I just realized I don't have a backup string for my Bear TD. I've decided to wait a couple of years before I get one, as strings just don't break unexpectedly. In the long history of archery, it has never happened and never will. I'd say this over-built Bear string will easily last 10 years, so why buy a backup? Why do people worry about backup strings? I've been emailing Batman and letting him know I'm not getting a backup string, and I know it's bothering him, lol! He needs to get over it. I mean, if your string starts to fray or you tend to be clumsy around knives and/or how you handle and store your bows, I'd have multiple backups available. Otherwise, I don't see a need for a backup. I'm just not getting one.

Joe

Would be a good idea to get another and shoot it in. Then you could put it away somewhere until you think you'll need it.

Personally I have a couple of backups for each bow.

I forgot about shooting them in. That's what I did with my Drake string. Phil, I'd agree with your advice here.

Joe

However, I think the string on my Bear is a fast flight. It's the greatest string I've ever used! Seems super strong and probably thicker than it should be. What if I bought a backup FF string and the loops weren't properly made for a recurve? That thought has me thinking I better not get a backup. I'd hate to put a B50 on this bow after shooting with the Bear string.

Joe

yeah, you're right Joe. You don't need no stinking backup because you're a legend and we all know shtuff never happens to legends ;~)

Joe, nothing wrong with a B50. I twist up a new one when needed, but get LOTS of mileage out of each string I make, and never have worried about a back-up. Also nothing wrong with your FF if that's your cup of Joe (java, coffee,etc.. you get the joke) . I have a FF on my Freeman longbow and the only thing it has needed after a few years of good use was re-served. Jeff made the string and the bow- terrific combo. My Hummingbird has a B50 and I like it, no need for a back-up unless your scared of your own and don't go over them regularly.

-Bones

Phil, just to clarify, not disagreeing with you and IF I ever went on a hunt outside of Texas I might make and shoot in an extra before I left. But, I hunt and shoot relatively close to home, so no worries.

-Bones

Spare string is like insurance or a spare tire in your vehicle. You don't really need it,

Frisky, you just want someone to take pity on you and give you a string.

I tend to agree with one of your observations, though. If you take care of your string, and replace when necessary, it's unlikely to break. In about 60 years of shooting and hunting, I've never had a string break on me.

On the other hand, they come apart real fast when touched with a sharp broadhead. That happened to me about 50 years ago. Ruined a morning of hunting, or should I say not hunting. I've carried a back-up string ever since.

Of course, legends such as yourself probably aren't so clumsy as to accidentally touch broadhead to string. Come to think of it, I've read where your broadheads are so dull they wouldn't cut the string anyway.

As Winston Churchill said, to paraphrase, "Man will now and then stumble upon the truth. But most times, he will pick himself up and carry on." Carry on. :>)

Understandable,

Strings don't wear out from posting pics on forums......

....

/grin, just messing with you.....

One bow.

One string.

One arrow.

And one combine.

That's all YOU need Joe.

Yeah I thought that and then the broadhead had its own ideas... and there I was stringless in the tree looking at deer wishing somehow I had a spare in my quiver...

Just saying

I'm with you (sort of) on this one Frisky. If you are going out of town on a hunt, or your season is only a very limited number of days, it would be wise to have a shot-in back up just in case. After all, you might be the the most careful person there is, and then some jack-leg does something dumb and your string gets ruined. For the other 99.9% of the time, a backup string is only saving you a few hours.

I have at least half a dozen "back-up" strings (previously primary strings), but they are in my tackle box, and it will probably take me an hour to find the right one for the right bow. Then I still have to get the brace height right.

Since it would just be an unused backup, I think I'll have Stilldub make me a B50. It's a 47 pound pull, so I think I'll go with my 1st ever 10 strand string. At 50 pounds per strand, that's plenty for a 47 pound bow. No sense on even using my usual 12 strander.

Joe

Agree with Orion...one broadhead cut away from having a two piece string on your three piece bow. Not that I ever did that...

Get Barry to make you one of his BCY-X strings instead of a B-50. Much better.

I record the final brace on my go to bows and, since I use low stretch, I just twist to that brace and keep hunting as the string won't change after.

Why wouldn't you get a "back-up" string the same as your regular string?

