Anybody use a bow with limb twist(s)???

[skychief]

Thought I would ask because I have an old Ben Pearson recurve with both limbs showing some twist.   My attempts of correcting them have not been much help (though I haven't been real aggressive in those attempts).

I find myself shooting that bow a lot, even though twisted.   I'm as accurate with it as any of my other bows!

I just came in from shooting it and 2 other recurves and a longbow.   It once again out performed the other bows with their perfect limbs!

So, am I alone?   The only guy shooting a twisted limb bow?  And shooting it well?

Best regards, Skychief.

[Rob W.]

I shot a Pearson Mustang with very bad twist for about a year when I was starting out. Couldn't get the twist out for nothing but it shot great.

[ksbowman]

I have a couple and when I shoot them the strings come off. I have been very aggressive straightening them, but to no avail.

[motorhead7963]

If the string stays in place, don't mess with it. Just shoot it, I wont be offended if you shoot a bow with twisted limbs(LOL). There are a several ways to get rid of limb twist I have tried a few myself, what has worked for me is letting semi hot water run over the twisted area on each limb for a minute or two and twisting the opposite direction then running cold water over the affected area while twisting the opposite direction(do one limb at a time) then I clamp it to a flat surface and let sit for a day or two. I have had pretty good luck with this method so its what I do. I won a Grizzly on the big auction site awhile back, it was labeled a WALL HANGER because of limb twist. I bid on it strictly to experiment on it. My most expensive bow purchase to date ($26) Well I am happy to report that it is a fine bow now (with NO limb twist)and it is one of my shooters. Maybe try this if you haven't, maybe it works for you. Good luck.

[Hud]

I have bought several older Bear Kodiaks with limb twists, one 54# and other 62#. The first had a twist in the lower limb and two in the upper in opposite directions. They probably were caused by using a step through method of stringing, popular in the age. I prefer to take the twist out while the bow is strung, so I can continually check progress. It requires holding the string in place and leaving the bow strung over night. Process is slow and repeated often. This is only a brief description of the process. Let me know if you want help or more info.

[damascusdave]

I have two bows with some limb twist that shoot fine for me...as long as they shoot well there is really no motivation to take the twist out

DDave

[Dogboy900]

I used to have an old Cravotta Brothers Blackhawk Recurve that developed a limb twist. It was my first real bow. I shot it for years like that and attempts to repair it never worked for long. When I say years I mean it was in daily use for about 5 years and occasional use for about another 20 years.

I don't think the twist affected the accuracy at all but it did seem to have more hand shock than it should. It did eventually suffer a snapped limb but I don't think that could be attributed to the twist.

[lbshooter]

I had bought a  Bear Super Kodiak new a while back.  When it arrived not only did it have the ugliest piece of wood I have ever seen and  a crummy finish,  but both the upper and lower limbs had a twist.  Totally disgusted and fully  intending to send it back to the supplier, I decided to shoot it just out of curiosity.  I still have that bow. It's one of the best shooting Bears I have owned.  Did eventually get the twist out.  It took several sessions with hot water run on the limbs while strung. The before and after twist made no difference in it's shooting qualities. It's still one the ugliest bows I have owned as the bubinga is washed out, but she puts them right in there! It's really good for small game. This guy was about 25 paces.
 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

If you have a limb that is slightly twisted, but still tracks straight, that bow will shoot just as accurate as one that is dead straight.

If you have one that the limb twist increases as you draw the bow, that will cause you all kinds of accuracy issues.

[old_goat2]

I killed my first archery turkey this spring with an old Bear 76r with the lower limb slightly twisted, it was really really twisted when I bought it. A little boiling water straightened it out enough to shoot good. It's has solid glass limbs so I don't know if I would recommend boiling water for yours but hot tap water might not be out of the question. Wrap a towel around the limb area and run hot two water on it then twist in desired direction, if it works, leave it strung for a week or so and make sure you always use a stringer for it from now on.