Trad Gang

I have been sitting back reading and learning from all you guys and I am reading more and more about bows exploding !  The replies make it sound like that's a normal occurrence ?

Is shooting trad bows like riding a motorcycle, when I used to ride I was told it will only be a matter of time before I will have to lay it down and ride it out ! I had one close call and said that's enough of that.

Honestly, I assume only a handful of you guys have experienced a bow explode Correct ?  Or is it only a matter of time ?

Me!

30 plus years shooting and never had a factory or custom break.

I've had plenty of my own making break though  :knothead:  

Tracy

One riser at full draw for me!

Me Too ! You don't know what your missing till you do. My only wheelie bow back about 1987 did. The teardrop broke off at fulldraw and gave me a beating that would have made my dad proud.

yup

Not necesarily explode but I had a delamination and a delamination/total snap in half.

And numerous strings break. (not fun)

Those who have had bows explode whats your draw length??

1993, a 90# longbow, riser broke and I think there are a few toothpicks still flying.

29" draw. My own expolded. Had a widow recurve back in the mid nineties do it too. It'll wake you up, that's for sure  :)

First bow I ever had, Bob Lee Hunter 52# @28, 58AMO, on Xmas day 2007.....BOOM.

2 in one year   :banghead:

One at 28" full draw,became a 2 pc in a snap! I made it and knew it had a bad spot at the fade about the size of a dime,short on glue. I figured it would get worse gradually before it let go. Nope!

13... 1 was a T/D Don't remember the bowyers name, but the riser was laminated. It blow at full draw on a nice 10 pointer, that was back in 2004. The other 12 where all bows I was trying to make .

3 in one month last year. I draw to a shade over 30" & each one went at full draw. That sucks.

Never had one actually explode. But did have a Bear TD upper limb collapse at the top of riser. One moment it was at full draw the next moment top limb was laying on arrow.
Also had three of my own laminated longbows delaminate on back of riser. 2 were top limb, 1 was bottom. All were layed up using the same lot of epoxy and hardener. Think it was a bad batch, or maybe just mixed wrong. All were made during the same week.

I've had a few come apart on me, but most of those were prototypes for different bowyers.

I had a Hill bow break 25 years ago. Also had 2 JD Berry bows break several years ago. I had a hinge break on a 2 pc longbow. Nothing ever breaks except at full draw.
OUCH.

I had a top limb split out about from the tip, down to about 10 inches at full draw.

Not something I want to experience every day.

Never had one of my bows explode,but had a tip pop off on a dry fire,nock broke.

Several actually; new ones, very old ones, not so old ones, self bows the whole 9 yards.

Only the ones I have made.....must say something about my ability as a bow yer....lol!

Never yet, but I did lay it down and ride it out once and t-bone a car another time on a cycle.  Maybe I paid my dues.

I too have had several but the worst was acouple years ago.Came to full draw on a very large blackbear at 6ft when all hell broke loose.The bear couldn't figure out what was going on but my bow was at the base of the tree and the arro ??????? never found it.

Add me to this list. Same bow broke 2 times on me. 3 piece takedown, riser cracked fully in half at near full draw the first time. Was only a month old at the time. Very sickening sound. Bowyer built a new riser and set of limbs, and I managed to crack it again a month later when an arrow slipped of the string just as I released. Only cracked part of the riser this time, bowyer spliced in another piece fo wood and it's been good ever since.
Never want to hear that sound again though!!!

Three and I draw 29". It's exciting to say the least.  Ben

I had the top limb tip delaminate on a Browning Nomad recurve back in about 1972. It sprayed fiberglass down into my face and cut my bow arm with the string. There was blood, but no serious injuries, other than the bow being ruined. My draw length was 30" back then and the Browning was at full draw. Since then a shattered collar bone caused my draw length to shorten to 29.5" when my left collarbone healed back half an inch shorter.

