Good day fellow Tradgangers!

So, I'm getting my first longbow later today, and I was wondering... do you guys use bow stringers or do you just use the step-through method?

I use the 'push-pull'...and I do it in a way that the bow can't come back and bit me....in other words, I keep my head out of the way.

I meant to to a clip on that a while back...but time gets away from me.

I use the push pull as well for my longbows.  But when in doubt use a stringer!!

Welcome to the longbow brotherhood! I don't know any better and I always use a stringer. I have a longbow specific stringer and it works great.

I use a push-pull for my current bow too. Maybe I'll try a few different methods, and see what works best. Thanks for sharing experiences!

Push Pull works great for longbows; I have used it for years without any problems. But, as stated above, if you have any doubts, use a stringer.

Usually push-pull but long-limbed, heavy draw weight bows are much easier with a stringer.

"Longbows" seem to be getting shorter and shorter so push pull is more common.

I'm no bowyer but is it not the case that with anything other than a stringer you are putting uneven load on the limbs and doing potential damage.

I'm not saying that it was the reason but about 4 people I know use the same bows, 3 of us use a stringer and the 3rd doesn't, he is the only one to have had a limb failure.

I push-pull, but as hunter saftey Instructor I should'nt and neither should you. As my father used to say Do as I say ,not as I do!!...lol. It is always easy to take short cuts,but not always the right thing to do.

push/pull

I'd rather be safe than sorry. I use a stringer for all my bows, both long bows and recurves. Been doing so since 1969. Can't believe its been 40 years and never had a problem.

I'd say a stringer is the best, and safest way to go.
Next i'd say the push pull, which is fine if ya know what you're doin'.
As far as "stepping through", DON'T....

I use push/pull method too.  I had some unfortunate incidents with a bow stringer that made me swear to never use them again.  On two different ocassions I've had a stringer come apart and caught my 75# longbow limb right square in the kisser in front of all of the compound toting members of the Penn State collegiate archery team.  It took a while but I can string my 80# 68" Hill bow with ease using the push/pull method.  I can also string heavy recurves the same way.  Ted Ekins at Howard Hill archery personally recomended that method to me and showed me how.

Did the stringer break on you or just come untied? Any stringer made from 550 paracord should never break.

I used to use the stringer exclusively out of fear of limb damage, but I've recently gotten over that and often use the push/pull method now.

I use the push/pull also. But be careful. People have lost an eye from doing this. Also make sure the string is in the groove on the top and bottom before shooting using either method.

No matter what you choose dont do the step through method, unless you want to twist or break a limb. That has to be the worst way to string a bow. I void all warranties on my bows if they string it that way.

Actually, Lukas Novotny says that the step-through method is - in many cases - the safest way to go. I mean, the Asian horse archers (huns, mongols...) had no other choice, when on the horse. And they did quite fine.

Anyways - I recieved the bow! And I tried the step-through method, but I was unable to string it. The bow is simply too strong. So I just used the push-pull method.

A bow-stringer followed, but I'm not sure if its firm enough to string a 70# bow...

Hey guys i just started shooting trad bows what is the push pull method,thanks.

stringer for all my longbows

Bob

I agree with what has been said on this post. I split a limb on a recurve using the step through method. I use a stringer for recurves and push pull for long. Joevan125 the way I do it is lower limb on the ground, floor, solid surface padded, foot against the limb so it don't slip, left hand on the handle, right hand push the string up pulling on the riser and pushing on the upper limb until string is in the groove.It is a good way to get hit in the face and there is a thread on this site where a fellow ganger almost lost an eye.