*PICS ADDED* Compound Bow for Target Shooting

DrOpPoInT1110

DrOpPoInT1110

Joined
Jan 28, 2009
Messages
2,687
I used to be into archery a couple years ago and have been wanting to get back into it. My old bow is a Hoyt Rebel which is very dated and I have also outgrown it. I've been doing a bit of research on some new bows and will be going to a shop this Saturday to try a few out but I wanted to see if anyone here had any info on some bows I should definitely look at. I'm looking to spend $500-$700 but can go a bit higher (I'd like to save some cash for accessories though). So far, I've sort of narrowed it down to the Hoyt Vector 32, Mathews Helim, Z7 (would probably have to look for a used one for these) and Martin Onza XT. I haven't shot any of these yet except for the Helim which my neighbor has- really like that bow. My draw length is 28-28.5 and desired draw weight would be 65-70 lbs. I know the longer the axle-to-axle length is, the more stable the bow but I like the feel of a shorter bow so around 33" would be ideal. Brace height isn't a critical deciding factor but an ultra short brace height wouldn't be great for target shooting. If you guys have any other suggestions besides these three, please let me know so I don't miss out on anything when I go to the shop. Thanks!

Update 1/6: Got a Mathews Z7 Xtreme- pics added.
 
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its a great time to pick up a bow as the 2013 models roll in. i shoot a parker blackhawk. 28" @ 70# and man o man. i have only been hunting with a bow for a handful of years now but i hand this bow over to guys who have never shot before and they can get 4-6" groups at 30 meters. most of my buddies have bear and parker bows but the black hawk seems to have the smoothest draw and least vibration. but again its like a glove so find one that fits you best. and the second step is the best sight you can afford
 
Yeah, I figured around this time would be perfect too. New models coming in and sales on 2012 models. I'll have to look at the parker bows. Nobody I know shoots them so I never looked into them too much. At the range I shot at, it was a lot of Hoyts, Martins, Mathews, and PSE. Beginners getting 4-6" groupings sounds promising though.
 
Hey Droppoint
Glad your getting back into the Bow. As JW said, it is a good time to be in the market for a bow. With that being said make sure you go to a reputable bow shop. One that will let you shoot different bows. They all have a different feel to them and you might be surprised. I have the same PSE for a number of years now and have been looking as funds will permit to upgrade. I was surprised to find that I preferred the Diamond by Bowtech. This was up against all of the major manufacturers. I am not saying you will have the same results but spending some time trying out a variety of different bows will make a big difference in what you ultimately get and how well you shoot.

All of the bows named by you and JW are very reputable and you can't go wrong.
Good Luck in your search.
trldad
 
Thanks for the advice, trldad. I'm certainly not going to write-off any bow that's not a major brand. That was my whole reasoning to post here so I didn't overlook anything. On paper, and from a couple reviews, I actually think the Diamond Outlaw would be pretty nice. Only comes in camo but if it shoots exceedingly well, that's not a big issue.
 
As far as the Mathews go, shoot whatever you can, including the Helim. Then shoot a Z7. It is the smoothest and quietest they make. You can't go wrong.
 
One word ELITE. Love my GT-500 Ninja version. But in all honestly, shoot as many as you can and choose the one that fits you the best.
 
BrowardDet said:
As far as the Mathews go, shoot whatever you can, including the Helim. Then shoot a Z7. It is the smoothest and quietest they make. You can't go wrong.
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I plan on shooting however many bows it takes for me to make a decision haha. I already shot the Helim and was pretty impressed. Virtually no vibrartion at all, and a very smooth draw. The Z7 I've only heard great things about as well so I will definitely try it out. Anybody here use a shorter (less than 36") bow for target shooting?
 
Mission Riot. Full setup under 1k. It's my first bow and its fully adjustable. Love this thing!
 
Just went to the shop today and shot a bunch of bows- Hoyt Vector, Hoyt Carbon Matrix (just for fun- super expensive), Mathews Chill, Mathews ZXT, and PSE DNA. I liked the Mathews the most by far. Had a hard time deciding between the Chill and ZXT but after shooting both side-by-side, decided the smoother draw/solocam on the ZXT felt better. Unfortunately, the shop wouldn't budge much on price even for a package and didn't have any in black (plus black is $100 more?!) so I'm going to another shop tomorrow that has a couple Z7 Extremes in stock in black (correct draw length/weight). Hopefully I'll be able to grab one of those. From what I can tell, the ZXT is a renamed Z7 Extreme with a different cable guide and dead stop. Its a bit over my original budget but it shoots beautifully. BrowardDet, you were right, the ZXT (Z7) is incredible. If I wind up with that, I will definitely update with some pics/info. To everyone else, thanks for the suggestions. The shops around here don't have any Parkers, Bowtechs, or Elites so I wasn't able to check those out unfortunately.
 
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DrOpPoInT1110 said:
Just went to the shop today and shot a bunch of bows- Hoyt Vector, Hoyt Carbon Matrix (just for fun- super expensive), Mathews Chill, Mathews ZXT, and PSE DNA. I liked the Mathews the most by far. Had a hard time deciding between the Chill and ZXT but after shooting both side-by-side, decided the smoother draw/solocam on the ZXT felt better. Unfortunately, the shop wouldn't budge much on price even for a package and didn't have any in black (plus black is $100 more?!) so I'm going to another shop tomorrow that has a couple Z7 Extremes in stock in black (correct draw length/weight). Hopefully I'll be able to grab one of those. From what I can tell, the ZXT is a renamed Z7 Extreme with a different cable guide and dead stop. Its a bit over my original budget but it shoots beautifully. BrowardDet, you were right, the ZXT (Z7) is incredible. If I wind up with that, I will definitely update with some pics/info. To everyone else, thanks for the suggestions. The shops around here don't have any Parkers, Bowtechs, or Elites so I wasn't able to check those out unfortunately.
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Thats cool. Glad you found one you really like. Even better that it's a Mathews :cool:

It's amazing how different bows can be. For the most part, Mathews prices are set by the manufacturer, so unless it's a last years model, you won't find much, if any, difference between dealers.
Another plus with Mathews is, they are very easy to sell, and they hold their value quite well, as far as bows go.

Canyou tell I'm a little biased ? :D Looking forward to seeing some pics of it
 
Just got back from the other shop- I am one happy camper! :D I did wind up with the Z7 Extreme. I was originally going to buy just the bow and outfit it myself but I was able to work a nice deal with the man who was helping me. I got the bow with a QAD drop away rest, tru glo micro brite sight, sling, hard case, and half a dozen Beman carbon arrows with field tips for just over $1k. The deal I was working on for the ZXT at the other dealer would've cost me more for slightly lower end accessories AND I would've had to wait an additional 3 weeks for a black version. I think I made the right choice going with the 2012 Z7 vs the ZXT. Anyway, enough talk, here she is. Haven't set up all the goodies on it yet except the rest and sling.
z7-1_zpsbcfe263b.jpg

z7-3_zps5283ec33.jpg

z7-4_zps98fafb44.jpg
 
If you don't try and shoot a Bowtech Specialist you're limiting your self! It's Bowtechs designated target bow and it's sweet!
 
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