Allan

(http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/ae220/bolson1/Picture6-9-08267.jpg)
I had my new Palmer Traditional Slam break at fulldraw, 30.5" not 200 arrows after I got the bow. It took 2 years to get it and then took 2 years to replace the limbs

Old Lemon Wood Longbow, exploded into 4 pieces at full draw, found 3, no Archers were harmed in this incident. Did have a string break at the bottom loop on a recurve at full draw.....top limb came down and cut me good.

2 in the last 3 months. Both had bad spots and should have been thrown away but thought I'd see how long they lasted. 5 years for one and 4 for the other. No injuries just woke me up.

You mean something like this?

 (http://i893.photobucket.com/albums/ac138/hemdell/IMG00085-20100702-1115.jpg)

Never have. I draw a shade under 30 inches. Been shooting since 1963. Guess I'm lucky. Gary

One recurve left it in the  bowed over nite in the garage was in the summer. Bow parts all over the place.Three of the four board bows Broke while tillering them . For some reason ones a real shooter (sort of.)Had a string break have scars from that.

Had 2 risers blow in half and a top limb fold over in half pretty much.These things always happen at full draw ofcourse.It will leave you a bit stunned and flabbergasted for a few seconds.

I draw 30 inches.Been shooting trad bows for about 17 years.I shoot alot.None of these were dry fore situations.All 3 of the bows were less than 2 years old.Thats one every 6 years and millions of shots I am sure.

Has never happened to me in more than 50 years of shooting, and I'm thankful for it.  There's been an increasing infatuation with short bows the past few years, and a lot of fellas with long draws are shooting very short bows. That puts tremendous strain on both the limbs and riser.  Those bows are going to break sooner or later IMO.

Yes, had a recurve blow up on me. They replaced it, but it just wasn't the same.

Had my Herters perfection Sitka blow at full draw fifteen years ago.  Still miss that bow.

Had the bottom limb delam at the fade on a one piece recurve. I draw 28". Bowyer attempted to fix it. Happened again. Then he replaced it for a longbow of my choice.

I had two self bows made from ash last year that did  broke clean of in the riser at full draw, in three months.

Got the top limb smack in the head twice.


Last one made me go down on my knees taking  count to 10  :D

One in 52 years is enough for me. 58" bow drawn to 31". Hap

2, both prototypes.I of mine and one I was testing for someone else.Neither was an explosion.I have exploded several selfbows.

This is my only "explode"

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/vtmtnman/IMG_0798.jpg)

(http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f7/vtmtnman/IMG_0797.jpg)

I can't wait to start making bows to find out what a real explode is.

Well, put me on the list.  32+" draw = "kaboom" for a Wing Slim Line.  Quite a humbling experience.  Thankfully I had a couple month wait for a new one to get over the shock/fear.  That first time drawing after that was, shall I say "tense".

3 for me.  One was all wood, other 2 were bows with glass.   I hope number 4 is never going to happen - it will mess up your day.

QuoteOriginally posted by xtrema312:
Never yet, but I did lay it down and ride it out once and t-bone a car another time on a cycle.  Maybe I paid my dues.

I must be getting old.  Now that I think on it more, I had a long bow snap in the handle.  That was probably 25 years ago.  I forgot all about it.  I had an almost new string break last year.  String went on the shot so not as bad as it could have been.  Had an older string go on a friends bow go at full draw last year also.  Still had half the string in my hand when it was over.

