How long do recurve bows last

Compound bows deal with more shooting parts. Recurve bows, on the other hand, are simpler yet still effective in construction. But no matter the type of bow used, proper archery gear storage should always be encouraged! Hanging, or using wall pegs, is a simple and effective option for compound bow users. Inspecting and finetuning your equipment is part of the recurve bow storage phase. Knowing your recurve bow size will exactly help you find a bigger hard or soft case if needed!

Another important reason to practice good recurve bow storage habits is to protect the riser. If you did not use your bow for a long time it's a great idea to check the tuning and maybe shoot a few arrows for paper tuning to asses your bow's state. It may seem to be simple, but taking recurve bow storage seriously will help preserve your much-loved bow. And remember, the choices and tips mentioned above are ways to guide you.

Everyone is unique in archery! How to store a recurve bow? Always an Opportunity to Inspect Stress lines are usually not serious, but need attention if they progress. Time to Clean, As Well! Should You Disassemble Your Bow? Recurve Bow Storing Options With the essentials in mind, we can now focus on some technical aspects on recurve bow storage. Using Bow Stands Bow stands are great for storing your bows. Using Wall Pegs For an even simpler way to store a recurve bow, wall pegs may just do the trick!

Using a Hard Case Hard cases are good both for storing and travelling with your bow. Using a Backpack Backpacks are also good both for travel and storage. Check out these tips to make the most out of your chosen recurve bow storage option! Never Rest a Recurve Bow on its Tips!

Using a Stringer Will Matter Using a bow stringer is highly recommended. String Properly - Never Backwards! Dry Firing is Never a Good Practice! To conclude: Use Arrows - if you really want to test or just feel the bow string tension, then please have an arrow handy.

Please make sure to use arrows of the similar length or weight. Remember - instead of dry firing, fire into a target. Stay safe! It is Always a Good Idea to Have an Expert Inspect Before storing your recurve bow, try to also grab the opportunity to have your gear inspected by an expert. This is great if you plan to store your recurve bow for a long period of time! Tension - this primarily focuses on the bow strings. This is also the reason why some archers opt to unstring - you want the bow strings kept in a safe place too!

Bow Tension - when hanging a recurve bow, always use 2 or more pegs. Using a single peg or nail will warp or even break apart the recurve bow! Heat and Cold - neither end of the weather spectrum is good for your bow. Storing a recurve bow on either hot or cold conditions may break your bow. Additionally, extreme weather conditions may also damage your bow strings!

Unlike a longbow, a recurve bow contains fasteners connecting the riser to the limbs, and these metal components can corrode and work loose. As part of your routine pre-shooting check list, go over everything and make sure nothing rattles. A regular tightening of all the fastenings and an application of lubricant as waterproofing can prevent problems with the fasteners. Finally, allow your recurve bow to relax by removing its bowstring for storage. Keep the pressure off the limbs by using a hard shell case or carefully positioned wall pegs.

Never hang your bow in direct sunlight as this causes bleaching and brittleness to all of the materials that your bow is made up of. The lifespan of a recurve bow depends heavily on the materials in the riser and limbs. Typical materials, alone and combined, include metal risers , carbon fiber, and fiberglass and wood.

The durability of the materials is not the issue — fatigue through flexing and vibrating is what puts wear on the bow over time. A well made recurve bow can last a long time, there are recurve bows that still shoot and remain in good condition after five decades of use. If you take good care of a recurve bow it can last 20 years or more with proper storage and maintenance.

The longbow is the classic bow shape and has minimal components to break or replace. A properly maintained longbow with regular restringing can last as long as your body can use the bow, with the average around 20 to 30 years, and it will still be in good enough condition to pass on to someone else.

All these factors are in your control. Wooden bows need more love and care than synthetic bows because wood needs conditioning and warming up before shooting. Wood is sensitive to temperature and moisture. But if you treat your bow right, store it unstrung, and in a cool, dry space, then you and your bow can be shooting companions for life.

Good habits in shooting and maintaining your longbow ensure that you can enjoy it for between 20 and 30 years on average. Compound or recurve crossbows both contain many components and moving parts. Most modern crossbows have a stock and trigger section, in addition to the limbs, cams, cable, and string. But a crossbow has plenty of moving parts, and like most things in life, it works better if you give it some care and attention. It would help if you then lubricated the rail to minimize bolt friction and improve shooting accuracy , the trigger box, and any exposed mounting bolts.

Every time you pick up your crossbow, give it quick a once over to make sure your bowstring, limbs, and other components are all in good condition. Ideally, you should complete a visual inspection before and after any shooting session. Regular inspection means you can notice the need for maintenance or repair before it becomes a big issue, keeping your weapon both safe and functional. Removing dirt and grit from the rail and any other part of your crossbow helps prevent damage.

If you want a quick and straightforward clean taking about two or three minutes after a shooting session , use a can of compressed air. You can combine the post shooting clean with a post shooting inspection for best results. Keep a screwdriver and hex key in your crossbow kit and tighten up all the fastenings.

Your crossbow packs plenty of power, and some of that energy is going to rattle the parts. While you make sure everything is nice and tight, look out for signs of corrosion as well. If you only use your crossbow during the hunting season, you might want to consider removing the string and cables for off season storage — especially if you have a recurve crossbow.

This step reduces some of the stress on the crossbow. For general storage, you can hang your crossbow by the stirrup or use a storage case. Cool and dry storage prolongs the life of your crossbow. Provided you can access the parts and accessories you need, you can keep a crossbow in top working condition for decades.

With proper care and maintenance a crossbow can last 15 years or more. How long a bow lasts in your possession depends on several factors, most of which are in your control. You invest time and effort into learning how to shoot well and accurately with a good shooting form.

That extra care and attention to bow maintenance and storage will pay dividends in your shooting accuracy, safety, and protecting your investment. So, how long does a bow last? Skip to content Everything has a lifespan — your fridge, car, and your bow is no different. Quality Time The amount of time you spend on shooting with your bow will impact on its wear and lifespan.

A bows life is measured by: Number and type of arrows it fires. Frequency of use. Your shooting form. As with most things in life, the better you treat your bow and take care of it, the longer it will last. So just what needs to be done to keep your recurve in good shooting condition? Dry firing is pulling back the string and releasing without an arrow nocked. You should wipe your bows riser and limbs down with a soft cloth regularly to keep dirt and grime from setting in.

Many recurves are made simply from laminated wood and something to seal the wood. Some are fiberglass coated, some are not, and some are entirely fiberglass. Before storing the bow you can use a polishing compound simple auto compounds work good to clean and polish the bows limbs and riser. I would recommend you take the string and any accessories off before doing this.

After using the polishing compound, give the bow a good final wipe down with a clean soft cloth. As I mentioned earlier, your string will not last as long as your bow will. In most cases it should be replaced every 3 years or so unless it has visible damage, at which point you should replace it sooner. You should visually inspect your string for cuts or frays every time you shoot.

Waxing the string with beeswax or bow string wax periodically will help to prolong its life and protect it from water, dirt, and grime. Some people unstring their bow every time they shoot but that actually puts more wear on it than just leaving it strung up.

If left strung, over time it could weaken the bow and lessen the draw weight. So just to recap this article, take care of your recurve bow by changing the string when needed, keep it clean, and store it properly.

Doing these things will help to ensure the bow lasts a lifetime, and maybe even can be passed on to the next generation of archers. Thanks for taking the time to read my article, I hope you found it helpful. I've been shooting bows for over 25 years off and on and am always interested in learning as much as I can.