First Archery Heart Attack

[805Bowhunter]

Ive been shooting a bow for quite a while now and have had my share of random stuff happen when drawing a bow or at full draw. However, this past weekend I woke up and made a coffee and as usual, went to shoot 5-10 arrows to start the day. I'd shot probably 50 arrows on Saturday and put the bow away with no issues. I drew my bow for my first shot and at about half way through the cycle I heard and felt and incredibly mild "click". I let down and inspected my bow. Chalking it up to a random noise I drew my bow again and again heard the click (and could "feel" it in my front hand). I shot this arrow and everything seemed fine. 20yds X on a vegas face. I loaded a second arrow and half way through the draw cycle, my entire top cam completely exploded. See attached pictures.

I have no idea how this happened. Its an RX3 that I love and have shot a ton. Ive never had this issue with any bow company ever. To be clear I have reached out to hoyt and they've been nothing but supportive and helpful. You'll see in the picture that the cam "spokes" essentially all sheared completely off taking out the whole top half of the bow. Limbs, string and cam are totally toast. The arrow never went anywhere thankfully and the whole thing just fell apart in my hand instantly. The bow has been maintained and cared for exceptionally. Its never been dry fired or even had a bad arrow go through it.

Ive never had my heart rate as high as it was after this happened I dont think. It literally scared me to death. The explosive sound it made potentially gave me target panic for the next 30 years.

Has anyone ever had anything like this happen (that wasnt the result of a dry fire)?

 

[Shadowcaster]

Holy cow, that'd get my heart rate up! Hopefully Hoyt gets ya taken care of

 

[805Bowhunter]

Holy cow, that'd get my heart rate up! Hopefully Hoyt gets ya taken care of

In speaking with them so far, they've given me no reason to think otherwise. Have never once had an issue with Hoyt

 

[timmymac24]

Wow glad you're physically OK. That would make you shat yourself for sure.

 

[TripleJ]

It definitely gets your attention! It's been a while for me luckily. In the late 80's/early 90's I had 2 browning's and a PSE blow up on me at full draw. I think it had a hand in the target panic I fought for the next 20+ years.

 

[BBob]

PSE

Back then they were referred to locally as:
Pull Shoot and Explode
We all experienced much of that in those early days.

 

[doc holiday13]

Looks like your strings were at End Of Life too. Is hoyt replacing the strings too?

 

[Blockcaver]

I had a wood riser original 4-wheel Jennings compound "explode" at full draw a long time ago (1977)....riser broke. Had a two piece bow quiver on it loaded up with broad head equipped arrows as I was leaving for an out of state deer hunt that evening. Bow folded around me, arrows laid at my feet like pickup sticks but all I had happen was a fat lip, maybe from my draw hand flying back? Did scare the heck out of me.

Did not have a back up bow so had to borrow a bow from my buddy till I got a new one.

 

[805Bowhunter]

Looks like your strings were at End Of Life too. Is hoyt replacing the strings too?

Strings were only a couple months old. Strings and cables were destroyed when it exploded.

 

[Buzzkill]

So what was the final outcome? Did Hoyt take care of everything?

 

[805Bowhunter]

So what was the final outcome? Did Hoyt take care of everything?

Yah was really incredible. Hoyt gave me a brand new Rx7. They just got a customer for life.

 

[Buzzkill]

Yah was really incredible. Hoyt gave me a brand new Rx7. They just got a customer for life.

Wow…I’m very impressed. Glad to hear that they treated you so well. That says a lot for Hoyt as a company.