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.

[Jellymon]

Magazine bow reviews are more ads than actual reviews. Here's some pics from the "review" of bowtechs RPM360. Look closely at the cams.

[RadSav]

   Looks like the photographer needs to learn to take photos before he attempts to play with the bow!  And of course the editor needs to actually do his job!

[D-Rock425]

My hoyts way down at number 10 WTF is wrong with these people.  If they had shot more than 100 arrows out ofbthat bowtech it would have been in 360 pieces.

[RadSav]

My hoyts way down at number 10 WTF is wrong with these people.  If they had shot more than 100 arrows out ofbthat bowtech it would have been in 360 pieces.

You got to quite living in the past buddy.  

This ain't the old Strothers/Strasheim Bowtech!  Hasn't been for quite some time   Once the pickle fork left the building it's been quite the transformation.   For the better!

[D-Rock425]

 

[cipryan]

Oh wow.  I read this and just realized that they make more than just mathews.

[D-Rock425]

I veiw this strothers guy as a big joke really.  Hes been with more bow companies than I can count.

[RadSav]

I veiw this strothers guy as a big joke really.  Hes been with more bow companies than I can count.

Seems to be a smart guy!  But even his own companies seem to boot him to the curb before they get their feet planted.  Sounds like there may be some character flaw there for sure.  Elite, Obsession and Xpedition all have a heavy influence of Strothers and they are dang fine products.  So he has done some good things it seems

[DIYARCHERYJUNKIE]

I've shot over 1000 arrows and haven't lost anything off of her.  I'll keep ya posted d rock.  The 360 gets a 10 from me.  It has killed the only two animals it touched.  It's quick and almost knocked down my deer and elk this year.  Of course it's set to 72# so I wouldn't expect any less.

[D-Rock425]

It looks like that bowtech couldn't even stay together long enough to get its picture taken. 

[hughjorgan]

My hoyts way down at number 10 WTF is wrong with these people.  If they had shot more than 100 arrows out ofbthat bowtech it would have been in 360 pieces.

You got to quite living in the past buddy.  

This ain't the old Strothers/Strasheim Bowtech!  Hasn't been for quite some time   Once the pickle fork left the building it's been quite the transformation.   For the better!

They still have the same crappy customer service!

[RadSav]

It looks like that bowtech couldn't even stay together long enough to get its picture taken.

Happens to every single brand on the market when you do this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJoxJJjcQFU#t=14

I'd post the link to blacktailcrzy's late Chiwawa hunt were his Hoyt blows up.  But Hoyt probably paid to have it taken down   Thread is still here but no longer any video.

[hughjorgan]

It looks like that bowtech couldn't even stay together long enough to get its picture taken.

Happens to every single brand on the market when you do this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJoxJJjcQFU#t=14

I'd post the link to blacktailcrzy's late Chiwawa hunt were his Hoyt blows up.  But Hoyt probably paid to have it taken down   Thread is still here but no longer any video.

Funny, I just watched an episode of western extreme with Jim burnsworth where he is hunting hunting mountain lions and his bowreck blew up on him. Then he went on to say it wasn't the first time. My bowreck experience was similar, pull the bow back and bam no more functioning bow.

[D-Rock425]

Never happened radsav no proof.

[RadSav]

We have had PSE, York, ProLine, Sims, Martin, Jennings, Onieda and Hoyt go on us in the past.  Some cam failures, some riser failures, but usually limb failures.  Never shoot enough Mathews to have it happen, but I see plenty of those each year at the local shop to know it happens.  I shoot BowTech a lot!  I know it does happen, just never experienced it myself.  Maybe I've just been lucky   Unless the limbs break most of the modern bows I see have that problem is from guys drawing with their fingers as in the video above.  No compounds are exempt from that...None! 

Luckily for me only one (Onieda - '87) went when I was at full draw on an animal.  Have had a couple go while Carp shooting though.

[RadSav]

Never happened radsav no proof.

I know, right!  Wonder how much Hoyt paid him to take that video down.

