When should I replace my bow?

[BuffaloHump]

I've been using the same Darton for the last 12 years. No problems and still performs fine. I haven't heard any deer or hogs complain. However, I'm starting to worry about the limbs blowing up. What is the rule of thumb on retiring a bow?

[Christianhuff]

When you can afford a better one or once a year of course! treat yourself it's time, you will enjoy the experience and love the new technology!

[JW]

When u want. Send it to darton and have em do an inspect.

[Fubar]

When you can afford a better one or once a year of course! treat yourself it's time, you will enjoy the experience and love the new technology!

Couldn't agree more.

[Texas Stalker]

When you think you're ready for one. Things have come a good ways in technology since the old Darton. Go shoot some new ones and then decide if its worth it.

[Bill]

Any bow shop can do a detailed inspection putting it in a press and pulling out the axles. I'd rub a cotton ball over the limbs and see if there are any small slivers of glass rising. Else keep shooting it.

[BIG BONE]

buy a new one every year lol

[txdukklr]

I've owned a minimum of 15 bows in the same interval

so i'm a bad person to ask

[BTLowry]

Whenever YOU decide that it is time. Yes bows wear out and break down but you don't HAVE to buy a new one every year.
Of course if you can afford to and you like changing and shooting different bows then by all means change every time you get the urge

Of course with yours being 15yrs old, there are quieter, faster and more efficient bows now. That would be the selling points I would use on you

I have thought about buying a new one but my 06 Bowtech is still shooting good and I want to buy other stuff

[BuffaloHump]

Agreed. Money isn't really an issue. I just don't want to part with it unless there's a value add. The quieter bows are of interest to me. I'll go shoot them and go from there. Thanks for the input.

[edwardv]

I've shot the same Diamond Liberty since 2005. I love my bow. I show off and shoot skittles at 30 yards with it. I build a new string and cable for it every year and take it apart and lube it every year. I'd love to buy a new one, but they need to start paying teachers a more so I can afford it.

That being said, buy a new one if you can.

Regards,
Edward

[JTRichardson]

im guilty of not following this advice from time to time, but I always try to approach big purchases with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it..." theory.

but alas, the benefit from technology could far outweigh the cash spent on the purchase, so go shoot a new one, and if you find that the advantage of the new technology outweighs the price tag, then you sir have maximized your utility and made an economically rational decision!

[tyak]

Go shoot a creed and a ZXT and your question will be answered

[Greywolf in Hawaii]

I shot my Hoyt Proforce for 20 yrs, killed a bunch with it, finally upgraded to a Ultratec in 05, bought a Vectrix XL in 08 still shoot the Proforce, it's not a heavy as I thought I would be after a while. Just not as fast but then again it's quieter than the other two are.
A blazin 232 fps with 2514s topped with a snuffer 125, 4 inch Bi delta are a deadly combination.

A slow kill is better than a loud fast miss.

[BOHICA]

go shoot the newer bows and see what you think, I shot a mathews MQ1 for years, finally pulled the trigger on a Z7 in 2011 and love it