How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

I have put the old rubber string silencers on my bow string and they helped a ton. I was wondering how many fps I am loosing with these.

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

If by "old rubber" you mean cat whiskers, a safe bet is between 3-15 fps, depending on how you installed them, if you did any trimming, how close to the center of the string, what kind of bow you're shooting, how heavy an arrow you are shooting, etc, etc...

How much FPS loss, or specifically transferable energy loss is primarily a matter of how much the object(s) attached to the string weighs and how close they are to the center of the string.

If they weigh 30 grains each, that's 60 total grains. If you are shooting a modern bow near IBO weights, you may well lose more than if you are shooting a much heavier total grain weight "hunting" arrow.

How much drop are you experiencing with your pins? Probably not much, and not worth worrying about, especially if it is on a hunting bow where silence is more desireable, to a point :)

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Rangeball--6.11 AT 232.0

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Rangeball,
Yes I am talking about cat wiskers. Where abouts should I mount them on string and how should I trim them? Secondly, would you recomed something else like the string leach or tranchalers?
I am shooting a Jennings Trophy Master 64# w/ Alm. arrows.
Thanks for the help.

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Generally, the closer to the string, the more they silence, and the more speed you lose.

I'm guessing that if you aren't shooting a super light aluminum, chances are you are flinging a fairly heavy arrow by today's carbon monopolized standards, and the fps loss is probably on the low end of the above guesstimate. Trimming simply reduces weight, so less fps loss, but also less noise silenced...

If you aren't noticing an appreciable drop in your pin settings, I wouldn't worry about it. Speed is more about trajectory than it is penetration, within a certain range.

Same goes for RWK... :)

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

HUH?.....the closer to the string?
do you mean the closer to the serving?

the closer to the cam and or idler the less speed loss.

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

That sentence was missing the words "center of the".

Sorry.

:D

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

I read in a bowhunting magazine that you lose about 10fps to each item you add to your string.

nubo

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

I would tend to disagree with that, Nubo, only because I can't see losing 10 fps over something small as opposed to untrimmed Cat Whiskers.

I would say a safe bet would be bewteen 3 and 15 fps.

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

I know all bows are different but we just performed a test on a diamond hornet at the shop to answer the question you were asking. The bow was set at 30" draw 75 lbs shooting a 348 grain arrow at 316 fps with string loop only. After adding cat wiskers the speed was 314 and after adding the peep(tru peep) the speed was 312. We tie the cat whiskers on with fast flight material approx 3" from the cam and idler wheel and trim them so that the whiskers are about 1½" long.

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

That's fine WashingtonHunter! you may be very well right ,but I did read something about it and I might have just misinturprated what I read.I had a hard time believing it myself but there's no better place to find out which is right than here on this forum.
OAKTREE! hopefully your correct because I won't put anything else on my string because I don't like to lose any speed if I can avoid it.

nubo

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Why don't you guys try something that has worked for me.The result was concluded after a lot of testing,trial and error.The chrono is accurate,and we use an Appel press.The results where consistant using my LX,and my buddies Q2,Hoyt Razortech,Renegade SBD,and a 03 SC Bowtech Patriot.First off,the Simms string leeches seem to work the best for being quite(our opinion).But the main reason for all this testing was speed,and what effect the string silencers had.If you only put ONE string leech at the TOP(above) your serving,you will lose no speed,and the quiteness of the bow is the same.Whereas if you put two string leeches(one top & bottom),you lose between 3-7 fps,with no change in the bows quiteness.Check it out,I hope it works for you!!...Bob

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

I've not tested the speed diff between one and two leeches but I have noticed that two are not significantly quieter than one (i've set up several bows with just one). I'm gonna check this out this weekend through the chrono @ the shop. Thanx for the heads-up! :)

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Jeff, you'll be reporting back, right?

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Does your bow need silencers to quiet it enough for hunting? If the answer is YES, then install the silencers. If you gotta have 'em, you gotta have 'em. No sense obsessing about speed loss when you're talking about a necessary accessory.

I'm no fan of leeches. I can't see spending that much money for something I'd have to have a chronograph and decibel meter to see any advantage over catwhiskers.

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

First off, good to see ya back AP.:)

Second, I've never needed to do anything of the sort, there's no doubt in my mind (ears?) that leeches work better than Whiskers unless you are using an extremely heavy set of them (i.e 2 or 3 strips per bundle). The only downside to leeches is longevity.

My point was that if one leech works sufficently to do the job, then why would one take the speed hit (i.e for no reason)?

But absolutely I agree that you should not forego silencers of any kind just for a few FPS if the bow has some string twang.

And yes RB, I'll let ya know :)

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Echoing Arthur P; forget the speed. These days, speed is so highly overrated other more important aspects have taken a back seat. You gotta use what you gotta have.

Rather than being concerned about loss of speed, I would be watchful that the spine of your shaft does not become too stiff once weight of any type is added that skims off energy. Changing of shaft spine is something many shooters hardly consider when adding weight to the string.

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Hey JeffB,Let me know how you make out...Bob

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Hey Bigbuck270,

If you silence your bow, the deer won't jump the string. If it isn't silenced, and they do jump the string, then the 2-10 fps that you may lose won't make any difference anyway. Just put on the silencers and forget the "speed loss." It is insignificant.

PS- I like the fleece "tarantulas."

Mainehunt

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Jeff, no doubt leeches work. Compared to whiskers though, they do not work enough BETTER than whiskers... for not nearly enough savings in fps... for not nearly enough lifespan... for me to rationalize paying the price they want.

You know how much of an old-fashioned tightwad I are. ;)

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

How about my full size, old fashioned Puffs. They are on my UltraMax, 28", 60#. Wonder what that is costing me in speed?

The bow very quiet!!!!

Dayton

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Just shot my Q2XL through a chrono yesterday with whiskers and got 274 fps/. Shot it after removing them and got 277. I know each bow and arrow combo will be different but thats my results. I will add the noise level went up significantly without the whiskers.

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Geesh, such worry about a few fps.[&o]

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

I've had a couple of the Q2XLS, and for some reason that particular design had a ton of string vibration/noise. I had 2 leeches on mine, and it probably could have used 4.:D

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Who's worried? I'm not :)

But I'll take all the extra I can get if I don't compromise something else in the process :D

RE: How many fps am I loosing w/ silencers
 

Within the past week I just lost most all of the little "legs" from the string silencers on my Liberty. I was surprised they lasted that long, but since they were falling apart I went ahead & removed them from the string. I shot last night & there was no noticeable difference in my point of impact at all. Pins still hit dead on out to 35 yards.

If it's not going to change your pin gap, why bother removing them just to gain a few fps? My Liberty makes a little more noise sans string silencers so I will definitely be adding leaches before hunting season.