Mathews TRX 8 Review

Editors' review

Mathews target bows have placed a ton of shooters on the podiums of 3D and tournament archery competitions around the world. The new TRX 8 is another outstanding options for shooters wanting a longer axel-to-axel bow with a forgiving 8-inch brace height and pretty decent IBO speeds up to 322 feet per second with the AVS crosscentric cam system. The mixture of stability, speed, and forgiveness is hard to beat with this target bow, and the large draw length range is sure to accommodate everyone on the market for the best target archery has to offer. The price tag is expensive with an MSRP of $1799, and the finish options are very limited with only four colors to choose from. However, shooters of this caliber are more than likely getting their rigs for a reduced price (or free), or at least have aspirations of wining tournament money. For those interested in a longer target bow with some really great performance, the TRX 8 is going to be difficult to beat.

Finish

For an $1800 bow, shooters should be able to have their pick of how the bow looks. Unfortunately, those wanting to shoot the Mathews TRX 8 will only have four finishes to choose from. The colors include red, black, blue, and white. The finish is durable, applied well, and should last a long time with the abuse a target bow will take during indoor and outdoor tournaments. Although it would be nice to even have the camo options offered on the hunting side of Mathews, those available are pretty popular colors on the tournament scene, and the quality is top notch.*RiserThe riser on the Mathews TRX 8 is long and almost perfectly straight between the limb pockets. The riser also has the characteristic Mathews riser bridge on the top and bottom between the grip and the limb pockets. This bridged riser adds strength and stability to keep the stress placed on the riser from torqueing the riser and causing it to twist. Despite the long, reinforced riser, the bare bow weight of the TRX 8 is still under 5-pounds, weighing in at 4.96-pounds. This may seem heavy at first glance, but target archers are typically more comfortable with heavier rigs for minimizing the downrange pin float as shooters hold on target. Shooters are also going to add a bunch of stabilizer weight to give the feel they want, holding on target, and after the shot. Considering the size of the TRX 8, and the target archery preference of heavier bows, the TRX 8 seems to be a good compromise.The technology in the riser goes farther than the bridged design. Mathews has also integrated the harmonic dampener and harmonic stabilizers they have on hunting rigs to help with the reduction of noise and vibration. To further eliminate noise and vibration, Mathews also uses a rear facing string stop system as well. The cable containment system is a traditional stationary bar with a roller on the end, which Mathews has also done before. Mathews also has a few mounting holes for the sight to bolt on with, which will help shooters get everything set up the way they like it for the style they want to shoot. The riser is very typical of a Mathews bow, and the straightness and length make it feel extremely sturdy downrange. The front stabilizer-mounting hole is directly in line with the string stop system. The rear mounting stabilizer hole is towards the bottom of the riser, which is a bit different than some shooters may be used to. Typically, the mounting holes are a little closer to the shooters hand. However, with it being so low on the riser, less weight will be needed to give shooters the desired back bar feel they are looking for.

Grip

The flat back grip is characteristic of other Mathews target bows in regards to shape, size, and look. To be honest, the old school walnut grips looked really nice, and added a great deal to the overall look of the bow. The composite grip is flatter, and promotes a more torque-free hand placement, but it looks a bit cheaper than the wooden grips from several years ago. The flat grip is pretty slim where it sits against the shooters palm, and the girth is just about right as well. The throat is a bit thicker than the bottom of the grip area, but it still feels pretty comfortable overall.

Limbs

The limbs of the TRX 8 are available in maximum draw weights of 50, 60, and 70-pounds, which should be a large enough range to meet the needs of all serious target shooters. The limbs are wide and pretty short in order to pair with the long riser and achieve the 40-inch axel-to-axel measurement. The limb pockets have a wide stance as well, and work with the cams and axel to keep the same distance apart from each other for the entire length of the limbs. The limb decals look nice, as well proudly displaying the TRX 8 model name, and the engraved limb pockets add a high end touch to the bows look.

