SBD bowstrings?

[David Petersen]

#3394

Has anyone here tried Silent But Deadly bowstrings? I’m hearing lots of good reports on them — fast and quiet — and just ordered one to see. I’d appreciate hearing your experiences. I shoot a Shrew which uses a skinny 6-strand string of high-end B50, but had one break on me the other night while the bow was hanging on the rack–never ever before in a lifetime of strung bows has this happened. The SBD strings also are skinny, with 6-strand up to 54# and 8 strand beyond that. I hope it’s all true. As a bow is an engine, a bowstring is the drive train that delivers power to the arrow. dave

[Stephen Graf]

#20162

I make my own strings, so I don’t know anything about purchased strings.

But I have experimented with skinny strings and thicker strings. On the whole I found thicker strings to be more forgiving of a poor shot, easier to keep arrow nocks on, and quieter. It also doesn’t stretch as much, so it settles down a lot faster.

Mr. Adcock is a proponent of thin strings. That’s why I tried them. But I couldn’t get them to work well for me.

But I use fast flight, not b50. fast flight is way more durable in my experience. I have several spools of b50 around and I still use it for organic bows, or if someone asks me to make them a string from it. But other than that it just sits there.

I’m not sure, but I think this response totally doesn’t apply to your thread 😳

I just always try to encourage people to make their own strings. It’s easy, economical, fun. And best of all, you never have to worry about where your next string is coming from.

[Dpowers311]

#20226

I had a SBD string on my recurve and shot it for a year with no sign of wear. They ship fast sell a lot of strings and have a good following on another site. I will buy another one for my longbow once I wear my current one out.

[james gilmer]

#20294

I am shooting them exclusively on both my longbow and recurve. But i went with the 8 strand . Strings are incredibly well made and deliver the goods as promised. BUT if you shoot woodies you will need to do a little wrapping with dental floss right where your nock sits. Otherwise you will constantly be dropping arrows off the string.

[RI Swamp Yankee]

#23224

It took me a couple of strings to find the right length for my PSAV Widow, but it was worth it. Very well made string. Only problem I’ve found with “skinny” strings is you can’t adjust them much without putting a whole lot of twists in them. With that, you have to get the length just right or you may end up shooting a skinny spring string with boatload of twists!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#19119

Ok, I couldn’t ignore all the positive feedback I’ve been hearing about SBDs any longer. I ordered one for my Mamba today.

Dave – how are you liking yours?

[David Petersen]

#19934

Bruce — It’s the best-looking string I’ve ever had, insofar as the tip overlays are perfect and tight without a single “hair” sticking out. It came precisely the right length and it stretched-in real fast and has stayed put. Alas I’ve hardly shot it,since I’ve switched for now from the Shrew to Clay Hayes’ elegant “snakey” selfbow in an attempt to kill a second elk this year. But I’ll return to the Shrew and SBD string for an upcoming deer hunt, and plan to order one for the Hayes bow as well. I think it’s a $20 gamble that’s not much of a gamble at all. I’ve even tried to interest Shrew in selling these strings and putting them on their new bows, but I’ve seen no rush to comply.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#20045

Thanks, Dave. That confirms just about everything else I’ve heard. I ordered an 8 strand with w/twist wraps.

Like the new quote in your signature, by the way.

[David Coulter]

#20068

Do any of you have to retune your arrows with these SPD strings? thanks, dwc

[David Petersen]

#20663

Not me.

[David Coulter]

#20766

You sure about that?? dwc

[David Petersen]

#21072

Photo — Just playing with the new “font freedom” that Robin has provided us with here. I can barely read this small one, which is the default (a personal problem, I reckon).

[David Coulter]

#21087

I figured as much, but it gets the point across! The new set-up is nice.

[M]

#40627

Dave, did you try a SBD on your KMAGS? How did it work out if you did? I was thinking about putting one on my Grayling Super Mag 48.

[David Petersen]

#42894

M — Yes. I have SBD on all of my bows including the K-Mag, for quite a while now. Flawless, so far as I can tell. However, I would carefully inspect the limbs and nocks and tips for any hairline cracks, etc., and use a FF-type string only on perfect bows. Mine is a ’68 model.

Stretching update: These strings are advertised not to stretch, but they do stretch. Just not so much or for so long as most other materials. Even steel cable will stretch some, because it’s twisted and the twists tighten under pressure, increasing length. It’s hard to get too excited about something as simple as a bowstring, but these are the best I’ve ever used.

[pewanogo]

#43516

After reading all the posts I don’t see a clear cut choice. Do you guys suggest staying with the fewer strand in the new string and wrapping w/floss or ordering the heavier SBD option?

[M]

#43944

Dave, I know that KMag very well, It used to be mine. Are you using a FF on it? My bow is the same age and in about the same condition. What strand string are you using on it?

