Diamond archery

[wariner87]

Lookin to purchase my first bow. It looks like I hve narrowed it down to two possible candidates.
   It really just wanted to get the opinion of you seasoned archers.
I'm looking at the diamond outlaw, or mattews z7. If you have experience with these bows or even have an opinion then tell me wht you think.

[vandeman17]

I shoot a Diamond and am happy with it. I have "The Rock" and it shoots good for me. I will eventually upgrade but it I like it for the price I paid. 

[blacktailcody]

I would go with the mathews.

[Stick em]

I shoot the Outlaw and love it. It's solid and light. I change a few things but most archers do. This bow is only set up at just under 60# and even on an off day I love to shoot it. My buddy has a nice Mathews and loves it to. We shoot almost identical after 60 yards, the only real difference is the price. Go try them both, that will make your decision for you. 

[270Shooter]

I have shot the diamond outlaw, pretty fast bow but didn't have a very smooth draw. I ended up buying a quest (made by g5) instead. But if I had the money I'd buy the Mathews, the are great bows and top notch quality. Will the diamond work? Absolutely, but if it were up to me and money wasn't a factor I'd buy the Mathews. However, if you do spend the money on the Mathews don't buy cheap sights or rest.

[wariner87]

I would go with the mathews.

Is there a specific reason why ?

[wariner87]

Thank you all for the advice, it helps me narrow it down.

[vandeman17]

I would go with the mathews.

Is there a specific reason why ?

Mathews, in general, are a higher quality bow but along with that comes a higher price tag. I would have bought one when I bought my bow but I was new to bow hunting and on a limited budget so I went with a Diamond. I think  in the end it comes down to what fits you the best and what you feel most confident with. 

[barracuda163]

First year shooting outlaw. Good beginners bow. Put whisker biscuit  and decent sight on. I've been shooting everyday this week getting more confidence every time. Consistent groups from 20-60 yds. Try different broad heads and see what the bow likes. I like throwing a tennis ball out random distances in the open and see if I can drill them.

[wariner87]

Is there a shop in the state where I can maybe try one before a purchase ?

[demontang]

Ive work a lot with those bows, the mattews seems to be a name you pay for. Nock travel is a little off on the z7 from what ive seen, noise draw cycle I havent notice o whole lot of difference. The speed I dont really see a difference in them there both fast id have to run them over a chrono to see which is faster.

I know the diamond cams can take a lot more abuse then the mattews. Almost all the mattews ive seen that where dryfired had a cam that looked like it was folded in half or been hit with a big hammer, the diamonds seem to jump the string off if they even do that when dry fired. Ive had a easier time tuning the diamonds they have dlat nock travel over the z7.

I like the strings on the diamonds better as they dont seem to stretch as much and the peep stays straight. The 452x strings on the diamonds are great.

[RockCreekArchery]

Is there a shop in the state where I can maybe try one before a purchase ?

We have one in stock in Enumclaw, 70#

[elk247]

Rock creek, pm incoming and Welcome to the site. Lots of guys have been speaking highly about your shop lately.

[blacktailcody]

I would go with the mathews.

Is there a specific reason why ?

Mathews, in general, are a higher quality bow

 

[wariner87]

Is there a shop in the state where I can maybe try one before a purchase ?

We have one in stock in Enumclaw, 70#

#70?

[Jellymon]

I miss diamonds days of the black ice, iceman and marquis. Those were some great bows. Sadly after those bows they went the route of trading pure shootability for speed. 

[Pacosub]

If I were to buy a Diamond I would definitely get the Outlaw.  I too miss the days of Marquise, Iceman, and Black Ice.  I love my Black Ice and don't see a need to 'upgrade' any time soon.  I would probably choose the Outlaw over the Mathews just from a bang-for-the-buck point of view.  But as has been stated many times, shoot both before you make your decision.
Good luck!

[stuckalot]

I've been shooting a Diamond Black Ice for 3 years, and just can't justify upgrading, one day I will, but I just don't have anything bad to say about the Black Ice, the newer Diamonds I don't have any experience with.  My son shoots a z7 and it shoots very well, smooth, quiet, and very accurate.  My wife shoots a Mathews Jewel again a very nice bow!

[johnhart84]

Is there a shop in the state where I can maybe try one before a purchase ?

Cabelas has an archery range inside the stores. They do not have Mathews bows, but they do have Diamond, Bear, PSE,  and Quest. I shot a few different bows and settled on a diamond. One bow may feel better and shoot better to you than it does someone else. 

[Stick em]

Is there a shop in the state where I can maybe try one before a purchase ?

We have one in stock in Enumclaw, 70#

#70?

Sportco is close to you as well as Sportsmans Warehouse. They both carry Diamond brands and Sportco carries Mathews. Talk to Connor or John down at Sportco and they will help you out. You can even try some of the release aids to make sure you get the one that feels best.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I have stood at sportco archery counter with over $1000 cash in my pocket and nobody would help me.  No one would even acknowledge my presence.  They are the worst in the state.  the employees will just walk around you and act like your not there.   I stood there for over 30 mins before I left never to return.  That was the third time that had happened as far as a 30 min wait with out any greeting or anything.  At least tell me to piss off we don't want your money we make the same weather you buy something or not.  Cabelas is horrible as well.  The archery guys should work at Safeway in the back where they have no human interaction as to not scare away customers.  I will never shop at either of these stores as it makes the owners and employees alike think that being rude, undereducated and most of the time non existent is ok and is acceptable from a store.  bad idea.

And I bought my son a diamond bow youth bow.  Not to bad but diamond is an inferior product.  the cost is low but so is the quality.  go with a martin, bow tech, Mathews, or even a bear before you go with a diamond.   

[270Shooter]

  the guy at the cabelas in Lacey running the archery department was an a hole. I wanted to shoot a few bows and he wouldn't even bother fixing the peep for me or let me shoot each one more than once. Other people were nice, but this guy was a piece of work.

[Stick em]

I agree, don't waste your time at Cabela's. As far as DIY's experience, I've never had that happen. Sorry it happend to you. If you end up waiting around at Sportco, go ask someone. Often I have had the guys at the gun counter call someone for me. A little assertiveness goes a long way. 

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I'm sure they help their buddy's as they know them.  Another two groups of people were waiting the last time I stood there.  I have asked many people while waiting and was told to wait longer.  The archery guys their probably know as much as cabelas nothing.  Thegood stores get bought out like sportsmans in Lacey while the crap stores thrive cause of yuppies who don't mind the archery lead doesn't know a thing about archery just got the job cause he hunts.

[Stick em]

I don't know about the buddy thing cause usually I'm a pain in their ass. I have seen guys in there waiting around to be helped but leave after a few minutes of waiting. I don't know these guys very well but I do know that John and Connor are both bow hunters and I know lots of shops lack that. In the end, just try some shops, be patient but assertive. Bow hunting is about patience and timing, not rushing around until something finds you. Good luck finding the right bow and welcome to the addiction of bow hunting.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

The last thing a novice archer needs is to think that is the norm for archery stores to do.  Id say try federal way sportsmans warehouse and talk to Larry.  Great customer service timely work and a ton of experience with archery equipment.  I drive over an hour to get that experience and its worth every bit of it.