Editors' review
The Mathews Legacy is an older Mathews bow that was manufactured from 2002 until 2004. Ideal for hunting, this quality rig is also used by some archers for 3D shooting. With a good silencing package, this bow has little shock and vibration and delivers quiet shots. While the Legacy is not a speed monster, it's fast enough for many hunting situations.
Riser, Limbs, and Grip
The AeroRiser is 100% fully-machined and is designed to reduce bow mass weight. Despite this design, the Legacy is not as lightweight as some modern bows with similar specs. The bow comes with parallel limbs to reduce vibration and make it quieter. Although some shooters like the new Mathews Competition grip, others say it is not that comfortable and needs to be replaced.
Eccentric system
Mathews's new StraightLine MaxCam 3 system is the driving force behind reported IBO speeds reaching 308 feet per second. This cam-specific eccentric system is not adjustable and requires new cams for adjusting the draw length. While this design is a bit restrictive, overall shootability is better because each cam is specifically tuned to deliver optimal performance for a particular draw length. Cams are available from 24" to 30" in half-inch increments. The let-off is 70%.To deliver faster speeds, smoother draw cycle, and reduce recoil, the StraightLine MaxCam 3 is oversized and has a weight on its perimeter. This weight is an essential part of the whole system and is designed to deliver smooth release and reduce vibration.
Draw cycle / Shootability
The Mathews Legacy is a smooth drawing bow although it's a tad stiffer than the ever popular
Mathews Switchback. While some shooters say the Legacy pulls a little bit harder than the Switchback, overall they are very happy with the draw cycle for the speeds it produces.
Silencing system / Quietness and vibration
Outfitted with an effective silencing package (parallel limb design, harmonic dampeners, string suppressors, and over-sized perimeter weight), the Legacy is a quiet bow with little hand shock and vibration.
Great hunting bow suitable for 3D shooting
The Mathews Legacy is a very solid hunting bow as noted by many shooters. While some people say this rig could be faster, others believe it is fast enough for their hunting needs. At a forgiving brace height (7.5 inches) and measuring 34" from axle to axle, the Mathews Legacy can also be used for 3D shooting. While there are better 3D bows out there, many archers successfully use the Legacy for 3D shooting and say that the Legacy is a good all around bow.
One of the hottest selling Mathews bows
Having explored a lot of feedback about this bow, we can confirm that this is one of the most popular Mathews rigs ever. Many archers say that they feel no need to upgrade their old Mathews Legacy to a new bow because it shoots perfectly well. Despite this rig has been discontinued, people still enjoy shooting it. Buying a used Mathews Legacy is not very easy because not many people are giving them up.
Summary
To conclude, the Mathews Legacy is a quality hunting bow that was (and still is) very popular among hunters. Although the Legacy could be a bit lighter and faster, it's a very good shooter: quiet, smooth, and forgiving. Despite it's been discontinued by Mathews, this rig is still very popular and is a hot seller at the used bow market. Ideal for hunting, it can also be used for 3D shooting.