New Bow or Not?

[MTLabrador]

First, I’m the furthest thing from an archery expert on Hunttalk for lots of reasons, and the last few years I’ve gotten away from archery hunting a little. I’ve missed it, and am looking to do a lot more shooting and will be applying for an archery elk permit this year.

My current bow is a 10ish year old Bowtech carbon icon. I’ve always liked it alright, and it generally shoots pretty well. It’s always been a bit of a pain in the ass to get tuned to punching perfect bullet holes and to keep it that way. Again, I don’t nerd out about archery, and I’m a 40 yards and in hunter, exclusively hunting for elk in the timber.

I’ve considered an upgrade for a while, and I recently found a couple 2024 Mathews lifts at a good discount. Even at a discount it’s still more than I want to spend once you factor in a new sight, rest, etc. However, if it really would be that big of an upgrade from my current setup, I’m considering spending the money. I just want a bow that I know will be as accurate as possible and that I have more confidence in. I want to kill elk without drama. I’m not completely sold on the Mathews and am open to suggestions, but I am looking for a deal if I get something new. Will I really see that much of a difference?

 

[Dave N]

No idea of the difference but you can switch all of your parts over to the new one and sell your old bow. Save some money that way.

 

[Sheltowee]

Have you shot the Lift yet? That will tell you how much difference you see.

I'm always in favor of buying new toys, though.

 

[Lostinthewoods]

Dont quote me on this but, if I recall the 2024 lift is the one that was having limb issues.
I'd hate for you to buy something new and it suck.

 

[Forkyfinder]

When i went new bow shopping - i found the things i had liked since i bought my first bow to be different. Seems like shooting a taller 33"ata + and more generous brace height made a way bigger difference than the name on the side to me.

 

[LuketheDog]

First, I’m the furthest thing from an archery expert on Hunttalk for lots of reasons, and the last few years I’ve gotten away from archery hunting a little. I’ve missed it, and am looking to do a lot more shooting and will be applying for an archery elk permit this year.

My current bow is a 10ish year old Bowtech carbon icon. I’ve always liked it alright, and it generally shoots pretty well. It’s always been a bit of a pain in the ass to get tuned to punching perfect bullet holes and to keep it that way. Again, I don’t nerd out about archery, and I’m a 40 yards and in hunter, exclusively hunting for elk in the timber.

I’ve considered an upgrade for a while, and I recently found a couple 2024 Mathews lifts at a good discount. Even at a discount it’s still more than I want to spend once you factor in a new sight, rest, etc. However, if it really would be that big of an upgrade from my current setup, I’m considering spending the money. I just want a bow that I know will be as accurate as possible and that I have more confidence in. I want to kill elk without drama. I’m not completely sold on the Mathews and am open to suggestions, but I am looking for a deal if I get something new. Will I really see that much of a difference?

I'm not an archery nerd either and I don't think you can go wrong with any of the top tier bow companies, but I've found confidence is definitely king so find something you're comfortable shooting. I've got a great Elite bow that about gave me an ulcer, not because of anything the bow did wrong, but just because I couldn't leave well enough alone and stop screwing with my arrow and broadhead setups. Definitely snag that a past-season deal though if you're going to do it, I got mine at cost from a shop who was bringing in all the new hardware. There isn't any good reason to buy a 2025 bow over anything made in the past 3-5 years, the technology just doesn't change that quick.

When i went new bow shopping - i found the things i had liked since i bought my first bow to be different. Seems like shooting a taller 33"ata + and more generous brace height made a way bigger difference than the name on the side to me.

Mine is 35", stable as heck...

 

[rustednuts]

I did this exact same thing last year. Upgraded from 10 year carbon icon to a lift at a rmef banquet. The lift shoots very different so be sure to try it out first. I might suggest waiting a year for the lift X to go on sale. Their new system that allows you to tune without too hate would be nice.

 

[TheTone]

Dont quote me on this but, if I recall the 2024 lift is the one that was having limb issues.
I'd hate for you to buy something new and it suck.

