What’s some of the best bows/game changers of last 10 years?

[Wellsdw]

With all the talk of new bows not blowing socks off got me thinking of this topic

Energy 35 for me on the list

 

[Planopurist]

I personally think the Elite SET feature is a game-changer. You could choose the platform that suits you, but that kind of tunability is a big deal IMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LONE HUNTER]

I would agree with Energy 35 being in the top 3 for me. Not a game changer just a well built, simple easy to shoot bow.

 

[LONE HUNTER]

I personally think the Elite SET feature is a game-changer. You could choose the platform that suits you, but that kind of tunability is a big deal IMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I havent played with the SET technology yet but my one beef with the idea is I don't like stuff that can move when I don't want it to. How locked down is it after you adjust the limb pockets?

 

[Planopurist]

I havent played with the SET technology yet but my one beef with the idea is I don't like stuff that can move when I don't want it to. How locked down is it after you adjust the limb pockets?

There is a set screw. I guess time will tell if it moves. I don’t shoot thousands of arrows, so I’m sure some tournament archer could tell us more. To me, there’s so much else that moves (rests, sights, strings, cables, etc.) I’m less worried about the limb pockets.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bluto]

This “new” facet to bow production has changed my entire bow shopping focus. I’m open to almost anything in the market, but I’ll be honest it feels like speed is kind of where it is and not a focus for me anyway.

The tunability wars will win my next purchase, which is why Elite and Bowtech are leading my search right now and I’m coming from a Hoyt.

Where I live it’s just hard to get to a bow shop, and they are usually just attached to a rifle shop as a side gig to bring in revenue from bow sales so building a rapport and having a place to tune isn’t really a thing here. Being able to spend time with the bow and tune is a FAR bigger factor to me than speed or even weight. I suspect more and more people will lean this way?

 

[Planopurist]

This “new” facet to bow production has changed my entire bow shopping focus. I’m open to almost anything in the market, but I’ll be honest it feels like speed is kind of where it is and not a focus for me anyway.

The tunability wars will win my next purchase, which is why Elite and Bowtech are leading my search right now and I’m coming from a Hoyt.

Where I live it’s just hard to get to a bow shop, and they are usually just attached to a rifle shop as a side gig to bring in revenue from bow sales so building a rapport and having a place to tune isn’t really a thing here. Being able to spend time with the bow and tune is a FAR bigger factor to me than speed or even weight. I suspect more and more people will lean this way?

I’ve often found that the shops near me would never take the time that I needed. I just had to learn myself. I have everything that a shop has now. The tuning features that Elite and Bowtech offer don’t make tuning a lot easier. You still may need other attention, but these manufacturers take you a long way. The shop never as convenient as doing it yourself or making small tweaks from hours of shooting, changing broadheads, changing arrows, trimming arrows, adding weight, etc. All of that could easily send you back to the shop. God help you if you have an issue in the middle of archery season. I’m shooting an Elite Kure this year. I’ve grouped 3 different broadheads (1 fixed, 2 mechanical), field points, and bare shafts this year. I attribute it to my taking my time and using the SET on the Kure. That’s a game-changer by my standards.


@StraightWayOutdoors
Straight Way Outdoors, Fulcrum Archery, Elite Archery, Upwind Odor Elimination, Wicked Twisted Bowstrings, Sevr Broadheads, Pine Ridge Archery, Bloodline Fibers

 

[Bluto]

Thanks for sharing that, I think this concept will steer my purchase. (My Christmas present was my choice of bow, all I have to do is decide…)

How far back does SET and Deadlock go? Seems like 2017 for Elite but I’m just not familiar with Bowtech.

My other major factor is reliability, “toughness,” however one wants to grade out lack of fragility. I gotta think that discussion is also within the original topic question? (Although the topic was just bows and I suppose this would really just mean hunting bows.)

 

[CB4]

Pick the bow that fits you best and learn to tune/fix it yourself. Ever bow has their own little issues or things that could be improved upon but I'm sure there are patents in place that prevent other companies from copying ideas.

I had the same options as a gift last year to pick any bow I wanted. I ended up with the V3 because it fit me best. Also in my research I found most higher end to flagship bows are usually pretty easy to tune as long as you are using a standard arrow for your setup and have good form.

 

[Planopurist]

Thanks for sharing that…How far back does SET and Deadlock go? Seems like 2017 for Elite but I’m just not familiar with Bowtech…

I’m not sure about Deadlock. I’ll talk hunting bows with SET: Kure (2019, 2020), EnKore & Remedy (2020, 2021, 2022), and EnVision (2022). Keep in mind that they each have different draw curve modules that will make their draw cycle feel differently. Elite calls this the Versa Module which comes in 3 varieties - Standard (Kure, Remedy), Performance (EnKore, EnVision), and 75%. These are interchangeable between the mentioned bows, but come standard as I’ve listed. Try to shoot them to see which you like. The standard is the smoothest draw, performance has more power stroke and speed, and 75% has least let-off (target archers tend to like this).

