I have done a search and read as many posts as I could and I am really torn. If skinny strings are as good as they claim I would really like to try one on my 43# 62 Kodiak Special. After reading all the threads it seems there is no credible evidence to prove one way or the other whether or not skinny strings are harmful to older bows like my bear. That leads me to my request. Would anybody that has tried the skinny string old bow combo please post your experience. Any experience, positive or negative would be helpful.
Are you talking about a flash flight string?
Sorry I meant fast flight string
I have seen FastFlight strings cut thru the tips of older bows. I would say you are asking for trouble unless you pad the loops well. The few fps you gain is not worth the risk to the bow.
I agree with John also what are you considering an older bow??
I am currently shooting a blue stripe Bear Kodiak Hunter 60# with a fast flight string on it. I have been shooting it this way for 6 or 7 months, the bow is shot on a regular basis (approx, 1+ hrs a week)which calcs, into a lotta shooting. So far so good no ill affects and did pickup more speed. BTW: with the fast flight string it is quieter. keep in mind this is not a SKINNY STRING just a regular FF string. I am thinking about a skinny string though.
I have FF strings with no padding on two older Browning(wasp and Cobra) bows and an older BW(Wilson Bros. model). So far no problems but these three bows have beefed up limb tips on them from the factory. I have an older Herter's bow that doesn't have the beefed up tips and only shoot B50 on it. Now I don't shoot them that much(have newer models that get all the attention) but what little I have shot them there has been no problems. I check everytime I've shot them and no cutting has taken place. Not saying this is good practice for everyone(your at your own judgement and risk), just I haven't had any problems with these three.
I was talking more about one of the new skinny strings like the ones that SBD makes with the padded loops. I am not sure if I could give you an exact age range when I say older, that is why I made sure to refer to my '62 so you had a general idea about what I was talking about.
The tip overlays on older Bear's were made from paper and subject to cracking. They are hard to tell, but using a FF string is like looking for trouble in all the wrong places..
I am shooting a green stripe Bear TD, with green tips with a D97-10 strand skinny,padded loops,for 6 months;so far so good.The bow remain quiet and it asks for a 2-3 spine stiffer arrow,for sure it is faster too.I made this test with a pair of really beated set ot limbs but it looks the string isn't a issue.In the beginning I shot the bow a lot and some hundreds of arrows are been flung out of it,currently I am using a different bow.
May last a year, may last one shot. Is it really worth it? What we have to understand is that the older bows were not made for modern strings. Yes, some people shoot modern strings on them and have not had a problem, others have wound up with broken bows, for what a few fps? I would never shoot ff on my 1960 Kodiak.
matthews,
You'll notice that negative responses are from people giving anecdotal advice. Those with actual experience will almost always say go for it.
Pad the loops well. Make sure the string grooves are nicely radiused from back to belly side. And enjoy the night and day difference.
Do I do it for a few fps? No, I could care less. I do it because it makes my 65 Kodiak shoot sweeter than most modern customs. (And while it's at gaining more like 8-10 fps).
Now for actual experience since thats what you asked for...
65 Kodiak, 42# 28", drawn to 30". 6 strand D-97 padded to 16 with dacron in the loops. Plenty of shots, no problems.
The overlays on your '62 Kodiak are glass. They aren't very well shaped though. Fix those like Bear said and pad the loops well.
I've been shooting a 12 (?) strand TS-1 string on an old '57 Polar drawn to 30" with no issues, but I haven't been shooting it as often as I'd like. The tip overlays are only one layer of paper micarta that need to be replaced. I started shooting this bow with a low-stretch string b/c I had little invested in it, it's pretty beat up as it is and figured if anything was going to blow, it'd be this bow. It's a very nice shooting bow with the low-stretch string :)
I have had a skinny string on a 1959 Grizzly for over a year-the bow stays strung and gets shot a lot. The string ends are padded to 16 strands-no problems. Do I recommend this for your bow? Heck no-you will havta' decide that for yourself! Just passing on my own experience.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bear:
matthews,
You'll notice that negative responses are from people giving anecdotal advice. Those with actual experience will almost always say go for it.
Pad the loops well. Make sure the string grooves are nicely radiused from back to belly side. And enjoy the night and day difference.
Do I do it for a few fps? No, I could care less. I do it because it makes my 65 Kodiak shoot sweeter than most modern customs. (And while it's at gaining more like 8-10 fps).
Now for actual experience since thats what you asked for...
65 Kodiak, 42# 28", drawn to 30". 6 strand D-97 padded to 16 with dacron in the loops. Plenty of shots, no problems.
This is what I am looking for. He has personal experience with skinny strings and old bows. Thank You.
I have 6 older Bears and none of them have the (PAPER TIPS)mine are all wood and the woodgrain is very visible. Paper has no structural integrity, wood on the other hand does maintain structural integrity. Like I said I will try a skinny string when I get over the cost of them!!
The cost is definitely a big deterrent for me too.
Mathews, I shoot a 70's green grizzly with a D-97 12 strand. and have been doing so for about 3 years now with NO problems at all,even with a couple of dry fires, I also pad the loops with yarn just for extra insurance, it changed that bow completely.Go for it, you'll be glad you did.
Been useing FF with padded loops on 1960+70 bows for 15 years.Now use skinny strings 8-16 quieter and faster.Cost is half with the same materal.Chicken little didn't like carbon arrows either.Oh my the SKY is FALLING.
I'm the same as Bear and Cacciatore.I've replaced almost all my old strings with SBD skinnys.I had an older Bruin Master hunter that came with a dog of a string.I replaced it with an SBD 8 strand D10 with extra padding in the loops.It shoots like a completely differant bow with no problems.the Bow shoots INCREDIBLE ,at 50# I would not hesitate a minute to hunt Elk with this bow and my weighted 2016's.