How do you string your bow?

[JEFF B]

stringer allways no buts or ifs      

[JImmyDee]

I've been wondering...

One of my longbows is 72" long.  There's no way I can reach the tip when using a stringer.  What technique was used back in the day when men were 5'7" and bows were longer than they were tall?

[Tim Fishell]

Ron LaClair uses the "push pull" method to string and unstring his bows.  BUT when you get a bow from him he always recommends to use a stringer.  I have done the push pull and if I was in a pinch I would not hesitate but I do always carry a stringer so normally dont have to resort to that.

[Jack Guard]

Stringer and Push Pull.  Prefer a stringer.  its was safer.  I have even made several stringers from 550 Cord.  They are easy to stash away too.

[CaptJack]

I have a number of stringers where I can always find one.
But I grew up using the push-pull (against the in-step of the foot) method.
..but I have also twisted a limb using the step-though method through the years...

I love my bows so I make sure I have a stringer...

[vermonster13]

I always use a stringer now. They are very cheap insurance.

[Jim Picarelli]

My longbows I push-pull,recurves I use a Selway stringer

[Jedimaster]

I would personally take the time to find some kind of cord or twine and make a stringer if I didn't have one. It's the safest way IMHO. I always think of re-sale on a bow. I won't sell one saying "always used a stringer" and didn't. To each his on, I just really thought the majority of folks were using stringers exclusively. Reality check for me.

[Jeff Strubberg]

Push-pull.   I know stringers are supposed to be safer, but I can't trust that tiny little pocket.

[Jedimaster]

Oh I forgot. As for Ron LaClair not using a stringer - I won't debate any archery topic with him. He is the only person on this planet that can afford to take chances (if it can be called that?) with his bows. If I broke one and had to wait another year or more to replace it, I would probably require therapy. They are really nice bows, just imagine being able to have a handful laying around anytime... OK Reality again.

[42WLA]

I have always used Step-Through on my 70" HH Big Five I could not twist it's limbs with a vice.

I do use a stringer for my AMF Red Wing Hunter.

[joe skipp]

AMG Bowstringer....best and safest on the market. Handles both Recurve and longbow.

[Orion]

I use a stringer, but in emergencies use the push-pull method.  Easy with a longbow, less so with a recurve.  The tough part is unstringing a recurve without a stringer.  Real easy for your hand to slip off the limb tip, which then comes back and usually hits you in the head or eye.

[boostickguy]

After reading John Schultz's and his telling of his brother Dan losing an eye stringing a stout bow I'll use a stringer.

[Shawn Leonard]

Recurves and Longbows, I use the step-thru if I have no stringer. I was never taught the push-pull so I do not use it. I will admit I step thru the longbow most of the time, as limb twist is unlikely in the LBs I have owned. Shawn

[Shawn Leonard]

Look at the original post. It says if you do not have a stringer for whatever reason, what would you do if ya did not have one, no matter what. Shawn

[30coupe]

I tried the push-pull thing once, that was enough for me. If I had no choice (as Shawn pointed out), I'd have to go with the step-through method. I did that for years before I even knew there was such a thing as a bow stringer, but now I have a couple of stringers and make sure one is in my pack and one in the garage by my target. I would hate to ruin any of the bows I have now. Even more, I would hate to have to switch to lefty because I poked out my right eye with a bow tip!  

[Dave Worden]

I use push-pull on my recurves, step-through on my longbow.  BUT as has been mentioned before, the stringer is the right way to do it.  The other ways are dangerous to the bow or the shooter or BOTH.  I teach archery, but I never teach stringing a bow with anything but a stringer.  A perfect example of do what I say, not what I do!

[WildmanSC]

I use a stringer on all of my bows.  I use it on recurves, D/R longbows and even the one straight limbed longbow I have.

I used the push/pull method on a Hill longbow, NOT a Howard Hill, and the tip broke that was "resting" against the arch of my foot.  It didn't really bother because the bow had more hand/elbow shock than I cared to deal with.  I would have never traded or sold that bow because I don't care to pass a problem bow onto someone else!  That was the first, and last, time I used the push/pull method for stringing a bow.

Bill

[eagle24]

Push/Pull on longbows except my ACS-CX's, I use a stringer on them and recurves.