ORIGINAL: alsaqr
"....but why would a string break when dry firing?" There is no weight to slow the velocity of the string. If the bolt is not into the nock a sort of dry fire can occur. Sometimes the "Veloci-Speed" strings on a Barnettwill alsobreak during a dry firing:The limbs canbreak. i been there, done that with my Barnett.
On an Excaliber if you dryfire it the limbs are less likely to break like other brands. Sometimes the strings break, why? Because! Dacron string is the best to have on if the unspeakable were to happen as oppose to fast flight.
Both of my Exocets have been dryfired once now! No damage, just a load in my pants!