Me   :(   Top limb, long bow, foam carbon @full draw 28" #54. didn't get hurt but it sure pissed me off.  :banghead:

Had a compound limb crack right up the middle while at full draw and had a selfbow explode at full draw. Scared the pee outta me!  :eek:

yep

Back when I shot a wheel bow, my first bow cracked a limb, I stopped using it. The wheel bow I replaced it with exploded when I dropped it out of my treestand onto a rock. It was one of the turning points to traditional. I couldn't put it together by myself and it ruined my hunt for a couple days.

yep 2

Had 2 EXPLODE one was a cpound let go thru the riser at full draw the other was a well  known longbow let go at full draw. Definately wakes yo up. minor injuries both times. Both bows made a tiny click the shot before exploding on drawing them. Next shot bam!!!!!! Frank

One that I recall, about 50 yrs ago. But I will never forget standing within 2 feet of a bow that exploded. A bowyer from Canada was at full draw on a 3D target at a Longbow Safari, when his 80# Glass-yew longbow blew apart. It was a really hot day, he thought he better start curing his bows at a higher temperature. There were pieces all over the place, no one hit by any debris.

two for me and it sucks!  Both at full draw and they both hurt physically and emotionally.

Drew a custom recurve back once and it exploded at the throat of the grip when I hit my anchor.

Scared the crap out of me. Luckily, my right eye sits far enough back into my skull that it's still in use.

Hadn't had one blow in over 56 years of shooting a bow and had two go up in one month last year, a '65 Bear Kodiak delaminated and a 70s Hoyt Pro Hunter that the lower limb blew at the riser.

QuoteOriginally posted by Squirrel Bait:
Me Too ! You don't know what your missing till you do. My only wheelie bow back about 1987 did. The teardrop broke off at fulldraw and gave me a beating that would have made my dad proud.

:laughing:    :laughing:    :laughing:

Only one compound device, and several all wood bows that I made.

Wing "Thunderbird". 62" long, 45@28.Had been stored for about 6 years. Broke while stringing with a bow stringer. Sounds like a gun going off. No injury.

Been there, it gives you a sick feeling that stays with you for quite some time.

I did!  At full draw and I hope not to experience that again.  The largest chunk of upper limb missed my eye by a couple inches, but did put a heck of a gash in my forehead.

I had 4 break on me. Two in the last year. All three piece bows. The one that hurt was the first one that broke in the middle of the riser. I took it on the head, and chin on that one. The other three broke at the bottom limb. Now almost every time I settle into my anchore, breaking bows is in the back of my mind. And yes I have a 31" draw, but all my bows have been 64" bows. Whats up with that?

Went through 2 in last 2 months. But in bows defence changed anchor now drawing 31 1/2" one was 62" other 64" bows.

I'v lost two one in the riser and one upper limb, bows of my own making. Hum must have done something wrong.  :dunno:

Nock on wood...I've been shooting since the late 60's. The only bows I ever had that blew up on me were two Yamaha YTSL II's in 1978. And it was the aluminum alloy handles that broke right in the pivot point of the grip (not the limbs)(this was a flaw in the design of that model of Yamaha). Funny thing about it was both handles broke at the time during the shot when I released the string. The arrows went smack dab in the middle of the 10 ring (indoor FITA target face). At the time I was shooting Kevlar strings, 2115 X7 arrow shafts @ 30 5/8" through the clicker. Since then I have had several bows that have developed flaws in them and I caught the problems before shooting the bow. I do remember that when a bow breaks, it does wake you up and everyone around you.

2 years ago my 2nd bow I ever bought, an older howatt high speed, riser exploded at full draw, for me thats 27", whacked me on top of the head so hard I saw stars. I loved that bow. It can happen to any bow any time I just don't think about it.

Several self bows, especially yew! Never got the top limb head smack yet but know friends who have. Couple of 3 piece recurves have cracked in the riser, but no blow ups of glass bows yet.

bottom limb full draw 4th of july 2010

Nothing breaks like a lemonwood bow on a cold morning. I have also had an old recurve fly apart and an all wood laminated bow that I had made come apart a little at a time.

I had one go on me a few weeks ago.  I came home from the Compton shoot, and wanted to shoot the first longbow I ever glued up.  I had a bad glue joint on the upper end of the riser fadeout (I squeexed to much of the glue out) and it cracked straight across.  I'm glad it didn't "Blow", because it could have been ugly having that fiberglasscome down on top of the wrist.

