Diamond Core Review

Editors' review

The Diamond Core hit the market in 2013 and continues to be a hit with shooters today. This single-cam rig comes in with a 31" ATA, 7.25" brace height, 25" - 30" draw length adjustment, 50#, 60#, and 70# peak draw weight limbs, and produces 313 fps. It is a smooth drawing bow and is easy to hold on target with the 80 percent let-off. This bow only weighs 3.2 pounds, which is lighter than other bows that cost two and three times as much. Most shooters recommend changing the rest and sight that come in the Ready-Aim-Kill package as quality is suspect, but none will disagree with the shootability of this platform.

Finish

This bow only comes in MossyOak Breakup Infinity but can be custom ordered in other finishes for a fee.

Risers/Limb

The riser of the Core is a machined aluminum that is very strong and light-weight. It has an integrated broadhead shelf, integrated synthetic grip, and partially integrated limb pockets. These pockets allow the bolts to fit easily through the limbs and into the riser and have a pair of side tabs that align the limbs and hold them securely in place. The riser allows the use of longer limb bolts for easier draw weight adjustments. Each full turn of the bolt equals about three pounds of draw weight. There are also bolt inspection holes at each end for maintaining positive awareness of this adjustment - to ensure the bolt is not adjusted out too far.The limbs on this bow are made of E-Glass composite materials and are machined to their final form. Before being bolted to the riser, they are matched based on deflection ranges to provide maximum efficiency. The limbs come in three max weights; 50#, 60#, and 70#, giving the Core a weight range of 40# - 70#.

Other Components

This bow comes with the E-Glass limbs, Core Single Cam system with rotating modules, carbon string stop, and a Ready-Aim-Kill package that includes an Octane Capture Rest, Apex 3-pin sight, Octane Dead Lock quiver, wrist sling, Octane 5-inch Ultra-Lite stabilizer, alloy peep, and string loop. Many shooters have not spoken highly of the components of this package and readily suggest changing the rest and the sights.

Eccentric System

This rig has the Core Single Cam with rotating modules. The cam and the idler wheel are machined from aluminum and ride on sealed bearings, making this a smooth drawing bow while reducing friction and enhancing efficiency. The rotating module makes the draw length adjustment very simple and without the need of a bow press, and it is adjustable from 25" to 30" in half-inch increments. The cam and idler wheel have deep grooves keeping the string on track. This cam also provides an 80 percent let-off making it easy to hold on target for longer periods of time.

Grip

The grip is a one-piece synthetic grip molded to fit perfectly on the riser. This grip is comfortable and designed to promote a neutral wrist position for improved accuracy when shooting.

Shootability

This is a well-built rig and is destined to be fairly popular. Some shooters have even stated it is the smoothest drawing bow they have ever shot. The single-cam configuration starts easy and builds throughout the draw cycle until it reaches a slight hump before hitting let-off of 80 percent. Once let-off is reached, the bow is easy to hold on target until the shooter is ready to let it fly.

Silencing Package

The integrated limb pockets, the 5-inch Octane Ultra Lite stabilizer, string stop, and cable silencers. All of this matched with the aluminum riser make this rig a very quiet shooter.

Compared to Similar Bows

Bow	Diamond Core	Mission Ballistic
Version	2015	2015
Picture
Brace Height	7.25 "	7 "
AtA Length	31 "	30.5 "
Draw Length	25 " - 30 "	26 " - 30 "
Draw Weight	40 lbs - 70 lbs	50 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	313 fps	330 fps
Weight	3.2 lbs	4.18 lbs
Let-Off	80%	80%
Where to buy Best prices online	$250 to $499 Compare prices	$118.89 to $500 Compare prices
	compare more bows

So, how does the Diamond Core compare to other bows that came out in 2013? Let's compare it to the Mission Ballistic. As stated, both were introduced in 2013 and are very similar in design. The Core has a 31" ATA, and the Ballistic 30.5." The Core has 1/4" more brace height and is a full pound lighter overall. The Ballistic is quite a bit faster than the Core - 330 fps compared to 313 fps. Although there have been several complaints about the components in the R.A.K. package for the Core, it does come with the bow, whereas the same package is sold separately with the Ballistic. This will add at least $100 to the base price - $399 for the Core vs $499 for the Ballistic.Both rigs are solid shooting platforms and are quiet throughout the shot, and both have a choice of 50#, 60#, and 70# peak draw weight limbs. Each has 80 percent let-off, so they are easy to hold on target, and both are accurate. Unless the shooter just feels a need for speed, the Diamond Core is worth giving a chance. This is a very smooth, accurate, lightweight bow, and offers a lot of quality at an affordable price.

Usage Scenarios

This rig is easy to overlook in today's market, since it is so economically priced, and a little slow compared to today's bows. Do not let this fool you. It is smooth to draw, easy to hold, and accurate to shoot. Some consider it a beginner bow, but it can be found in all aspects of archery from simple target shooting to competition shooting. With a 313 fps, this bow is smooth, forgiving, and ready to go. It also comes in at only 3.2 pounds, making it very easy to carry around the 3D range or your favorite hunting locale.

Value

This rig was first introduced to the archery community for the 2013 lineup with a price tag of $499 and is still going strong. It has also been touted as "probably the best bow on the market for the price." At this price, it is considerably less than the average for a compound bow, and should certainly be looked at.

Summary

The Diamond Core is a 31" shooting platform with a 7.25" brace height, adjustable from 25" - 30," can be purchased with 50#, 60#, or 70# peak weight limbs, and packs a solid 31 fps. Although this is slow by today's standards, it packs plenty of punch to satisfy even the most hard core hunter. It is super smooth and extremely quiet. The only complaints anyone has had with this rig was with some of the components that are part of the R.A.K. package, specifically the rest and the sights. Do not let this divert your attention to a very nice bow at a very nice price.