[kodiak 907]

This so called No BS Review is a load of BS Review. That Title needs to be fixed.

[hughjorgan]

We have had PSE, York, ProLine, Sims, Martin, Jennings, Onieda and Hoyt go on us in the past.  Some cam failures, some riser failures, but usually limb failures.  Never shoot enough Mathews to have it happen, but I see plenty of those each year at the local shop to know it happens.  I shoot BowTech a lot!  I know it does happen, just never experienced it myself.  Maybe I've just been lucky   Unless the limbs break most of the modern bows I see have that problem is from guys drawing with their fingers as in the video above.  No compounds are exempt from that...None! 

Luckily for me only one (Onieda - '87) went when I was at full draw on an animal.  Have had a couple go while Carp shooting though.

That would suck to be at full draw on an animal and have the bow blow up on you. Only have had Martin traditional bow fail and a bow tech which had a cam fail. Been shooting hoyt since and haven't any issues yet.

[RadSav]

My hoyts way down at number 10 WTF is wrong with these people.  If they had shot more than 100 arrows out ofbthat bowtech it would have been in 360 pieces.

You got to quite living in the past buddy.  

This ain't the old Strothers/Strasheim Bowtech!  Hasn't been for quite some time   Once the pickle fork left the building it's been quite the transformation.   For the better!

They still have the same crappy customer service!

They must not like you! 

I've had nothing but great customer service from them.  Though I have never needed anything major repaired or replaced.  Couple issues with cable guards and that's been about it.

[hughjorgan]

Pretty sure it was more had to do with the dealer than bow tech itself.

[RadSav]

I know one dealer that got all snooty after Bowtech did not approve free bow donations to a shoot they were sponsoring.  He sent letters and nasty emails telling them what jerks they were for not giving him free stuff since he had been a dealer for a few years.  Not at all saying it was the right thing, but service repairs through that shop were never the same afterwards.  This has been a good number of years since and the dealer no longer deals with Bowtech.  But it does go to show that sometimes end consumers can be targeted, by no fault of there own, if the dealer they go to has not formed a good relationship with the manufacture.

I do know that up until Savage brought in their own people customer service at Bowtech was hit and miss.  One person would rave about the service and others would complain non-stop.  About the time they dropped the pickle fork things started getting better and more consistent.  Although that could be because the new limbs and new riser have had so few issues they have a much easier work load

The other issue is speed.  If they followed other popular business plans and just remained satisfied with average speeds I expect failure rates would be almost eliminated.  But Bowtech prides themselves as being on the cutting edge and cater heavily to those who are never satisfied with average.  350 - 360 puts a tremendous strain on materials and construction.  Sometimes it takes a few years for materials to catch up to new bow performance levels.  I know we have now reached a point where we have reached the capacity of what the string materials can handle.  I think that is one reason Hoyt started using such a high BCY-X strand count.  And even then some of these cam designs are taking strings to the breaking point rapidly....That could be another reason the NoCam Mathews might not be such a bad idea.  That bow should be really easy on strings!

[D-Rock425]

I'm pretty exited about all the new 2015 bows this year to me it seems like everyone stepped it up a notch.  Ive only had time to shoot a couple of the new hoyts but plan on shooting most of them in the coming week.  Been way to busy trying to set up a 3-D range for this weekends shoot.

[RadSav]

I'm pretty exited about all the new 2015 bows this year to me it seems like everyone stepped it up a notch.  Ive only had time to shoot a couple of the new hoyts but plan on shooting most of them in the coming week.  Been way to busy trying to set up a 3-D range for this weekends shoot.

I think most Hoyt fans should be equally as excited.  IMO this is the best advancement year for Hoyt since the Tech Riser came out.  Sad they didn't drop another five or six ounces and go back to the old grip on the aluminum risers, but still a great lineup this year.  Bear has done some cool things in their mid range, Mathews is interesting, Bowtech really hit a home run, PSE has some cool new stuff, I hear Martin fixed some of their issues...finally something more than new names, new logos, new paint jobs and name changes!!!