Compound Bow Comparator

The BowTech Independence VFT is the target and field bow of the 2005 FreedomCam family, and two decades on it has aged into a genuinely appealing used and backup rig: a long 40-inch chassis, a quiet VFT limb shot, a smooth FreedomCam draw, let-off adjustable from 65 to 80 percent, the family's widest 27-to-32-inch draw range, and a solid Target Colors option, sold only in 2005 at a $799 MSRP that put it at the top of the FreedomCam group. It is a twin-cam bow, so it asks for the occasional timing check a modern binary-cam shooter has to relearn, and its low-290s speed and long riser make it a specialist rather than an all-rounder - but speed was never the point of a 40-inch field bow. What I keep coming back to is how still it holds and how calmly it shoots, the two things a target and 3D shooter actually chases, and the two things that still make a clean used example worth putting on the line. An excellent long-axle choice for the target, field, or 3D shooter - and for the BowTech owner who wants a smooth, forgiving second bow for the range. Buyers who want a faster binary-cam long bow should look at the Bowtech Constitution, while those who want the classic single-cam smoothness of the era should look at the Mathews Conquest 4. Read full review...

The BowTech Constitution is one of the mid-2000s' definitive long target and field bows - a 40-to-41-inch, 8 1/4-inch-brace platform built on the Binary Cam System and produced from 2005 through 2008. Its headline is that it does not follow the usual long-bow bargain: it is the forgiving, dead-still-on-aim rig you expect from that geometry, but it is also the fastest of its peer group at 308 to 320 fps IBO, with real target setups measured by owners at 278 to 300 fps depending on arrow weight and draw. The 2007 riser redesign and modular grip are widely regarded as the sweet spot of the run, and the 2008 bow adds the InVelvet finish and the highest speed rating. What I keep hearing from the people who have shot it for years is the same thing I would lead with: the hold is the story - a hard wall, a steady pin, and the confidence to aim dead-center and trust it. The one demand it makes is disciplined form, because the aggressive cams leave a short valley that rewards staying engaged on the wall. It is an excellent bow for the target, field, and 3D archer who wants a long, exceptionally stable aiming platform with a firm wall and genuine speed, and it is a forgiving crossover for the hunter who prizes a deep brace over a light pack weight. Buyers who want the smoothest, lowest-maintenance single cam should also look at the Mathews Ovation, while those who prefer a softer wall, a longer valley, and a shorter bow to carry should look at the Hoyt 38 Pro. Read full review...

In short, the Mathews Conquest 4 is a high end target bow with the long ATA and good brace height that is very capable of putting up great scores in stiff competition. Also one of Mathews' lightest competition rigs it isn't a bare to walk around the ranges all day. It is very customizable to the specific needs of most shooters; whether it is smooth drawing, fast shooting or forgiving as possible. A little on the noisy side but this bow is practically dead in the hand at the shot. With a good stabilizer this bow will become even more comfortable for most shooters and it is balanced very well at full draw so it won't take much before you can start pin-wheeling some targets. Read full review...

• Smooth FreedomCam draw that pulls lighter than its speed suggests - platform owners rank it among the easiest-drawing BowTech cams of its era
• Quiet, low-vibration shot from the VFT limb design - the bow settles fast into the hand with little post-shot hand shock
• Long 40-inch axle-to-axle steadies the hold and flatters a deliberate shooter, which is exactly why it crosses so well to target and 3D
• Let-off dials anywhere from 65 to 80 percent right at the draw post - a relaxed hold for long spot lines or a tight valley for a firm anchor, no module swap needed

• Long 40-to-41-inch axle-to-axle and a tall 8 1/4-inch brace make it exceptionally forgiving - owners report it holds dead-still on aim and outgroups bows they had shot for years
• Binary Cam System delivers a rock-solid back wall and repeatable timing, the shot-to-shot consistency target and field archers are after
• Smooth to draw for a fast bow and free of felt hand shock - several owners chose it over the era's Hoyt and Mathews target flagships
• Modular half-inch draw-length tuning and 65-to-80-percent adjustable let-off let a shooter dial in the exact hold, valley, and speed they want

• A very forgiving bow
• Pretty low amount of vibration in your hand
• 3 different cams make this a very customizable bow
• Conquest family has won more competitions than any other bow

• FreedomCam is a twin-cam system that rewards periodic timing checks - a bit of upkeep a modern binary-cam shooter has to relearn, handled by a bow press or a quick shop visit
• The long 40-inch riser and low-290s speed make it a target and field specialist, not a tight-cover hunter or a modern speed-chaser - shooters who want a compact treestand bow should look to the shorter Justice or Liberty instead

• Aggressive Binary cams leave a short valley that punishes creeping at full draw - the flip side of the hard, consistent wall; staying leaned into the back wall handles it, and it rewards disciplined, repeatable form
• A long, roughly 4.5-pound target and field platform - hunters who carry all day are better served by a shorter bow, though owners report no trouble hunting the 41-inch length from a treestand

• Choosing a cam can be a little bit confusing
• Draw length is cam specific - new cam needed for each draw length
• Lightest in the lineup but still feels a little bit heavy