[ELI5] why is dry firing a bow so bad for it? Does the arrow really make that much of a difference in that regard?

Question

[ELI5] why is dry firing a bow so bad for it? Does the arrow really make that much of a difference in that regard?

In: 2366

Answer 1

I hear the same applies to air rifles. If you dry fire one, the piston slams forward too hard since there’s no projectile in the barrel.