I have used B50 in the past and have been very disappointed with the amount of string stretch it gives and having to constantly adjust brace with it.
I have read on other forums a lot of people talking bad on Dacron in general but I have to say that B55 combines the best of fast flight and B50.
I braced up a recurve with 14 strands of B55 and even a week later there has been no noticeable change in brace height.
With my longbow there has been almost no change in brace height, it feels less harsh on the fingers compared to fast flight, and it's whisper quiet like B50.
I have to say I'm quite impressed with B55 especially considering it's significantly lower price point over the fast flight string materials.
I know that fast flight materials like BCY-X can give you 3-5 more fps but to me the harshness on the fingers and the higher pitched sound is not worth it.
Anyone else feel satisfied with B55 as well?
I like it too .
It's the best polyester (Dacron) material on the market, but for me it still doesn't come close to even Dynaflight '97, 8125, 452X, BCY-X, Mercury, etc.
I don't care about a couple of fps. It's the increased durability, stability, and consistency I prefer. No problems getting them quiet, and I can't tell a difference in how they feel on my fingers.
A friend made a b50 string for my Ace. Nice and quiet. I'm going to start making my own strings starting with B50.
I have had some bows that shoot best with B-55.
My currant 1960 Kodiak reproduction shoots best with it.I tried 4 other FF type materials.It shoots softer and quieter..Very pleasant really.
I do use FF strings on most bows though.
Before I began twisting strings with D97 I used b55. It is pretty good, I found that this material would stretch a bunch all at once and seem to settle in for good. It seems to be as quiet as possible, and less expensive too. A good material.
I don't understand the deal of having to constantly adjust brace height on B50 strings. I have used them for years and never have had that problem. After I make one, I put it on the bow and press the limb tips to stretch the string, and can actually feel the string stretch. After that I reset brace and leave the bow strung a while. Nearly never have to readjust. What am I doing wrong? :D
I've asked that same question, Mr. Mitchell!
My experience, too!
Having made many thousands of dacron strings.
Flemish and continues loop!
Quick question for David and Frank. Do you leave your bow strung all the time? When I unstring my dacron string bow, the string contracts almost 1/2 inch overnight and needs to be restretched again.
Lots of variables--strand count, string length, and draw weight being the main ones. Polyester (Dacron) stretches. In heat it stretches more. Like Greg said, unstring the bow and it contracts.
No, I do not leave my bow strung all the time--only when in use. And I do check brace height regularly.
I have one bow that requires Dacron, my 72 Bear SK. I got a B-55 from 10 Ring for it. I like it, seems to have improved the bows performance a tad. I have a habit of stringing up my bows the night before I go shoot. Then check in morning for stretch. I learned this many years ago when we first lived in AZ. With B-50 our bows got squishy when temps would top 100 degrees.
With my longbows, a B50 string hits my wrist about right there, with 2" span marking my arm guard shorter than the brace height. With BCYs the string sometimes buzzes my arm right here, about a half inch span even with the brace height. A good longbow does not have that much hand shock to worry about with a B50 string, but if my arrows are a bit high in spine, I will see improved arrow flight with a BCY. I do not miss how fast B50 string wear and cut through strands. i am not sure I buy the frequency argument spooking deer, unless we are talking about the frequency of me sniffing my nose, dang dust allergies anyway.
I have been using Dacron since the 70's never noticed this problem ; once stretched out it stayed . I have a question for the guys having to re stretch your Dacron strings ; does your serving get loose after having to re-set stretch and brace height ?
When I made my own B50s, I allowed them to settle in, by leaving the bow strung for a few hours with a few draws. Then once the brace settled down, then i would add the serving. I have had the two strand B50s that came with new bows unravel in a week. When I did my own serving, I tucked it in so it would stay put. Then there is that righty tighty lefty loosey thing with servings. If a serving was done loose, that tuck in and wind direction seemed to matter. It showed up mostly left handers.
Yes and no, Mr. Owen.
2 of my 70's Bear Grizzly are strung, selfbows
unstrung.
Yes, dacron contracts!
Also, if you were shooting dacron in the 70's and earlier, it was of a lesser grade.
I have a jig I pre-stretch on. Normally I'll put a load of 200# or more on them.