BW strung or unstrung

[Cal bow]

Sorry if this subject has been discussed before, new to TG.

I recently bought a Blackwidow from a fellow TG. I was at the range today and was advised to leave the bow strung when not in use. I usually take it down and put it in a case for transport and to keep it from getting banged around. I grew up shooting Bear recurves and have always unstrung the bow when not in use.

If it is better to leave it stung, is this advised for most recurves or mainly BWs

Thanks for the answers

[seabass]

i unstring every bow when done.lot of stress on them limbs.i don't know if thats the right thing to do,but thats what i been told to do.hope this helps,steve

[ronp]

Black Widow recommends leaving them strung.  They say more damage is done stringing and un-stringing the bows than leaving them strung.  They recommend hanging them horizontally by two nails or pegs, hung by the string, not stored standing up.

[B/W lvr]

Ken Beck says that more of his recurves are damaged during stringing or unstringing than any other cause. He also says he has left them strung for lots of years with no poundage loss. His longbows will lose some poundage if left strung he says. Guess I shouldn't say his bows anymore as Roger, Toby, and John now own the business. Anyhow if I'm going to store one of my Widow recurves I take it down and put it away otherwise I just leave them strung. Longbows I unstring. Frank

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

I don't think it really matters anymore.  With the older all wood bows you had to take them down because they wouldlose poundage and shape but with the fiberglass bows now most say it doesn't matter.  Just don't leave one strung in a hot car for long periods of time.  Myself I leave whichever bow I'm going to hunt with for the year strung and I unstring the others.  If you really want to be sure just send the guys at black widow an email or give them a call.  I'm sure they'd be glad to help you and after all it is best to follow the bowyers guidelines with their bows.  Otherwise you're probably going to get a million different opinions on this.

[COMPOUNDLESS IN CONCRETE]

Leave em strung.  Unless you won't be shooting it for a while.  The stress on the limbs from being strung is far less than the force of it being shot and shooting them doesn't hurt them.  Many a bow has had the limbs get twisted from constant stringing and unstringing improperly.  I just don't see the need to unstring unless you have to for storage or travel purposes.

[Cal bow]

Thanks for the help

[bushytail]

If you decide to leave it strung,you could get a bowcase for strung recurves and longbows.That`ll help protect the bow during travel.And some have pockets for your arrows,quiver,etc.
 I use to unstring my bows every time I was done shooting.But now I unstring it only if I won`t be shooting for a few days or more.
 I always use a "bow stringer" to string and unstring my bow.No damage to limbs this way.

[Benny Nganabbarru]

I always unstring. It isn't hard, and it's a habit. I figure if I'm doing it tough in the heat that we have here, my bow could use some relaxing time too.

[McDave]

Definitely don't leave it strung in the heat, such as in the car in the middle of the day.  If the temps don't get above 90 degrees, I would leave it strung, unless I didn't plan to shoot it for a while.

[ishoot4thrills]

Leave it strung. I always leave my recurve strung, hanging on two nails, by the string, horizontally on the wall above my PC, where I'm at right now. It WON'T hurt it.

[The Butcher]

I shoot almost daily, so I just  leave it strung.  as with others, hanging on two nails.

[DaxE]

If it is getting shot I leave them strung. If going to be just sitting I will unstring it.

[K. Mogensen]

I don't think it really matters a whole lot. Some people like em strung, and some don't. I personally unstring my bows after every time I shoot, but that's just me.

I've heard it said that a strung bow is a deadly weapong, but an unstrung bow is still just a stick.

A strung bow can be asking for someone (or a kid) to mess around with it and potentially hurt themselves.