Ive been shooting for a couple of years now. The bow that blew on me was a used bow 11 years old.

i had a limb delaminate on my hybrid bow. I was very disappointed, not that the bow broke but at the fact that I killed my first trad deer/buck with it.

I have had three custome bows break at the grip and one that delaminated in the limbs. All four were replaced by the bowyers. I had one unknown bow that I took in a trade at a blanket swap at ETAR that also broke in the grip area. The other bows did not cause and serious injuries while the trade blanket bow required 9 stitches to sew up my head.

Yep, me too. Several.

I shoot 68 inch bows with a 30.25 inch draw length.  I did a lot of research prior to picking my first longbow.

This thread, several custom bowyers, and my research all indicated that a 68 or 70 inch bow was the right tool for me to shoot.  No stacking, maximum force curve, smooth draw,  and no overstressing of the limbs and riser.

I've been standing beside two guys when their trad bows blew, thats scary enough. I had a wheely bow blow on me at full draw once, that was scary. Had a carbon arrow blow on release just past feathers few years back. Arm looked like bad hamburger for 3 or 4 weeks.

Yep, a longbow at full draw into 3 pieces.....IJ

A 64" longbow 47#@28" and that is all I pull. We were experimenting with all Carbon instead of glass, and the bottom belly busted. It was a few years ago.It seems the bottom limb belly has the most tension on it. Ken

Add me. 1970 Black widow HS60-60# full draw 32"
1979 Bear T/D mag handle 88# full draw 32"
1983 Zebra longbow 70# full draw in front of a crowd full draw 30#
1985 Maulding Bighorn longbow 70# full draw 30"
1993 Bamboo longbow by Denny Beck 74# 1/2 draw

So far none have happened while hunting. Thank God!

I had a compound's top limb blow up on me once.  Didn't like it.  :nono:   Just stood there a minute holding the riser, wondering what happened, as the arrow just fell real slow down the front of me.  The string got me right under the eye, and part of the limb got me in the forhead.  Hope it never happens again, but we'll see.

2 compounds, but never had a stick bow to do it, in 40+ years. I've had some fail, but not "explode".

I don't like this thread...please close it.

You guys are scaring me.  I have never had it happen and want to believe it never will :-)

I am a little amazed and surprised at the number of bows blowing up. Some have reported several. In all my years, I've only had 2 to break. I had a 48 inch Bear explode the first time I pulled it back. This was in the mid 1960's. About 5 years ago I had the takedown system on a longbow break while I was at full draw. let me tell you, this got my attention! The top limb put an inch long gash in my forehead and the bottom limb bruised some ribs pretty severely. Made me gunshy for months when drawing a bow. Anyway the bowyer fixed the broken takedown system and the bow is still being shot today.

Check this out, a old Indian longbow I bought on e-bay. look at the right side of the pic. I received it in the mail found a string for it strung it up and gave her a yank back!! sounded like a rifle going off.  (http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/earljeff/indianbow001.jpg) found another pic (http://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss115/earljeff/indianbow002.jpg)

The odd one or three. Something one comes to expect just when a bows sorted and at its best. Trying to break the latest lovely but it won't play nice. Winced, expecting more pain the other night, when a nock disintegrated.  Fortunately it was only a diaper disposal moment. Might have to try a large fire cracker to replicate the overall pain, noise and shock value that could strike anywhere between the head and knees. Uncanny, with the energy spent, the arrow often just drops at ones feet.

This thread should probably be kept to just the number of bows and probably not the names of the bows.   :readit:    :dunno:

One of my own bows exploded. I knew it had flaws in the limb wood when I finished it and that the life cycle would be short. It lasted about 9 months. No big deal. Just build another one.

QuoteThis thread should probably be kept to just the number of bows and probably not the names of the bows  

I see nothing wrong with naming names myself. I've heard too many comments that bows will last several lifetimes so let's debunk that myth here and now.

