I've been shooting recurves and longbows for years but In saying that I've only owned a few different recurves. The ones I quit shooting are now ornaments In my archery room. The recurve I'm shooting now Is the 1st and only recurve I've used for hunting. Were going on 14 years this year together, It's been great to me.

This spring at a Traditional shoot It seemed almost like my recurve lost some spunk to It. When I 1st got this recurve I was hitting 220 fps shooting XX75 2216 4" 4 fletched arrows weighing at 561 grains. It seemed my arrows at longer distances were arcing more then they ever had before. I didn't think to much of It at the time until about 3 weeks ago. I ordered myself a bow scale being my brother and I share one and when I need It, It's always at his place so I ordered one so I could finally have my own Instead of "ours". It came In by UPS today and right away I checked my draw weight. My draw weight up till last fall was 73lbs at about 28 inches. When I checked It today It was about 61lbs at the same draw length. I'm stunned! I can't believe I lost that many pounds In a years time.

Do these limbs loose some of there strength, toughness after a while? 61lbs Is plenty of weight but damn I was use to me pulling 73lbs and damn near knocking these animals over when drilling them! Is It going to keep dropping? The string Is about 1.5 years old. It's not stretched by any means. The brace height Is with In about 1/4" to 1/2" of what It usually Is. My bow Is a Custom Made Windwalker Take Down Recurve. When I ordered It I asked for 65lb limbs at a 28" to 29" draw. After getting the bow I decided I didn't want to sand the limbs down anymore so I varnished and painted up the bow and the draw weight came out to 73lbs. The recurve is 59" In length while It's strung. One thing I should note Is that this bow hardly ever gets unstrung. Maybe that's my problem right there!![>:]

Just like a paper clip, after something is bent and straightened enough times it will begin to weaken. And eventually break.

Check the tiller and see if it's still tillered out right. String should be between 1/8 - 1/4" closer at the end of the bottom fadeout than the top for split finger release. If it's out of whack, start checking the glue lines real close for signs of delamination.

With the bow strung, stand back and look at the curve of the limbs. Look for an abnormal hump or flat spot along the limb contour of one limb that doesn't show up on the other limb. If you see such a spot, that's a good indication she's about to blow.

Oh, and be sure to check your new scale against a couple of others. Sometimes scales aren't calibrated right.

I have noticed my zipper loosing some spunk too. It was 60lbs at 28". Now, after probably 2000 shots, its 58lbs. I shoot the living crap out it, but it gets unstrung ever time.

I think I understand this but could you explain In more detail Art In how to do this? Sorry for the confusion on my part Art. For the record I shoot 3 fingers under. I have no Idea If this bow was tillered for 3 under or split.

Okay. String up the bow. Follow the part of the riser that tapers down and is sandwiched by the laminations all the way down to where it tapers completely away. That part of the riser is called the fadeout. Measure 90 degrees from the string to the end of the fadeout. Then do the same on the top end.

If the bow is a takedown, there will be fadeouts in the limb butts. Measure from the ends of those fadeouts the same way.

A bow that is tillered for split - most of them- will usually measure 1/8-1/4" closer on the bottom fadeout than on the top. If it's tillered for 3-under, it will measure even on each end or up to 1/8" closer on bottom.

The easiest way to check tiller is; Measure from tips to riser a given measurment that is just off the fades. Mark that spot with a crayon or something that you can wipe off when done. Do the same for the other limb. Now string your bow, use your bow square and measure the distance between the mark you made to the string. If you do not have a bow square, use a tape measure or yard stick to measure the distance from the string to the mark you made on your limbs. You want to have the upper limb weaker than the lower limb by 1/8". You want your upper limb to bend 1/8" more than the bottom limb. In other words, you want a 1/8" possitive tiller for indian style shooting.

Here's a pic. Tell me where to measure. I think I got It measured right but I want to make sure.

Steve measure here.

Compare the results. A bow that is tillered for for 3under will be even. A bow that is tillered for split should be about 1/4" longer on top

That's where I thought Mark. Thanks!!

Here's the measurements.

Top- 6 9/16

Bottom- 6 1/4

This Is telling me my bow Is tillered for split then.

Yep, but 1/2 my bows are tillered for split, and I shoot 3 under. Just means a tad more noise and slightly higher nock point.

but the good news is, it not out of wack. Whats your Brace Hieght? Remember lowering your Brace even 1" can lower your bow poundage by up to 2lbs.