Eccentric System

The TRX 8 has a newly designed Mini Crosscentric Cam, which uses the popular advanced vector system technology (AVS). Basically, this former speed cam has shrunk down to be more favorable for target shooting, while still maintaining the quicker speeds. The newly designed cam system, along with the rest of the Mathews technologies flings arrows an IBO rated 322 feet per second, which is pretty quick for a target bow with an 8-inch brace height. Modules are available for 70% and 80% let off as well. The back wall is assisted with a cable stop on each cam to offer a solid back wall, but less firm than bows offering a dual limb stop option. The draw length range is pretty large, and is modular based so shooters will have access to the entire draw length range straight out of the box. Adjustments can be made without the use of a bow press, and can do half-inch increments from 24-31-inches.The AVS cams are not new to the Mathews lineup, but they are a welcomed addition to the target side of things. The AVS cams have the harness connecting to a small wheel on mounted on the axel on the inside of the limbs. As the string is drawn, the bearings allow the wheel to rotate, and the center moves as the shooter reaches full draw. The cams are synced with each other, and take up cables at the same rate of speed being the same size and shape to each other. This change in center allows for increased speed to be produced when the arrow is shot when compared to a center that does not change as it is drawn. The cams design, in addition to the geometry of the bow keep the nocking point in the center of the bow for the entire draw cycle so it is not going off the horizontal plane at any point. This increases the bows efficiency, transferring more energy to the arrow making it faster, and less energy into the rest of the system also making the shot quieter and less felt vibration.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

The TRX 8 is a dream to shoot. For starters, hand placement on the flat grip is very easy, and the bow fells pretty balanced for how large it is. The cams are a bit stiff in drawing them to the back wall, but the transitions are super smooth and the valley is hardly noticeable. For target archery, a less pronounced valley is ideal so the arrow does not bounce as it is drawn. When cams have a pronounced let off, archers have a tendency to continue pulling hard through the valley, which can cause some jarring of the bow and make the arrow bounce a little bit. Target rests are typically springs of different tensions, so any kind of bounce will cause the arrow to fall off the rest and force shooters to let down. On target, the TRX 8 hold firm and true. It aims well, even at long distances, and the longer axel-to-axel measurement gets a great deal of the credit. After the shot, the bow continues to sit on target with minimal noise and vibration felt after the shot. For shooters not used to target archery, the TRX 8 is fairly heavy, especially fully loaded with all the accessories. However, this can also keep the shooter holding on target. The IBO rated 322 feet per second feels quick, and the 8-inch brace height will be easy to get used to as well. For a target bow, it is really hard to find anything wrong with the TRX 8.

TRX 8 vs. TRX 7

Bow	Mathews TRX 8	Mathews TRX 7
Version	2019	2019
Picture
Brace Height	8 "	7 "
AtA Length	40 "	40 "
Draw Length	24 " - 31 "	23 " - 30 "
Draw Weight	40 lbs - 70 lbs	40 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	322 fps	332 fps
Weight	4.96 lbs	4.92 lbs
Let-Off	70% & 80%	70% or 80%
Where to buy Best prices online	$1050 Compare prices	Not available now. Please check later.
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These two bows are basically the same with the major difference being the brace height. For shooters more interested on toeing the line and shooting spots, the 8-inch TRX version will more than likely be the bow of choice. For shooters more likely to win outdoor 3D tournaments, the added speed of the Mathews TRX 7 may be the best option for them. Aside from the brace height and performance difference, the TRX 8 is just barely heavier, with the rest of the specifications being identical.

Summary

The Mathews TRX 8 is another really great shooting bow from the Mathews lineup made for target archers wanting to be on the podium after major competitions. With a $1799 price tag, only the most serious shooters will be interested in this bow, but the characteristics of the TRX 8 would appeal to anyone interested in serious tournament archery. For this price point, it would be nice to see more finish options although the four available are well done. The extra speed of the mini AVS cams are a welcomed addition, even if shooters are shooting from a known distance. The huge riser gives the TRX 8 an almost rectangular shape, but it still weighs in under 5-pounds, which gives target archers a wide range of options for stabilizer weight to be added wherever it works for each shooter. Overall, this bow does everything a target bow should do very well. The price tag is scary, but winning tournaments can help offset the enormous cost, and bragging rights earned for winning may be priceless for some shooters. In the end, the Mathews TRX 8 is an excellent long axel-to-axel target bow.