It seems that the reasons for the failures can be attributed primarily to one of three factors -- bad glue ups/starved joints, old age and perhaps deteriorated glue joints and/or wood, bows too short for the draw length applied to them. For those who can't attribute it to old bow age or bad glue ups, what bow length were you shooting, recurve or longbow, and what was your draw length?

QuoteOriginally posted by lt-m-grow:
I don't like this thread...

You guys are scaring me.  I have never had it happen and want to believe it never will :-)

I didn't dream this thread I started  would  have 6 pages !
I too am scared ! If you see a guy at the 3D shoot  wearing a helmet and safety glasses, it's probably me !  LOL

I had a BW SIW recurve blow at the fade outs on the fourth shot when new. It was pretty violent and when the stringjumped past the grip as the bow folded up it scalped my right hand from the base of the thumb to the first joint. Of course they built me another that never had a problem but I never could get over that and become comfortable with the bow and ended up selling it. Not long after that production was suspended and later the redesigned PSR came out to replace it.

Yep, a hickory selfbow. It took me a second to comprehend what happened but then I realized it.

I have had three bows come apart while shooting. The mildest was a recurve that had the top limb tip pulled apart by the string( the company replaced the bow upon return) The worst was a old six wheel compound that the top limb split the entire length at full draw. When that bad boy let go it had my full attention,I had fiberglass,splinters and cables going everywhere. It was like holding a wildcat by the tail and trying not to get bit!

Oh yea! Trying to restore an old lemon wood long bow. POW!!!!!!!! wasn't quite ready yet.

I have had 8 delaminate, usually at full draw. Long draws are hard on equipment!!!

I had a recurve break in half at full draw right in the lowest part of the grip. That was real interesting. Also had a recurve and longbow fail at the tips.

Thankfully, I haven't.

2, I dont remember the name of the first bow, but it blew up into about 8 peices, the second was a lemonwood selfbow someone made for me.

Jerry Hill longbow right above the handle - don't know what happen there.

Shakespeare recurve - experimenting with phenolic and FF string on vintage bow....didn't work in my favor - blew the lower tip off after about 200 shots.

A couple of my first board bows....I'm sure that was me...grin...

><>

Glenn

Never a traditional bow. I have had 1 compound at full draw break through the handle where I was holding it. Scared the S**t out of me.

Greg

Had a limb on a custom T/D go after approximately 4 dozen arrows. Builder replaced it no questions, but he did want to see the limbs.

I know it's late, but I wanted to post on this a while ago and never could get around to it.

I've had two trad bows go kaput.  One was a used 62" recurve I got before I knew what a fast flight string was..apparently who I got it from had a FF string on it and the bow was not made for it.  Eventually it sheared the tips off.  When one went the other went slid right down the fiberglass lol. CRUD.  However, bowyer was seriously gracious and just charged cost of materials to replace the limbs.

2nd one broke right in the grip where the V of my thumb and index finger go around. OUCH.  Bloodied my hand pretty good.  Luckily it went around and didn't whack me.

I've had two bows, both recurves, one sixty inches and the other sixty two inches delaminate upon drawing them.  Both times it was the upper limb.  As both were custom made bows by reputable bowyers, the first was replaced within two weeks as the bow that broke was only a week old.  The second bow was years past it's pro rated warranty and the bowyer still wanted to heavily discount the price of a new bow to me.  I will soon purchase another bow from him.  
The only time a bow ever seemed to "explode" on me was the time I was stringing a Wing Redwing Hunter using the old push-pull method which is not recommended on any recurve.  I guess my thumb on the upper limb must have been a little "greasy" because it slipped just before the string loop caught the limb tip. I think my eyes switched dominance at that very moment.

None so far, either I'm real lucky or living right?  Course I only draw 27 1/4, so that helps a bit.

