Archery Release Dry Fire Question

aequinox

New member
Hello,

Pretty amateur archer here -- I have a bit of a weird setup with a traditional recurve + an archery release. My question is, assuming the d-loop and release are reasonably well made, is it unadvisable to pull back the bow without an arrow on the string because it's "possible" the release or d-loop could fail and the bow could dry fire, or is it reasonable to assume that it will work fine. I'm asking because sometimes to test stuff out, etc. I want to just be in the house, but I don't want to pull back an arrow inside my home.

Thanks!
 

Kerf

Supporter
Supporter
AIUK Saviour
Hello,

Pretty amateur archer here -- I have a bit of a weird setup with a traditional recurve + an archery release. My question is, assuming the d-loop and release are reasonably well made, is it unadvisable to pull back the bow without an arrow on the string because it's "possible" the release or d-loop could fail and the bow could dry fire, or is it reasonable to assume that it will work fine. I'm asking because sometimes to test stuff out, etc. I want to just be in the house, but I don't want to pull back an arrow inside my home.

Thanks!
Hi. I would never recommend drawing your bow, by whatever means, without an arrow strung unless you had some sort of retainer firmly fixed to the string and your hand or arm. I’m thinking something like a bow trainer device or elbow sling trainer. You never know when your fingers might slip off the string or, as you suggest, suffer a failure of the d-loop or release in your case. Better safe than sorry.
 

Rik

Supporter
Supporter
Having made holes in walls, wardrobes, from pulling back a bow with an arrow on it (but never a double glazed patio door - that wasn't me... :) ), I can sympathise with the caution.
Thing is: a dry fire of a recurve will not necessarily break it. It might survive one, two, a dozen of them. You don't know, though. It could break on the first one.

So I'd normally recommend drawing with an arrow, but pointing towards a backstop of some sort - a box filled with rags or carpet scraps would do. Even just lots of layers of cardboard.
 

Geophys2

Active member
AIUK Saviour
I do use one of those, but I also use a Stan Shootoff heavy element release aid which has a pin you screw in and blocks the jaws from opening. so you can dry fire the release aid, but it won't release the string. Used it, or other Stan Shootoffs, for four years with no problems or malfunctions. Bit more expensive than the "cannot fire release aid" though!
 

AGordon

New member
Get a "cannot fire release aid" - all compound archers should have one. For just £9.00 money well spent and it can be used as a training aid.
View attachment 8473
Of course this does not automatically protect against d loop failure, always use it on the string itself or use the “wrist loop” around the string and back to the groove between the finger holes as a secondary capture device.
 
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