Dry Fire?
 

I am looking to buy a used bow. I have thought about looking at e-bay or someplace online. I am worried that I might get one that was dry fired or something else done to it that would not show up in the pictures. What effect does dry firing have on modern day bows? I know it can't be good a few years back the folk tell was that it would shatter the limbs. Is this still the case or was that ever true. If you have anything about dry firing let's talk about it. I am interested in hearing your first hand stories if you have any.

RE: Dry Fire?
 

THERE IS ALOT OF VIBRATION WHEN A BOW IS DRY FIRED IT CAN DAMAGE THE BOW BUT MAY NOT. AFTER A BOW IS DRY FIRED IT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE IT IS FIRED AGAIN.

RE: Dry Fire?
 

i got my bow on e-bay, very happy with it. there are some that are new just last year modles that are going fairly cheep i paid 450 for my new bowtech black knight.
Ron

RE: Dry Fire?
 

<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle> I can tell you what it did to mine. Bent cam, bent idler, and bent axels. No damage to limbs thank goodness. 2000 model

RE: Dry Fire?
 

I don't know anything about dryfires, other than the sound is unbelievable, but I can tell you I sold 3 compounds over the net on archery classifieds all of which I had purchased new. If in doubt, communicate with the seller and see if he will give you a 1 week period to have the bow checked out at a pro shop after you receive it. If it is deemed to be damaged goods, he should agree to take it back.

Bill

RE: Dry Fire?
 

My friend recently dryfired his bow. He was not lucky...he had his limb get damaged, and he can't shoot his bow 'til he buys a new limb.

tom

RE: Dry Fire?
 

Anytime you have a dry fired bow, the axles should be replaced immediately. Most of the time they bend, and even if they do not appear bent, replace them anyway.
As for the limbs, many times they can be damaged, and it can't be seen. However, most of the time, the limbs end up being ok. I have seen several bows dry fired, and this has been the case. I have never seen cams that got damaged, but I know it is possible.

RE: Dry Fire?
 

I have seen the results of a bow when the limbs shatter.I was in a pro shop when an archer brought in a bow he fired with an arrow on it.He was trying to get more speed from his bow and wasn't using the right length or spline which I see hunters doing all the time.It ends up just like dry firing a bow.

RE: Dry Fire?
 

I would never buy a bow that i couldnt handle first. I always go to a shop to purchase my bows. Ive never ordered one.

RE: Dry Fire?
 

I agree with the above post, If I can't hold it in my hand first I don't want it. To me buying bows is like buying speakers, they only sound good if you think they sound good.

Besides, with archery, I want the waranty and support incase I need it.

I have met poeple that got some great deals on the net, and others that have been conned or ripped off. But I have also met people that had very bad experiences in shops also. I wouldn't do it though unless maybe it was someone from this site like Frank or Len that has a good reputation.

Paul

RE: Dry Fire?
 

I don't recommend buying a bow from an auction site but, I did buy my current bow from a dealer on EBAY. It was brand new with full warranty and I have hunted 2 yrs. with it. The main reason I did was because my closest pro shop dealer is a jerk and has lost 1/2 of his customers because of his attitude.

Another pro shop owner once went to our club archery shoot and was displaying the McPherson bows. He was walking around dry firing them to show how tough they were. As a result he lost a few sales at the time.....everyone was afraid to buy a bow from him. lol.

RE: Dry Fire?
 

I pulled my bow back to about 1/4 to 1/2 way and mistakenly &quot;dry fired&quot; it. Can any signifigant damage occur from doing this. I used the bow through the season and it doesn't appear to damaged. Any thoughts on what I should do?

RE: Dry Fire?
 

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

RE: Dry Fire?
 

Lamb

That included practice but nothing extensive. The times I did shoot it seemed fine. And when it happened it wasn't very loud. Hopefully all is well with it. Thanks for the response.

RE: Dry Fire?
 

i am selling a pse nova 4 split limb with a stabilizer 5 arrows 3 broadheads release quiver tru glow sites case i have only shot it maybe 20 times still have box for it bought it brand new this summer professionaly tuned asking $300 for all e-mail [email protected]