I always have a back up string with me rather I'm hunting or at a 3D shoot. I was at a shoot 2 years ago and having a back up string is why I was able to finish the shoot. On target number 8 out of 20 when I shot my bow it made the loudest sound I have ever come from a bow and arrow flew crazy. I had on a new leather arm guard that had metal tabs that the cord laced around. Well the string hit one of those tabs and cut my string into. Luckly no one was hurt and bow was not hurt. Put my back up string on and finished the shoot. Also never wore that arm guard again or any other with metal tabs . lol

I admit that I am not an experienced bowhunter with just my Colorado hunt last year with Kerry and Peter but even I took an extra string! I suppose you could use your bootlaces if you have to! Just do it, no one needs to know except you. Lance

Hey, I’ll even send you mine! I used the same bow after all. Bear “A” with #1’s, right? My bow is 50# so the same string will work! Lance

I'll have to ask Stilldub about BCY-X strings. That sounds like the ticket.

Joe

Knifeguy- hold tight to your spare string, as your inability to properly handle a knife makes having spare strings around a necessity.

Joe

If you want to get it right the first time, Call Chad at Champion Strings

I never wear a safety harness in my treestand either, because accidents NEVER happen ;)

I second the BCY X string. And no it doesn’t need to be as thick as a repelling rope. All I use now on my Bears that are FF material safe. Heck you might even have to spine up your arrows.

Frisky, George is giving away some strings. Maybe you could win you a back up string.

One time my only string accidently found out just how sharp my broadhead was. Now I carry a spare. Frisky, I think BATMAN will agree, if you can make those stunning Red Osier arrows, you can make a fine string!

I’ve never needed to replace a string when I was out shooting. I’ve never had to replace a string because it broke, ever. That said, I keep a spare bow in the trunk of my car. I also keep about 12 ft of 550 Paracord as well. It makes a decent string in an emergency. No serving, but you’d be surprised how well it works, and it doesn’t stretch as much as you’d think. Great Stuff AND made in the USA.

George would have inferior strings for sure. I better go the safe route with Stilldub.

Joe

Incidentally I never get just one string! I always get 2 strings when I get one made up for a bow.

That's the smart way in case you need one. If your going to continue to drive over an animal then the string you probably have on your bows you can drag the animal out from under your wheels Joey.

Hec's she will tie up a tug boat so you could even pull someone out of a ditch if they happened to go off road.LAL

You put an 8 or 10 strand with padded loops on that Bear and she will roar like a lion.

Them arrows will be so fast you will think they got shot out of a cannon.

Frisky, If you do decide to pass on the string making Adventure, Linda Brackenbury will make you a string that will go along just fine with that fancy Bear.

On the other hand, if plan on doing your hunting in your backyard I guess you actually don't really need a backup string.

I leave in two weeks for an elk hunt in Wyoming. I will be driving and will be carrying a backup bow as well as backup strings for both bows. Also backup shooting gloves, armguards, flashlights, etc. I was deep in the woods on a weeklong hunting trip years ago and offered an old man walking down a dirt road a ride. He was carrying a slingblade and accidently cut my bowstring almost completely in half, just a few strands holding it together. I had had to drive 60 miles roundtrip to find another string so my hunt was not ruined. I don't worryso much about carrying extras when I'm hunting around the house, but when I'm off in the middle of nowhere I don't want my trip ruined by the loss of one essential item.

Frisky, Does a "backup string" have something to do with putting your car in reverse? If so, I will defer to your expertise.

Otherwise, it's always good to try different string materials and thicknesses on a new bow. Especially mass produced bows like Bears. They need all the help and tuning they can get. - John

Strings can and do "just break", but it's very rare. I have had 3 bowstrings get cut though. 1 almost all the way through, 2 were just badly frayed. All required a trip home and re string. That was days of compounds and bow presses. Now, I always have a stringer and extra hunting string in a plastic tube in my hunting pack, but now I am much more careful too. Weighs virtually nothing. No reason not to have one.

If Joe was a hunter and understood the handling of arrows with broad heads on them he would realize why he needs a 2nd string as a back up. I have nicked many a string myself.

Hec's one time I climbed up in tree I was I think like 38 many moons ago and pulled my bow up and sat down. I got out an arrow and didn't I nick the string. Ok do I climb down and disturb everything and scent up the bush?

No I got out my other string and changed it. Now if you wanted to hear me doing it I was taking a big chance changing strings out up 18 feet in tree in a lock on stand and tied to tree.

Won't do that again I'll lower bow and climb down and change it out.

Them days are long gone anyways climbing don't think I'll be able this year.

Like I said, only dubs cut strings. You have to be totally unaware of what you're doing to cut a string. It's a wonder Ryman is still alive.