My first half dozen, or so, homemade attempts blew up in some way or another.  I FINALLY figured out that I had crummy wood.  I kept hearing that you CAN'T break hickory... and they kept breaking.  A cross section showed that it was very pithy and, after changing woods, (and maybe getting a little better in tillering)... haven't had anything blow up since.  After seeing the aftermath... kind of hard to believe that I didn't get hurt.  It's no fun... but I just figured it would happen to everybody at some point.  Maybe not?

This happened last year just as I reached my 29 1/2 " draw.  The bow was about 6-7 months old with a bow bolt. not sure if it had anything to do with the bolt, but cant help but be a little leary when shooting a 2-peice with a bow bolt. the bowyer replaced promptly ( with a 1-peice)  and i escaped with only some string burn around the side of my neck. (http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss191/schamp38/IMG_0605.jpg)

Hadn't had one blow up yet but did have an old Pearson delaminate it's lower limb. In the bows defence thou the guy I got it from didn't take care of it at all. As a matter of fact when he gave it to me it had been riding around in his trunk for weeks. The bow worked for another 15-20 yrs later than one day while shooting it it just let go. No big bang just felt funny and noticed the lower limb seperated.

ACS CX Limbs seprated had to purchase a new set, as they would not replace them. They did give me a 100 dollar discount.

QuoteOriginally posted by amazonjim:
ACS CX Limbs seprated had to purchase a new set, as they would not replace them. They did give me a 100 dollar discount.

Wonder why they wouldn't replace them....

I've had one compound, one selfbow, and one longbow come apart in my hands. Never been hurt but it sure wakes you up when it happens. (29.5" DL)

Bisch

I had a buddy bring over a new bow (to him) that had carbon limbs.  I have a long draw (about 30) and he says "draw it back...it's very smooth".  I did and the thing splintered in my hands.  
The top limb just snapped.  Kind of funny looking back on it~!

I've had a recurve and a self bow break at full draw.  That's an awful sound.

I bought an old ben pearson one piece hickory, i got Jim Raine a member from this site make me a string( Awesome string by the way! ) after stringing the old bow i began exercising the old limbs at about 15 minutes and 3/4 draw she broke back on me and that was the end of that !

None for me..I've been lucky. I do strive to take  great care of my equiptment storing and stringing them properly. I have also narrowed my "bowyer list" down to acouple guys who's work I really trust... I also do not shoot light arrows in the pursuit of "Maximum Speed".

Gene  :wavey:

I've been shooting for 45 years. I've always shot year-round, 10 states and Ontario.  I've never had a bow break. I've never even had a string break.  I have broken quite a few arrows though.

I bought a super mag 48 (about a "72") on the auction site. Drew it back to about 28 or so.... sounded like a bomb going off. Found the coin about a year later sweeping. The riser had let go starting at the stabilizer bushing. So I, feeling challenged, glued it back together, put on a motorcycle helmet, heavy leather duster and heavy gloves and shot it three or four times and it held. So I took off all the gear and shot it again and it let go.. I believe god watches over all truly innocent idiots.
It drew blood both times. I have a newer "76" Super mag that was well cared for and it shoots fine.
I also had a early Tamerlane de-laminate. That was a bummer, it was a 45lb with a usable shelf. Now I just have a chunk of Brazilian Rosewood, although it might be able to make a Bear takedown riser out of it, or have it re-limbed.
I also knotted a string once to shorten it... don't do that one either. It also sounded like a bomb, but the Bear 70lb #3 limb with an A riser held fine. yep that was really stupid.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing a bow for a long draw is it is not all length. The riser design is important, like whether the limbs mount on the belly or the back of the riser and how much deflex there is at the riser. Some of the short bows have the limbs coming out the riser at an angle that looks like it is drawn already (Super Mag 48). This allows them to be drawn further then if there coming out of the riser straight up and down.
Just something to consider as a lot of these events are long draws.
You can put a set of short ILF limbs on a 25" riser and have a bow that is, I think, 66" long and still best for a short draw, under 28". Longer ILF risers don't have much deflex at all it seems.

