Dry Fire

[Gobble Doc]

OK, I hate to post this.  Someone I know had their bow dry fired, i.e. no arrow.  It was not intentional and the person immediately felt awful.  Sure, it should never have happened.  I get that.  No, it wasn't my bow.  Here's my question.  What now?  Is there anything you can do to diagnose and see what kind of damage might have happened?  Do you continue to use the bow with the knowledge that it happened?  Do you toss it?  Has this happened to anyone on here?  It was a Diamond Razor compound. 

[sirfunkeybut]

I once had a now dry fired by friend at 27" at 71 lbs. the bow was already 6 years old, I had to replace the limbs the next year, was it due to the dry fire? I don't know but I used it that year with no cracks. I would examine the bow at idle and full draw, to me if I don't have any cracks or bent axles I would assume all is good. And not ever draw a bow without an arrow nocked. I had an arrow with a bludgent rubber tip just for this reason.

[stickbuck]

I'd take it too a shop and have the limbs checked out. Not all is lost yet.

[Gobble Doc]

Taking it to a good archery shop sounds like a really good suggestion.  Thanks.  I was afraid there might be some kind of stress fractures that are so small that they may be nearly impossible to detect.  I also really like the idea of making sure that there is always a blunt tip arrow around in the future. 

[yorketransport]

I'm not much of an archer, so I have to ask. What is the concern about dry firing a bow? I've always heard that you should never do it, I just never got an explanation why.

Andrew

[sirfunkeybut]

Though an arrow only weighs a little bit it does cause your limbs to not unflex as fast, hence the reason you should only shoot arrows in the right weight class. If you don't have that little bit of weight your limbs will fling forward to fast and actually go past "straight" causing stress and possibly cracks. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong but that's my understanding.

[RadSav]

On todays bows, Diamond included, you rarely experience limb or riser fractures.  But you do often experience damage to the cam/idler, string/cables and axle bearings.  Any good quality shop can do a review and check things out for you.  Bowtech is not really friendly to non-approved dealers for warranty and/or repair work so if you need to send it in it's best to go to a Bowtech or Diamond dealer.  Not necessary to have an approved Bowtech shop just to have it checked out though.  You are close to Riverside Archery so that would be my suggestion to your friend.

[jburkett]

Though an arrow only weighs a little bit it does cause your limbs to not unflex as fast, hence the reason you should only shoot arrows in the right weight class. If you don't have that little bit of weight your limbs will fling forward to fast and actually go past "straight" causing stress and possibly cracks. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong but that's my understanding.

pick up a base ball and throw it as hard as you can, that will demonstrate how your bow feels when shooting an arrow. Now act as though your throwing a base ball with out actually having a ball in your hand and throw your arm as hard as you can, then you will understand what your bow goes through if its dry fired

[mtbiker]

Though an arrow only weighs a little bit it does cause your limbs to not unflex as fast, hence the reason you should only shoot arrows in the right weight class. If you don't have that little bit of weight your limbs will fling forward to fast and actually go past "straight" causing stress and possibly cracks. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong but that's my understanding.

pick up a base ball and throw it as hard as you can, that will demonstrate how your bow feels when shooting an arrow. Now act as though your throwing a base ball with out actually having a ball in your hand and throw your arm as hard as you can, then you will understand what your bow goes through if its dry fired

    Great analogy!!!

[MLBowhunting]

I would have it checked out before shooting it again.

[jechicdr]

Bows, especially newer bows are very efficient at transferring their energy to an arrow.  If there is no arrow, the high amount of energy needs to go somewhere, usually into damaging the bow (limbs, cam, string).  Watch the "energy" dissipated when a high energy race car is stopped by a wall, car or the road.

[yorketransport]

Thanks for the explanations every one!

Andrew

[bowjunkie]

Same thing happened  to one of my bows 82nd airborne took it to locale shop they looked at it said all looks good and for some reason bow never paper tuned and shot better in its whole life

[Smossy]

Mine was dry fired once, All that happened was the peep sight fell out. Set at 60lbs. No damage done.

[mountainman]

Run a cotton ball along both sides of the limbs once the string is back on. Any splintering will pull the cotton ball

[stickflngr]

  I always recommend when a bow came into my shop that was dry fired that the replace the sting and cables because if you have broken strands under the serving you wont know it and could do some real damage if the bow blows up from a failed string or cable......

[Austrian Hunter]

I had a PSE Venom and dry fired it twice in one day at practice, I felt like crap but the bow did not suffer any damages, at least that I could tell.  I killed my deer with it that season. 

[Gobble Doc]

I believe the bow will be visiting an archery shop soon.  If possible I will post a diagnosis and remedy.  I've always wondered about people buying a used bow off craigslist.  You would likely have no clue if it was every dry fired. 

[Smossy]

I believe the bow will be visiting an archery shop soon.  If possible I will post a diagnosis and remedy.  I've always wondered about people buying a used bow off craigslist.  You would likely have no clue if it was every dry fired. 

Keep in mind, dry fire's don't always mean destruction of the bow.

[dinker]

hey gobble doc i would say take it to the guys at vanwinkles its close to you in everett they helped me set up my bow i got from my uncle and they really help getting a new bow from there once i get the money they  knows what he is taking about to

[Gobble Doc]

Dinker,

Thanks for the suggestion.  It wasn't my bow that got dry fired but I'll suggest it to the person.  I've also had good luck at VanWinkles.  I'll let you know what the prognosis is if I find out. 

[dinker]

no problem always glad to help out if i can

[Gobble Doc]

OK, the verdict is in.  The owner of the dry fired bow took it to Riverside Archery in Mt. Vernon.  The folks there took a close look at the limbs and cams and everything looked to be in good shape.  The cable guard came loose so they tightened up the screw holding it.  After some test fires it was shooting well at 20 yards and was deemed good to go. 

Thanks everyone for your ideas and suggestions.  Riverside .