Trad Gang

Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: S.C. Hunter on September 14, 2010, 10:55:00 PM

Title: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: S.C. Hunter on September 14, 2010, 10:55:00 PM
I was at the range today and the guy in the lane next to me had a dry fire. The sound was horrible, I have not heard that sound since my dry fire. My bow survived and his bow did not seem to suffer any damage. He shot it about 15 more times and the bow seemed to shoot the same. Do the new bows hold up better?
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Brently on September 14, 2010, 11:28:00 PM
I have had several dry  fires over the years, the bows all were fine, didn't hurt them a bit, even had a 56 Kodiak a buddy borrowed to use and had a dry fire and it was not damaged either.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: saumensch on September 15, 2010, 02:11:00 AM
You were luckier than me! Had a Dryfire due to an exploding nock and .....Well, loock below.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: mrjsl on September 15, 2010, 02:22:00 AM
I've had a couple and no problem with the bow. Has to be a worse problem with a FF string. I use B50 strings.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: SteveL on September 15, 2010, 02:32:00 AM
I had a dry fire a few years back due to a broken nock I didn't notice. Split the upper limb from the tip down to about mid limb. It was horrible. I check my nocks religiously now. Oh yeah, it was a newer bow and a fast flight string. Not sure if it would have faired any better with b50 though.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: LongStick64 on September 15, 2010, 05:27:00 AM
Had a nock break off while shooting my Super sexy Rose Oak bow, put a crack in the riser. Needless to say I'm bummed about it.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: cbCrow on September 15, 2010, 08:04:00 AM
I had several dry fires over the years on a few bows due to nock problems. The most memorable was a Martin Hatfield I had just bought off a fellow from the club. When I let go of the string it sounded like allgetout. The upper limb cracked and one side pulled up right at the bolt. The bow shot a B50 string. I have for years closely examined my nocks and still it happens from time to time.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: longarrow on September 15, 2010, 08:39:00 AM
I've had a few in the past! Most bows substained no damage. Seems bows using the "Hard" strings suffer more often.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Zmonster on September 15, 2010, 08:43:00 AM
Didnt have a issue with a static tipped modern curve I used to own.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: L. Bullington on September 15, 2010, 08:51:00 AM
My bow had a FF string and no issues after the dry fire.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Frank Warnke on September 15, 2010, 09:15:00 AM
Several years ago, a long bow with FF string, one was nock failure the other was user error.  No problems to this day.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: ksbowman on September 15, 2010, 09:29:00 AM
I've had a few over time due to cracked nocks that weren't noticed. Never damaged a bow but the sound and thought make your heart beat fast.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Croatoan on September 15, 2010, 09:36:00 AM
Yes.

Had an arrow break about three inches in front of the nock, awful noise and really ugly string slap on the bicep. Over all the bow was not damaged at all, though the incident did cause some problems with my shooting until I had worked through it mentally. Every time I drew and went to release I would lock momentarily with the thought of it happening again. I got over it after a few hundred arrows down range.

The bow is a 3 piece Leon Stewart longbow. No damage of any kind that I can find.

  (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_H72N0qcIdz8/TJDLgZH3wHI/AAAAAAAAAIE/U8tqPqJz2HI/s576/DF1.jpg)
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Cyclic-Rivers on September 15, 2010, 09:37:00 AM
I had one once. I had the speed nocks that fit on the string loosely. The nock fell off the string and I was sickened for a while. I inspected the bow and have not had any issues since. Nock on wood.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Dave Lay on September 15, 2010, 09:41:00 AM
i have had a couple on a 60lb widow recurve with ff string..   no damage..
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: yaderehey on September 15, 2010, 09:47:00 AM
QuoteOriginally posted by Croatoan:
Yes.


   (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_H72N0qcIdz8/TJDLgZH3wHI/AAAAAAAAAIE/U8tqPqJz2HI/s576/DF1.jpg)
OUCHHH!!!
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: RAU on September 15, 2010, 10:04:00 AM
Ive had atleast 2, there may be a 3rd with my Great Plains recurve. The 2nd time the bow jumped out of my hand and hit the ground unsrung. No dammage tho.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Randy Koleno on September 15, 2010, 01:20:00 PM
I had one with a Howatt Bushmaster, no damage, I shot the bow for years afterwards. The owner of our company had a misfire with his compound, what a mess.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: chopx2 on September 15, 2010, 01:28:00 PM
Twice, same bow no damage and the same day i got it. 2pc LB.

Loose nocks. I reserved the bow and now use a different nock and make sure they fit correctly.