I had a compound blow up as I was coming to full draw just short of letoff 78# was the weight. I hit myself so hard when she gave way the spot above my lip and below my nose was numb for 2-3 days busted my nose good. That was in 1995. I have not had a stick bow do that yet.

I had a beautiful longbow I was going to buy from Aldo. We met a local sporting store. I started to draw the bow back and got to about 3/4 draw. The bottom belly lamb let loose and hit me dead center of the glass in my glasses. It popped the glass out, gave me a small cut on my eye brow and hand.

Aldo and I looked at each like what the heck just happened. He was more scared I got hurt than the fact his bow exploded, and I was more concerned for him because his bow exploded from me drawing back.

The bowyer made good for Aldo and I was out a beautiful longbow.

At least I didn't get hurt and Aldo got his money back.

Gil

1 with me behind the string another with my dad.

Me was my daughters PSE Buck Eye jr. shooting some of her arrows in the basement, never pulled more than 23-24 inches & the top limb snapped & delaminated.
I refuse to do anything but string her bow & can't wait for her custom Zona to be made & shipped here.

My dad had my old Hoyt Spectra hunting compound & dry fired it & blew both cable teardrops off & split the bottom limb, I cried because it was the bow I killed my only bear with.

I haven't had one blow up, but an arrow nock broke the other day and it was almost like dry firing the bow. The arrow landed about 5 feet in front of me and the riser was broken right through the grip. I should have a new riser by November or December. The bowyer was most gracious and apologetic..even though it wasn't his fault. It was a NTM bow that is the nicest bow I've ever had in my hands. I'd put less than 50 arrows downrange when disaster struck. I've since checked the nocks on several dozen arrows and have replaced 3.   :(

One of the first carbon limbed longbows built was on loan to me and the bottom limb let loose after about 10 shots. Talk about wanting to crawl under a rock. Luckily I was not hurt. The phone call to the owner was the worst part, he was just glad I was not injured. I sawed off the bottom limb and the rest of the bow is still on my bow rack.

I had a 63 Kodiak Special break a few days ago. About 3/4 of the way back to my full draw, the lower limb delaminated from the riser. Darn!! I had only had the bow a few weeks. No injuries to me. I draw 27" and the bow is marked 25 @ 28". Looking at it after, the glue joint didn't look to good. This is the only bow I have had break.
 I had a wood  bow when I was 12 years old crack lengthwise in the handle, made a creaking noise. I quit using it before it broke. Jim

I'm going to answer this from a bowyers perspective. I try to build a bow so that I have no comebacks , yet once in a great while there is one.
There are several factors which have been mentioned that have invaribly been the cause. # i is  not being built for the correct draw length of the customer due either to not being given the right draw length or by building the bow with an incorrect string angle for the length being pulled. This is something that a bowyer has to learn by experience. (been there) I have been blessed. I have had two customers break bows, both were risers. One I was given a very incorrect draw lengtn . 38 inches when the customer drew 32 1/2 inches. This overdrew the bow to a point where the string angle was past 90 degrees which puts an unbelieveable amount of pressure on the bow. I replaced it and he broke it again. This time what I considered an unbrteakable riser with five strategicaly placed pieces of phenolic and an I beam. I then had him give me measurements taken by another person of his fingertips to chest length and I came up with a draw length of 32 1/2 inches.
So overdrawing (according to my experience and according to the majority of these posts is the prime factor in breaking bows. Its a matter of string angle. When the string angle is getting close to 90 degrees that is as far as that particular bow should ever be pulled. After that it is putting extraordianry pressure on the entire bow.

