Life of a Bow String

[Downtime]

I mainly shoot two 45lb recurve bows.  One with D-97 and the other with B55.  I shoot a lot, I was changing my strings every year. But for this year, I am still shooting with last years strings.  They are both in good shape.  

How often do you change your bow string???  Do you look for string wear signs or just change them because of time?        

[moleman]

I try like to shoot every day, not so much for practice but mostly just for the joy of shooting.
Having said that, it may be 6 months, 9 months ? dont know, as I generally look for wear, if I see frays, its time to twist up a new string.

[Bjorn]

I'm shooting 2 bows a fair bit. I don't let my strings go for much more than a year worn or not.

[dnovo]

The one I'm shooting now has been on my bow 2 years and I plan on getting a while more out of it.

[The Whittler]

Black Widow recommend 10,000 shots or once a year. Which ever comes first.

I do not like to change anything! I shoot a LOT and I only change a string if I start seeing excessive wear or if it breaks. I have only broke a couple strings and all but 1 of those was because I had a bow with a burr in the string groove.

Bisch

[woodchucker]

WOW!!! I've got a 47# 1967 Grizzly, that still has the old B-50 string our dear departed Brother, Leroy Carlson made for it about 6 years ago!!!  It's still in GREAT shape but... Maybe it's time?

[Knawbone]

Wax the crap out of them often and they will last you a long time. I own several bows and I don't think I have had to change more than a couple of strings in the last 5 years.

[stalkin4elk]

My last one broke under the serving following the release and no visible frays for any warning. The bow is worth a lot more than the string so replace it yearly for cheap insurance. Your old one can be used for a field spare. This was my Centaur by the way and I don't want to hear that ever again!

[Stone Knife]

I use to replace them every year but I think that is a waste of money now. Keep it waxed look for frays or nicks.

[LBR]

It's cheap insurance for you, your bow, your hunt, your tournament, etc.

I've heard of people going for years and years with the same string...and I've had people contact me because their string broke at the worst possible time and they were in a pickle.  It's not cheap to over-night a string to a motel room.

Obviously when you see wear, it's time to change.  If I shoot a particular bow much, the string gets changed at least once a year if not sooner.  One problem is, as noted, you can't see wear under the serving.

High draw weights and/or low strand counts should be changed even more frequently.

[Gdpolk]

I change them when they start to show any appreciable wear.  I only own one bow and have had strings last almost 3 years and some last only a few months.

[ron w]

I just keep an eye on them.....if I see a fray or something that don't look right I change it.

[kill shot]

I hate changing my bow string. But if you must, you must. The old bow string is done streaching and the nock is right where you want it. However, the bow is not as quiet as it used to be. Even though the string is in good shape, the goodness is shot out of it. A new string with a fresh set of beaver balls quiets my bow considerably. Also the bow seems to be more foregiving.

[pcg]

Agreed. Waxing is the key to longevity. I wax lightly every day I shoot.

[RecurveRookie]

The guy at the archery shop told me my FF Flemish twist string was good for 4 years, then change it.  I haven't had any that long yet.

[jackdaw]

Man...I shoot 4-5 days a week...approx 75 arrows a session....with frequent waxings to my bowstring, I have yet to not have one go at LEAST 2 years...before I replace them...then it's if they show signs of fraying...but it's just not that common. I'm shooting both fastflight skinny strings and b-50's....the skinnystrings so far are more durable. I shoot at a local bowclub with a fair amount of trad archers....I have yet to see a string failure...????...JMO

[Biathlonman]

I change at least once a year.  I like to put new strings on in August so they are still "new" during hunting season but well broken in.  Probably average about a hundred arrows a day.