HH BUG GOT ME! - Part Four!

[Phil Magistro]

The biggest reason I use B50 over B55 is because I bought enough to outfit an archery business nearly 40 years ago. I'm finally running out of it.

I use B55 too. It is similar in many ways to B50 but except the strands are slightly thinner. 

[MnFn]

Ok, for sure I'll twist up a b55 now. Thanks Phil.

Burnsie, I love that Shelton you got. But so far I've stuck with 66" lately. It seems 66" fits my 27" draw pretty well, don't know if 68" would matter much.

[Michael Guran]

I just picked up a pre OE JD Berry Vixen.  It has nice slender lines and looks like the same riser wood as my older Morning Star.  Easy on the eyes and a great shooter.  It has a good amount of backset and seems pretty quick for a lightweight bow. 

[MnFn]

Yes Burnsie, getting some wrist slap, but I had some before I guess too. I can live with it.

[MnFn]

 Nice bow Michael! Being a chronic trader, I have sold a few that I wish I had back. One was a JD Berry Morning Star, I think 46@26.

 I enjoyed a few conversations with JD about shooting that bow, he gave me a few tips. Quite a guy he is. Come to think of it, I had one of his personal bows too. That was a really nice one but a little too light for at that time.

[Overspined]

Been busy with shotgunning, making knives, bows, hanging w/ kids, and a new job. Stepped away for a bit and it's great to see this thread still rocking. Going to be throwing a few bows together in the coming weeks including a couple ASL. Oh and I need to chase turkeys. Shop is about to get dirty

[MnFn]

Experimenting a bit today.
Lowered brace height on my Bivouac HillJack, started shooting one of my tabs, a relatively new string I made up and an arrow traded to me by Orion. A lot of fun! All I needed.

[Phil Magistro]

MnFn, what brace height have you settled on?  My Hill and Union Jack shoot very well and vary quiet with a 6" brace. I mostly use B50 with no silencers but a D97 string is just as quiet.

[MnFn]

The string on it is 14 strands of D97, brace height of a hair over 5 3/4". I didn't have much time to shoot today but my first shot was at 20 yards and it hit dead on.

Arrows were POC 57# cut to 27" with 125 grn heads. Four 4" fletching. I thought I would need heavier heads but they fly great.

I want to try thicker strings, including B55 but just havnt had time to twist a new string. (Plus the current string and serving fits the nocks really well.)

[Phil Magistro]

Based on my unscientific tests I think you'll be just fine with D97. I posted the following on the ***********. My bows are lighter weight than yours but I suspect the results would be similar.


After reading the ASL threads I shot two bows through a chronograph to compare Dynaflight 97 to B50. To cut to the chase... I've had the chronograph for several years just for curiosity and, after completing this exercise, it's going back in mothballs. The overall results indicate to me that there is not much to show that either type of string is vastly superior. It really comes down to what feels the best on the shot.

The bows are a Bivouac Union Jack (40#@28") and a Bivouac Hill Jack (38#)@28"). I draw 27". Both bows are braced at 6".

I shot the same three arrows from both bows with the different strings. I shot multiple six arrow groups then averaged the speeds. After reading other posts the results did not completely surprise me. It actually reinforced that ASLs, in particular these two ASLs, do not react as much to changes in strings or arrow weight as I've experienced with recurves. While the arrow speeds seemed very slow when compared to the recurves I've owned, I'm not unhappy given the low draw weight I'm forced to use now.

Some disclaimers - my chronograph is a Caldwell. Not a particularly expensive instrument and I noticed some readings that were pretty far out of line with the averages.

The lightest gpp arrow I used is a carbon arrow and the nock fit fairly snugly on the bowstrings which may have impacted the speed.

I used 16 strand strings for the Union Jack and 14 strand strings for the Hill Jack because that's what I had on hand. I'm not sure it actually makes any significant difference in speed. There are no silencers on any of the strings.

Bivouac Union Jack 40# - 16 strand B50 Arrow 1 - 9.7gpp - 147fps Arrow 2 -10.6gpp - 145 fps Arrow 3 - 11.8gpp - 142fps

Bivouac Union Jack 40# - 16 strand D97 Arrow 1 - 9.7gpp -149fps Arrow 2 - 10.6gpp -147 fps Arrow 3 - 11.8gpp -144fps.

Bivouac Hill Jack 38# - 14 strand B50 Arrow 1 - 10.2gpp - 145fps Arrow 2 - 11.1gpp - 144fps Arrow 3 - 12.4gpp - 141fps

Bivouac Hill Jack 38# - 14 strand D97 Arrow 1 - 10.2gpp - 147fps Arrow 2 - 11.1gpp - 144 fps Arrow 3 - 12.4gpp - 143fps

[MnFn]

Ok. Thanks Phil for your findings. I may shoot thru a chronograph at a local store, just to see how my speeds compare to others.

I enjoy shooting ASL's so what I got is what I'll use,(well ok, I might have one more coming)- but it will be interesting to compare.

[Phil Magistro]

When I said I expect your results will be similar I meant the difference between B50 and D97. Your speeds should be significantly higher than mine with both strings.

[Michael Guran]

Pete George Highlander and some tough stumps.

[evgb127]

For anyone who is interested, here's a great video on how to string a Hill-style bow.

https://youtu.be/5dzXbELf2mc?feature=shared

[MnFn]

So Burnsie
I have to ask, which one is your favorite?