Now there are many ways to overcome this with shorter bows for longer draws without endangering either the bow or shooter. Tip wedges will retain the shape of the tip and allow a couple inches extra draw. If the bow is a three piece changing the angle of the limb pads for different draw lengths does the trick. ect ect. Buttttttttttttt
In most of what I have read the bows simply were overdrawn.

the other riser was my fault. I caved in to a customer and made the grip thinner than I felt safe by his request. Luckly , it broke when I tested it instead of breaking on him. I will never compromise that way again. I had terrible thoughts of what could have happened to the customer if that had been him instead of me shooting the bow.

The other thing is caused by sloppiness on the builders part and that is bad glue up Which would include not properly cleaning the lams or them not being fresh ground. It could also include not knowing how to properly use carbon. A couple of cases of that seen on this thread.

Another is bad materials and sometimes that is something no one can tell until its too late. Bad glue, soft place in the wood ect. These are things that are unavoidable. However few of the blowups on this thread were caused by that. Most were caused by people shooting bows that were just a bit overstressed by not being either long enough or not retaining good string angle. Hope some of this helps. God Bless you all and may your bows not blow. Steve

I have had 2 'blow up'.

One in 1972 and one in 1989.

It is always surprising when at full draw and 'boom'.

Charles.

Had a longbow where the tip overlays came off when a string broke. When inspecting the string it looked cut in the loop. I am not sure if the string broke causing the bow to be damaged or if a sharp edge in the string groove cut the string. It was somewhat exciting when this happened at full draw.

I have had five blow up on me over the past 40 years.

Me!!!  Third shot from brand new bow, bottom limb let loose at full draw. 70# @ 29", still have the scars to remember the occasion...

Have'nt had a bow blow yet ,but a couple of years ago at elk camp ,I had an arrow blow as I released it. I thought it went through my forearm . My partner had this look on his face,and I did'nt want to look down. Luckly the arrow slapped my forearm and left a welt that lasted 2 weeks. My first thought was great ,day before season and here I am with an arrow in my arm. Scared the you know what out of me. I did get an elk though--1Longbow

I have 31,5+ inches draw lenght and that 's quite a problem.
I blowed:
-  3 samick recurve bows in 62" AMO
- One pair of limbs 60" AMO on a Fedora Hybrid XTREME and the Fedora's then convinced me to switch for a 64" AMO bow. They kindly replace the limbs at no charge since i gave them my true draw lenght when i first put my order. Now that 64" XTREME is my Magic bow...
- I blowed the upper tip of my Pittsley Predator classic (actually the string "cut" the tip wood overlay at full draw) and i have to send the limbs back for repair if possible.
I cut now all my arrows at 31,75" to avoid overdraw...

Had a string break at full draw once. That was suprise enough for me.....Randy

I just hope if i ever have another one break ,its not during what could possibly be my first ever trad kill

My only experience was a kids bow I made for my little girl,I pulled it back and it snapped! I think I like sanding to much.

me

At least, after reading this thread, I haven't lost the desire to build my own bows...but I might if they blow up on me at full draw!

I have had and older Ben Pearson delaminate, and most recently my Scorpion delaminated.  Both older bows no telling how many arrows have been put through them.

Actually today only 30 days from my travel to HogHeaven, the  lower limb on my DAS hunter delaminated     :banghead:      :banghead:    
I have now for months been training and tuning and trained and tuned a little more, and also spent a small fortune on arrows etc.
Yesterday I was training recovery shots out to 50 yards and hitting the 3D pig exactly where I should. So today I was shooting some arrows before I was going to work, and the bow didn't "feel" as usual, and the arrows didn't hit at my spots either. When I looked over the bow I found out that the lower limb had delaminated in the curve.


The bowyer promised to make some new ones, but this really sucks!        

I have other bows as back up, but this has been my go-to bow, and my best shooter!

Margly

Had a take-down selfbow upper limb bust yesterday after about 50 shots..dang. One thing good I can make another limb since its a takedown (tube in handle)...!