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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: firsted on May 17, 2010, 11:38:00 AM

Title: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: firsted on May 17, 2010, 11:38:00 AM
Just curious - Another trad member told me he leaves his bows strung, that he was told more damage happens from stringing/unstringing bows than happens from just leaving them strung.  I have seen limbs suffer damage while being (probably incorrectly) strung.  But, since I'm newer than not to trad, I didn't say anything other than I don't leave my bows strung.  I had a limb that appeared slightly twisted on an old bow & an archery shop guy told me to leave it strung for a week or two to see if it made a difference.  Other than that, I've always unstrung my bows.  Any thoughts on this?
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Bowferd on May 17, 2010, 11:48:00 AM
You can do a search and find more opinions than you'd be able to read today.
I leave all of the bows that I shoot on a regular basis strung year round.
A couple of older collected bows and my selfbows get unstung after each use.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Zbearclaw on May 17, 2010, 12:12:00 PM
My widow has only been unstrung for travel.  I will shoot it less if I unstring it each time as many times I only shoot three arrows, in and out before the wife knows I got away!

I would have trouble hunting a bow that required being unstrung each day, that bow is camp bear and mtn lion medicine on backpack hunts.  I went to a curve because it is less maintenance than wheelie bows.

But to each their own.  I make sure it is never mistreated beyond usual hunting stresses and never locked in a hot car, strung or not...
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: cbCrow on May 17, 2010, 12:22:00 PM
I unstring my bows when I am done with them.  :thumbsup:   This is something I do from habit and feel that if you use a stringer no harm is done.  :archer:
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: robtattoo on May 17, 2010, 12:51:00 PM
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Butkus on May 17, 2010, 01:14:00 PM
Some folks speak as if stringing or unstringing a bow is traumatic. It is a quite gentle affair with me, taking only a few seconds and putting far less stress on the limbs than drawing for a shot. Both bowyers for my custom bows recommend not leaving strung for long periods. I do use a bow stringer.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: rastaman on May 17, 2010, 01:25:00 PM
Search 1 click here (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=088374)  
 Search 2 click here (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=085418)  
 Search 3 click here (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=084781)  
 Search 4 click here (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=083520)  
 Search 5 click here (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=077386)  
 Search 6 click here (http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=074754)  

There are probably 12 or 15 more minimum, but i think you will get a good idea from these.  :)
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: will123 on May 17, 2010, 01:27:00 PM
Just leave you recurve strung.It is proven that bows can handle that for years. As already said most accidents with bows happen when you string it.
However: I unstring my longbows. Don`t know why but that`s just a feeling.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Bjorn on May 17, 2010, 01:30:00 PM
I unstring them to replace the string.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Curveman on May 17, 2010, 01:34:00 PM
My bowyer has a degree in mechanical engineering and he says it is fine to leave glass and or carbon bows strung. That being said, my longbow is unstrung now as it is in the truck (with the windows cracked so it won't get too hot) as Im planning to shoot on the way home. Just as little extra precaution. I always use a stringer. Err on the conservative side I say!
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: KentuckyTJ on May 17, 2010, 01:52:00 PM
Mine all stay strung (fiberglass bows) in my cool basement. Hang them by two points on the string.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Orion on May 17, 2010, 03:36:00 PM
Do what you want.  Really doesn't make much difference.  I've been unstringing mine for nearly 50 years.  Never had a mishap.  Works for me.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Keith Zimmerman on May 17, 2010, 04:42:00 PM
Leave mine unstrung for the most part.  Plus I am always switching limbs on them.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Fred Walker on May 17, 2010, 04:43:00 PM
Yup leave mine ready to go on a daily basis. Hung on the sting and ready to fire.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: Track on May 17, 2010, 05:14:00 PM
I know a lot of guys who leave thier recurves strung with no harm. I prefer to unstring mine when I'm not shooting them.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: ronnyg on May 17, 2010, 05:48:00 PM
If I shoot it regularly, I leave it strung. The rest unstrung, and of course if I leave it in the truck, then unstrung
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: tkytrac on May 17, 2010, 07:00:00 PM
I've heard a number of people say that they leave their bows strung. I never do. Why stress the glue, glass or wood if it's not in use? Just the way I look at it I guess.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: lpcjon2 on May 17, 2010, 07:11:00 PM
We are supposed to un string them    :saywhat:   I Leave mine strung and hung on a peg.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: reddogge on May 17, 2010, 07:18:00 PM
I've been unstringing mine for over 40 years but a couple of months ago I left an old Hoyt Pro Hunter strung for groundhogs 3 weeks and it blew the lower limb off the first shot.  Coincidence?  You decide.  From now on I'll keep on unstringing these old ones.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: stickbowmaniac on May 17, 2010, 07:26:00 PM
I leave my strung most of the time because i  shoot almost every day.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: TheFatboy on May 18, 2010, 04:27:00 AM
Just received a horsebow. It's hard to string, so I think I intend to leave it strung, unless I know I'm not gonna shoot for a while.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: firsted on May 18, 2010, 09:36:00 AM
I appreciate all the feedback; I guess I should have done a search & would have seen it's like 6 of one, half a dozen of another.  I never worry about stringing a Morrison or Hall Navajo because their limbs just seem so stout.  I've got a couple others, tho, that the limbs seem a little fragile & I do take alot of care making sure the cup is just right (I seldom use a Selway stringer unless its for a hybrid - I always use cupped stringers for recurves but I guess that's another choice!)  Thanks you guys & sorry for re-asking a basic question.

Eddie Paulsgrove
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: on May 18, 2010, 12:35:00 PM
Curveman is totally correct. If it's got glass or carbon in the limbs being strung won't hurt. Never leave it strung in a hot car. Don't leave a selfbow strung after you shoot it.
Title: Re: Leaving bows strung?
Post by: TxAg on May 19, 2010, 01:33:00 AM
Chalk another one up for leaving it strung. I keep it laying flat on the top shelf in my closet. I figure as long as a I shoot it fairly often then there's nothing to worry about.