Bowtech RPM 360 Review
from $550
Pros
- Fast, accurate, quiet
- Very shootable and versatile
- Solid shooting platform
- Solid back wall
Cons
- There is a slight bit of vibration out of the box, but a stabilizer will eliminate this
- The ball bearings in the silencing kit fall out
- This is a very new bow and you may have to wait for it to hit your local stores
Video
content from YouTube
Editors' review
Team Bowtech could very well have created THE best bow ever. With a new riser design, a re-designed limb pocket, and a re-design of an already popular cam system, the RPM 360 was born. This bow does not draw like a speed bow, as it is very smooth. This bow is also very quiet, unlike the typical speed bow. The new flagship rig from Bowtech has a 31" ATA, 7" brace height, and produces a blistering 360 fps IBO. Until you shoot it, it's hard to see what all the fuss is about, but once you shoot it, all doubt is removed.
Finish
This rig comes in a variety of colors - Black Ops, Mossy Oak Infinity, Realtree AP, and Realtree APG HD.Risers/Limb
This bow is designed with a new patented trapezoidal I-beam riser that provides exceptional strength. The riser also has a new patented Bridge Lock pocket system with N-Fused technology. This setup is designed to put the limb flex in just the right spot for maximum power. The tips of the riser feature the Center Pivot Extreme design that reduces flex points on the limbs while providing the most efficiency where needed. Paired with the Overdrive Binary Cams, this setup produces a blazing 360 fps IBO without sacrificing accuracy, control, and silence.The limbs are the patented Carboncore Limbs. This split limb system has an extreme impact resistant skin that enhances the strength of the limbs, and a carbon center that aids in noise resistance and vibration. This system only adds to the overall efficiency of this bow.Other Components
This rig comes a little light on bells and whistle, but does come with Octane Factory Strings, Bio-Shock Extreme Silencing system, and a Flex Guard cable guide.Eccentric System
The Overdrive Binary Cam system is the most advanced cam system developed by Bowtech. This cam system is a synchronized dual-cam setup that was initially introduced in 2010. The cam system gives this bow the highest levels of tunability and consistency. The split limb system uses a split buss cable that keeps this cam system perfectly synchronized while providing the shooter unmatched accuracy and an outstanding draw cycle, even for a speed bow.The cam system also includes a rotating module for easy draw length adjustments. Simply by removing a pair of screws, the module can be rotated to set the bow to lengths from 24" - 30" in half-inch increments. This cam system also includes a solid draw stop that can be further adjusted in 1/16" increments.Draw Cycle/Shootability
The draw cycle on this bow is very surprising. At a glance, the shooter will notice the tag showing 360 fps IBO and a pair of aggressive cams. The next thought is it must be a bear to draw in order to achieve that kind of speed. Then, the moment of truth, the shooter pulls back this bow and thinks there is no way that a bow the draws this smooth can reach that IBO. The draw loads quickly on the front end and is silky smooth through the rest of the draw. There are no harsh humps to overcome, and then it settles easily into the valley. Although the cams are aggressive, the bow does not try to rip your arm off during let-down. With an 80% let-off, this rig is easy to hold on target. The shootability of this bow makes it fast, accurate, and a joy to shoot. This rig could very well be the best bow that Bowtech has assembled, and very well the best bow ever. This bow did have a slight bit of vibration out of the box, but the addition of a decent stabilizer eliminated that altogether.Silencing Package
This bow comes standard with Bowtech's Bio Shock dampening system. This system includes in new design that incorporates ball bearings into the dampeners. The thought behind this was the weight of the bearings would aid in the vibration dampening. However, these ball bearings do come out of the dampeners relatively easily. Although this is a pretty cool looking set-up, it would be advisable to replace these with dampeners that are less maintenance unless you aren't overly concerned with the lack of the ball bearings. The loss of the bearings has minimal impact on the overall shootability.Grip
The grip on this rig is a plastic slip-on type one-piece grip that appears to be attached with some type of adhesive. Because of the design, it has a slightly larger feel than the traditional Bowtech grips. It looks very nice on this bow, but many of those that have shot it so far do not like it initially, and say it takes some time to get used to the feel. They also say that once you are accustomed to shooting with this grip, it fits very nicely in the hand.Comparisons
| Bow | Bowtech RPM 360 |
| Version | 2015 |
| Picture |  |
| Brace Height | 6 " |
| AtA Length | 31 " |
| Draw Length | 24 " - 30 " |
| Draw Weight | 40 lbs - 70 lbs |
| IBO Speed | 360 fps |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs |
| Let-Off | 80% |
| Where to buy Best prices online |
The Bowtech RPM 360 is similar to the PSE DNA. Both bows are fast with the RPM 360 offering about 15 fps more speed than the PSE. That is close enough that you will not notice it as a shooter. It will require a chrono to tell you that. Each also is right at 31" ATA, making them both a good fit into your hunting area, whether blind or stand. The PSE has a shorter brace height and offers a wider range of draw weight, but does not have the smooth draw cycle of the Bowtech. Both of these bows offer a rotating module for ease of adjustments, but the Bowtech offers 1/2" more range. Both bows have a max draw weight of 70# and a max draw length of 30." Also, both have a retail price of $999. The primary difference in these bows is the shootability. Even if you are not a fan of Bowtech, you owe it to yourself to give this rig a test drive. You will be pleasantly surprised.