Bowtech Captain Compound Bow

The BowTech Captain earned a reputation that has outlived its two years on the shelf: a 34-inch axle-to-axle crossover that shoots as dead in the hand as anything of its era, hunting or target. Launched at $849 in 2009 and carried unchanged into 2010, it pairs a forgiving 7-inch brace with the CenterTrac Binary Cam for a smooth draw, a firm wall, and a shot you feel more in the target than in your grip. On the chronograph a 385-grain arrow left the string at 294 fps at 70 pounds - honest speed for a heavier hunting shaft - and the penetration owners report backs up the energy behind it. In my experience a bow this steady is what turns a good shooter into a consistent one, and that is the Captain's real value years later on the used market. It rewards the 3D shooter, the spot-line archer, and the open-country or stand hunter who wants forgiveness over a compact silhouette. It asks a little patience at tuning and a little more room than a short treestand bow. An excellent choice for the accuracy-first archer who prizes a quiet, dead shot; buyers who want a shorter, lighter hunting rig should look at the 32-inch Bowtech Admiral, and those who want more speed with the same calm shot should look at the Elite GT500... read full review