B-50 question?

[T Mowery]

I just came back from the range,where I met a fellow Trad bow shooter.He was using a 80# Lb, and shot it darn well.He was running 11 strands of B-50,and claimed,he never has had a problem.

I told him,that I would like to shoot a 10 strand B-50,for my 58# recurve,and he thinks that it would be better than the 14 strand that im currently running on the bow. I recently gave fast flight the boot,for b-50,as it is terribly quiet on my bow,and noticed that I gave up some trajectory also.Would 10 strands fill the bill safety wise? Thanks!As long as my nocks fit well, I dont see a problem,but wanted to run it by the gang.

[Hot Hap]

I think I would stay w/14 strands. Hap

[Pat B]

I've always used 14 strands on my bows(50#-60#). I've never had a string break and my arrows go right where I'm looking.

[Shinken]

I just built 2 new 14-strand B-50 strings for my HHA Redman, they fit my nocks perfectly, and are so quiet on the release that no string silencers are necessary....

My preference is obviously 14 strands of B-50 and I have never had a string fail.

YMMV

Keep the wind in your face!

Shoot straight, Shinken

   

[T Mowery]

Thanks for the replys so far fellow string pullers! Im reasoning that at 40# breaking strength per strand,10 strand would give me 400# breaking strength.I would think that ,that would be plenty enough for a 58-60# bow.Thanks much!

[soap creek]

I would stay with 14 strands and adjust your nocks to fit if need be. Recently I had skinny string break while shooting. 50 to 100 arrows later the bow broke. The bow and string were made by the same person a very reputable bowyer. Been building my own flemished strings for 25yrs. and I've never (so far) had a B-50 14 strand ever fail me yet.

[Prairie Drifter]

I would worry about constant creep w/ 10 strands of b-50 and 58lbs.

[Wannabe1]

I am by no means a string guru but, from what I've learned, I would stay with the 14 strand.

Shinken: I don't use any string silencers on my Hills either while running B50/B55. I just replaced a FF string that came with my Red Hawk for a Hill B50 string and it is extremely quiet!

[cyred4d]

I agree with everyone else. I use 14 strand strings and would not want to use fewer strands. I may have to adjust nocks sometimes but that is minor.

[Hermon]

Am I the only one that is shaking his head at the guy shooting an 80# longbow with an 11 strand B-50 string?  

[JRY309]

For Dacron I use 14 strands for bows 50# to 60#,under 50# I'll use 12 strands.There is no advantage to use 10 strand B50 unless it's a kids bow around 20# to 30#.I used 10 strand B50 on my neighbors daughter's 20# bow.If you want to use less strands I would go with a low stretch HMPE type string.I have never had any problem get a low stretch HMPE(FF)type string to be quiet.They are way more durable,less handshock on certain bows and just make the shot feel more solid.Not springy like darcon can be.JMO

[Drewster]

Herman, I'm shaking my head too.  No way am I going to shoot an 80# bow with 11 strands of B-50.  That guy must be either ignorant or nuts.

[LBR]

I don't know if the guy is mistaken or what, but you don't shoot an 80# bow with 11 strands of polyester ("Dacron").

The stretch will be pretty much uncontrollable, and it will eventually stretch so much it breaks.  The same would likely happen with your bow and a low strand count, it would just take longer.

on most of my bows I have always used 15 strand,3 ply. For my 64 pound Schulz, recently I tried, an 18 strand 3 ply and compared it to the flight distance of the 15. The 15 strand had a minor amount of yarn to make things as quiet as possible, the 18 strand did not need it.  The result for flight shooting-the same, for noise-the same, for feel with the shot, the 18 strand was better.

[T Mowery]

Chad,No I heard correctly.He was shooting a Hill style LB,and stated he uses 11 strands of b-50.I did not ask to pull his bow back,and probably could not get 80# back to begin with, but have no reason to doubt him,or the poundage stated to me.My jaw dropped,when he told me the strand count.I twisted up a 10 strand b-50 padded to 14 on the loops for a good limb fit.Depending on the amount of stretch it exibits within the next day or so,and before I center serve it,will be a tell all for me.We will see.Thanks Guys!

[LBR]

Wasn't doubting you, but I dont believe 11 strands will hold up to 80 lbs.  This is based on 20 or so years making strings strings with various materials, most of which are 3 times stronger than polyester.  I wouldn't use 10 strands of anything on 80#.  Its not safe.

[Blaino]

For what's it's worth- I shoot at 65# Hill @ 30" and have 12 strands of B55 on it.  The string that was on the bow when I got it from HH archery was 12 strands of B50..... The 12 strands shoots better then anything else I have tried.

I think I'd listen to to LBR about strings though!

[Bladepeek]

That string is holding way more than 80lbs. If you consider the forces involved, you are applying 80# on the short length of a rt angle triangle. The bow limb is the second side and the string from the nock point to the limb nock is the long side of the triangle. The forces will be proportional to the sides of the triangle.

So if you are holding 80# back at anchor, the string is actually holding WAY more than that. My main concern (and I'm not a string maker, but do understand a bit about basic physics) is the shock on that string when it has to stop those rapidly flying limb tips when they reach brace height.

I like skinny strings, but I want them to be a whole lot stronger than a skinny B-50 string. If I see a frayed strand I replace the string, but the remaining 9 strands are more than strong enough to survive for a few shots until I notice it. I wouldn't be that comfortable with a 10-strand B-50 that suddenly became a 9-strand.

[2nocks]

I just put a 16 strand B-50 string on a 50# recurve. it may be more than necessary but I can't tell the difference and the bow dead quiet.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I just listen to the experts on this one and dont even dare experiment.  Not ready for a bow explosion.  

I have been shooting 12 and 14 strand strings for a few years and kind of like them fat.