All the bows were shot with the same Redline RL-3 sight, QAD Ultrarest, and no stabilizers. Accuracy Five-arrow groups were measured and averaged for each bow.Įach tester shot several five-shot groups at 50 yards. You’ll find the five-foot test scores in the test results section for each bow. Testers rated each feature on a scale of one to five (five is the best) and provided notes on them. While shooting a bow for accuracy is an important component of this test, we also tested a bow’s grip, back wall, perceived vibration (post shot), and draw cycle at close range so we could focus on those attributes without worrying about shooting tiny groups. When you try out a bow at an archery shop you’ll likely test it close to the target and judge the bow on how it feels when you draw and shoot it. Then we paper tuned to a bullet hole to make sure we were doing the speed and accuracy testing with a tuned bow. We timed the cams, set the centershot to the standard 13/16 inch, and set the nocking point height level. We measured exact draw weight and draw length to provide context for the bow’s speed. We set bows at 29 inches of draw length and measured the draw length using the ATA standard of the string apex to the pivot point, plus 1.75 inches.

All bows were set to 60 pounds (+/- 2 pounds). To get a baseline, we weighed the bows with just the QAD arrow rest and RL-3 sight mounted.

Use that information in conjunction with your personal tastes to choose a few bows that you’ll try out at an archery shop.Ĭlick the bows’s name to jump to its review. You’ll find accurate speeds recorded with an actual hunting-weight arrow, accuracy data, and details on the bow’s shooting characteristics. So the goal of our review is to give you far more information than manufacturer’s specs and basic YouTube video reviews can provide. But each bow does have its pros and cons. This year’s flagship compounds are an impressive group of bows that are packed with features and very few compromises. Among the test group, we saw sub 4-pound carbon bows with very little vibration, a speed bow with a similar draw to the smoothest bows in the field, and several models that didn’t need a press to shim cams or adjust draw length in ¼-inch increments. We tested nine flagship compound bows, one from each of the top manufacturers, with our friends at Lancaster Archery Supply and discovered that a lot has changed in the compound bow manufacturing world. You need a bow press to tune a bow and make small draw length adjustments.Īs we found in Outdoor Life’s 2023 Bow Test, those statements-previously true-are no longer fact. Carbon bows have a wicked thump and aren’t even much lighter than aluminum bows. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.

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