Feel free to message me if you have more questions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TheBootBowhunting]

Ill go with 3 things off the top my head that are the best that Ive used after 20 something years bowhunting. These things are always going to be personal preference, but switching from Hoyt to Mathews was a game changer for me.

1. The VXR 28 at my draw length is far and away my favorite bow. I have a few of them. I tried the v3 27, and just didnt feel any difference. I shot the v3x 29 last week, same thing. Its going to be hard switching from the VXR 28. I had a v3 31, traded it for another VXR 28.
2. Black Gold Mountain Lite 5 pin custom with the ml3 base. Light, compact and durable.
3. Hamskea Hybrid Hunter and Trinity rests (I will grab the epsilon though). I havent had the first issue with these rests since switching over to limb driven rests 3-4 years ago from the qad cable driven rests.


I guess Im old school and all this in line 'technology' with dovetails mounted inside risers and off picatinny rails just doesnt move the needle for me. Maybe when I go that route Ill see what all the rage is about. But nearly the simplest, most useful thing is the mathews stay afield system. Its a string, weighs next to nothing, and fills a need. Its the only reason I am thinking about selling a 28 to get a V3x 29.

 

[LONE HUNTER]

There is a set screw. I guess time will tell if it moves. I don’t shoot thousands of arrows, so I’m sure some tournament archer could tell us more. To me, there’s so much else that moves (rests, sights, strings, cables, etc.) I’m less worried about the limb pockets.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That I suppose is why it concerns me, its just one more thing to go wrong! Once a cam is shimmed and the cables settles if you have a quality string the cams usually dont come out of time until you've shot the piss out of your strings and cables. After being rattled on an atv ride on a rocky road and then strapped to a pack and all the other crap that happens to bows I see it as one more issue that can happen. Albeit I shot the remedy today and absolutely loved it.

 

[Jimss]

Excaliber 440 Bulldog! I can hit a quarter size hole just about every shot at 100 yards! It's definitely a game changer for me where legal during archery season.

 

[Venom One]

That I suppose is why it concerns me, its just one more thing to go wrong! Once a cam is shimmed and the cables settles if you have a quality string the cams usually dont come out of time until you've shot the piss out of your strings and cables. After being rattled on an atv ride on a rocky road and then strapped to a pack and all the other crap that happens to bows I see it as one more issue that can happen. Albeit I shot the remedy today and absolutely loved it.

Why would one set screw - that's locked with another screw - (so both would have to loosen), be the worrying factor? Your rest is held with a single, non-locking screw. Your drop-away rest and sight are far more likely to be failure points when bouncing around in an ATV.

Agree that once the bow is setup, the need for adjustability is vastly reduced. But it sure is nice to have when you're tuning that thing - and you can do it all, by yourself, in a couple minutes. No need to haul the bow down to the shop for help. Plus you can change the draw length from ~ 23 - 30 inches and let-off percentage from ~70-95%. If you ever decide to sell the bow, you don't have to find someone with your draw length. Anyone that falls within the 23-30" DL is a potential buyer.

I guess I see only positives with these adjustability options.

 

[Planopurist]

That I suppose is why it concerns me, its just one more thing to go wrong! Once a cam is shimmed and the cables settles if you have a quality string the cams usually dont come out of time until you've shot the piss out of your strings and cables. After being rattled on an atv ride on a rocky road and then strapped to a pack and all the other crap that happens to bows I see it as one more issue that can happen. Albeit I shot the remedy today and absolutely loved it.

I get it. After loosening the locking screw, you really have to have intention to turn the SET, even with an Allen key. It just doesn’t move easily. Granted, anything can move/loosen. I’ve yet to have mine move. The alternative is to tune using a traditional method and let that be.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TheTone]

The “integrated” sight and rest systems really aren’t anything new, just a different way of trying things that have been done before with hopes it will be accepted industry wide and not just by one manufacturer. I remember older hoyt, alpine, and kodiak systems that were done before and I’m sure their were others I’m forgetting

 

[LONE HUNTER]

Why would one set screw - that's locked with another screw - (so both would have to loosen), be the worrying factor? Your rest is held with a single, non-locking screw. Your drop-away rest and sight are far more likely to be failure points when bouncing around in an ATV.

Hey man just giving my perspective. Until you have lost a big buck over something stupid, I guess you don't worry about the small stuff. But I do agree its really cool innovation and I do agree your rest and sight are more likely to fail.

 

[CodeMonkey]

I personally think the Elite SET feature is a game-changer. You could choose the platform that suits you, but that kind of tunability is a big deal IMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tunability is way too often overlooked IMO. IBO speeds, draw cycle, etc. don't matter if the bow isn't in tune.

 

[jmez]

No a whole lot has changed in the last ten years. Marketing and confirmation bias still rule the archery world.

I'd say for changes/advancements: Flex guard roller ( was this more than 10 years ago), SET, and Deadlock cams.

 

[AkRyan]

Dead in the hand bows and how quiet they are. Speed wars are over so they focused on the rest. That's the biggest change in the last 10yrs from my minimal experience.