Compound Bow Comparator

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...

The Elite GT500 is a very adjustable all around bow suitable for different types of archery. While first models were cam specific, the latest modification has a modular-adjustable performance system capable of generating respectable speeds. With wide ranges of draw length and draw weight adjustment, this bow will fit different shooters including big game hunters. This is a steady and great holding bow that is a fairly stiff (but smooth) on the draw with a little hump at the end. The back wall is rock solid due to the two draw stops the performance system is designed with. The valley is good and allows for creeping a little without the bow wanting to take off. Overall, the Elite GT500 is a great all-around bow suitable for all types of archery including hunting, 3D shooting, and spot shooting. Read full review...

The Alphamax 35 is a well balanced, lightweight, and quiet bow that offers great shootability. While this rig is not the fastest bow out there, it has a smooth draw and low hand shock. With a lot of innovative engineering solutions, the Alphamax 35 is a very solid and forgiving bow with great performance. That is why many experts agree that this bow is a very good choice for average shooters. Read full review...

• Exceptionally dead in the hand - no post-shot ring or riser jump, and it stays planted even without a heavy stabilizer
• Quiet shot signature, helped by the carbon-rod string stop mounted inline with the stabilizer
• Smooth CenterTrac Binary Cam draw with a firm back wall and a forgiving valley
• The 34-inch axle-to-axle length and 7-inch brace give a target-grade steady hold that flatters accuracy
• Tool-less draw-length changes through the Rotating Mod System, with let-off adjustable from 65 to 80 percent

• excellent finish
• narrow style grip feels very comfortable to many shooters
• steady and holds very well
• good valley and rock solid back wall
• wide range of draw length and draw weight adjustment
• modular-adjustable eccentric system (2010 version only)
• relatively smooth (but a fairly stiff) draw cycle
• good all-around bow suitable for hunting, 3D, and indoor spots

• lightweight and well balanced bow with durable limbs
• very quiet and has little hand shock
• draw length can be adjusted without using a bow press
• has a smooth draw cycle and a solid back wall

• At 34 inches and about 4.3 pounds it is longer and a touch heavier than compact treestand hunters - open-country, 3D, and target shooters gain the forgiveness, while tight-blind hunters may prefer the shorter 32-inch Admiral
• Some owners note the binary cam and oval factory draw stop take patience to sync and set let-off - a good pro shop, or aftermarket four-sided draw stops, makes the setup repeatable

• earlier models (before 2010) were cam specific
• draw cycle is on the stiff side and has a hump at the end
• a bare bow could have less vibration (installing a good stabilizer helps to quiet it down)

• could be a bit faster