Compound bows went by way of a interval of fast growth the place they always improved year-to-year. However like all expertise, there was certain to be a restrict to the development. That occurred about ten years in the past when compounds grew to become extremely quick, easy, and straightforward to tune. We’ve since seen marginal, however significant enhancements. Like higher tuning techniques, accent mounting, and the broad adoption of the binary cam. On the identical time, bows have gotten wildly dearer.
The incremental progress and notable value leap leaves bow consumers in a difficult spot. Do you improve your five-year-old bow or keep on with previous dependable?
At this 12 months’s bow take a look at we set out that can assist you reply that query by together with a 2017 Mathews Halon 32 in our take a look at. It went by way of the very same protocol as the newest flagship bows, which permits us to offer you a direct efficiency comparability.
Testing Protocol
Photograph by Natalie Krebs
We attempt for consistency in testing, and use the identical arrows, rests, and sights on all bows for our annual bow take a look at. However, we couldn’t management all of the variables with the used Halon 32. It had new, aftermarket string/cables, a unique (nonetheless good) sight, and it had an aftermarket grip that was put in by the proprietor. The accuracy testing was achieved and not using a stabilizer for all bows.
We replicate the professional store shopping for expertise by capturing bows at 5 ft and scoring them on their draw cycle, vibration, again wall, options, grip, and construct high quality. Every class is scored one to 5 (5 is the most effective) for an ideal cumulative rating of 30 factors.
Pace
We shot bows at 60 kilos +/- .5 pound and a 29-inch draw size. The identical 408-grain Black Eagle Spartan we used for accuracy testing was shot over a Garmin Xero C1 chronograph thrice to offer us our pace specs.
Accuracy
Three shooters every recorded two, three-shot teams at 50 yards with the entire bows. The teams have been measured and averaged.
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The Outcomes
| Bow | Pace (3 Shot Common) | Common 5-Foot Rating | Common 50-yard Group |
| Mathews Halon 32 | 284 fps | 18 | 4.6 inches |
| PSE Mach 30 DS | 281 fps | 25 | 2.04 inches |
| Mathews Raise | 283 fps | 22 | 2.55 inches |
| Hoyt RX-8 HBX Xact | 274 fps | 26 | 3.23 inches |
| PSE Evolve 33 DS | 274 fps | 24 | 2.59 inches |
| Hoyt Alpha X 33 | 276 fps | 24 | 3.23 inches |
| Elite Kairos | 277 fps | 21 | 3.33 inches |
| Elite Ethos | 278 fps | 21 | 3.41 inches |
| Darton Sequel 31 | 276 fps | 23 | 3.58 inches |
| Bowtech Core SR | 277 fps | 22 | 4.7 inches |
Accuracy
Natalie Krebs
The 9 2024 flagships averaged a 3.18-inch group, which is 1.5 inches smaller than the Halon’s 4.6-inch common. It did beat out the Bowtech Core SR for accuracy although.
One factor that would have held it again was the aftermarket grip that was on the bow, which all of the testers felt was too skinny and straightforward to torque. Would a unique grip make up that 1.5-inch distinction? That’s powerful to say definitively, however what we will say is that the older bow, for probably the most half, shot very well. A 4.6-inch group at 50 yards is impressively good and makes the Halon simply as able to a searching bow in 2024 because it was in 2017.
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The Halon completed far behind the brand new bows in our five-foot take a look at. We’ve examined lots of bows during the last three years which might be simple to attract and nonetheless have good efficiency. Engineers have made cams extra environment friendly to allow them to get pace with out affecting the draw cycle. Within the not too distant previous, producers primarily produced excessive speeds with aggressive, tear-drop cams and quick brace heights. That meant quick bows, just like the Halon, have been a ache to attract.
Photograph by Natalie Krebs
The Halon reminded the testers of how far vibration dampening has come within the final seven years. It scored a median of two.5 out of 5 for its post-shot expertise. “It has an excellent little bit of vibration and string slap,” stated tester P.J. Reilly.
By comparability, the 2024 bows principally all earned a 4 in that class with the Hoyt RX-8 attaining an ideal rating for its unbelievably-still put up shot.
At present’s bows obtain vibration discount in various methods. For instance Mathews locations a skinny strip of rubber between every of the 4 limbs to chop down hand buzz. PSE has their Useless Frequency carbon, which makes it doable to have a really mild bow with out a lot vibration. In fact, effectivity additionally helps as a result of the extra vitality that goes into the arrow, means much less that goes into your hand. That’s necessary as a result of the bow will likely be quieter and extra fulfilling to shoot with little vibration.
The options which might be obtainable on new bows are far superior to these provided on bows from even 5 years in the past. You’ve the unbelievable tuning techniques on Elite and Bowtech bows that make adjusting cam lean a breeze. You even have all the brand new accent mounting choices for a streamlined rig. Then there’s distinctive options like Mathews’ Keep Afield transportable bow press.
On the constructive aspect, the Halon scored nicely for its strong again wall and construct high quality. Testers famous that there was zero creep as soon as the stops hit. It was simple to carry at full draw.
Pace
Probably the most fascinating take a look at outcomes was that the Halon 32 was the quickest bow examined. It was even a hair quicker than the Mathews Lift, a contemporary pace bow. In fact, the Raise is objectively nicer to shoot.
Ultimate Ideas on New Bows vs Outdated Bows
Photograph by Natalie Krebs
In our pattern dimension of 1 previous bow, we will see that bows haven’t gotten a lot, if in any respect, quicker and firms proceed to supply bows with strong again partitions. The place we do see a distinction is in options, the convenience of capturing good teams, and total capturing expertise.
At present’s bows don’t include as many compromises as older bows did. This 12 months’s editor’s selection winner, the PSE Mach 30 DS, is a light-weight bow that has little vibration, a easy draw, sturdy characteristic set, good pace, and shot extremely small teams for 3 totally different archers. You used to have to decide on a couple of of these qualities, and will solely dream of packing all of them into one bow.
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The Mach 30 DS does price $1,800 although. A Mathews Halon 32 may be purchased used for $600 to $650, so even in the event you add new strings you’re at half the price of a Mach 30 DS and about $500 lower than a Mathews Raise. Shopping for a used flagship appears to pencil out fairly favorably. Then once more in the event you’re promoting your previous bow to fund a brand new one, it’s not such an astronomical buy anymore and also you’ll be pleasantly stunned by how a lot better the capturing expertise is.
