B-50 question?

[LC]

I use to use 10 strand B50 on bows in the low 50lb range for multiple years with NO problems. I don't think I'd try that on a 80lb bow though. Now I use UC with a lower string count though again with no problems.

[Nativestranger]

14 strands sounds about right for your bow. Recurves and longbows are a little different. There's much more string tension at brace with recurves and string stretch may loose you more energy than gained with the lower mass. You can try going to an endless loop string to gain back some  performance on B50. They stretch less than flemish.

[ironmike]

i shoot  a 90# longbow,20 strands b50.

[ironmike]

i shoot  a 90# longbow,20 strands b50.

[LBR]

An endless won't stretch any less than a properly made Flemish, and the performance difference will be miniscule if any.  Once the strings are pre-stretched and shot in, the material is all that stretches.  Same material will stretch the same.

I still have a 98@28 flatbow around here somewhere.  Can't remember if it took 18 or 21 strands of B-500, and even then it stretched so much it made me nervous.  Had to make the string a few times before I got it short enough to allow for the stretch.

[Grey Taylor]

Against my better judgement I made a flemish string at a shoot for a guy using a heavy longbow. I think it was in the 80+# range.
I used a stringer to put the string on the bow and as I let the bow down to put tension on the string it stretched that new string to where it trapped my hand tightly to the riser.
All I can remember is:
Oweoweowegetitoffgetitoffgetitoff!!

Guy

[Nativestranger]

The strands on a flemish string are twisted and act like a spring while on an endless string they lay parallel to the tension forces so they act stiffer. I love and use flemish strings myself but there's no getting away with this fact.

[Hank]

B500 should've been recalled as soon as it was put on the shelves. Stretches way more than B50. Good for kids bows and sling shots. I got a few rolls of it when I bought a string makers stock when he was getting out of the business.

Gave some to a friend to try, he tested B500, B50 and B55. Had to set his jig the shortest for B500 and said it stretched so bad it wasn't worth using and this was on bows from 40 to 45lbs. B50 and B55 were close but gave the nod to B55 being a hair less stretchier.

All were endless, normal strand count (12) strings built on a quality jig.

[nineworlds9]

I must be in a minority but that's ok, I hate B50 on a bow.  All I've ever gotten from B50 is creep, increased handshock or vibration, and twang or other increased noise.  If you like thicker strings, great, but B50 on a bow OK for fastflight?  Wth!?  I had a 90# longbow for a good while.  Came with a 20 strand 'rope' of a B50 string...handshock monster and twangy as all heck.  I switched to a 16 strand D10 string and vOiLa!  Handshock now a soft thump, quiet as a church mouse.  The 16 strand D10 was technically overkill for 90# but any thinner and it wouldn't have been comfortable to shoot.  This same experience has occurred for me on multiple bows, so 'blech!' for B50.  But maybe I'm just nuts.

[LBR]

The strands on a flemish string are twisted and act like a spring...

That is incorrect.  There is slack in the twist when first made, that is removed when the string is pre-stretched and/or shot in.  It doesn't act like a spring at all.

9W9, I don't care for polyester materials, but some bows require it.


Chad

[reddogge]

Just remember on a hunting bow you want strength and enough strands in case a couple are cut accidentally with a broadhead. That's why I don't make strings on the edge of bare minimum strand counts for hunting strings.

[Bladepeek]

I asked this question once before on a different post, but never got a response so I will try again. I love FF and skinny strings and since all my bows are FF compatible, I use 10 strand D10 on all of them.

I keep hearing guys say skinny strings are too uncomfortable. My strings are sized to fit the arrow nock and would be whether it was a 14 strand B50 or 8 strand FF. The only part of the string that contacts my string hand is the serving, so where does the comfort factor come in?

[macbow]

When I bought a shrew it came with a 6 strand string. Serving was built up for fit. The uncomfortable part was with me worrying about it.

[dnovo]

Yeah Ron, but I seem to remember you were always have to twist it up to maintain brace height. ???

[LBR]

Even with the serving built up they have a different feel (to me).  It could be as much or more mental than physical--just like the (percieved, not measured) gains.

[Bladepeek]

dnovo, I have no problem with the string stretching. I have strings from SBD and Oliver Stacy. I normally adjust the new string for a brace height a little high. Then I let it sit overnight and draw it a few times the next day and then readjust the brace height. That usually does it for me pretty much for the life of the string.

LBR, I sure can't argue with that. I don't really think my bows are noticeably faster (or slower) with FF and I THINK I get less hand shock with the lighter string. Ask me to quantify it and I'd be lost  

[Sam McMichael]

Probably one of the reasons that 14 or so strands has become sort of a "standard" is that a lot of archers in days past tried skinnier strings and had lots of issues. Not being much of a tinkerer, I have stayed in the more generally accepted ranges of performance and have done rather well. I may not have gotten the absolute most performance possible, but I have never had a bow let go, either.

[dnovo]

Ron (Bladepeek)  Actually my post was directed at Ron (Macbow). We are good buddies. My comment there was that it wasn't a matter of twisting it up a couple times and letting it settle in, it was that every time we shot he had to twist it up. All the time, for several years. It was the string that came with the bow. I can't add more detail than that, but I was not impressed.
When I need a string for one of my bows I make up a 14 strand B-50 cause I have spools of it on hand. I have a MOAB and several Mohawks that all have some type of FF string on them. I shoot them like that as they are the strings that came with them. I have made extra strings for them in B59 and shot them in and really cannot notice any difference in shooting. That's just me.

[jackdaw]

I'm no bandwagon jumper...but I heve never had a bowstring mfg. offer or suggest only 10 strands of b-50....12, but not 10....! 12 strands on my 51# recurve kept stretching...I HATED that..!!!! It's your bow, but I would proceed with caution here...or get something like one of Pierres SBD super skinny strings if you mist have the reduced number of strands.....JMO...John

[jackdaw]

I'm no bandwagon jumper...but I heve never had a bowstring mfg. offer or suggest only 10 strands of b-50....12, but not 10....! 12 strands on my 51# recurve kept stretching...I HATED that..!!!! It's your bow, but I would proceed with caution here...or get something like one of Pierres SBD super skinny strings if you mist have the reduced number of strands.....JMO...John