i now shoot 3 under and if an arrow comes off the string it falls instead of staying pinched beyween my fingers so I've not had any yet due to falling off the string before release.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Hill Hunter on September 15, 2010, 01:31:00 PM
It has happenend to my BW a couple of times over the years with no problem, i was even shooting from the ground this year and the bottom limb hit a root and the string rolled off of the bow in shot, no problem.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: MikeM on September 15, 2010, 01:51:00 PM
I had one with my Black Widow due to a broken nock and there were no effects on the bow.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: BobCo 1965 on September 15, 2010, 02:06:00 PM
I've had a few with no damage.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Tom on September 15, 2010, 03:40:00 PM
yes and yes, once was enough, broken nock.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: AKM on September 15, 2010, 03:46:00 PM
I had a dry fire with my Hoyt Dorado and the bow was fine. The arrow was a Gold Tip 3555 and it was apparently broke or had a tiny crack that I did not know about. I nocked the arrow, pulled back and released the string. I heard an extremely loud pop, the bow flew out of my hand and landed at my feet and the arrow lay on the ground almost broken in two pieces.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Benny Nganabbarru on September 15, 2010, 05:18:00 PM
83# Silvertip, split the nock and a long sliver of Douglas fir shaft. The main arrow did fly about seven yards. The bow is absolutely fine.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: longarrow on September 15, 2010, 05:48:00 PM
Ben, I do metal work...shooting 83#'s maybe I should make you some steel NOCKS!!!
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: KEG on September 15, 2010, 10:21:00 PM
I had my Cari-bow recurve dry-fire once. Luckily the string hit my arm to absorb the energy. My forearm had about a 6 inch red/black/blue/green/yellow bruise like Croatoan's but with darker colors. It wasn't very deep but looked terrible. It may have saved my bow though.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: royking on October 22, 2010, 08:07:00 PM
has happened onlya couple times in forty years no problems
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Bjorn on October 22, 2010, 09:02:00 PM
Two occasions without damage, very scary though.   :scared:    :scared:
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Robert Cunfer on October 22, 2010, 09:30:00 PM
Hey sc hunter, I've had a few when knocks exploded on widow recurves,longbows and a few other makes. Never had any damage....Bobby
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: GPW on October 22, 2010, 09:51:00 PM
I have had a few over the years.  More damage to my arm and ego than the bows.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Kip l Hoffman on October 22, 2010, 10:07:00 PM
Lost my most favorite osage recurve that i sinewed and snake skinned.  Couldn't have drawn it back more than 6 inches, just trying to limber up the wood before a shoot.  I had over 80 hours in that bow.  It still hangs over the door to my office.  Doubt that I will ever replace it.  It just slipped out of my fingers.  Can still feel it getting away from me.  About the worst loss of my life.  Been over 10 years now, but like it happened 15 minutes ago.  

Why did I ever find the Trad Gang and the pow wow page?  Time for another cheap rum and for get the coke.  Some arrows are best lost and never recovered!

Kip
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: NTD on October 22, 2010, 10:36:00 PM
Me and a couple friends were shooting bows one night and having a few beers.  My Friend's step son had shown some interest in shooting traditional bows so I had him set up with a straight profile BBI.  He didn't realize that the nock had slipped off from the string and shot the bow.  The bow was finished.  Moral of the story for me.  Don't let newbies shoot while under the influence of alcohol....
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Shifting Shadow on October 23, 2010, 03:34:00 AM
The most memorable dry fire happened to my Martin Mamaba about 8 years ago. My friend and her 15 year old son were visiting from Ohio. Trying to be a good host, I asked Jeff, then 15, if he would like to learn to shoot traditional. Before handing him the bow I said, "The Golden Rule of archery is never to shoot a bow without an arrow." Jeff then proceeded to  pull back the Mamba to full draw and shoot with no arrow. I was stunned into silence; the bow, however, spoke quickly and loudly! After regaining my composure, the bow was inspected: no damage noted. It's just one of those things that happens once in a great while.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: MercilessMing on October 23, 2010, 06:37:00 AM
Few times but were lucky that bows seemed fine.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Bowwild on October 23, 2010, 07:55:00 AM
So long ago that I can hardly remember it. Didn't hurt the ebow (TD BEAR MAG). Broken nock.

This post has caused me to replace a nock on an arrow. The nock has been damaged for many weeks and I've been shooting it with other arrows all that time - at least 2-3 times a day. I won't shoot it again - I'd be feeling really bad if that nock broke and caused damage to one of my bows. Thanks for the reminder.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: Red4arm on October 23, 2010, 08:07:00 AM
Made my wife take down recurve. She didn't know any better, she dry fires it 3 times I see the 3rd and freak, checked the bow and all ok, still a great shooter. 42 lbs prob helped
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: cacciatore on October 23, 2010, 08:07:00 AM
My old Robertson Vision Falcon had quite a few and it is been my to go bows for many years with out any issue.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: on October 23, 2010, 09:36:00 AM
When I used Stotler Mid nocks I had a bunch, never did any damage to any of the bows.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: straitera on October 23, 2010, 10:22:00 AM
Broke too many cheap nocks & had a recent string break w/o any damage to my heavier longbows. Damage control is scary & slow going.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: arky714 on October 23, 2010, 10:46:00 AM
Had a 10 strand string break on my border black douglas hex4 55 lb bow no damage went back to 14 strand strings...had several nocks fail over the years...need to look at equipment closer...
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: locofife on October 23, 2010, 01:11:00 PM
I had one once where the nock was too small for the string and the arrow fell off when I was shooting. The bow seemed fine, but it hurt like crazy. The string hit my arm so hard that it must have damaged a nerve and my thumb was partially numb for weeks.
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: J. Oles on October 23, 2010, 01:18:00 PM
Yep,

I've had a few nocks break.
Shattered an 80lb PLV Widow when the nock broke.
Both my Nothern Mist Baraga and Shrew Classic Hunter survived.

Jason
Title: Re: Dry fire who's had one and did the bow survive.
Post by: jrstegner on October 23, 2010, 06:01:00 PM
I have had a few. Only with my Robertson Vision Falcon. I have no idea why, but twice I have shot an arrow that went down range with considerable force and the bow came unstrung. It scared the bejesus out of me, but the bow has suffered no ill effects.