Custom Crossbow Strings

At some point during the life of your crossbow, you will need to replace its string and cables. It could be as a preventative maintenance measure, or it could be because your string broke and you need to replace it with a new one. At that point you will need to decide whether to replace it with a factory built string or with a custom string set.

Modern crossbows can have draw weights exceeding 250 pounds. This places great demands on the individual string and cable strands not only to hold the limbs at full draw, but to bring them to a stop when it is unleashed. Tremendous forces are brought into play every time the trigger is pulled. Even when the crossbow is not in use, a significant amount of tension is statically placed on the string and cables.

Most crossbow manufacturers recommend that string and cable sets be changed every two years. Obviously, the more often you shoot your crossbow, the sooner they will need to be replaced. And the better you care for the string and cables, the longer they will last. A well cared for string and cable set will last for thousands of shots. A lesser maintained set will undoubtedly lead to a quicker failure.

Center servings receive the most abuse because of the acute string angle at the string latch and the constant friction from the rail during shooting. This is usually where noticeable wear first occurs. Serving separation is one issue that crossbow shooters are constantly dealing with, especially with high volume shooting. If the serving separates, the string latch can contact the string material, which is cause for concern.

It is vitally important that crossbow strings and cables be constructed with top quality components. At this point the consumer has some choices to make. Factory strings and cable sets are usually kept in inventory by most crossbow manufacturers at very reasonable prices. These factory offerings will certainly get the job done for most casual crossbow shooters, but they are not always the best choice.

Custom crossbow strings can be more expensive than the factory stock strings; however, they are generally more durable and customizable. Custom strings can be made with any color combo desired to add a personal touch or personality to your crossbow.

Custom string makers use the best materials when constructing their strings which leads to less stretching and less creeping of the string. This is a huge advantage for the shooter because once the string is set, it will remain that way, ensuring the crossbow will stay in tune. Probably the biggest advantage when using a custom string is the serving.

Custom string builders use better materials on their servings and get them wrapped tighter than the stock string sets from the manufacturer. For those looking for less serving separation, higher quality components, less stretch, less string maintenance, and many color options, a custom string and cable set is the only way to go.