Leaving a bow strung

[Kamm1004]

hey gang, I did a search and couldn't find much so here it is. How long can you leave a bow strung before it does damage or the shape changes or the limbs possibly twist, etc? Is it different for longbows vs. recurves? what about self bows and flat bows? Thanks guys.  

[rastaman]

What search terms did you use? I just searched for leaving a bow strung and found several pages worth of old threads on the subject. I will be happy to post them for you if you can't find them. Search under powwow only or it will bog your computer down.

[rastaman]

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=107792;p=1
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=108304#000009
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=108081#000012
 http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=106198#000000

Here are a few just off the first page.

[Kamm1004]

thanks, I just searched "leaving a bow strung" i think my problem was searching all open forums instead of just the pow wow

[mike g]

I cant remember the last time that I unstrung my HH longbow....

[Hud]

Personally, I don't leave them strung, it only takes a second to unstring.  Definitely, no with any laminated or self bow without glass.  

[JV Rooster]

I never leave mine strung up.

[Bjorn]

I have bows strung for years.

[non-typical]

"I have bows strung for years"
X2

My own experience is varied. I have compared a Super Kodiak that was unloaded everyday to one of the same poundage and year that had been strung for three years, there was some difference.  I left a longbow built in the 70s strung for 3 months, it took a set that never quite came completely out. My daughter left her newer Hill Cheetah strung for several months, it took a very noticeable set, after two weeks it was back to normal. On the other side I left a Bear TD strung for a year and unstrung it lined up exactly to a new one, when the proud owner of the new bow asked if he could leave his strung.

[longrifle346]

I shoot at least one session every day, most times two. A day off may see me out on my range off and on all day. My longbow is my time for planning the day while having my coffee at daylight and relaxing with a beer and shooting til dark in the evening. I leave mine strung unless I'm doing something to it or we're going to be traveling(somewhere I can't shoot...) for more than a day or so.