Diamond Dead Eye Review

Editors' review

The Diamond Dead Eye is the fastest Diamond bow ever produced and stands toward the top of the list as far as single cam speed bows are concerned. With new technology from the ground up, the Dead Eye looks and performs like a single cam Bowtech Destroyer and is sure to be a great hunting bow. Shooters willing to accept a more aggressive draw cycle will be pleased with the flat trajectory and kinetic energy produced by a newly improved Diamond Dead Eye.

Finish

The Diamond line is finished with what they call the Invelvet finish. The Invelvet finish is soft to the touch and aids in dampening noise while protecting from dings, dents, and scratches. The Diamond Dead Eye also offers two finishes as well. It is available in the Blackops pattern, which is an all black finish. Riser and limbs are completely black except for the red accented limb decals. The Dead Eye also comes finished in Mossy Oak Treestand. All finishes are flawlessly done and look great. Along with this comes a wide range of after market accessories designed to match perfectly.

R.A.K. (Ready. Aim. Kill accessory package)

The Ready. Aim. Kill. package is available for shooters interested in decking their new bow out with factory accessories. The bow comes with a black four-pin Apex sight, an Octane hostage arrow rest, a five arrow one-piece Octane quiver, a 4-inch Diamond Stabilizer, and a Diamond wrist sling. Overall, this is a great package providing everything the shooter needs at an affordable price. However, some shooters may be more interested putting together their own accessory package.

Riser, limbs, and limb pockets

The Diamond Dead Eye riser has a one of a kind, very aggressive look. The machined aluminum riser is one piece and relatively lightweight. Attached to the riser is the FLX roller guard, which assists with the draw cycle and aids to eliminate speed-reducing friction after the shot. The Dead Eye is equipped with an innovative 7-layer laminated limb. These limbs are strategically designed to distribute the stress of the limbs throughout the entire limb. This distribution prolongs the life of the limbs and insures shooters are equipped with a bow that is going to last a long time. The limbs are available in 60 or 70 pound max weights. The limbs connect to the riser using Diamond's Center-Lock Pocket. These pockets are designed to maximize precision and accuracy. The limb pockets are machined to work together producing a repeatable shot that leads to improved accuracy.

Grip

The Dead Eye grip has a rather thick neck, which is comfortable to most shooters although some prefer a thinner grip. The composite grip is a one-piece grip and is advertised to be a little warmer in cold weather hunting conditions. Many shooters like how the grip narrows as it fits in to their hand. The thick grip combined with the tapered feel seems to be a great mix attempting to provide the best of both worlds to please the majority of preferences.

Eccentric System

The Diamond Dead Eye cam looks very similar to that of the Bowtech Destroyer except the Dead Eye is a single cam versus the binary cam system seen on the Destroyer. Diamond has introduced a rotating cam as well meaning changing draw length can be done without the use of a bow press. With adjustment from 26-30 inches, most shooters will find their appropriate fit. The Dead Eye uses the patent pending Throttle Cam Technology, which moves the bearing assembly to the limb tips. The purpose of this technology is to eliminate the bow from wanting to creep forward when at full draw. Finally, the single cam produces IBO speeds up to 343 feet per second, which is fast.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

Shooters in the market for a single cam speed bow should know that the speed has to come from somewhere. In this case, those speeds are produced by an aggressive draw cycle. Shooters willing to get used to an aggressive pulling rig are going to reap the rewards of shooting a flat trajectory speed bow. The back wall is very solid and the bow has very little creep if the draw length is fitted properly to the shooter. After the shot, a bare Dead Eye does have a bit of hand shock and residual vibration, but adding a stabilizer will take care of the issue. The 80% let off is a nice feature as well. The bow is very shootable and has proven to be a very accurate bow.

Silencing Package

Diamond uses a carbon rod string stop that is strategically positioned in line with the front stabilizer hole. Any extra vibration will quickly transfer to the front mounting stabilizer. The Octane Strings come factory on all Diamond bows which are equipped with a pair of Duraflex rubber string silencers helping cut down on string vibration after the shot. Some shooters have noted these silencers are not as durable as some of the aftermarket silencers available.

Diamond Dead Eye vs. Diamond Outlaw

Bow	Diamond Dead Eye	Diamond Outlaw
Version	2012	2014
Picture
Brace Height	6.125 "	7 "
AtA Length	32 "	32 "
Draw Length	26 " - 30 "	26.5 " - 30.5 "
Draw Weight	50 lbs - 70 lbs	40 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	343 fps	330 fps
Weight	3.95 lbs	3.8 lbs
Let-Off	80%	80%
Where to buy Best prices online	$150 to $359.99 Compare prices	$180 to $650 Compare prices
	compare more bows

The entire Diamond line is similar in looks and technology with the main difference between the models being speed. The fastest is the Diamond Dead Eye, but it also has the shortest brace height at 6 and 1/8 inches. The Diamond Outlaw has a brace height of 7 inches and IBO speeds of 330 feet per second. Both bows sport a 32-inch axel-to-axel measurement as well. The Diamond Outlaw has another half inch of draw length adjustability at the top and bottom of the range. The Outlaw also offers limbs in 50, 60, and 70 pounds; as opposed to the Dead Eye's 60 and 70 pound limbs. Both bows have similar technology and shoot very close to the same. For the most part, the decision between the two bows comes down to speed or more speed.

Usage Scenarios

The Diamond Dead Eye is designed to be a bow-hunting bow. The speeds are incredible and the amount of kinetic energy is more than enough for the majority of big game species. Although some target shooters may be enticed to try the Dead Eye due to the flat trajectory shooting promised from this single cam speed bow; the relatively short axel-to-axel measurement of 32 inches and the short brace height of 6 and 1/8 inches may be too small for serious target shooters. For those hunters who occasionally shoot in a 3d outing, this bow will perform just fine, but for the serious target archer, better options are available.

Price considerations

The Dead Eye is the fastest Diamond bow in the 2011 lineup, and is also the fastest Diamond bow ever produced. With that being said, it is also the most expensive Diamond bow in this year's lineup as well. For shooters looking for a single cam speed bow, this one will be hard to look over. However, for those archers looking for a bow on a budget, Diamond offers some other high-quality bows with a little slower speed and a smaller price tag.

Summary

The Diamond Dead Eye is a single cam speed-hunting bow. Those shooters interested in fast shooting rigs packed with a lot of kinetic energy will be impressed with the Dead Eye. For shooters not comfortable with an aggressive draw cycle, there may be better options available. The Throttle cam offers a ton of adjustability without a bow press. The minimal hand shock noticed after the shot can easily be eliminated with a front mounting stabilizer, and the aggressive cycle does get easier with time. With the available R.A.K. accessory package, shooters have the option to fully accessorize their bow with a great package at a reasonable price. Those shooters wanting to shoot a speed-hunting bow should give the Diamond Dead Eye a shot.