Joe

I've had two strings break at the nocking point. The first one scared the crap out of me. I drew, released and everything went flying. No damage to the bow but I was a bit gunshy for a while. Then about a month later another one broke in the same place. That time I knew right away what was happening. No understanding of why and I don't use brass nocking points.

When I was about 14, my buddy and I went on a great bowhunting adventure. Back in those days, we used those hoodless Bear quivers that left the broadheads exposed. As my buddy was unloading his bow, one of said exposed broadheads brushed against my string and sliced it. The dry fire sounded like a dang 45-70 going off. Obviously, it was a very short hunt for me but it taught me at an early age to carry a spare string. It also taught me not to use hoodless quivers.

If the string is B50 there is always a chance of it rubbing up against something very abrasive or repeated rubbings which can really fray the string and weaken it. If the string is shot a lot, right where the arrow attaches to the string gets the most stress. Snapping the arrow on, EVERY TIME you release the string that single area receives the most pressure moving the arrow forward and when the nock releases the string. When the string breaks under the serving that is where it happens whether B50 or High Performance Material. I have seen it happen when the bow was at brace and just hanging. If nothing else accidents happen, like you falling and hitting something sharp and cutting the string. What are the chances of any of this happening when hunting, Low. The chance still remains, it never hurts to have an extra string with you pre-setup just in case. DANNY

Mine just snapped (Crazy String Break Thread) a couple weeks ago 6" above the lower loop.

I always have a spare string ready to go....l keep it on my back-up bow. :)

There's always human error involved somewhere. Since I shoot and hunt without flaw, I'm pretty much immune to string breakage, but I'm thinking about ordering a backup this week.

Joe

I’ve never had a string break. LOL.

If you are primarily shooting in your yard and/or killing suburban woodlot corn pile deer you likely not ever need to worry about a spare string. But if you make the investment in a trip to somewhere in the middle of nowhere, it would sure be a same to spend it twiddling your thumbs because you abraded your string on a rock while climbing or accidentally touched it with a broadhead, and didn't bring a backup.

Actually you can make a string with a top loop and serving and learn to tie a timber hitch on the lower limb-that one string could be serviceable for serveral bows. Frisky would be better served with a bayonet lug in place of a stabilizer. Get an old WWII early model bayonet and stick those road hit, pre-tenderizered does.

Joe that's why I am the Cat with 9 lives. I tell you it was certainly one of the dumbest things I done. Way dangerous.

Joe I'm sure I can find a skinny string to fit up your bear TD . I have a lot of them that aren't being used. I can send you one to try out if you would like.

I always traveled with 30 to 40 arrows all set up and 3 or 4 strings and a couple bows. If things went south with one of the bows I had back up always.

I always been over kill but I was prepared to kill. Not say I got to go home I broke me string my life line is finished.LOL

Spare tabs and spare everything and arm guards as well. Go big or go home is what I felt.

We can't forget that we are dealing with a legend here guys. I heard someone who knows say that Joe Frisk could actually kill a deer with a broken string if he needed to.

Iwander- where did you get that portrait of RymanCat?

Joe

That's not Rymancat Frisky, that's the fellow "That knows". I'm sitting here a little bit disappointed right now I kind of figured that you to Legends know each other.

You "two" Legends rather

Not to get off topic but a final consideration might be a spare tire Frisky. The more I think about it the more I realize that a spare tire in your trunk would is likely to be much more useful then a spare string in your backseat. Those antlers can be very sharp at times especially the small ones.

Looking at that photo reminds me of how advanced and refined I am compared to the typical Leatherwaller.

Joe

I am not sure that those dynamically over powered LOLs can handle a non stretch string. For those those of you that don't know this fancy 'outer jargon, 'LOL' means Limbs of Legend.

Ben Lilly is spinning in his grave. - John

Sometimes its better not to say anything and be perceived as a dummy, vs opening my mouth and removing all doubt

Well Bob, then I suggest you keep quiet!

Anyway, before I was so rudely and crudely attacked, I was making a point. An advanced archer has supreme confidence. If they say there's no need for a spare string, there's no need for a spare string. Its that simple. 99% of forum shooters lack this supreme confidence and are always crying, "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"

Joe

Not to mention, word on the streets is that Joe Frisk and the Mighty Quinn hunted polar bear with no spare strings back in the day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qoyWU_EDDU

Thanks for proving my point brother:^P

You're welcome!

Joe

Maybe an extra seatbelt would do you more good.

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