Ever get an itch you just can’t scratch? I’ve spent a considerable amount of time over the last two weeks contemplating one thing; Should I buy a new bow? It may seem like the norm these days to buy a new bow each year, but for me it’s a new thing. I’ve bought new bows before, but they were three or four years old. They were new to me. Most times I bought them secondhand or was gifted one. Now I want a 2020 bow one due to the fact that the new technology intrigues me and I think it’s time.
Researching new bows brought back fond memories; setting up bows with my dad, shopping at the local pro shops for good deals and sometimes coming home with a new-to-us bow. It also brought memories of shooting a bow when I was 16 that felt like holding a boat anchor chest-high. I have no idea how much it weighed or what the draw weight was. What I can tell you is that the draw weight was too high, the draw length too long and it weighed more than a bow should. Today’s bows are much lighter, more forgiving, and you can fine tune them with precision. After all the online research was done, I needed to shoot some of the new bows.
Testing Out the New 2020 Bows
Located in Fullerton, CA, Hi-Tech Archery was my Saturday destination. I knew they had a plethora of new compound bows and they are one of the only pro shops around with that many choices. If you like variety, this is the place. I knew I wanted to shoot two specific bows, the Mathews VXR and the Bowtech Realm SR6. My research failed me though as I got so caught up in the specs that I didn’t realize the SR6 was a 2019 bow. Even with that, I had spoken with many people who recommended both of these bows. Unfortunately, Hi-Tech only had the newest bows in stock. They had the VXR and the Bowtech Revolt X. Both were set up for a 28.5″ draw and were at 60#. I normally shoot 70#, but I was OK with trying them out as they were.
Mathews VXR 31.5
Up first was the Mathews VXR 31.5. It had a smooth draw and with 80% let-off, it was buttery. You can go up to 85% let-off, which is pretty cool. It has little to no hand vibration (kudos on the thin, rubber grip), and it was dead in the hand. The best part about this is that I had never shot a Mathews before and I loved it. I shot a few more shots, made my notes, and moved on.
Bowtech Revolt X
The Bowtech Revolt X also shot very well. A little more hand shock in this one, but come on, when I say a little I mean exactly that, very little. There is hardly any in any of these bows. It’s fast and sleek. I currently shoot a Blackout S3 from Bass Pro. This is made by Diamond Archery, which is owned by Bowtech. That being said, this bow felt very similar to the Blackout. It has a smooth draw, is fast, and has very little noise.
Hoyt REDWRX Carbon RX-4
Another bow I had never had the pleasure of shooting was Hoyt. Now Joe (if you know Hi-Tech, you know Joe) wanted to offer up some more for me to try, so he went back and brought out the Hoyt Redwrx Carbon RX-4. This bow is very light and shoots very fast. I just didn’t care for it. The Hoyt bows with the 1.5 cam are harder to tune than those with a binary cam system and I really didn’t want to concern myself with that. Even still, I shot a few more arrows to be satisfied with my decision.
PSE Carbon Air Stealth EM
The PSE Carbon Air Stealth EM almost doesn’t feel real. When I picked it up I was amazed at how light it was! For being a light bow it shoots incredibly well. It is all carbon, so it weighs nearly a pound less than the pother bows.In frigid temperatures it won’t have a cold grip. It stays put in your hands, but wanted to jump just a little after each shot. Put a stabilizer on the bow and problem solved. Again, this bow was great to shoot!
PSE Evo NXT 31 and 33
I also shot two other bows from PSE, the Evo NXT 31 and 33. (I failed to get photos.) I’ve always liked the PSE bows and how they shoot. Both of these were great bows, but they weren’t what I was after.
Overall, my experience with the bows was fantastic and Joe was a big help. All of the new bow shot well and have specs that rival the other, for the most part. Prices on the bows varied from $1,099 all the way to $1,699.00. My jaw dropped when I saw how much they cost, but you get what you pay for. Almost two grand is out of my price range, but there is a tool for every task. A new bow purchase will be an investment in my hunting future.
The top two bows I enjoyed shooting were the Mathews VXR 31.5 and the Bowtech Revolt X. My Blackout S3 feels and shoots just like the Revolt X. That being said, the Mathews VXR 31.5 is my top choice for 2020. I love the way it handles and even with higher let-off it has great speed. It reminds me of another bow I used to own (a 2010 Bear Attack), but even smoother and with less vibration. With a couple hunts in my near future, I have to make the decision of do I buy one or stick with the bow I currently shoot.
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