PSE Drive 3B Review

Editors' review

The Drive name for PSE has set the standard for value in the Pro Series lineup, which continues for 2019. With a few changes from the previous 2018 Drive model, the new 3B adds some changes to make it even more appealing to shooters wanting a high end hunting bow that won't break the bank as much as a flagship model. The 3B does not have all the latest technology PSE has made available, but it does have some high end components, and the $549 MSRP tag is a more manageable price point for a lot of shooters. There is also a factory created ready to shoot package for $699 if anyone would like to take away the accessory guess work and just start shooting right out of the box. Those accessories may not be the top of the line, but the quality is good enough to start shooting now, and the $150 for everything is a pretty good deal as well. For shooters wanting the most out of their money, the Drive 3B is exceptional. For shooters wanting the latest and greatest technology 2019 has to offer, the Drive 3B does not offer all PSE has to offer. The Drive 3B will fit a large range of archers with the ability for a rotating module to change the draw length from 25.5-31-inches. This budget friendly rig is going to continue to be an extremely popular model for PSE carrying on the Drive name of quality and affordability.

Finish

The 2019 PSE Drive 3B comes in five different finish options, which include Kuiu Verde, Mossy Oak Break up Country, Charcoal, Black, and Tan. The finish for the Drive 3B is a film application, which can leave some areas with less definition than others, especially in the cutouts of the forged riser. However, for the most part, the finish looks great, and the options available are pretty exhaustive considering the price point of the bow. Some of PSE's other models feature more finish options, but those bows also have a higher price tag. A new bow is not typically purchased based on the finish alone, but shooters want to see the best quality and most durable finish available and the Drive 3B has just that. The tan, black, and camo options will have matching limbs to the riser. The charcoal riser will feature black limbs.

Riser

The forged aluminum riser is slightly reflexed to give the bow a PSE design and a forgiving 7-inch brace height. The overall measurement of the Drive 3B is a 29.5-inch axle-to-axle height, which is a bit on the compact side of things. For many shooters, that is a good thing. However, those hunters with a little longer draw length may be more interested in a longer axle-to-axle bow, which would offer a more comfortable string angle. The compact bow is pretty lightweight as well with a bare bow weight of only 3.7-pounds. The riser does not feature any mounted dampeners from the factory, but shooters may find something they like in the aftermarket if that is necessary based on shooter's preference. The bow will be fairly tame upon firing as it is. Shooters will appreciate the rear mounted string stop system as well. The cable containment system is a standard cable slide. There is nothing fancy about the cable slide system, but it functions great, and will last a long time under normal wear and tear. For shooters wanting a tuneable roller system, the Drive 3B will not have that directly from the factory. Shooters will also appreciate the various sight mounting holes to fine tune the height of the sights to best meet each shooter's needs instead of only one option. There is a front mounting stabilizer hole as well.

Grip

The grip is integrated directly into the forged aluminum riser. There are no side plates, or screwed on one-piece grips. The forged design is what shooters get. With that said, the flat back and rounded edges fits nicely in the shooter's hand right where it should. The size front to back feels just about right as well, and is pretty comfortable for new and experienced shooters alike. Many budget bows have a plastic grip, which is typically wider than flagship models. With PSE designing this grip to feel like flagship bows, it is allowing shooters to have great form from the very beginning of their archery journey. Not having to wrestle an uncomfortable grip allows shooters to have more repeatable hand placement, and focus on the shot execution and not worry about whether their hand is in the correct position. There is a hole in the grip, which some shooters may experience their little finger wanting to track into if they are gripping the bow incorrectly. For those simply touching their fingers on the front of the riser, this will not be an issue at all.

Limbs

The limbs are split limbs like the rest of the PSE lineup and offered in 60 and 70-pound maximum weights. The limb bolts are 15 turn bolts instead of the smaller 10 turn bolts on the flagship models, which allows for more draw weight adjustment in each limb. However, it would still be nice to have a 50-pound maximum draw weight option. Although this bow was never designed to be a youth bow, it would allow some youth shooters an opportunity to add the Drive to their list of options if the 50-pound limbs were made available. The limbs will come with a factory installed split limb dampener on the top and bottom as well to keep things as quiet as possible. The pockets are a plastic pocket, which helps reduce the cost of the bow when compared to those on the flagship models. However, shooters should not expect to have any issue with the pockets or their performance. They are durable pockets, and well built to securely fasten the limbs to the riser.

