast Flight" but that is as deep as my knowledge goes. I basically don't know one string from another. I know that the string on my bow must be Dacron and it looks a bit rough. The spare that came with the bow has broken strands. The bow is eight years old, I have only had it a couple months. All info appreciated. Thanks Guys.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Chain2:
I have read the words "Fast Flight" but that is as deep as my knowledge goes. I basically don't know one string from another. I know that the string on my bow must be Dacron and it looks a bit rough. The spare that came with the bow has broken strands. The bow is eight years old, I have only had it a couple months. All info appreciated. Thanks Guys.

just visit one of trad gang's bowstring sponsors and discuss your string needs.

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by Chain2:
I have read the words "Fast Flight" but that is as deep as my knowledge goes. I basically don't know one string from another. I know that the string on my bow must be Dacron and it looks a bit rough. The spare that came with the bow has broken strands. The bow is eight years old, I have only had it a couple months. All info appreciated. Thanks Guys.

I assume you know this since you are looking for a new string, but if the string you have has broken strands I would unstring the bow and not shoot it till I had a new string. No reason to take chances.    

[Chain2]

Roger that. The one I am using doesn't have any broken strands, it just looks rough. The spare definitely has a broken strand(s). Thanks

[RC]

From my experience a string makes a heck of a difference. I had never noticed as much till Ryan Steadman sent me two strings for my Mohawk. I had been shooting what I thought was a good string but now I am a believer in NOT shooting dacron or a whole lot of strands you don`t need.In a Hill bow a dacron string seems to make handshock worse. Just my opinion.RC

[Blaino]

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
[QB]   all current howard hill bows are fully capable of handling modern string fibers.    

mmB]

is 09 current??

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Blaino:
 

Originally posted by Rob DiStefano:
[QB]   all current howard hill bows are fully capable of handling modern string fibers.    

mmB]

is 09 current?? [/b]

u bet.  you'd hafta go way back to the 20th century to find an ekin built hill that couldn't handle hmpe.  when in doubt, give jason or craig a call along with the bow's serial number.

[Blaino]

thanks

[Chain2]

What performance differences are there between types ? Thank you

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally posted by Chain2:
What performance differences are there between types ? Thank you

the main and Most Important difference 'tween dacron (polyester) and hmpe (polyethylene) is stability = low stretch and creep.

[Orion]

Low stretch also means less limb vibration/hand shock and more speed.  I've found D-97 to be very quiet as well.

[Shooty1]

The only way to know which works better is to try both. It really depends on the individual bow. FF was usually noisier than dacron on my longer Hill bows, but there are always exceptions.

[BowHunterGA]

Originally posted by Shooty1:
The only way to know which works better is to try both. It really depends on the individual bow. FF was usually noisier than dacron on my longer Hill bows, but there are always exceptions.

X2

My Croc is quieter with FF, my Shelton is quieter with Dacron.

[smoke1953]

I'm using 8 string 450 padded to 12 recommended by Oliverstacy when we talked and it shoots my 750 gr. ash nice and quiet. To each his own as Rob mentioned.

[kestimator]

Jason told me basically the same thing that Mr. Ekin told BowHunterGA.  Jason added that he felt like dacron produced a less disturbing noise at the shot in regards to spooking/string-jumping issues.  I think Jason's great hunting success adds weight to his words on bow strings.