Hello All,
I've got a Schafer Silvertip recurve that Dave made new for me in 1998. Daves going to re-finish the riser and make me a new set of limbs.
I'm dropping from 59 lbs to 53 lbs at my 30.5" draw. It might turn out to be 52 or 51 lbs.
I'm debating whether or not to go with the Fast Flight option. All I've ever shot is Dacron B-50. FF will add roughly 8 fps. I'm more interested in being quiet than being fast. But I hope to kill several more elk.
Any advice about Silvertips with dacron versus those with FF would be appreciated!
Thanks, Paul
Paul,
I only have Dave's FF model, and my bow is very quiet. That being said, I would think if you could pick up a few more fps, and stay quiet, that would be the ticket. And with these skinny strings as an option that would also help in noise reduction.
Now on the other hand you already know what you have with the B-50, and it works for you.
Sorry I have been of NO help! Ha!!
I'm having a Silvertip made. I'm trying to decide whether FF or not and give up 100% exotic in the riser. As you know bow isn't warranted for FF unless there is Dymondwood in the riser.
I'm leaing pretty hard towards the FF though because the bit of extra umph is like adding 5# to my draw weight. Since I only shoot around 46# this extra bit might be an aid.
I'm of no help to you either! I am shooting a Dacron loaner from a Trad Ganger and it is terrific!
Thanks CDR. I appreciate any advice I can get!
The only bow I've pulled with FF is a friend's Black widow. Compared to my dacron B-50 string, it had zero give.
I just wondered if that was the bow or the FF string?
Got both styles - not much if any difference at all. This is my opinion? course my FF is 55# and the dacron is 62# both 64" bows. Couple fps? really no biggie.
If I had to do over again I would do the FF - dont know why? just would. If I had my heart set on exotics though the FF option wouldn't keep me from doing so.
Jason
J
No question it would be fastflight for me I like the way the bow feels and preforms way better would not ever put b50 back on any of my bows. Widow
I would go with FF. You could always use Dacron.
I have never shot a Schafer Slivertip but I do have a top of the line recurve and the bowyer recommended Dacron as the bow would last longer. With Dacron it has a lot of hand shock, with FF no hand shock.
If was me I would go with FF.
J-dog, I know one bow is lighter than the other, but does the FF feel noticeably harder to pull?
Thanks, Paul
I would prefer FF on just about any new bow, including a Schafer. Nothing wrong with a lamination of Dymondwood in the riser, and if you really prefer to use B50, it is always an option on a bow build for FF strings. There is nothing magic about a Schafer when it comes to using B50 or FF. The principles are the same on any similar bow. Dave does build great bows, and you will be thrilled with anything he makes for you.
Allan
Thats a really good point. If for some reason I didn't like the FF string, I could go back to the Dacron.
The only difference in the limbs is an extra re-enforcing layer in the limb tips.
Tall, just had Dave build a silvertip and relimb another one for me. Bow hush really puts the quiet on the FF. I wouldn't worry about it. I had them both built with skins, canebrake skins were great but the water moccasin are fantastic! The best camo I've ever seen for bow limbs. Art
When I ordered my 3pc Schafer LB I really wanted an all exotic riser too. Dave however built a riser with Dymondwood and Rosewood and the stain and finish are just amazing. Prettiest riser I have seen.
The bow is super quiet with a skinny string and 2 small wool silencers.
I have a Silvertip with a set of FF limbs and a set of non FF. (The riser is FF rated)
I shoot FF strings on both now. Yes I know - it voids the warranty on the non-FF set.
I would also choose FF over B-50; to me the bow feels crisper with less handshock and play in the bow.
Cheers
My inclination would be toward the FF option.
I don't consider any bow that can't carry a FF string.Not only because it is faster with less hand shock etc etc. but because it lasts much longer on hunting situations.
I have both, very satisfied with both. If you are going with Dymondwood, no reason not to go FF. But if exotic wood is your thing, dacron shoots just as well from my Tips. You'll be happy with either in my opinion.
