Made my own bow string. What do you guys think?

[Bypass]

Earlier this year my flight instructor gave me this old Martin Cougar Speed Flite compound bow that had been laying in the back of the hangar for years. I've been having tons of fun shooting cheap aluminum arrows at a cardboard box full of newspapers in my backyard. Of course the original string that was probably 30 years old eventually snapped. (I've been wearing safety glasses when I shoot it because I knew that would happen sooner or later). I took it to several archery shops but nobody wanted to touch it because of how old it is. So I went down to Walmart and got some 50 lb test braided fishing line. I took 25 strands of it, pulled it tight to take all the stretch out of it, and then twisted it together. So in theory it's capable of handling 1,250lbs which should be more than enough for a 50 lb bow. I used a ratchet strap to compress the limbs, measured it to exactly 35 inches like the original string, then tied it off on each of the cables with some electrical tape under it to prevent chafing. I wrapped a piece of black duct tape around the middle to give a thick piece to nock my arrows and grab it with my release. I've put about a hundred arrows down range with it so far and it seems to work great. It's actually a lot quieter than the original string as well. What do you guys think? Will this hold up? And yes I'm still wearing safety glasses when I shoot it just in case!

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Get a new bow I see the wire cable where the wire is showing through the cables. Bows don't last forever. I wish I could still bow hunt but my right shoulder is shot from an 80 lb pull for many years.

 

[howl]

Keeping with the theme, use some fishing line to serve in the string. Do a YouTube search for how to bow string serving. That puts a layer over the string for the nocks to wear against. It's the usual thing to do. You can also use the line to make a nocking point. Tied on nocking points are handy because you can make it so it adjusts easily.

You can shoot tight groups without using a sight, but the bow and arrows have to be tuned together. Masters can be seen by searching for videos of barebow competitions.

 

[savannahboy]

I'm still wearing the safety glasses just in case.

I've got about 300 arrows on it now and no signs of fraying or stretching. I do need to find a better way to protect the string where I nock my arrows and grab it with the release. The duct tape is wearing through in about 30 or 40 shots. Any ideas? Maybe a thin piece of plastic from a coke bottle?

How about a short section of heat shrink wrap used on wire splices?

 

[streetroc]

Get a new bow I see the wire cable where the wire is showing through the cables. Bows don't last forever. I wish I could still bow hunt but my right shoulder is shot from an 80 lb pull for many years.

Yeah I've been keeping an eye on that. The rubberized coating came off the cable on the top cam while I was wrestling it around with a ratchet strap to compress the limbs. I've also got it turned down to about 45-50lbs. I'd go even lower than that but I don't know how many more turns I can back it off on the limb bolts.

 

[streetroc]

How about a short section of heat shrink wrap used on wire splices?

Not a bad idea but I don't think that would be tough enough. It would probably just wear through like the tape did

 

[streetroc]

Keeping with the theme, use some fishing line to serve in the string. Do a YouTube search for how to bow string serving. That puts a layer over the string for the nocks to wear against. It's the usual thing to do. You can also use the line to make a nocking point. Tied on nocking points are handy because you can make it so it adjusts easily.

You can shoot tight groups without using a sight, but the bow and arrows have to be tuned together. Masters can be seen by searching for videos of barebow competitions.

That's exactly what I did. I took three strands of fishing line and braided it together and then wrapped it around the middle of the string where I nock my arrows and grab it with the release. The black tape is only to keep it from unraveling on the ends and to grab it with my release.

I thought about making a loop for a nocking point but the draw length is too long for me already so I just grab it directly by the string to shorten it up another 1/2 inch.

I've got about 400 arrows on this string now and no signs of wear or fraying. I'm still using safety glasses just in case but it looks like this worked out. That cardboard box full of newspapers in my backyard doesn't stand a chance!

 

[LARGO9]

I have a mechanical trigger release but no sights. Sights feel like cheating. Genghis Khan didn't conquer the world with sights on his bow lol

But he also lost a million men in battle

 

[streetroc]

But he also lost a million men in battle

And he got so much poon that 1,000 years later approximately 5% of the world's population is still related to him. See why I don't use sights on my bow?