about storage for limbs

[j.trevor123]

is it true that you need to back off your limbs, in weight to keep from damaging them over time?? If you are storing it for lets say 7-8 months till the next season will it damage your limbs?? thnks just curious

[jgalar]

I have an old Bear compound that is stored in the garage when not used. The bow is over 25 years old and still shoots at least as well as any newer bow that I have - its just not very fast.

[j.trevor123]

So anyone else have any opinions on the matter? thnks jgalar makes me feel better about the situation.

[mg66]

I dont know anyone that backs off the limbs to store. I do keep mine in a humidity controlled gun safe when not in use. More for security than anything else.

[oliverstacy]

In over 22 years of shooting bow I have never backed off to store it.  I have an Alpine that is 9 years old that I currently use and have never backed it off, still shoots great. 

I usually give my bow a once over every month to see if any of the screws have loosened or if the string needs waxing...other than that I don't do much of anything to it.  Check the limbs for any cracks and makes sure your cables/string are newer and not stretched too much.  I called Alpine last year and they sent me out new bus cables under warranty .

Josh

[panman]

I have never had to let off on ant bow i had.I dont believe it does any good.Like oliver said,just wax your string and cables ,cheak for loose screws and you should be good to go.Oh yea,if you havent done so already,get a new set of strings and cables from one of the better string makers.Vapor Trail,Pro Strings,are just two that would not break the bank.
Theres more out there,including WC.but i believe that they are no better than thouse i mentioned,and,a few more.Its just more money i want to spend for the same quality.pan.

[j.trevor123]

i appreciate it guys. Yes i actually bought some Vapor trails about 7 months ago. I love them, real smooth. What do you mean by cables?

[donedidit]

It sounds like I might be in the minortiy here but I completely unstring my compound every year after hunting season.  I store it unstrung until I'm ready to start practicing with it prior to the start of the next hunting season.

[hylander]

I have not done it in the past:
However last year I went to pull by bow out of the case after setting
for a year and the string had let loose. I'm glad it was in the case when it did it, so no damage.
From now on I will be backing off the limbs if it is going to sit for a long time.

[mg66]

It sounds like I might be in the minortiy here but I completely unstring my compound every year after hunting season.  I store it unstrung until I'm ready to start practicing with it prior to the start of the next hunting season.

I shoot all year round. I want my shot to be instictive so all I have to worry about is calming my 'fur fever' when I have a deer in range so I have no reason to back off limbs anyway.

[longwinters]

Back when limbs had wood laminations in them it was a good idea to back the poundage off because the limbs would tend to compress where they flexed in the middle.  But when glass became the common limb material all that went away.  I have a buddy that has a limb weight scale and we ck our bows out every year.  I shoot 73 pounds, and have shot that weight with probably 7-8 different bows in the last 15 years.  Never ever had a bow lose poundage by not being backed off.  And with the new string materials etc.... even that should never be a problem anymore.  If a persons string breaks they had a problem (probably under the serving) long before the string broke.  Of course this would be different with recurves and longbows.

Long