Yep, it could definately hurt you. Think about how much energy is involved with slinging an arrow at 200-300+ fps. Imagine being at full draw, looking down at your sights and imagine the string breaking at that moment. Talk about painful!

txmarsh, I too have had my bow string break on me, except the season was only 1 week away. My string broke as I let the arrow fly, the arrow hit the target and as soon as it did I heard a bang and then my bow shook. I took my bow to a local shop and told them to put a decent string on it. I got the bow back in 3 days!!! I shot the bow 150+ times the each of the next couple of days. I needed the practice and the bow string needed to be broken in. Come to find out, they put a winner's choice string on it. My bill was $40 . The archery store is new and they have been cutting me deals left and right. They reinstalled my peep, kisserbutton, nocks, and release eliminator buttons. I even shot the bow through a chrono, 270fps . I made the switch from aluminums to carbons and installed a Whisker Bisket. I would say I gained 20 fps witht the new string, carbons, and shorter arrow length from the new rest. I went from 31" aluminums to 28" carbons. I am very pleased with the new string and very happy I didn't get hurt from the string breaking.
My suggestion would be to get a new string asap and then shoot it amap
KK

how long does a string last before it snaps?

Jim

Jim.
That depends on how often and how much you shoot.

I shoot a lot so I replace my string and cables every year.

But most strings and cables should be replaced every other year even tho they dont look worn out.

I was having problems with individual strands popping on my string. The guy at the bow shop said it was b/c my draw length was to far. I've got a 29" DL and my bow was set-up for 31". He said that my fore-arm is "bowed" in at full draw and that my string is just barely grazing my fore-arm protector. He said even though it's just barely touching the arm protector it's enough to pop a strand after several hits?

The only alternative is to either buy a new bow, which may have been his motive, or learn to roll my elbow down and out as to avoid the glancing blow of my string when released. Either way, it's a PIA to have to make those adjustments just b/f the season is about to get underway.

Sorry to hear about the string breaking , [:@], all you can do is pick up the new one and get back in the hunt.
I too worry about this happening soon, so i will change mine every year now also.Good luck to ya this season.

I just wanted to add to this also.Any time you have a dry fire or a string break it's not a bad idea to have things looked over too.Such as your axels,make sure they are still true, and not warped, your limbs; make certain they there aren't any stress cracks, your limb pocket bolts too.Take it to a good pro shop in your area and have it inspected.,My last Hoyt that I had, while I was at full draw exploded on me.It scarred the crap out of me.After that happened every now and again I remember that and I shutter to think of what could happen again[]I read where many guys will replace their string every other year,I believe how much you shoot and how you take care of it, such as waxing it and watching the envioroment your store your bow in determines the life.Another thing too,folks dont realize,but under that string loop and serving there is a tremendouse amount of pressure there.This is another reason that I learned to make my own strings and change them every so often,or when I want tgo change colors

I went through 3 strings this preseason