What are compound bows made of?
One of the main advantages of compound bows over traditional bows is its durability. Unlike traditional bows made of wood, the different materials used on compound bows are not prone to warping with changes in temperature and humidity. This makes them more reliable in different environments.
The main shaft of a compound bow, known as the “riser” is usually made of either magnesium, aluminum or an alloy of both, making it very strong but lightweight. Leading brands generally use aircraft quality 6061 aluminum alloy which has high tensile strength. Tensile strength is extremely important because the shaft and limbs have to withstand tremendous
tensile forces from drawing the bowstring in order to store all that energy when the bowstring is drawn.
Incidentally, because the bows are so rigid on compound bows, manufacturers can also add other pieces of equipment to the bow like sights and stabilizers without interfering with its performance.
Good to know:
Arrows for compound bows aren’t that different from those used with a standard longbow. Both are usually made from either carbon or aluminum.
Do NOT attempt to launch an arrow with a wooden shaft using a compound bow. Extremely high tensile forces in action will probably break the shaft and could lead to injuries.