Eccentric System

The cams are available in a wide draw length range, which is adjusted with a rotating module with no need for a bow press. The range is 25.5-inches all the way out to 31-inches, which means a large range of archers will fit into this bow. The let-off is fixed, which is kind of a bummer for shooters wanting a little bit of a say in their holding weight and feel of the valley, but an 85% let-off feels pretty sweet on the Drive 3B. The cams are a three track binary cam design, which does not have yokes for tuning with the cables terminating on the cam. The end result is a pretty quick cam system shooting speeds as fast as 330 feet per second. It would be nice for an adjustable let-off, but that would also add to the cost.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

The draw weight of the bow starts off right at the start of the draw cycle. Archers get to peak weight pretty quickly, and it stays that way for a while. The draw weight tapers off to a solid back wall though and just gradually gets easier to pull until the 85% let-off. Some models with high let-off have a harsh dump into the lighter holding weight, but that is not the case with the 3B draw cycle. The easing off of the draw weight into the holding weight is manageable and not at all harsh, which makes for a nice feeling draw cycle. The bow has some vibration without anything installed, but no one is going to shoot it that way so it should not matter much how it feels on without accessories added. The bow is easy to aim, feels light as a feather, and holds solidly on target. For any bow, the Drive 3B feels great, when considering the price of the bow, it becomes outstanding.

Usage Scenarios

The Drive 3B is a budget friendly hunting bow. It will appeal to anyone wanting a high quality bow for a lower cost. However, those just starting out in the world of archery hunting will also be drawn to this bow because it allows shooters to get started with a nice shooting bow at a lower initial cost. The Drive 3B would also make a solid back up bow for someone wanting an extra bow laying around just in case something happens to their bow of choice. For some female and youth shooters, the Drive 3B may be appealing as well. However, there are specific models in the PSE lineup geared specifically towards youth and female archers that would also be nice options for those groups of shooters.

Drive 3B vs. Drive X

Bow	PSE Drive 3B	PSE Drive
Version	2020	2020 Drive XL
Picture
Brace Height	7 "	7 "
AtA Length	29.5 "	33 "
Draw Length	25.5 " - 31 "	26.5 " - 32 "
Draw Weight	50 lbs - 70 lbs	50 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	322 fps - 330 fps	319 fps - 327 fps
Weight	3.7 lbs	3.9 lbs
Let-Off	85%	85%
Where to buy Best prices online	$450 to $700 Compare prices	$100 to $675 Compare prices
	compare more bows

The Drive 3B is a replacement to the PSE Drive, but both appeal to the same shooters. The most notable difference is the cam system. The Drive 3B cams are the same on the top and bottom whereas the Drive X had a top cam different from the bottom cam. The three track binary on the Drive 3B seems to be a bit more shooter friendly for most shooters, but both would be great options to get someone started hunting with a bow, or upgrading from something older without a great deal of money to spend on a flagship model.

Factory Accessory Option

The Drive 3B allows shooters to opt for the Ready to Shoot Pro Package for an additional $150. This allows shooters to leave the bow shop with a fully rigged bow for only $699. For new archers, this will take out the guesswork of purchasing aftermarket accessories and get them shooting as quickly as possible right from the box. The Pro Package includes an Amp Micro Sight, a Phantom Drop Away Rest, an 8-inch Spire Stabilizer with weights, a Covert Quiver, a neoprene wrist sling, peep, and a nock loop. These accessories are not top of the line accessories, but they are decent quality and the $150 price tag is cheaper than a shooter would spend on the same accessories to get going.

Summary

The PSE Drive platform has always been one of the best values in the archery world, and this new Drive 3B does not disappoint. This rig is an awesome feeling bow, but when considering the price point, it becomes an outstanding feeling bow. The three track cam system has a super draw cycle, great speeds, and high let-off. It would be nice to have an adjustable let-off, but that is not a must have on many shooter's lists of specifications for a hunting bow. The compact 29.5-inch frame is about as maneuverable in tree stands or ground blinds as a shooter can get, and the 3.7-pound weight is relatively lightweight in 2019. Perhaps the best feature of the bow is the $549 price tag. Shooters would be hard pressed to find a better shooting bow at that price point. Shooters wanting the highest end technology available may not be as impressed with the Drive 3B. However, those wanting a sweet shooting bow without paying flagship prices should really look into the Drive 3B. It is a flat out amazing bow and when considering how much it costs, it just may be the best value in archery for 2019.