FlipNY,

You say you used it through the season and had no problems. Did that include periodic practice? If you have shot it and not experienced any problems, you should be fine.

The one I heard dry fired was in Jeffrey's Archery in Columbia, SC. A man picked a bow off the rack, came to full draw and apparently it was too much for him. He dry fired it and it sounded like a .410 going off in the shop! He did take to the counter and buy it though. He said I dry fired it, it's mine.

I might add that IMHO when you shoot arrows at the lowest recommended grains/PDF, you are giving your bow a series of mini dry fires that will over time result in damage to your bow.

A 5 gr/lb arrow will shoot fast, but, your bow won't last as long as a bow that is shot at the manufacturer recommended 9 gr/lb. Of course, if you change bows after every season, you can cross your fingers and hope you make it through the current season and then pass it on to some other poor soul to deal with.

I've always used arrows in the 8.5-9 grs/lb range with my bows. They absorb more energy and are therefore quieter, and I don't put as much stress on the limbs.

Bill

Edited by - lamb1647 on 01/07/2002 10:13:31