Field & Stream No B.S. Bow Review

[TriggerMike]

They explain how the categories are broken down and why each bow was placed where it was in their annual "Best-Bow Shootout".

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/whitetail-365/gear-reviews-you-can-trust-our-no-bs-bow-test?dom=fas&loc=rightrail&lnk=gear-reviews-you-can-trust-our-nobs-bow-test

[stromdiddily]

That's a good read for sure.

The only part that I question a bit is, if you look at the pictures of the bows some limbs appear to be bottomed out and some seem to be backed all the way out. This would make a huge difference in how the bow shoots.

[TriggerMike]

If you read point #4 they explain that they set the bows at their specs. Which are 60 pounds/28 inches/359 grain Easton Flatline arrow. Not sure why those are their specs and I agree with you, you would think they wouldn't be in top performance shape with those specs. I wonder what their reasoning is behind using those specs.

[stromdiddily]

Yeah I saw that and was wondering how they decided those numbers too 

What I meant though was if you want to test the bows at 60#, make sure that all the bows have 50-60# limbs. A 60-70# bow backed all the way out will already be way behind in efficiency compared to a 50-60 turned all the way down

[coachcw]

Yeah I saw that and was wondering how they decided those numbers too 

What I meant though was if you want to test the bows at 60#, make sure that all the bows have 50-60# limbs. A 60-70# bow backed all the way out will already be way behind in efficiency compared to a 50-60 turned all the way down

The older bows for sure . I found that the new bowtechs shoot pretty close with a 70 turn down vrs a 60 maxed . the 70 at 60 was a bit quieter

[TriggerMike]

Yeah I saw that and was wondering how they decided those numbers too 

What I meant though was if you want to test the bows at 60#, make sure that all the bows have 50-60# limbs. A 60-70# bow backed all the way out will already be way behind in efficiency compared to a 50-60 turned all the way down

Ya I get what you're saying and I don't believe it says anything about a 70# bow set to 60# in the article so my guess is that they are in fact 50-60#. This makes me wonder if 50-60# is more common and are sold more than 60-70#?

[spin05]

They didnt even test my Mission bow. There loss.....

[RadSav]

Most 70# bows are a West of the Mississippi thing.  Which is by far the smallest concentration of bowhunters.  Though every jump in speed brings more and more 70# shooter to the east.  Though I have no idea why a guy would want or need 70# to shoot a whitetail or a pig.

What I found that makes me question these guys is them saying they hated the Bowtech and Prime grip while liking the Agenda grip.  And of course they must have gotten a "Lemon" from Hoyt...no other explanation would fit

No idea where they got the high shock and vibration on the Bear Agenda.  Mine have been nearly void of vibration which is one of the reasons I ignore the horrific grip!   Maybe they got a Lemon Bear too

Performance for dollars spent is poor on all headlining Hoyt bows which always knocks them down in my testing.  But I put the Faktor 30 quite high on my list of headline bows.  Though very few headline bows ever make it onto my best of year testing.  With the exception of Xpedition, Bear and Hoyt most bows I rate the highest are down the price list a ways.  Especially when dealing with PSE!

[RadSav]

They didnt even test my Mission bow. There loss.....

It is strange that they considered anything from Diamond a "Headline" bow when it is the mass merchant version of Bowtech and not give the equivalent courtesy to Mathews Mission bows.  Although they may claim that Outdoor Life and Field & Stream don't care about ruffling feathers.  If you P.O. Mathews by rating their Mission Blaze way higher than the Creed you might need to answer to somebody about that!

I do agree with the bow they put at #1.  But I do not think speed should have factored into the decision as much as it did.  That extra 10 fps is more of a marketing feature and a real life benefit.

[lamrith]

They didnt even test my Mission bow. There loss.....

It is strange that they considered anything from Diamond a "Headline" bow when it is the mass merchant version of Bowtech and not give the equivalent courtesy to Mathews Mission bows.  Although they may claim that Outdoor Life and Field & Stream don't care about ruffling feathers.  If you P.O. Mathews by rating their Mission Blaze way higher than the Creed you might need to answer to somebody about that!

I do agree with the bow they put at #1.  But I do not think speed should have factored into the decision as much as it did.  That extra 10 fps is more of a marketing feature and a real life benefit.

I found it a bit odd as well that the Diamond Carbon Cure was on the long list as well, and not a single mention of the Bowtech Carbon knight which is the same exact bow in Dual Cam, vs the Cure in Single..

[coachcw]

If they where going to do a real life test it should have been with all mid to top end bows that are readily available . I think speed is a important factor due to jumping string and pin gap. (one reason I have a hard time dropping poundage) . grip and forgiveness rank hi on my book as well , it really surprises me on some of the grips out there , one just about has to change there form from bow to bow . Though I love both my bow techs getting used to the grips and modifieying my form was a big deal . It would be cool to see them test with broadheads as well for accuracy down range .

[Netminder01]

So glad I picked up a new Hoyt Monday (choke).  Actually, I really like and it feels so much better than my PSE but this article would've made me pause.

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I would say their test was perfect.  But only cause I got a rpm 360 

And btw the grip is awful! 

[RadSav]

They made mention about testing "Flagship" bows.  I consider them "headliners" when in this instance I should have called them "Flagship Bows".  That is why many bows were left out like the 2013 Bowtech carbons.  I think most of us would agree that each years "Flagship" offering is not always the best shooter.  Usually it is nothing more than the bow they use to "Sell" and that means their fastest and most expensive bows.  Comparing flagship to flagship if it's understood that is what it is...not such a bad thing to do.

When I have done major testing I've ignored flagship bows, but separated by price point.  Then I take the best couple bows from each price point and pit them against one another.  Because there is so seldom enough separation between the high end bows and the $599-699 bows I rarely ever have the flagship bows end up in my top 10 overall category.  I did not do a complete review this year, but over the previous five years I think only Bear, McPhearson, Xpedition and Bowtech have had flagship bows in those top spots.  PSE almost always has a bow in the top few spots and I do not believe I have once chosen a PSE with a price point over $699.

Further more string jumping and pin gap difference between 8, 10 or even 15 fps IBO is phoney baloney!  If it meant that much Hoyt and Mathews would never win an IBO tournament.  And no one would dare take one of those bows to Africa where string jump is a real serious issue.

[PA BEN]

So glad I picked up a new Hoyt Monday (choke).  Actually, I really like and it feels so much better than my PSE but this article would've made me pause.

Same here, if I read this before yesterday I would have paused. But I shot and bought the Hoyt Faktor 30, I'm in love.