I would like to add string silencers to my new competition 3D longbow. Can not decide on which silencer to go with. Any advice?
Wool yarn.
Since I'm shooting the lightest overall arrow weight I've ever shot, 421 grains out of both of my recurves, yarn wool puffs have worked better reducing string twang noise uppon arrow release much better than the rubber cat whiskers I had been using. Both of my bows are whisper quiet upon arrown release.
Of course, I bowhunt and never shoot 3D tournaments so eliminating string noise is very important to me.
got bobcat fur on my Cari-bow Slynx longbow
On a longbow, do ya really need them? Well, ok. String leaches is plenty.
We've got so many burrs, stick tights, and beggars lice in the areas I hunt I find the rubber cat whiskers the best bet for me. Yarn is a great silencer until it is plumb full of burrs. If you are in a burr-free environment, yarn, fur or rubber will work just fine.
Just wondering why you would want to add string silencers to a competition 3-d bow? Last I knew 3-d targets don't jump the string! Are you planning to hunt with this bow also?? If so lots of good advise above!
Then on the other hand I've been known to use the excuse that the target jumped the string when I miss!LOL
I use heavy weight Catwhiskers on all my hunting bows. Durable and quiet.
I like wool or fur. Wool is cheaper though, Just go buy a roll of wool yarn at Walmart, wrap and insert. Then cut ends you are done. I can't even imagine how many strings you can silence with 1 roll of wool yarn. There is a link on the how to threads on how to do this I believe.
James
All of these silencers will do a good job. I don't like stickers, nettles, etc. hanging on my silencers, and I don't want to think about the effect of rain on some of them, so I only use Cat Whiskers. They're maybe not quite as "traditional" looking as some, but they get the job done.
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
I am using them to take a little hum out of the string. Besides they look cool.
On my Grandfathers Grizzly I still use Beaver Fur but my 2 primary bows I use Cat Wiskers, all are dead quiet with a 446 - 460 grain arrow.
Cept for my Grandfathers Griz I use all my bows for hunting.
new zealand wool - TOUGH stuff - www.bowhush.com (http://www.bowhush.com)
(http://www.bowhush.com/images/hushpuppy1s.jpg)
Tried a lot of diffrent things but always come back to cat wiskers .
I like the catwhiskers but prefer Hairy Beaver silencers. Best fur that I've used. Musk-ox was a close second. Did not care for mink. I like plain wool silencers and have had good luck with the Bow-Hush and Bow-Puppies also.
The brush is to thick here I prefer cat whiskers.
i like the look of fur but i think cat whiskers work better, so i use fur and put cat whiskers in with them an d it works really well and looks cool too.
Coyote was the best I've tried, using Musk Ox now. :thumbsup: :archer2:
Been using muskrat lately. I cut them thin and long so they are about 4" along the string. Short fur, waterproof, and look cool. Besides I got a few older tanned hides for free.
Cat Whiskers, not as en-vogue or fancy as some but works and lasts. I just want it quiet not concerned with a fashion statement.
Wool yarn puffs.
I've tried everything, and a lot of it works just fine, but I always go back to the wool.
Recently I stuck some cat whiskers on a new string, because I was being lazy, and didn't want to build the yarn puffs. 30 minutes later I had the puffs on.
Where I live and hunt is mostly brush country. It's thick, and just about everything you look at will stick you, or stick to you. Beggar lice is all over the place along with all sorts of other weeds that will jump on, and stick to you. Never had a problem with the puffs in any regard, including moisture.
Wool puffs on recurves and fur strips on longbows. Both work equally well but just like the two looks. I sometimes have to spend hours at a time just me and the bow waiting for deer to join the party so I want it looking pleasing to my eye.........
Used them all and have gone strictly to wool yarn puffs. Get a nice big bundle of yarn for very little money and it'll last you forever. You can even buy them that have a mixed color pattern on the same roll and have camo puffs.
String leeches for me.
I like wool puffs, I hate cat whiskers....that being said my friends Big River is almost silent with cat whiskers so I guess what ever works for you. As far as burrs and stuff, when they get a bunch I just change them!
Tried about everything. Most recently I fell for the musk ox hair and it works well and resists water. It is just that the price won't stop going up. The last bow I bought came with cat wiskers and darn, they may not be exotic, stylish,or pretty but they sure do work and they don't care about the rain. Oh well.
Cat whiskers, tied on around the string so the can be tuned (can make a world of difference) and cut short. If you don't put them on right and adjust them to find the "sweet spot", they won't work nearly as well. Used properly, they work better than anything I've tried.
Chad
Musk ox wool balls are my favorite. They are dead quiet, don't absorb water and (my favorite part) don't effect arrow speed... Meaning they shouldn't effect the tune of your bow right now. All other silencers will have some effect. They are sold through Alaskan Bowhunting.
I use Beaver fur. Tje heavy fur underneath with long guard hairs makes a perfect silencer and they are super light.
God bless you all, Steve
I use catwhiskers and am surprised no one has mentioned this yet but if you are shooting in a light drizzle or even a fine mist guess what happens when you release with those wet wool, natural fur etc.. silencers. It's bad enough without them but now think about it if you wear glasses like I do.
I have tried and use them all from time to time. I find some bows have a preference. I have only found one bow that hands down liked the fur better than any other material. Several liked the wool. Most worked best with the cat whiskers. On a hybrid LB I tie on one half strip using the whisker to make the knot. I keep the legs kind of long. Then I can slide them up and down the string to tune. I find most times I can quiet a LB right down with this amount of whisker. I almost think less is better many times. The big balls of cat whisker made into a ball is more than needed many times.