So you’ve worked extremely hard and spent a lot of money on a fantastic new recurve bow. But where do you store it?
You should store your bow correctly to keep them firing like new and also to avoid unintentional damage. Let’s take time to discover the most effective methods to store a recurve bow.
5 Recurve Bow Storage Ideas
The form of a bow determines its strength. All of the components of your bow have been fine-tuned to deliver an accurate, robust, and repeatable shot without causing damage to the bow’s components.
Proper storage will aid in your bow maintenance since any warping or bending will affect the bow’s functionality and may even render it useless.
Below are the best ways to store your recurve bow:
1. Use a Bow Stand
You may use bow stands to keep a recurve bow safely from damage. Bow stands are an excellent storage option to consider if you want to keep your recurve bow in good condition while storing it. You commonly find bow stands look like a tripod, with an arm outstretched to balance a recurve bow on its riser.
A bow stand protects your bow and bowstrings from scrapes and other harm. You can install a bow stand within your home without taking too much space due to its simple design. As a result, bow stands are a secure way to store recurve bows.
2. Use Wall Pegs
If you want to exhibit your bow in your home, this is a perfect alternative.
Depending on your demands, you can purchase wall pegs to hold your bow. And mount your wall pegs to your wall to hang your bow.
Distribute the weight evenly and hang your bow upside down, resting horizontally on the wall peg. Balanced distribution is important because, even if your gear is on a recurve bow rack, if one limb or tip is holding more weight than the other, it might still get strained.
3. Use a Hard Case
The hard case is the best solution if you take your recurve bow on long trips often. Also, it is great if you simply want a solution that will ultimately safeguard your equipment. Hard cases protect not only your recurve bow but also your other archery gear.
Though it also varies by brand, most recurve bow cases are designed to solve the problem of storing recurve bows in the best possible way. Moreover, if you choose to disassemble your recurve bow before storing it, certain hard cases come with spaces for each part of the bow.
You may want to check the best bow cases here.
4. Use a Soft Case
The most popular method is probably a soft recurve bow case. These are customized bags or quiver-like cases made of a soft material like leather that you can use as recurve bow storage.
Some soft cases include foam inside to protect your recurve bow. They are lightweight yet durable, and many are suitable for transporting your bow in a car, plane, or train.
5. Use a Recurve Bow Backpack
This is a new method for those who believe that disassembling a recurve bow during storage is essential. A specific recurve bow backpack for hikes with slots for dismantled components will keep both of your arms available during your trip.
Best Practices Before Storing your Bow
Bow storage is not as simple as putting your recurve bow on a table or the floor. In reality, how you store recurve bow can significantly impact how well it works and how long it lasts. The following are some of the most crucial factors to consider:
Examine your Bow
Take the time to examine your recurve bow before storing it thoroughly. You’ll be able to see whether there are any problems with the bow that needs fixing. Examining your bow is also an excellent opportunity to learn more about your equipment. The more familiar and comfortable you are with your bow, the more likely you will use it to its full potential when shooting.
Clean your Bow
It’s critical to make sure your bow is clean and dry before storing it. Wipe the bow down with a gentle towel to clean it. If it still needs cleaning, you can use a polishing solution to remove the stubborn filth. You may also use wax to protect your string. Here is the list of the best bow string wax you can use.
Is It Necessary to Unstring Your Bow?
The stress of being strung weakens the material in your bow. It also lowers its lifespan unless it’s constructed with fiberglass. The wood deteriorates and becomes increasingly weaker over time, potentially rendering your bow useless. (1, 2)
So, if you’re not going to use the bow for more than a few hours, it’s a great idea to unstring it. Naturally, it would be best if you unstrung the bow before storing it. This will help you extend the life of the bow.
Tips on How to Store a Recurve Bow Properly
Recurve bows are extremely fragile gear. The bow limb tips curve out and might stray. These areas of the bow are highly vulnerable and prone to damage. Here are several guidelines to help you store your bow correctly.
Don’t Allow your Recurve Bow to Rest on its Tips
Bows are advanced pieces of equipment, and to maintain consistent accuracy, they must be stored properly to avoid deformation. Resting your bow on its tips is not be a good idea; this will harm your bow by bending and damaging the tips.
Keep your bow stored to maintain its firing ability and to prevent accidental damage.
Use a Stringer
A stringer is strongly recommended to be on the safe side. It will not only help you string your bow faster, but it is also safe for your equipment and you’ll be able to avoid injuries as well.
Restringing your bow may be necessary if you set up peep sight, modify the draw weight, or if your string becomes damaged; in these cases, going the professional path and using a stringer is recommended.
Dry Firing is Never a Good Idea
Do not develop this terrible habit. Drawing back and releasing a bowstring while there is no arrow will cause damage to your recurve bow.
Dry fire can lead to injury. Please do not dry fire if you have children in the house. The significant reason to reject dry firing is that your bow could break or explode, which can be extremely dangerous.
FAQs
Will the Components of my Recurve Bow Affect How it is Stored?
Nowadays, manufacturers make recurve bows with plastic or hardwood. A wooden bow is rarely used today. Regardless of the material used, appropriately storing a recurve bow will increase its lifespan.
How Does Storing a Recurve Bow Differ from Storing a Compound Bow?
That’s a big difference because compound bows have more shooting parts to deal with. Recurve bows are simpler to build but still effective. However, regardless of the type of bow used, proper archery equipment storage must always be encouraged.
References
(1) fiberglass – https://cen.acs.org/materials/inorganic-chemistry/s-fiberglass-does-delicate-material/96/i38
(2) wood deteriorates – https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/bk-2003-0845.ch001
