Broken string on 50# Bear Montana

[Pryor]

I had a couple threads on here about tuning my long bow.  Through trial and error, and a lot of good advice from trad gang I had it shooting great.  Once I had good arrow flight my shooting improved in leaps and bounds....  until today.  I shot maby 100 arrows through it last night, and was feeling real good about it.  So today I decided to keep it going and had shot about 20 times when twang!!.  On release I was startled and confused.  my arrow hit right on target, but my string was flat against the riser with one of the loops destroyed.  It was a stock bear string (18 strand two bundle)  and one of the bundles is completely severed.  The crazy thing is that two days ago I waxed the hell out of it and even took my loops off to get some wax on them, didn't notice any fraying, or cuts.  So, question is why did this happen?  My brace height was set at 7 5/8".  Guessing I probably shot between 2000, and 4000 arrows, but hard to say.  So I am going to order a new string from Ten Ring Strings, and hopefully rush order so I can get it in time to get set up for turkey season.  Is there any info I should know before ordering? (String material,  padded loops)

[kadbow]

Where are you located in Colorado? RMSG could get you set up again quick.

[Orion]

Is the second bundle in tact? If so, the string wasn't properly stretched when made and half the string (one bundle) was doing all the work.  Did you notice any fraying in the loops when you waxed the string?

Regardless, strings break occasionally.  Be sure the string grooves on the bow don't have any rough edges before you put on a new string.  Triple ought steel wool should smooth them out nicely.

Your string maker should be able to help you decide on a material and whether to pad the loops.  Good luck.

[Pryor]

I am in Grand Junction on the western slope.  Where is RMSG and what is it.  I have heard there is a trad shop in Silt which is about an hour away.  I didn't notice any fraying in the string when I waxed it, and I spent some time on the loops.  after inspecting the string grooves they seem smooth, but there is a small indention that looks like a string impression,maybe.

[kadbow]

Yep, trad shop in Silt.  Valley Traditional Archery, Dick could help you out.  I am in GJ too. A bunch of us trad guys shoot every week at Grand Mesa Bowmen Range.  RMSG is in Denver, one of the best trad shops in the country.

[Pryor]

I have thought about joining Grand mesa bowmen, is there a way to go up and check it out with out joining.  that looks like a beautiful muley did you kill him around here?

[kadbow]

Yes and yes.  You can come up sometime when we are shooting and check it out.  It is a real nice range.  Now that the days are longer we are shooting Thursday nights at 6:00 and Sunday's at 10:00 ( which we will probably shift to 9:00 as it warms up).  I am heading to Nebraska so won't be there next week but there will be guys there.

[Pryor]

Crisis averted.  Went down to where I bought the bow and gave them a sob story, and they traded me out with a new string. Do you live up on Glade park?  I did a swamp cooler repair for some one that turned me on to this sight, and traditional.   I will defiantly go up and meet you guys one of these Thursday, Sunday, Going to go ahead and order new string from RMSG any how.  thanks a lot.

[kadbow]

I do live up there but you didn't work on my swamp cooler. I know a couple other trad guys up there. We have a fun time shooting, hope to see you up there.

[LBR]

Sounds like you have a sharp or rough spot in the string groove.  If you do, the new string is only a temporary fix--it will do the same thing.

[Cavscout9753]

Ouch. Yeah, check the nock grooves. It may need a little smoothing. Also, I've always heard Bear strings aren't the greatest to begin with. Not garbage or anything, but worth trading out.

[Colotrad]

Hey James, This is Steve.  You fixed the leak in my roof, by the swamp cooler, up in Glade Park. I'll be shooting this Thursday at 6 p.m. if you want to join me and check out the range. Won't be shooting this Sunday as I'll be visiting my parents for Easter. If you can't make it, lets try to get you up there in the next couple of weeks.

[Pryor]

Hey Steve, thanks for the invite.  I am not sure if I will make it or not, but I am going to try.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Get yourself some emery cloth at 220 or 320 grit this is cloth backed sand paper.... tear some strips into 1/8- 3/16" strips and twist it up. This will give you a very fine grit rope you can use to polish any rough spots in your string grooves. after you are done seal it again with something and then use a shoe lace to polish it....  

Sometimes just the finish in a brand new bow will get little rough spots in the string grooves. This can cause all kinds of problems if that string isn't centering properly on a recurve.