Compound Bow Comparator

The Legend is a genuine 2015 flagship in a Chris Kyle tribute dress - Bowtech's full Prodigy with OverDrive Binary cams, an aluminum Center Pivot Extreme riser, CarbonCore limbs, a 32-inch axle-to-axle geometry, 80% let-off, and a published 343-fps IBO that translated to real chronograph readings in the low 300s at hunting weights. Its defining feature is PowerShift's PowerDisc3, three switchable draw personalities in one bow, from a fast Performance setting to an effortless Comfort one, changed with an Allen wrench and no press; what stays with me is how steady it holds and how quiet it shoots for its era, measured at 59.1 decibels. It sold at the standard Prodigy's launch price with nothing removed for the tribute and a donation to the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation on every bow, which is what separates it from the usual special edition. It is an excellent bow for the hunter who wants a versatile, forgiving 2015 flagship that doubles as a keepsake - strong on a treestand, easy to live with at the range, and meaningful on the wall. Buyers who prize single-draw refinement and tuning precision should also look at the Elite Synergy; those who want the quietest, smoothest shot in the class should look at the Mathews No Cam HTR. Read full review...

It is not a secret Elite has no interest in the speed game, but as far as the Synergy is concerned, that is the only negative to speak of. With that in mind, 325 feet per second is still enough speed for North American big game hunting. Elite has produced a bow that flat out shoots, it forgiving, easy to manage, and extremely accurate. For those wanting a great shooting bow that will last a very long time, Elite has a fantastic rig in the Synergy. Those wanting pure speed may not be impressed. For anyone wanting a shootable bow with one of the best draw cycles available, the Synergy is worth a shot. The $949 price tag is not cheap, but it does seem to match what most flagship bows are getting from customers. Read full review...

The Mathews No Cam HTR launched in 2015 at $1,099 and carried into 2016 as one of the most distinctive hunting bows the brand ever made - a flagship that deliberately walked away from the speed race. Its numbers tell the story plainly: up to 330 fps IBO but closer to 303-310 fps with real hunting arrows, offset by straight, level nock travel, a firm back wall, and a shot that measures in the mid-50s dBA and dies in the hand. The 32-inch frame holds like a longer bow, the concentric-wheel draw is as smooth as anything in its class, and the three RockMod let-off options let a hunter tune the hold to the way they like to wait out an animal. What I keep coming back to is how little the HTR asks of the shooter - it does not fight your release, your grip, or your patience. It is an excellent bow for the accuracy-and-silence-first hunter, particularly strong in the treestand where a quiet, forgiving shot matters more than a flat trajectory, and it remains a smart used-market buy for that shooter today. Its compact 2016 sibling, the No Cam HTX, shrinks the same system to a 30-inch frame for tight-quarters hunters. Buyers who prioritize speed and an adjustable draw feel should also look at the Bowtech Prodigy, while those chasing a smooth draw at a lower price should consider the Elite Energy 32. Read full review...

• PowerShift PowerDisc3 gives one bow three draw personalities - Performance, Classic, and Comfort - switched with an Allen wrench, no bow press
• Very quiet, dead-in-hand shot measured at 59.1 dBA, with little residual vibration once a stabilizer is on
• Smooth draw with a solid back wall and a generous valley, most forgiving on the Comfort setting
• Steady, forgiving hold for a 32-inch hunting bow - owners describe it aiming like a much longer target rig
• A full flagship with nothing removed for the tribute - the same Prodigy hardware at the same price, with a donation to the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation on every bow

• Great multi-purpose bow
• Solid back wall
• Massive valley
• 7 3/8 - inch brace height and a 33 1/2 inch axel-to-axel measurement
• Fully transferrable lifetime warranty

• Concentric-wheel draw is extraordinarily smooth and even, with no hump over the peak and no sticking point - a genuine relief for shooters nursing shoulder wear
• Dead-quiet, dead-in-hand shot straight out of the box - among the quietest bows in its class, with no aftermarket dampers needed
• Straight, level nock travel from a stiff riser with virtually no cam lean - the single biggest reason owners shoot it so accurately
• Three-position let-off via swappable RockMods (65, 75, 85%); the 85% setting nearly holds itself at full draw
• Long riser packed inside a compact 32-inch axle-to-axle frame, so it holds on target like a bow several inches longer

• Shifting PowerShift settings changes arrow speed a few fps per step, so a mode change means re-checking your sight - most owners pick one setting per season and leave it
• Some owners have noted a slight buzz at the shot and a middling grip - a stabilizer quiets the release and any aftermarket grip drops in, both easy fixes

• MSRP of $949
• Maximum speed is 325 feet per second

• Speed is the deliberate trade-off - real-world velocity lands near 303-310 fps against the 330 IBO rating, so open-country hunters chasing a flat long-range trajectory may want to factor that in
• Some owners have noted the removable Focus Grip panel working loose over time - reseating and snugging the grip screws, or a light wrap, keeps it locked in place