Any one ever try or use ff strings on self bows or BBOs? Results?
Yes no problem. Just pad the ends out to 14 strand minmimum.
Have not tried FF, but I started off with B-50 and then just made two D-97 strings for both my dads and my self-bow and have noticed a difference in cast, and a slight difference in noise (D-97 a little noisier).
Both our self-bows probably gained about 5 fps I can guess. I did not pad it out either, both bows are hickory, and hickory is pretty tough. My dads bow is 10 strand (50#) and my self-bows is 12 (60#)
Yes on BBO bows, but I put buffalo horn tip overlays on all my bows. Never have had any problems.
No problems at all. I never use anything else.
I've also stopped padding the loops. I do always use overlays though. Might make a difference without overlays (although I doubt it), but there's just no way a string with 200 or 300 lbs of tension is going to cut into a hardwood, bone, antler, horn, or phenolic overlay.
Actually scratch that, I don't always add overlays. I've been shooting a 50# mulberry recurve without overlays for some time without incident. The string groove does not cut into the back though, only sides and belly.
Thanks for the info an experience
shared. Will try on my bbo.
I like D97 over B50 just because it stretches less. Especially when you first brace the bow. It does give you a bit more speed. I'm working on a buckthorn selfbow that won't have tip overlays, so I'll pad the loops with 4 strands. I have an osage bow w/o overlays that I didn't pad and the string doesn't cut into it. That's extremely dense wood, though.
I use FF and 450+ all the time. Osage is much tougher and far less likely to be damaged than fiberglass.
I use several types of the no-stretch (FF) material on all my self bows, never had a problem. Rarely use B50 anymore.
Just put a SBD String on my BBO and shoots very quiet, seems bit faster and no hand shock.
I use 8 and 10 strand FF strings on my selfbows all the time. I have horn tip overlays on all the bows that I make.
I have 2 Dano osage bows, both have FF strings and neither have overlays on the tips.