strung or unstrung...

[shade seeker]

I like to try to shoot a min of 50 arrows every other day, if nothing else to keep my form on. Ok I'll admit it I just have to shoot every other day or I get grumpy!
Question? As a newbie I'm concerned about whether or not I should keep my bows (CM Hunter 2 and Falcon Special -- 55 and 45lbs) strung or unstrung.
AND if strung is ok and not damaging to the bows is there a good way and a bad way of how they shoud be stored when they are not in use?

shade seeker

[tg2nd]

In my opinion it's better to unstring them after shooting. Store them either horizontally on two pins or vertical hanging from the string.

[Orion]

I agree with tg, though a lot of folks will tell you they let their bows strung for years with no ill effects.

[MJB]

If your shooting every other day I would leave them strung. More damage can be done un stringing and re stringing. Just my opinion.

[LEOPARD]

I'm with MJB on this... If you're going to leave a bow for an extended length of time without shooting it, I would unstring it. But if you're shooting it often, leave it strung!  :D

[Frank Warnke]

I leave mine strung and hang it by the string on two j-hooks from the ceiling of my basement.  I unstring them over the winter or when I am driving to a bow shoot or hunting spot.

[Chris Surtees]

I'm with MJB, and Leopard on this one. If you are shooting that much leave it strung. Once you know you are going to be down for a couple of days or switching to new bow then unstring it.

[joe vt]

For some reason I don't like stringing and unstringing my bows. I fear having a loop pop off or I generate some limb twist or whatever.


So, if I know I won't shoot a bow any time soon,  it stays unstrung on my rack. Any bow that I like shooting....even only once a week,  stays strung.


I don't believe a properly stored strung bow does ANY harm to it. I also believe there is more risk of harming the bow stringing and unstringing it all the time.


Of course these are my own personal opinions.

[shade seeker]

Thanks all,

but how do you properly store a strung bow?

[shade seeker]

lately I've just been keeping my two bows strung with the risers resting on a chair

[leatherneck]

My morrison stays strung all the time. Bob says it won't hurt a thing unless not using it for long periods. Then he says it still won't hurt nothing. I store mine in my basement hanging on two nails by the string perpendicular to the ground. Keep it out of the heat when strung.

Mike

[Tim Fishell]

Best way is to rest it across 2 pegs like this:

 

[leatherneck]

Tim,

I think you need to order another Shrew!  

[Tim Fishell]

Mike, I just added 2 more bows to the bow rack since that pick was taken.  One was a Shrew that I picked up at Comptons and the other was a Dryad BBO that I won in the St. Judes Auction.  

I think it is time for a new bow rack!!  

[Michael Golden]

I was thinking the same thing, wow what a collection.

[leatherneck]

Tim,

I had my hands on the one at Compton. I tried to smuggle it out but Ron caught me! He's a tad bigger than me so I put it back. LOL
Beautiful bow! Congrats!

[jhansen]

Your glass-backed bows can be kept strung forever as long as they aren't exposed to extreme temperatures.  A selfbow or any other non-glass bow should never be kept strung.

John

[OKCtradguy]

I have kept recurves (blacktail and Martin) and longbows (Centaur) strung for several years without any noticable difference.  Keep in mind that this is in an air conditioned home and stored horizontally.  They still shoot as fast (chronoed) as they did years ago and have no set to them.  Like jhansen said, I would not attempt this with self bows or non glass bows; I would unstring those after I got done shooting.

[sendero25]

I think by the pics this question has been answered, but...should a strung bow be hung by the string or the limbs? I usually unstring mine after each shooting session, but when I do leave them strung for several days, I have been putting them on my horizontal rack by the limbs (string down) with no extra stress on the string.
I have no reason to believe this, but in my (simple) mind, stringing and unstringing wouldn't do as much damage or stress as repeated shots during a practice session (given I string and unstring them properly with a stringer)
Thanks for the advice in advance, it would be so much simpler if I just left them strung!
John

[jhansen]

I really doubt that it makes one bit of difference if you hang the bow by the string or place the limbs on pegs.  I suppose there could be a little more wear on the string from sliding it on and off the pegs.

The main danger of stringing and unstringing is when the archer tries to do it withoug a bowstringer.  More recurves have had their limbs twisted and damaged by improper stringing than anything else.  There's also the possibility of the bow "getting away" from you and causing you injury.

John