Everything has a lifespan – your fridge, car, and your bow is no different. Many products come with a warranty, but you wouldn’t rate a product highly if it broke an hour after the warranty expired. When you invest in quality merchandise, you expect years of use beyond the warranty.

When it comes archery equipment, there are a lot of factors that will determine their lifespan. One common question that many beginner archers ask when shopping for a bow is – How long does a bow last?

If you take good care of most modern bows they can last for decades:

Compound bows – 25-30 years
Recurve Bows – 20 years +
Longbows – Between 20 and 30 years
Crossbows – 15 years or more

So, how long will your bow last? That’s one of those questions with a range of answers because it depends on you and how you treat your bow. In theory, with the right skills and access to replacement parts, you can keep a bow in full working condition and hand it down to your children. However, many things happen over the years – manufacturers go out of business, change their models, and develop newer and better technology.

The Sum of It’s Parts

The life of your bow depends on what can break or wear out – its component parts. On most bows, you get the option to replace some of the components to keep your bow in prime shooting condition. In theory, you could keep your bow going for as long as you want, but the limiting factor is the availability and price of spare parts.

The best advice on buying a used bow is that you should look for a bow less than ten years old, because of updates in technology and potential problems getting replacement parts. The number of components that need to be replaced depends on the type of bow you shoot.

Quality Time

The amount of time you spend on shooting with your bow will impact on its wear and lifespan. A bows life is measured by:

• Number and type of arrows it fires.
• Frequency of use.
• Your shooting form.
• Accidents – Dropping the bow or an accidental dry fire.
• Storage.
• Maintenance.

Maintaining your bow properly is a practical and efficient way of making sure that your bow is safe to use and prolongs its useful life. Different types of bows need different levels of maintenance due to their various components.

Shooting arrows is putting mileage on your bow – heavy arrows and light arrows absorb different amounts of kinetic energy. Excess kinetic energy vibrates and stresses the bow. Plus, you may have a habit of putting some torque on the bows limbs. In the same way that everyone wears out their shoes in their own unique pattern, every archer puts different wear on their bow.

The amount of quality time you spend with your bow – whether it’s bowhunting, target practice, or maintenance all impacts on its lifespan.

Bowstrings

Obviously, all bows have bowstrings, and these need maintenance and regular replacement. Before and after any shooting session, inspect your bowstrings for any signs of fraying or breakage. Regular conditioning with bow wax keeps the string waterproof and smooth. This one is my favorite. Watch out for grit and dirt to avoid having abrasive particles damaging your bowstring. Pay attention to the sharp edges of your arrowhead as these can nick or cut your bowstring.

What Type of Bow are You Shooting?

One big factor in determining how long a bow will last is: Exactly what type of bow is it? Compound bows, recurve bows, longbows and crossbows all have different factors that will affect their useful lifespan.

How Long Do Compound Bows Last?

A compound bow is a marvelous and intricate weapon with many components that all have to function smoothly together. All compound bows include:

• Riser – Grip, and accessories.
• Limbs – Solid, split, or parallel.
• Cams – Round wheels, soft, hard, single, or hybrid.
• Bowstring, cables, and cable guard.

Limbs

Manufacturers make replacement limbs because the limbs on your compound bow can wear out or break over time. There may be defects that cause early splintering or snapping, or damage could happen during use. Modern limb materials are far less prone to damage than wood, but the limbs are still the parts of the bow that are subject to the most stress. If the limbs break, it’s a potential hazard from moving shrapnel.

Part of your regular bow maintenance is to carefully inspect the limbs for any cracks or signs of damage. Suppose you have a dry fire – it’s best to put the bow back into a hard shell case, as there could be an explosive limb breakage in the next few hours. Limbs can also suffer damage from dropping the bow, accidental knocks or improper storage. This case is great choice for most compound and recurve bows.

Cams

Cams are generally robust and smooth moving, and potential problems include derailing (cables or string) and getting bent out of shape. Unless you have bow technician skills, you should rely on an annual service and tune-up to sort out any cam issues or replacements.

As part of your checks, you can make sure that the cams operate smoothly and symmetrically with no apparent damage or problems. Also, have someone else hold your bow at full draw while you inspect the cams. Often times the cams will appear normal at first glance, and you can only see that they’re misaligned when the bow is at full draw.

Loose Components

Every time you fire an arrow, you rattle your bow. All the screws will start to slowly work loose. Listen carefully for any rattling, and check over all of the attachments to make sure everything is tight and secure.

If you use your bow daily or frequently, make sure you tighten up all your screws once a month to stop problems developing over time. This also gets you in the habit of performing a regular inspection of your bow, so that you can spot any potential issues early when the cost of repairing them is low.

With proper care and maintenance a compound bow should last 25-30 years (if replacement parts remain available), but new developments in technology may mean that you want to retire your bow earlier.

How Long Do Recurve Bows Last?

The recurve bow has a riser and two main limbs (traditional recurves have limbs and riser as a one piece construction) and a bowstring. The sights and arrow rest are mounted on the riser. The recurve bow has more parts than a longbow, but the limbs on a recurve bow are replaceable (on take down style recurve bows).

You can expect the limbs to last around 10 to 20 years unless they suffer mechanical damage. Broken tips, cracks, and splintering are the main signs that the limbs are getting old. If you notice signs of wear on the limbs or need to change your draw weight, you can swap out the limbs for new ones. That’s one of main benefits to take down bows.

