I just started getting B-55 'cause I heard it better. So today I put it to the test. The bow used is a 54" recurve, 41# @ 28". I used only one arrow each time, 500 gr. 5/16" birch, 29" BOP. The B-50 string is several years old and has beed stretched about as far as can be, the B-55 string I just made today. Both are 10 strand, and the brace ht. was the same each time at 7 1/4". The both strings make about the same noise, very little, no silencers on either. I don't have a chrono-ma-jigger but I shot a block target and measured penetration. The B-55 String consistantly had 1/2" more penetration and at distance of 25 yrds consistantly had 1"-2" less drop. B-55 being brand new and the B-50 being broke-in I'd call the B-55 a better string. Costs less too, so a much better string.
So I use B-55 now.
I think the B-55 might be a bit more wear resistant as well?
It will stretch a bit more for you and settle in.The bow should feel a tad nicer then when shot.
Who sells the B-55? I didn't see it at 3 Rivers.
great thread a day after I order some B-50 lol
Thanks Mike, now I dont have to experiment myself! Good stuff
I like the B-55 better than B-50.Seems quieter (to me)& supposed to wear better. I made several strings for recurves & longbows that were shot all summer w/o any sign of wear.
I won a spool of B-%% this summer at the Muzzy but have not tried it yet.....may have to shortly.
I ment a spool of B-55,wish I could type!
I bought it at Kustom king for $7.95 /spool
I shot B55 for LBR, Champion Bowstrings and foun it about the same as B50. It did shoot an arrow a litle faster( about1.5%) when compared to B50, and I thought a little quieter. However after about 3-4 weeks of settling in I thought the stretch was over, but one morning I was out shooting and my arrows started to go everywhere. I checked my brace height and found it had dropped by 3/8" after about 12-15 arrows for no reason. I did not want to shoot it any more and headed home with it and changed back to B50. The bow was a Fedora and the string was endless loop.
If you study the two closely you'll notice the the B-55 is thicker in diameter than the B-50. Weighs more also. So a ten strand string of B-55 will be more consistant with a 11 strand B-50. More material just means less stretch IMO. That could explain the performance difference. ART B
Gonna be trying it real soon! :D But, that's another story.
So far I've made three strings for the Bear Super Grizzly using B55. I have found it stretches alot. Rebounds back a bit if unstrung. It is definitely faster than B50. Using 12 strands for 50# but could go to ten easliy I think. But, my stretch could be from my lack of flemish experience.
So far I like it. Got it from Kustom King.
Oliverstacy built me 2 B-55 strings that have done me quite well. They did put arrows out just a touch faster than my B-50 string that was on it before. He told me it'd stretch a bit less than the B-50. I'm not too experienced at all this stuff, but so far I'm pleased with them.
Jeremy
As for thickness of the two, I took a strand of each type, both yellow, twisted each end tight so the strand was "round" and it wouldn't get squished so much, and measured both with a digital dial caliper and both were .007".