[David Petersen]

#44016

Fellers — I use the standard 8-strand SBD string and the center serving fits most arrow nocks perfectly. For recurves you can order the servings below the end loops with a special cushioning wrap (couple bucks extra, best I recall) that prevents string slap and also reduces string shock to the limbs. That’s what I did for the K-Mag.

[WildmanSC]

#52308

I’ve found skinny strings to be a pain. The arthritis in my string fingers start screaming at me when I have a skinny string on a bow. I’ve ready many comments saying that if the center serving on a skinny string is built up to equal that of a standard string you can’t tell the difference. All I can say about that is my fingers can tell the difference and they are what I have to keep satisfied! 🙂

Bill

[Terry Lightle]

#55644

Switched to SBD skinny string about about a year ago on my Cari -Bow and will not use anything else

[mikelee]

#13695

Whats wrong with the stock strings that come with the shrew bows ? They seem to be well made and fairly quiet . Or are the skinny strings just faster ?

[Raymond Coffman]

#13787

Nothing wrong with the “stock Strings That come with the shrew”!

Shoot more – shoot a lot with any good string!—it is the shooting!! [ properly done ] that matters in the end–in the field.

all of us worry too much about the Equipment{myself included} — worry more about your Commitment to skill — it can make average Equipement do marvelous things–and make a great finish to your hunt.

Scout

[David Petersen]

#13904

Mike– I just addressed this in the “New Shrew” thread, but I find the Shrew strings to stretch more, and for a longer time, than any string I’ve ever shot in a very long lifetime of shooting. (Don’t know about linen, since it’s been more than 25 years since I last used one.) I just got tired of having to constantly adjust the string length, and thus nock point. SBD is a bit faster and has minimal stretch and that happens pretty fast. And unlike the Shrew strings once it’s stretched-in that’s it pretty much forever. Skinniness has nothing to do with my choice here, and SBD serves their strings to a standard size and I believe can do custom servings for those wanting a fatter or thinner serving, which makes the diameter of the actual string rather unimportant. I told all of this to the Shrew guys and they tried an SBD but elected to stay with their current supplier. I won’t even try to guess why. Anyhow it’s as simple as that for me: Shrew strings, in my fairly extensive experience on four different Shrews, never quit stretching, and SBD strings have minimal stretch and you can forget about it and get on with practice and hunting. Of course, if excess stretching isn’t a problem for you, Scout, or anyone else, you might as well save $20 and stick with what you have.

[mikelee]

#13914

makes sense . Always faster to learn from others experience !

[Raymond Coffman]

#13917

David –

Not trying to seem argumentative –

I have only had minor strech with my latest shrew strings? I am also a {shrew]newbie as I have only shot shrews for a couple years.

I unstring at end of use? { mostly daily }I was wondering if you leave your’s strung for longer periods [ as I understand a lot of folks do]? causing more strech?

Havn’t tried the SBDs – heard great things about em – I will give them a try soon.

Scout

[David Petersen]

#14847

Scout — No argument here. Different experiences with the same product are precisely the sort of info that folks are looking for, including me when it’s my turn to ask questions. And I’m definitely not throwing away the 3 “factory” strings you provided with the Shrew I just bought from you. 😀 And yes indeed, I leave my go-to Shrew strung most of the year, mostly because I’d be pleased if, over time, the bow lost a bit of draw weight to keep up with my loss of muscle mass as I age. That could well explain our different experiences with string stretch. However, in previous threads on this same topic, others have echoed my experiences and switched for the same reason. I think the wise choice would be to use the string the bow comes with until it needs replacing (or you need a backup), and then try a SBD.

Probably not necessary to point out, but I will anyhow, that the ONLY reason I enthusiastically plug any product–most notably Shrew bows, Tuffhead broadheads, and SBD strings–is because they work so very well for me in comparison to others I’ve tried (and I’m big on trying things) that I want to share the good news with others. If and when a new product comes along that clearly supersedes my old favorites, I’ll switch and say why. Just trying to give others the info I’d want others to give me, and the best any of us can do is to say what does and doesn’t work for us. Mostly these days it’s picking at straws of personal preference since an easy majority of all traditional archery and hunting gear is excellent. Rather like the old blondes vs. redheads vs. brunettes “argument,” which also ain’t no argument at all. 😀

[Raymond Coffman]

#14858

David –

All of your last post , is why I enjoy reading and finding out your opinion on all things tradbow. I always carry spare strings and prefer them to be the same manufacture. Got an order in for SBDs, can’t wait to try em out as all here [who have], speak very highly of them.

I always trade up when I can-

Thanks

Scout

[jmsmithy]

#22813

Question Dave and Scout (and anyone else!)

Looking at SBD site, how is ASL (actual string length) measured?

I get the top of the top loop to the bottom of the bottom loop when hung off a nail BUT what about twist:?:

Do you untwist to degree possible then measure or do u just measure as it “comes off the bow” ❓ 🙄

[Raymond Coffman]

#23315

Jmsmithy-

I just took it off the bow, hung it and measured it –

scout,

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