Is my bow too old?

[Bshiftbc]

Looking to get back to where I started (bowhunting). I have been rifle hunting for 20 years and I have pretty much had it with some of the things that happen during rifle season!

Here is my question....Could I still use my old bow or is it unsafe? It is a Browning Accelerator from about 1987! It was a good bow at the time, and has not been shot since the 1990 bow season. I know the best answer is to get a new one, but the dollars are just not there. Do I wait till I have the finances, or can my old one be tuned and inspected to use until a new bow is a reality?

Thanks for any advice you may have for me!

[washingtonmuley]

As long as the string,limbs, and cams are good then it should be fine.

[sirfunkeybut]

Use a cottonball and run it every which way on the limbs and that will find any splinters if it catches. And strings/cables shouldn't cost to much 

[Swannytheswan]

mine is about 20+ yrs old but it still kills deer I would have the strings and cables replaced and they will tell you if anything is damaged.

[winshooter88]

I had a Browning Acellerator bow about that same vintage. The guy that I sold it to still uses it every year.

[YoterHunter]

the old ones still work. but if can aford it the new ones are alot lighter and faster.

[Bshiftbc]

Well that's good news. Mt old bow partners laughed when I suggested I might be able to use the old Browning still. Of course they have all the new stuff, but I thought...what about the guys that shoot old recurves and such? Seems like if the stalk is right, you shoot well.....its the same animals as we shot in 1990....right?
Thanks for the advice! I'll dust her off and inspect her!Don't they say "the older the violin, the sweeter the music? Maybe that another thread 

[BOWHUNTER45]

As long as the string,limbs, and cams are good then it should be fine.

Yep thats about it  I think I would at least change the string since it has been over 20 yrs 

[RadSav]

Those older Browning bows had a habit of breaking limbs when they were new.  Now that the resins are old and brittle you will probably be looking for a new bow soon regardless.  Then again you might have a good one that will last.  You never know with old bows.  Makes it sort of exciting. 

That being said, those limb colapses are rarely as explosive as the modern limb breakages.  I wouldn't worry too much about injury other than a broken heart if it happens with a trophy in range.  If it has sentimental value I'd wait for a new bow.  If not I'd shoot it until I had the money to upgrade or it broke.  At least I'd have had a little fun while it lasted. 

New strings and cables would be a must for me though.  That's the failure where someone could get hurt really bad.  Most of those materials only have a five year shelf life when they are new so don't take that risk.  They're cheap compared to a doctors bill or a lost eye.

[huntnnw]

I ran into a fellow yesterday hunting with a late 80's Martin... hes taken quite a few elk with it

[rebal69972]

i hunt with a 15+ y/o bow i have taken many deer and hope to take a bear and elk this year.  have it inspected at a good bow shop they will tell you if theres a problem and should be able to fix it. good luck

[Bshiftbc]

Thanks RadSav for the email. Sounds good!

[tonymoe]

Yes, like you, it's too old! But, I wouldn't buy a new one unless your a fire fighter that works 8 days a month and makes a ton of money! Oh, wait, you are a firefighter!!
Hahaha

[whacker1]

I am shooting a 20-25 year old Jennings.  I had it tuned and re-strung twice in the last few years, and it shoots pretty well.

[wonder]

I shot an old Martin for 30 years but as was said in some earlier posts you have to be mindful about those limbs being brittle. I have replaced mine twice and my last Elk hunt I started getting a sliver coming off the upper limb.  Took one last shot and got my first Elk.  I chose not to shoot it anymore and bought a new bow.  Having a limb explode on you can be a pretty dangerous event which I've experienced twice.  Good luck with your decision.

[pianoman9701]

I hunted with a Browning Drake Flightmaster. Hunted with it until 1997 when I purchased a Bear Whitetail Hunter. I then purchased a Reflex a few years after that, and now own a Hoyt Turbo Hawk. Each time I get a new bow, the advances in technology - speed, weight, accuracy - amaze me. If you're going to switch from modern to archery for the hunting opportunities, I'd consider getting a new bow so the opportunity isn't lost with old, faulty equipment. 

[bwhntr2819]

C'mon, you're a shift BC. Schedule yourself an OT shift and buy yourself a new bow!