Self bows and fast flight strings

[Harry]

Any one ever try or use ff strings on self bows or BBOs? Results?

[mikkekeswick]

Yes no problem. Just pad the ends out to 14 strand minmimum.

[RedStag5728]

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#)

[Roy from Pa]

Yes on BBO bows, but I put buffalo horn tip overlays on all my bows. Never have had any problems.

[LittleBen]

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.

[Harry]

Thanks for the info an experience
shared. Will try on my bbo.

[takefive]

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.

[michaelschwister]

I use FF and 450+ all the time. Osage is much tougher and far less likely to be damaged than fiberglass.

[Walt Francis]

I use several types of the no-stretch (FF) material on all my self bows, never had a problem.  Rarely use B50 anymore.

[Harry]

Just put a SBD String on my BBO and shoots very quiet, seems bit faster and no hand shock.

[scrub-buster]

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.

[Pat B]

I have 2 Dano osage bows, both have FF strings and neither have overlays on the tips.