If you’re shopping around for a recurve bow, I would highly recommend that you go with a takedown recurve bow vs. a one piece recurve. Not only do they cost about the same as a one piece bow, they’re easier to store and they last longer due to the replaceable limbs. This bow is my Number 1 choice for anyone, from beginners to intermediate archers and beyond.

Unlike a longbow, a recurve bow contains fasteners connecting the riser to the limbs, and these metal components can corrode and work loose. As part of your routine pre-shooting check list, go over everything and make sure nothing rattles. A regular tightening of all the fastenings and an application of lubricant as waterproofing can prevent problems with the fasteners.

Finally, allow your recurve bow to relax by removing its bowstring for storage. Keep the pressure off the limbs by using a hard shell case or carefully positioned wall pegs. Never hang your bow in direct sunlight as this causes bleaching and brittleness to all of the materials that your bow is made up of.

The lifespan of a recurve bow depends heavily on the materials in the riser and limbs. Typical materials, alone and combined, include metal (risers), carbon fiber, and fiberglass and wood. The durability of the materials is not the issue – fatigue through flexing and vibrating is what puts wear on the bow over time.

Recurve Bow Maintenance

The maintenance routine for a recurve bow is the following:

• Go over the bow looking for any damage.
• Check the bowstring often and replace when necessary.
• Keep the bow clean and dry.
• Lightly wax the bowstring after each use.
• Keep the bow unstrung and in a protective case when not in use.
• Check and tighten all the fastenings at least monthly.
• Apply a little bow wax or another lubricant to the fasteners to keep them waterproof.

A well made recurve bow can last a long time, there are recurve bows that still shoot and remain in good condition after five decades of use.

If you take good care of a recurve bow it can last 20 years or more with proper storage and maintenance.

How Long Do Longbows Last?

The longbow is the classic bow shape and has minimal components to break or replace. A properly maintained longbow with regular restringing can last as long as your body can use the bow, with the average around 20 to 30 years, and it will still be in good enough condition to pass on to someone else.

The life of a longbow ends because of:

• Mechanical Damage – Broken tips and cracks in the body.
• Poor Maintenance – Allowing the wood to dry out and crack.
• Poor Shooting Form – Putting torque on the body of the bow.
• Bad Storage – Temperature extremes, dampness, leaving the bow under tension.

All these factors are in your control. Wooden bows need more love and care than synthetic bows because wood needs conditioning and warming up before shooting. Wood is sensitive to temperature and moisture. But if you treat your bow right, store it unstrung, and in a cool, dry space, then you and your bow can be shooting companions for life.

Longbow Maintenance

The rules of longbow maintenance are:

• Check for damage and regularly replace the bowstring.
• Keep the bow clean and dry.
• Wax and lubricate the bowstring.
• Polish and condition the body.

Good habits in shooting and maintaining your longbow ensure that you can enjoy it for between 20 and 30 years on average.

How Long Do Crossbows Last?

Compound or recurve crossbows both contain many components and moving parts. Most modern crossbows have a stock and trigger section, in addition to the limbs, cams, cable, and string.

Most people believe that crossbows are “easier” to own than other types of bows and don’t need much maintenance. But a crossbow has plenty of moving parts, and like most things in life, it works better if you give it some care and attention.

Wax and Lubricate

Check the manufacturer’s recommendations, but you will want to wax the bowstring and the cables (compound crossbow). It would help if you then lubricated the rail (to minimize bolt friction and improve shooting accuracy), the trigger box, and any exposed mounting bolts.

Check for Damage

Every time you pick up your crossbow, give it quick a once over to make sure your bowstring, limbs, and other components are all in good condition. Ideally, you should complete a visual inspection before and after any shooting session. Regular inspection means you can notice the need for maintenance or repair before it becomes a big issue, keeping your weapon both safe and functional.

Keep it Clean

Removing dirt and grit from the rail and any other part of your crossbow helps prevent damage. If you want a quick and straightforward clean (taking about two or three minutes after a shooting session), use a can of compressed air. You can combine the post shooting clean with a post shooting inspection for best results.

Keep Things Tight

Keep a screwdriver and hex key in your crossbow kit and tighten up all the fastenings. Pick a regular date to help you easily remember your monthly maintenance routine and it’ll become second nature after a while.

Your crossbow packs plenty of power, and some of that energy is going to rattle the parts. While you make sure everything is nice and tight, look out for signs of corrosion as well.

Crossbow Storage

If you only use your crossbow during the hunting season, you might want to consider removing the string and cables for off season storage – especially if you have a recurve crossbow. This step reduces some of the stress on the crossbow.

For general storage, you can hang your crossbow by the stirrup or use a storage case. When hanging a crossbow, make sure the fitting can take the full weight, because you don’t want it crashing to the ground do to a loose hanger. Cool and dry storage prolongs the life of your crossbow.

Provided you can access the parts and accessories you need, you can keep a crossbow in top working condition for decades. With proper care and maintenance a crossbow can last 15 years or more.

Finally

How long a bow lasts in your possession depends on several factors, most of which are in your control. Your first bow can last a lifetime, but over time, you’re likely to outgrow it and go through a couple of bows before you settle on “the one.”

You invest time and effort into learning how to shoot well and accurately with a good shooting form. It makes sense to put some time and effort into learning how to maintain and care for your bow when you’re learning to shoot as well.

That extra care and attention to bow maintenance and storage will pay dividends in your shooting accuracy, safety, and protecting your investment. So, how long does a bow last? That’s really up to you.