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Leaving Bow string or Unstrung?

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Ziad

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi Guys, was wondering do you leave your bow strung or unstrung?

I have a Satori 45# with a dacron flemish string.

If you do leave it strung, for how long max?

Thanks guys.

Ziad.

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#4 ·
I never leave any of my vintage wood bows strung more than a day, two max. Usually it is only a matter of a few hours. All of my newer bows are strung for longer periods but receive a time out now and again. Though I shoot every day, this time out is at least 7 days so I do have to rotate my bows for practice. Many manufacturers recommend this. I know that many archers claim they never ever unstring their bows except to adjust brace or replace sting. I can say that I have purchased a few vintage bows that pulled nowhere near their original weight. A couple years back a good friend gave me a couple bows that were her husbands (he passed away). She could not ever remember these bows having ever been unstrung. One was an older Ben Pearson c. 1970s. It was marked 50# but actually pulled 38#. It looked about perfect but obviously had issues from being strung for years. The other bow was an unmarked bow native to Indonesia and it was all wood. It had so much string follow that it pulled like a child's toy. I see dozens of all wood vintage longbows with significant string follow.
Why chance it? It takes seconds to unstring a bow unless you are afraid of it. Some people are afraid of this process. Some people claim it makes no difference. It feel it has to eventually make a difference so I don't take a chance. I don't want to work 24/7 and don't expect my bows to. If a bow is strung, it is working.
 
#5 ·
To string or un-string.

Yes

I de-string at the end of every shoot, that way I know the limbs stay constant with no collapse in Pound-age over time,,, not sure if today's wood & fiber-glass limbs loose some foot pounds,,, but I don't want to find out.

2 reasons I de-string.

1 - take-down bow needs to be disabled to travel to work or on holidays.

2 - it takes me 1 minute to un-load the tension,,, then I rap the string around the bow if the limbs are not being removed,,, that way is takes seconds to get it up and running compared to putting the limbs on everytime.

When I'm hunting, I leave it strung, and I check it's accuracy every morning and every night to make sure it's on target.

Each of us own our own bows, we all get to decide on how we want to look after our investments.

Don
 
#6 ·
Modern bows can be kept strung without damage. Compounds are never unstrung. The main consideration is safety. A strung bow is an "attractive nuisance" and could result in someone picking it up and dry firing it, or worse, actually shooting it.
 
#7 ·
Only when I travel to tourneys, I keep it on a bow rack in a secure room where nobody can pick it up without me knowing. All my other bows that I don't shoot regularly I keep unstrung and packed away.

My wife has had her Longbow strung for all of 10 years, she only unstrung it to travel on a plane, it hasn't lost any speed in that time.
 
#8 ·
I leave it strung mostly because I shoot at least every other day and I just don’t want to mess with it.

If you DO choose to string/unstring, just use a good stringer because you can torque the limbs if not and that can damage the bow over time.

I have a friend that strings and breaks down every time (as well as putting it in the case) he shoots as part of his mental routine. He says that the routine and time spent helps him get in the “zone.”


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#9 ·
maddog20/20 said:
I leave it strung mostly because I shoot at least every other day and I just don’t want to mess with it.

If you DO choose to string/unstring, just use a good stringer because you can torque the limbs if not and that can damage the bow over time.

I have a friend that strings and breaks down every time (as well as putting it in the case) he shoots as part of his mental routine. He says that the routine and time spent helps him get in the “zone.”


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^^^ X's 2

Yes, and it allows us to stay on top of setting our BH.

I have to admit that I like the thought process involved when getting ready to shoot, and the time to reflect on the days end.

Don
 
#10 ·
Strung unless:

Traveling. Although I do have a soft case for a strung bow that fits one recurve.

Safety/aesthetics. My racks at home are for unstrung bows only.

when I'm at my camp or a friends camp hunting or a lodge I never unstring a bow.
 
#11 ·
Unstrung. My bows sit on a vertical wall mount with pegs that hold them between the top string and limbs. My bows wouldn't fit if I left them all strung.

Here is what I'm talking about. Image from 3rivers.
 
Discussion starter · #14 ·
Thank you everyone for the input. Answered all my worries.

1. Hunting situation
2. I shoot morning and evening.

Ziad.

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#16 ·
I always unstring, probably not needed but it only takes a second and the bows store better on my rack.
 
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#18 ·
I recently picked up nine vintage wood-and-fiberglass recurves, one at a time, to add to my single semi-recurve. Their manufacture dates range from 1963 or so to 1973. All have been users/shooters, no shelf queens.
With the exception of two of my bows - the oldest at 1963 or so and the one I’ve had in my possession for more than three decades - all are within 1.1 pounds of their marked draw weights. Now obviously, older bows precede the AMO standard of measuring at 26.25” from the pivot point. My original bow is a BP Pony 700-60 (with stress cracks and which has never been left strung) that measures very close to its 45# rating when measured at 28” from its back and only 41.3# when measured at 26.25” from its belly. How is that so? Well, it’s a very slim bow and doesn’t subscribe to the 1.75” standard riser depth. The other bow, a 40# zebrawood Wing Gull, measures 38.3# using the AMO standards. I have not yet checked it at 28” from back of riser, but I believe it will still be a pound or so short of the listed weight.
My point is that either these bows were amazingly well cared for, most for 50+ years, or that they are very resilient and resistant to damage from any sort of normal use.

I still unstring all of my bows when they are not in use. I am part of both the “why chance it?” and “it’s part of the mental prep” camps.
 
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