Speed of FF vs Dacron

[Troy Warner]

#4434

I looking into ordering a new bow.

One of the custom bowyer’s I’m looking at shows a significant difference in price for making a bow FF capable. In his literature he says the performance of the limbs is an 8 FPS difference from FF to Dacron.

I understand that as traditional hunters we want more speed to shoot heavier arrows.

My 1st question: Is 8 FPS really going to make the difference between an animal “jumping the string” while hunting?

2nd question: how is the 8 FPS difference going to effect penetration.

Thanks

Troy

[David Petersen]

#30641

Troy — I don’t understand this bowyer’s message. In my understanding it is tip strength that determines whether or not a bow can use FF string without damage, and then only for laminated bows. I’ve used FF on several all-wood homemade bows and never once had a problem. It’s mostly older glass lam bows that can be damaged by FF, due to unreinforced tips. No limb redesign is required. Moreover, consistently over the years when I’ve done chrono tests with FF and other, mostly dacron, string materials–same bows, same arrows–the difference has never exceeded 3 fps. I simply don’t think it’s possible to gain 8fps just from a string. But for your last question, absolutely 8 fps is huge, like the difference in speed between 500 and 700 grain arrows from the same bow. But of course I could be wrong about everything. Finally, it doesn’t make sense that any bowyer today would ever make a bow that can’t use FF string … it’s just not good business. None of it makes sense.

[Troy Warner]

#30658

Dave,

I agree it doesn’t make sense to not make a bow FF compatible with the types of new stronger/faster string material available in today’s market. That said the particular bowyer I am looking into has on his website that standard bows are not FF compatible, it costs extra to get the FF option.

Hence my question on how much it would affect penetration, and string jump.

Just wanted to hear from experienced folks in the use of Dacron string material prior to making an expensive decision.

Thanks for the input

Troy

[Troy Breeding]

#31251

I’m mostly with Dave on this one. My understanding for bow building is it requires stronger tip material to handle FF. Alot of the FF material are really abrasive and will litterly cut the tips off a non-reinforced tip.

As for speed,,,, I’ve had/built afew bows that did shoot 5-6FPS faster with FF.

I’ve also had/built afew bows that shot quiter with FF. Yet again at times it’s been the oppsite.

I also agree it would be non-productive to build a bow that want handle FF. It only cost a few cents more to add micarta to the tips.

Adding materials like micarta to the tips doesn’t mean you have to shoot FF. With it you have the option to use whatever string material you want.

Troy

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#31274

Troy Breeding wrote:

Adding materials like micarta to the tips doesn’t mean you have to shoot FF. With it you have the option to use whatever string material you want.

Agreed. It seems a little odd to not be building custom bows in this day and age that at least allow for the option of a FF string (unless the bowyer deliberately recreating a period piece). Particularly odd if you’re being told it would be significantly more expensive if you want that option.

[Troy Warner]

#31300

Thanks guys for the input it is apriciated.

Troy

[Stephen Graf]

#32284

If it was me, I’d look somewhere else. Sounds like he’s trying to sell you the floor mats after you buy the car. There are probably better bows elsewhere.

[Troy Warner]

#32368

Thanks Steve,

That’s pretty much what I decided too.

A little confirmation in a persons thought process from some more experienced folks goes along way in putting a bit more confidence behind a decision.

Thanks again guys

Troy

[Bender]

#40537

Yeah, something just ain’t quite right there.

[Michael Scott]

#41718

Seems to me that I recall somebody telling me once that you could use fewer strands of FF for your string, as it is stronger than Dacron. I don’t remember who, but I believe it was a bowyer somewhere, maybe back home. If memory serves, he said that with a lower strand count, he could get higher speed out of his bow because of faster string travel. Does this make sense to any of the more experienced bowyers out there?

Also, I think my uncle told me when he gave me my Bear Grizzly, that I couldn’t shoot FF strings on it, because it doesn’t have reinforced tips. I believe it’s a late-90’s built bow, but don’t know for certain. Any ideas on that point as well?

Thanks.

[Troy Warner]

#41810

You have it correct on both accounts.

The FF is a stronger string material and you can use fewer strands for the string and it is faster. I myself didn’t realize how much faster it could be on some bows until I asked the question above.

Follow your uncles warning. If the tips aren’t reinforced do not use FF string on the bow he gave you. I have an older bear grizzly that is 50@28 I use a Dacron string on it and it shoots any arrow I run thru it with no real noticeable speed difference than my long bow with the same draw weight using FF. of course I don’t have a chronograph and as I said before until I asked the original question in this thread I didn’t really realize how much speed difference string material can make on some bows. I don’t know if I actually helped or made it worse.:?

Good luck

Troy

[Bender]

#42501

Correct. I would reccomend against using FF type materials on non-reinforced tips. Some folks claim success doing it by padding the endloops with additional strands. But I have blows the tips off a bow using FF (BCY 450+) back before I knew any better.

The FF type materials can gain you speed by both allowing the use of fewer strands, thus a lighter string, plus they have considerably less stretch and creep than Dacron. More efficient transfer of energy to the arrow.

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