Why Do Crossbow Limbs Crack?

Sam · Last Updated January 2, 2022

The crossbow limbs are the ends of the bow. They are heavy, and the string connects to the end of each one. With a crossbow, the limbs can be either compound or recurve, and the limbs are longer on a recurve model.

When you check over your crossbow, you might notice that there are cracks in the limbs. This can happen for several different reasons. First, the limbs could fail from a manufacturing defect. However, it is more likely that you accidentally or intentionally dry-fired the crossbow. One way this can happen is by using the wrong bolts, as one that is too light or too short can cause a dry fire.

In this post, we'll cover:

What Causes Crossbow Limbs to Crack?

Although there are times when your crossbow cracks due to a manufacturer defect, it normally happens when you dry fire the bow. You should never dry fire your bow on purpose, and you should understand how your crossbow works to minimize the chances of dry firing it by accident.

For example, it is important to always use the correct size bolt for your crossbow. If you use bolts that are too light or too short, it can cause a dry fire. If not, it can still create strain on the crossbow that comes out as a cracked or splintering limb.

What Is Dry Firing?

When people talk about dry firing, they are referring to shooting your crossbow without an arrow. The intense force causes the string to vibrate in a very strong way, which causes the energy to return back to the bow. This can cause damage to the crossbow.

Some crossbows are more sensitive to dry firing than others. This is especially true of compound crossbows, which can cause your limbs to crack and your crossbow to shatter into several pieces. However, any crossbow will sustain some damage from dry firing, even if you can’t see the physical evidence. It may not show up until another time. You should also know that you usually breach your warranty once you dry fire a crossbow.

What Happens After You Dry Fire Your Crossbow?

Once you dry fire your crossbow, you will either see the damage right away or experience it the next time you fire your crossbow. The problem is all in the transfer of energy. Normally, you have a bolt and the potential energy transfers to kinetic energy that is released with the bolt. However, when there is no bolt, the energy moves back into the string. The potential energy is still transformed into kinetic energy, but with nowhere to go, it returns to the bow.

What to Do If You Dry Fire Your Crossbow

When you dry fire your crossbow, you may see damage to the limbs right away. However, if you don’t see signs of damage, it is likely to show itself the next time you fire it. If you dry fire your crossbow, the first thing you need to do is examine it thoroughly. Make a note of any damage you find.

Next, you should take a cotton ball and slowly run it up and down the entire length of the crossbow limbs. This is how you will find out if there are any splinters in the limbs. If you don’t find any, that is a positive sign, but it doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything wrong.

Then, you should check the riser and cams for any cracks. If you haven’t found any damage anywhere on the crossbow, you can cock it slowly. Listen carefully for any unusual sounds. If you don’t hear anything, then you can load a bolt and take a practice shot. Look at your in-flight trajectory and the accuracy to make sure that everything is working.

You may be fortunate enough to avoid any damage because a lot of manufacturers know that a dry fire can potentially ruin your crossbow. Many crossbows today come with features to combat dry firing.

What to Do If Your Crossbow Limbs Are Cracked

If you find that your crossbow limbs are cracked or splintered, you will need to repair or replace them. The first thing to do is to check on your warranty. If your crossbow is under warranty, you may be able to replace them.

It is not recommended to repair cracked crossbow limbs. Generally, crossbow limbs are cast in a mold to get their shape, and the casting is porous in its composition. There are air pockets inside, and if you try to repair them, your crossbow won’t flex the same way.

Replacing your limbs is often the only option besides replacing the entire crossbow. You should go to the manufacturer because they will replace them if it is under warranty, and they will usually charge a reasonable price if it is out of warranty.

Repair and Replacement Costs for Crossbow Limbs

It is not advised to try to repair a cracked limb on your crossbow. Instead, you should replace them. You have several different options, but the best is to contact the manufacturer. If your crossbow is under warranty, you should be able to replace the limbs for no cost.

If your crossbow is no longer under warranty, you can buy the limbs from the manufacturer. They may not list them on their website, but if you call, they will often sell them to you for a reasonable price. It is normal to find limbs for around $150. However, there are other generic limbs on the market, so you have to decide what you want to do. Most people recommend sticking with the manufacturer.

You can also find used crossbow limbs for sale, but you should exercise caution if you go in this direction. Since you don’t know the history of the crossbow, you don’t know whether or not the limbs are compromised. You could get lucky, but you could end up with a different kind of headache.

How Long Do Crossbow Limbs Last?

Your crossbow and its limbs can last as long as 10 years with proper maintenance and care. If you are a regular hunter, it may not last quite that long, but for most people it does. However, you need to take steps to help it last.

First of all, you should regularly check the limbs, bowstring, cables, and cams for any signs of damage. Shooting a crossbow with damage to any of these parts can lead to much bigger problems. When you do your inspection, look for any of the following:

Signs of wear on the string
Working safety
Working trigger
Arrow retention spring holds arrow properly
Check limbs for cracks or splinters

If you find any damage, you need to repair the crossbow before you fire it again. You should also make sure that you keep it clean and lube the rails and wax the strings. You can clean it with a can of compressed air to get rid of dust and dirt that is hard to reach.

Make sure that your screws stay tight. Loose screws will vibrate when you shoot the crossbow. Finally, you should store your crossbow properly so that it lasts. You can leave the string on it, and keep it in a case in a cool and dry spot. Keep it out of the way so that it doesn’t get banged around.

Final Words

If you find that you have cracked limbs on your crossbow, it is likely that you had a dry fire. You will need to replace them before you use the crossbow again.

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