Dry Firing Bow and Its Complete Tactics (2022 Model)

A dry firing bow is a process of shooting a bow without an arrow. It is a hot experience and is something to avoid in archery. Dry firing may severely damage the bow structure and archer itself. In this blog post, you will deeply read about the dry firing bow and its tactics.

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The mechanics of Dry Firing:

There is a full mechanism you need to understand to avoid dry firing.

Archery with Arrow: 

Archers do the following steps:

1. Place the arrow at the center of the bow and string, 
2. Then stretch the rope with full power and release. 

On the release, 75% of power stored in limbs is converted into kinetic energy to propel the arrow. The remaining 25% of the power releases into the environment, and you can feel a slight vibration.

Archery without Arrow: 

But the case will be different when there is no arrow on the bow. The following steps take place:

1. Pull the string toward their face with full power.
2. 100% of power applied by limbs is released unattended as the bow cannot absorb it.
3.  Energy is released into the environment this a loud noise. 
4. It may loosen the clams, shatter the bow, or snap the string into pieces and set them free in the air.

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Potential hazards:

Dry fires are also named explosions in archery. 

Dry firing a compound bow: 

It causes severe damage to the compound bows, as they have a levering system of cables and pulleys.

1.  The longbows and levering system of a compound dry firing bow produces more explosions. 
2.  The string may lash back to your face.
3. Heavy attachments will break and gives scars and bruises.

Common hazards of dry firing bow:

1. These shattered and flying parts may lead to severe irreversible physical damage. 
2. The sharp dry firing bow pieces may penetrate the eyes leading to loss of vision or may tear your skin. 
3. Flying pieces of string can cause severe bruising on your face or neck.

What to do after next?

 If the dry firing bow is broken:

• Throw it in a rubbish bin and buy a new one for yourself. 
• Never try to amend the broken bow by yourself with tools at your home.
• Suppose you try fixing it by yourself with some ties and knots. It may come off during a shoot and lead to severe harm.

If the dry firing bow has significant fissure only: 

• Keenly observe your it and look for significant fissures. 
• Use a light and a magnifying glass to examine. 
• Take your bow to an expert and explain your whole experience. 
• Try to give them as many details as you can relate to shooting. 
• As well as guide them with the age and quality of the bow.
•  Let them do their work and follow their guidance. Do not risk yourself for the knowledge you don’t have.

If the bow looks normal:

• The kinetic energy released by the string is trapped inside the molecules of the dry firing bow and causes them to move at a higher speed. 
• Any further shooting, regardless of power, may lead to disaster.
•  At any cost, please take it to the archery shop. 
• Do not feel embarrassed and behave responsibly. 
• The technician will indeed assess the faults and repair them in dry firing bow.

After getting it set:

• Go for a test trial in a secured environment and an expert. 
• Observe any odd vibrations in the dry firing bow, if any, or any other abnormal behavior.
•  Suppose you are still not comfortable, then go for a new one. 
• On a safe ground, you may check the manufacturer for the warranty. It may cover your damage, or it may be replaceable.

Safety tips to avoid explosions:

First, you need to identify the cause behind catching a dry fire, and then you can limit it by some measure. Six pro tips are provided below:

        i.            Experts for Beginners:

Reason:

• Among all the archers’ beginners are more prone to dry firing. Okay, let us say someone just got a bow from an archery shop, and his friend picked it up. Before you can warn him, he just pulled the string and dry fire. Your expensive bow will be into pieces in the next few seconds.
• When a newbie handles a dry firing bow, dry fire becomes very common. Even when you are learning, you may frequently come across it. You have your arrow in the string and positioned it right, but just before shooting lack it due to lack of experience or attention.

Solution: 

• To avoid all these scenarios about dry firing bow, you need an expert every time around you when you are learning. 
• Experts know how to handle and prevent potential hazards.
•  It will decrease the loss by multiple times.

  ii.            Extra Care in Modern archery:

Reason: 

In modern archery, strong bows like a compound bow and cross bow are used.

 They have a levering system that multiplies the force with which the bow is drawn. 

If a compound arrow is dry fired, the damage will increase exponentially. Plus, they have extra heavy attachments like pulleys that further increase the damage.

Solution:

• In this situation, extra care is advised. 
• It would be best if you only went for modern archery when you are a pro with basic bows. 
• The need for an expert advisor is still there.

   iii.            Use of Anti-Dry-Fire Bow Release:

It is a practice device that attaches to the dry firing bow and allows the string to rest in the center of the knock for better contact. These devices are used in modern archery, where arches handle complex bow structures. Anti-dry-fire bows are a little expensive but valuable to learning archery in a safe environment.

   iv.            Cheap and lightweight arrows:

Reason: 

• When someone is doing archery for fun, he will not invest much. He would go for cheaper options.
•  In this situation, archers mostly compromise on the quality of the arrows. 
• A lightweight and low-quality arrow can not handle sufficient energy released by the bow. 
• Most of the power is transferred back to the dry firing bow, leading to dry fire.

Solution: 

It is therefore recommended to check the quality and weight of the arrows. At least invest enough to buy your safety.

   v.            Be vigilant and focused:

Reason: 

• Even though you know all pros and cons of dry fire, you still may encounter it.
• Sometimes it results from hard luck like sneezing or yawning at a crucial time. 

Solution

To minimize these flaws, you must remain vigilant. Only do archery when you are perfectly healthy and focused.

   vi.            Social Attention:

In some rare cases, people dry-fire a bow to get some attention. It is a bad practice because you may risk your life only for a few seconds. It may lead to irreversible loss, and you become a lesson instead of an inspiration.

Conclusion:

Dry firing is always frightening and harmful, but it can be easily avoided. For more safety and precautions, contact directly to an expert. Always start will a bare bow under professional guidance. Do not take high jumps; rather than go slow, be pro.

FAQs:

Why is dry firing a bow bad?

Dry firing a bow leads to potential hazards like physical injury to the archer or damage to the bow’s structure, which is terrible.

What happens when your dry fire a bow?

When your dry fire a bow, an explosion results in broken pieces of bow and string flying in the air. This explosion is also thunderous.

Can your dry fire a compound bow?

No, one should never dry fire a compound bow because it will lead to an explosion multiple times more excellent than one with a bare bow.

What happens when your dry fire a compound bow?

 On dry firing, the levering system of the compound bow will break, and heavy attachment will break off and cause bruising.

What to do if your dry fire your bow?

 Never try to amend it by yourself. Suppose you are not comfortable with a new one.

How to fix a dry-fired bow?

 Never try to fix it by yourself; only experts know the right way to amend them.

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