Mission Craze II Review

Editors' review

The team from Mission Archery has improved on an already credible entry-level youth bow. The Mission Craze II has a wide range of adjustability that can be done with ease to fit most young and beginning archers. Adjustable from 15# - 70# and 19" - 30," this bow has plenty of room to grow as the youngster grows into their teens, and even into adulthood. This rig has a 28" ATA, weights just 3.4#, and when adjustments are maxed out, has an IBO of 306 fps. It is a very good bow to start your youngster on to learn proper mechanics of archery. It can then grow into their hunting rig with a few additions and will provide years of fun.

Finish

The Craze II can be purchased in your choice from ten different color finishes. There is certainly something that will appeal to the shooter's desires.

Risers/Limb

The riser for this bow is lightweight machined aluminum and comes in a wide range of color schemes. The riser is topped with a set of Mathews pivoting limb pockets that secure the parallel limbs securely in place and virtually eliminate all play while increasing the stability of the bow. The limb design on this rig is a more traditional type than those used on other bows in the Mathews lineup.

Other Components

The options available for this bow only enhance the overall versatility as it comes in three different packages; Basic, Bow Hunter, and Pro Hunter. The Basic Package comes with Trophy Ridge Whisker Biscuit Capture Rest, Bohning Linx quiver, and a Copper John Saxon 3-pin fiber-wrapped sight. The Bow Hunter package includes a Quad Ultra Rest Hunter or a Whisker Biscuit, Alpine Bear Claw Quiver, Copper John 4-pin Mark 1 sight, and an Axion 3" stabilizer. Lastly, the Pro Hunter package has a Quad Ultra Hunter Rest LD, Mission M5 Quiver, Axion View 5-pin sight, and an Axion 3" stabilizer.

Eccentric System

This rig is powered by the Focused Inertia Technology (F.I.T.) cam system that provides plenty of power and a ton of adjustability. The bow can be adjusted from 19" - 30" of draw. The draw adjustments also aid in the draw weight adjustment from 15# - 70# to meet the needs of most shooters. All adjustments can be made without the use of a bow press. In order to adjust the draw length, simple unscrew the rotating module, set so the right holes line up, and secure the module. This must be done on both cams, but can be completed in about five minutes. When you adjust the draw length, the draw weight will change as well. To adjust the draw weight, simply adjust the limb bolt in or out, being careful not to exceed five full turns based on the bolt being all the way in. Each full turn of the bolt will equal approximately five pounds of draw weight.The F.I.T. system is a moderate set of off-center type cams that are smooth and easy to draw. With an 80 percent let-off, the cams help produce decent power providing up to 306 fps. It is a relatively flat shooting bow that will grow with the shooter from a beginner bow, to an all-out hunting rig.

Draw Cycle/Shootability

Based on the adjustability of this bow and the cam design, it has a pretty smooth draw cycle. It is easy to transition through the break-over point and hold steady at full draw. Adjusted to the lower end of the draw weight scale, this is a very good choice for younger shooters, and the mid-range makes it a very good bow for teens and women shooters as well.

Silencing Package

The Craze II is a fairly quiet rig, but could certainly use some additional noise/vibration dampening assistance. Since it is an entry-level bow, it does not have Mathews' built-in vibration dampeners which means the shooter can feel more vibration, which translates into noise. The shooter would be well advised to add string suppressors, a quality stabilizer, and some limb dampeners of some sort if there is any consideration of having this bow in the woods.

Grip

The bow has a newly designed ergonomic one-piece grip made from a composite material and designed to eliminate torque and enhance the accuracy and provide additional stability throughout the shot.

Compared to Similar Bows

Bow	Mission Craze II	Diamond Infinite Edge
Version	2017	2015
Picture
Brace Height	"	7 "
AtA Length	"	31 "
Draw Length	"	13 " - 30 "
Draw Weight	lbs	5 lbs - 70 lbs
IBO Speed	fps	310 fps
Weight	lbs	3.1 lbs
Let-Off		75%
Where to buy Best prices online	$175 to $500 Compare prices	$160 to $500 Compare prices
	compare more bows

The Mission Craze II is marketed as a youth, women's, and an entry-level bow that will grow with the shooter. Another rig built on the same premise is the Diamond Infinite Edge. Both are designed to grow with the shooter, and have a wide range of adjustability. The Mission has a draw length range of 19" - 30" while the Diamond's range is 13" - 30." Draw weight for the Mission goes from 13# - 70#, and the Diamond 5# - 70#. Both are smooth drawing rigs, and they are accurate. They each also can be purchased with accessories to enhance the shooting experience for little money. Where as you can spend up to $650 for the Craze II, you can also get the Infinite edge in a Ready to Hunt package, to include a hard case, arrows, release, broadheads, and have it tuned for around $480. The Craze II is a quality bow that will fit the needs of any shooter just getting into archery. It should not be discounted as "just a kids bow" as it is very capable of taking down big game. If you are looking for a youth bow, or are looking to get into archery, give this bow a chance.

Usage Scenarios

This bow is very versatile and will fit most archery situations. Although it is marketed as a youth bow, or a lady's bow, it is also a hunter. The short ATA (28 inches) makes this a very good bow for a tree stand or a ground blind. This rig will definitely pass the test whether in your back yard shooting at a straw bale or even the 3-D course as well. With some added components to help with silencing the bow and managing the vibration, it will also do well on your next hunt.

Value

This bow has a mid-range retail price and usually sales for around $320 for bare bow. It can also be purchased with three different accessory packages that will increase the prices up to $650. Although this is a good quality bow for youth, women, and beginners, there are bows available that are offer more adjustability, are "at least equal to" the Craze II in quality, and are less expensive. The decision to purchase this bow will definitely be based on feel in the shooters hands.

Summary

The Mission Craze II is a slight revamp of the original Craze. The flexibility is the same and all specks are the same, but the new F.I.T. cam system makes the bow easier to shoot. With a smoother draw, easier to transition to let-off, and easier to hold on target for extended periods of time, this is one to keep an eye on. It is not one the experienced shooter will be interested in, but for the beginners, or the youngsters, it will be a very nice bow to get started on.