This year’s field of compounds features sharp, capable hunting machines, many of which were contenders for the top spot. With a collection this impressive, it’s no wonder the rankings hinged on just a few points between our Editor’s Choice and its closest competitor.
Yet, some of these bows stretched the definition of “new.” Several of last year’s flagship models have been tweaked—a lengthened riser here, a fresh camo finish there, a reworked grip or two—and presented as new.
BOW TEST
Advancements in compound bow technology have come so far, so fast, it’s a bit greedy to expect radical redesigns every year from every manufacturer. Why change a good thing? they’d probably argue. But we’d be less than honest if we said we didn’t find ourselves looking for a bit more innovation in this lineup.
Still, variety defines the compound industry. We evaluated bows that offer tremendous value, some performance breakthroughs, and, yes, a few duds that need refining. Whether you’re looking for a budget bow for backyard whitetails or a top-end rig designed for conquering the field and the 3D course, you’ll find it here.
For the second year in a row, the battle for the Editor’s Choice award came down to two models, a few points, and one heck of a dogfight. This year’s champion was the Reign 6 from BowTech, which earned a score of 93.8 out of a possible 100 to slip past Mathews’ Halon 32-5. In the end, it was the Reign’s adjustability that gave it the edge.
You can tune and adjust this bow as much or as little as you want. And while bow geeks will love that, you really don’t have to adjust it much to make it shoot smoothly.
The Reign 6 features redesigned binary cams that allow for tuning of both vertical and horizontal nock travel. Pair that with the system’s MicroSync dial (an ingenious tuning device that allows you to correct minor timing issues caused by string and cable stretch or wear, without the need for a bow press), and you have the ability to fine-tune your bow quickly and easily.
It also features a revamped version of BowTech’s FlipDisc, which allows for two distinct draw profiles: The Performance setting generates a bit more speed and a shallower valley, and the Comfort setting generates a smoother draw cycle. Changing the two discs is simple: Just remove two pairs of Allen-head screws, flip the discs, and replace the screws.
On the 3D course, the Reign 6 was one of the bows no one wanted to put down. It handled remarkably and proved easy to hold on target. It almost seemed to find the 10 ring on its own.
For two years now, the Mathews Halon has been one of the best bows in the game. The Halon 32-5 is a longer version of 2016’s Halon in a 5-inch brace height (also available in 6- or 7-inch brace heights). The resulting rig is more stable and a bit heavier, and it launches arrows nearly perfectly.
Everything about this bow feels right, and we all appreciated the easy draw and comfortable grip. Testers lauded the Halon 32-5 for its consistency on the 3D range; meanwhile, it turned in speeds of 338.5 fps (the fastest compound tested). The Halon 32-5 was just as smooth as its slower peers, proving that a speed bow can also be an enjoyable shooter. The bow is an excellent all-around hunting rig, but we knocked it slightly for its limited adjustability.
OBSESSION DEFCON M7Z | SCORE: 86.9
We were expecting a little more from Obsession after its bows won our Editor’s Choice for two of the past three years. But the company’s 2017 flagship just wasn’t able to keep pace with BowTech and Mathews.
Even so, the DefCon M7Z is still a darned good bow, with an excellent build quality and solid back wall. It didn’t fall flat in any category, and it excelled in the sound test: At 80.9 decibels, it was the quietest bow in the test. Its speed of 321.8 fps put it in the middle of the pack.
The test team stood divided on the DefCon M7Z’s draw: One found it tougher to draw than it should be for the specs and the price, while others reported it was a great bow to shoot, with no hand shock and an easy draw cycle and hold.
| Compound Bows | Bowtech Reign 6 | Mathews Halon 32-5 | Obsession Defcon M7Z |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $999 | $999 | $949 |
| Weight (lb., with scope) | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Length (Axle-to-Axle, in.) | 32.5 | 32 | 32.25 |
| Brace Height (in.) | 5.9 | 5.1 | 6.8 |
| Kinetic Energy at Release (Joules) | 142.9 | 145.9 | 131.8 |
| Speed (FPS)/Score | 335.1/9.8 | 338.5/10 | 321.8/8.9 |
| Noise (Decibel-A)/Score | 84.5/8.3 | 83.9/8.6 | 80.9/10 |
| Vibration (Meters per Second2)/Score | 13.80/9.0 | 12.27/9.4 | 13.78/9.0 |
| Draw Cycle/Backwall | 9.3 | 10 | 8.7 |
| Handling | 9.7 | 9 | 9 |
| Shootability | 10 | 9.3 | 8 |
| Huntability | 9.3 | 9.7 | 8.3 |
| Adjustability | 9.7 | 7 | 7.3 |
| Build Quality | 10 | 10 | 9.7 |
| Value | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8 |
| Overall | 93.8 | 91.7 | 86.9 |
Whatever has gotten into the engineers at PSE, they’d best figure out a way to bottle it. Once known as a big-box brand, PSE can now stand cam-to-cam with the best in the business. In fact, if you were able to conceal the branding and signature components, I’m not sure anyone would guess this is a PSE.
The Evolve was a flat-out shooter on the course, and every tester gave it high marks for huntability and shootability. The bow threw hunting arrows at 325 fps, and its cam system was one of the more unusual in the lineup. Adjustable from 24.5 to 30 inches without the use of a bow press, the cam offers a choice…
