Compound Bow Comparator

The BowTech Sentinel earned its reputation the quiet way: the longest bow in BowTech's 2009 Center Pivot family, a 363/4-inch axle-to-axle crossover that shoots as dead in the hand as anything of its era and stays honest whether it is pointed at a 3D target or a whitetail. Launched in BowTech's roughly $800 Center Pivot tier and refined for 2010 with the flexing FLX-Guard - which cleaned up the tune and nudged the IBO rating from 317-325 to 322-330 fps - it pairs a forgiving 7-inch brace with the CenterTrac Binary Cam for a smooth draw, a firm wall, and a shot you feel in the target more than in your grip. It asks a little patience at tuning, the way every binary bow of the period does, and it asks for more room than a compact treestand hunter. In my experience a long, steady bow like this is what turns a good afternoon of arrows into a consistent one, and years later that is still the Sentinel's real value on the used market. An excellent choice for the accuracy-first archer - the 3D and spot shooter, the open-country or stand hunter, the release-or-fingers traditionalist who wants forgiveness over a short silhouette. Buyers who want a slightly punchier forgiving hunter should look at the Hoyt Maxxis 35, those who want the same dead shot with more speed at the Elite GT500, and anyone needing a more compact rig at the shorter 34-inch Captain or 32-inch Admiral on this same platform. Read full review...

The Hoyt Maxxis 35 is a lightweight and well balanced bow with low vibration and great shootability characteristics. Available in weight ranges from 40 lbs to 90 lbs this top hunting bow is ideal for big game hunters or anyone looking for a high quality rig. While it's not the cheapest bow out there, this top quality rig is a pleasure to shoot as noted by many shooters. 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...

• Dead in the hand - the Center Pivot geometry cancels post-shot vibration and riser jump, and owners report it sits quiet and still even without a heavy stabilizer
• Notably quiet at the shot, with the carbon-rod string stop damping the string inline with the stabilizer bushing
• The long 363/4-inch axle-to-axle and forgiving 7-inch brace give a steady, accuracy-flattering hold that owners lean on for both 3D/target and open-country hunting
• On-board draw-length changes through the Rotating Mod System with no new cam or module to buy, and let-off adjustable across the 65-to-80-percent range

• lightweight and well balanced
• smooth bow with a solid back wall
• quiet bow with minimal vibration
• great draw weight poundage
• draw length can be adjusted without using a bow press

• 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

• Like the Binary-cam family it rewards careful synchronization - some owners find it fussy to tune; a pro shop, or four-sided aftermarket draw stops in place of the factory oval, makes let-off and back-wall setup repeatable
• On 2009 Roller Guard bows some owners noted string-serving wear at the roller and a delicate draw-stop screw - worth inspecting a used one; the 2010 FLX's flexing FLX-Guard addresses the cable-guard side of this
• At 363/4 inches and about 4.2 to 4.3 pounds it is long and not a compact treestand rig - open-country, 3D, and target shooters gain the forgiveness, while tight-blind hunters may prefer the shorter 34-inch Captain or 32-inch Admiral

• not the cheapest bow
• could be a bit faster

• 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)