Mathews will warranty Lift limbs for life regardless of ownership and at some point during 2024 changed the manufacturing process on them

There are tons and tons of great bows out there. I’d have a really hard time buying new or current model year anymore. So many good deals to be had on lightly used ones or leftover previous year models

 

[Alpine01]

Anyone have experience with the PSE Mach 30 DS or Mach 33 DS?

 

[Steiny77]

I'd take a hard look at the new Bear bows.

 

[typhoon916]

I really like my elite era

 

[FREAK]

What i'd give for my old solo cam with a long axel to axel and brace height. Super easy to tune and very forgiving. Used to have a ton of confidence with that bow.

I feel like i'm always chasing my tail with my VXR. Massive cams, and touchy tuning. IDK, i'm stuck with it for 10 years at this point. Trying to spine up my arrows and see if I can get it to punch better holes more consistently.

If I could go back, I would have shot them all and decided which one felt the best. I hear the Primes are built for holding steady. A guy I know that shoots league with me improved a lot since he bought his new prime. I also think the Mathews are just heavy bows. It's nice for target shooting but is a pain when hunting the backcountry IMO. I'd shoot demo bows till you find one you like then look into what people are saying about tunability and things like that.

 

[Forkyfinder]

What i'd give for my old solo cam with a long axel to axel and brace height. Super easy to tune and very forgiving. Used to have a ton of confidence with that bow.

I feel like i'm always chasing my tail with my VXR. Massive cams, and touchy tuning. IDK, i'm stuck with it for 10 years at this point. Trying to spine up my arrows and see if I can get it to punch better holes more consistently.

If I could go back, I would have shot them all and decided which one felt the best. I hear the Primes are built for holding steady. A guy I know that shoots league with me improved a lot since he bought his new prime. I also think the Mathews are just heavy bows. It's nice for target shooting but is a pain when hunting the backcountry IMO. I'd shoot demo bows till you find one you like then look into what people are saying about tunability and things like that.

What solocam had a long ATA?

 

[golfer]

I have a vxr 31.5 I don’t really use any more if that would be something your interested in.

 

[FREAK]

What solocam had a long ATA?

vs. my VXR

 

[FREAK]

My dad used to hunt with a bunch of guys from Oregon that we're big into archery (before it was as popular). He went on a couple hunts with Chuck Adams when he was going for some north American slam. I keep in touch with one of his old hunting buddies. He still shoots fingers on a single cam bows with long axel to axel. If it aint broke, why fix it. One of these years I'm going to take one of his old double wheel bows out and shoot an elk.

 

[MTLabrador]

When i went new bow shopping - i found the things i had liked since i bought my first bow to be different. Seems like shooting a taller 33"ata + and more generous brace height made a way bigger difference than the name on the side to me.

The 33” is the one I’m looking at too.

 

[MTLabrador]

Have you shot the Lift yet? That will tell you how much difference you see.

I'm always in favor of buying new toys, though.

I’m to go try it out this weekend.

 

[Bullshot]

I won’t dissuade anybody from buying a new toy but your 10 year old bow will
continue to be perfect for the job if you outfit it with good strings, and set it to specs once in awhile if it needs it. I just cleaned up my 25 year old hoyt and my 20 year old mathews and would not hesitate to use either on any hunt, they are as fast as the day I bought them, I can replace just about anything that wears out more cheaply than I can maintain my newest bow (2022) and the newest bows are not that much of an improvement over the older 2000’s models to financially justify the cost. You can buy three or four gently used older Mathews for the same price! But then again, new toys don’t always need financial justification either.

 

[BOHNTR]

The Bowtech Icon was a good mid-level bow during its time, but it was a bit more finicky to tune correctly.

I be owned a bunch of different bows from various manufacturers over the last 50 years……never a PSE……until now. I have the new 2025 PSE Mach33DS. Honestly, I hate to say it, but it’s probably the best shooting compound I’ve ever shot. Can’t believe I’m saying that…..but for me it is. Might want to look at that now as well if you’re buying new. Just my .02