I put an SBD 8 strand on my 52# FF limbs. Both faster and quieter than anything else I have used.
like yornoc said; if you want dymondwood then why not go FF.... myself, i wanted the exotic wood riser (shedua w/ a zebra wood accent stripe & zebrea wood limbs) so my silvertip isn't FF. even if you gain 10 fps with FF i don't think a deer will be able to tell. my 2 cents is: go for the look (wood combo, etc.) that you want!
Most of the bowyers offering an exotic wood riser supply also FF limbswith out any issue about that.I think that also the Shafer risers are bombproof with a ff limb,just Dave doesn't want to risk.For myself I have on order an exotic wood riser and FF limbs for him and I risk to don't be covered by the warranty,but I am pretty sure to don't have any issue for that.
I would never spend that much money and get a non FF bow.
Does anyone know why Dave will not use exotics in the riser for a FF bow?Every other bowyer does it.
My silvertip is FF, and it is actually more quite with the FF than the B50. I never could get rid of the twang. Plus mine likes about a 7 1/4 brace height, and with B50 had alot of wrist slap. Never have had that problem with FF. The FPS don't hurt either! Jason
my understanding is that dave will make an exotic FF bow but will not warranty it, although i doubt it would be an issue.
FF is harder on a bow and just because other bowyers do it w/ exotics doesn't mean it's ok. i doubt it would be a problem either but you never know. other bowyers have the same policy as dave does.
as for the FF vs dacron... i've had and shot both schafers. go with the woods and set up you want and don't worry about the FF. the bow is plenty fast with or without. that being said, i use a SBD on my schafer. very fast and quiet!
QuoteOriginally posted by The Whittler:
I would go with FF. You could always use Dacron.
+1 on this...might not help but it can't hurt!
Josh
No cant say it feels harder to pull? It does hold its brace height well - guess the FF doesn't stretch much?
J
I don't know why such an accomplished bowyer has extra stipulations with FF type materials, but that's nowhere near the strangest thing I've heard concerning strings.
A FF string won't change the draw force curve--the feel of the draw won't change. I'd be very surprised to see a gain of 8 fps too, with equally well made strings. There's just not normally much of a performance gain by shaving a few grains of weight off the string.
The main advantages to a FF type string is increased durability and reduced stretch/creep, at least with a moderate strand count. With a little tinkering and tuning, you should be able to get any string very quiet, at least if the bow design will allow it.
I had just ordered a bow with exotics and fast flight . Yes they said they won't warranty the bow, however they said all The bows they had built with ff and exotics had no issues yet .
Have both FF and B50, both 60", 52 @ 28, don't see much difference, I prefer the feel of the B50.
Zero reason to not get the FF limbs. just do it! :)
This thread is so old I would hope he has his bow by now:) What did u decide Tall Paul?
This thread is so old I would hope he has his bow by now:) What did u decide Tall Paul?
In the end it is a personal thing. Advice from someone else is somewhat beneficial, but you really need to try both, and decide for yourself.
I have both FF and non FF Silvertips. I shoot B50 on all of them. I just like the feel better, and with Dave's heavy risers, I have never felt any hand shock.
To each his own.
Looking to the future it appears that there are continual improvements in HMPE (often referred to as Fastflight) material, many of which allow for a quieter string with little or no stretching...if you are planning on keeping the bow it only seems reasonable to allow for those options...I have been impressed by what a low strand count HMPE string can do to quiet a bow...and there is some velocity advantage as well...consistent brace height over time is also an advantage...one of the reasons I ordered the bow I have coming is that the bowyer includes a 10 strand Dynaflight 10 string
DDave
I have a few Schafers and have shot ff and b-50, prefer ff by far. 7.5-8 inch BH and 550 grains you are good to go.
The Silvertip I had was not FF. But I will say that with B-55 or B-50 it was whisper silent and I would get another at some point.
String materials do keep getting better--the quality of HMPE available gets better, the blends get better, and hopefully bowyers will take advantage of them.
You don't have to go "tiny" or low strand count to get a quiet string. How it's made and tuned makes the difference.
The big advantage to these materials isn't a couple fps. It's increased durability, lack of stretch/creep, and consistency.
FF no doubt. that way you can shoot either FF or dacron and not worry about it.
My thing is,I don't understand why you would pay all that good money for a silvertip and not get FF limbs.Just sayin'..