Cables and Strings: Shooting Longer and Smoother

Dacron, Dyneema, and FastFlite are the newest and “most efficient” options that are available on the market when you are looking for crossbow strings. Crossbow cables and strings are made of several threads that are pieced together to form one tough crossbow string. You are going to want to get a string that has the most strength, so that it does not break. At the same time, you are also going to want to use a material that stretches.

There have been hemp, and sinew, but none of them were as strong as the newer synthetic fibers.  You can still definitely shoot with these materials, but I cannot guarantee you that they will last you more than a handful of shots. Dacron is a man made fiber that has a combination of flexibility and tensile strength. It is a soft crossbow string and offers the shooter a decent amount of stretch.previous materials used such as linen. FastFlite is probably the next all-around option.  It was made from a blend of synthetic materials that include, but are not limited to some Dyneema, Spectra, and Vectran. It has a higher amount of tensile strength than Dacron, but it offers the shooter less amount of stretch. If you are looking at this from a speed perspective then FastFlite provides you with a faster flight then Dacron string. Flemish FastFlite is the common term that shooters use to describe Dyneema sting. This is because there have been so many advancements in string technology recently that many of the newer strings titled “FastFlite” are made almost entirely of Dyneema. This is because Dyneema material has a thinner diameter and provides a great balance of tensile strength and stretch.  One of the most sought after strings now is the BCY 452X which is made from a blend of Dyneema and Vectran.  Whatever string it is that you choose, remember that you are eventually going to have to replace the strings. You can wax them and lube them up all that you want, but seasoned archers who shoot week in and week out change every year or two, just to ensure their optimal safety.