Compound Bow Comparator

The Hoyt Altus is the target bow that brought flagship engineering down a price step without losing the line. For the 2021 season Hoyt put the same DCX and SVX cams and the same hand-shock-killing 13-inch hybrid limbs as the Invicta onto a simpler dual-bridge aluminum riser, and the result holds remarkably still: shooters report it settling the pin at 18 meters and staying solid through the shot, with the in-hand buzz of older Hoyt target bows finally gone. The real decision is the cam - the round DCX at 322 fps with a selectable 65 or 75 percent let-off for the easiest, most adjustable, most forgiving draw, or the oblong SVX at 328 fps with a fixed 65 percent wall for a shooter who wants it firm and a touch faster. Real-world it reads honest target-bow numbers, the DCX at 272 fps with a 390-grain arrow at 60 pounds and a 29-inch draw, slower than the IBO figure as every target bow is at a real shooting setup. What I keep coming back to, after my own time on the line with it, is the hold and the quiet: a long, stable platform that lets me focus on aiming rather than steadying the bow, a low-torque machined grip that indexes the same way every shot, and a riser that sits dead through release. At roughly $1,599 at launch it asked the buyer to give up a few flagship extras - the adjustable grip, the roller cable guard, the locking limb pockets - in exchange for the same cams and the same stability for less. An excellent bow for the freestyle, field, and 3D competitor who wants flagship target performance at a more accessible price, and it is particularly strong on the indoor spot, the field course, and a 3D twelve-ring at distance. Buyers who prioritize Elite's draw and a higher let-off ceiling should also look at the Elite Echelon 39, and those who want a shorter, lighter, faster freestyle frame should look at the Bowtech Specialist. Read full review...

The Echelon 39 is fully redesigned, basically from scratch, and the end result is an outstanding piece of equipment. This bow shoots like a dream, and has enough customization options to meet the exact demands of every shooter on the market in 2018. Shooters historically off the Elite band wagon in the past based on the high let-offs and solid back wall can now opt for lower let-offs and a cable stop feel for the back wall. There are three stabilizer mounting holes, 8 finish options, a new cam, a new grip, and a newly designed cable containment system, which aides in tuning the entire bow. Everything about the Echelon 39 screams shooter, and when given a test shot, it becomes very evident why some many people in the target world have taken the Elite challenge and never looked back. For anyone on the market for a 39-inch axel-to-axel target bow, the Echelon should get a long hard look, because it is one of the best shooting target bows on the market in 2018. The price tag is high, but so are the list of features and customization options available. Read full review...

The Bowtech Specialist is a very high performance up and coming target bow. A long axle to axle, a good brace height and great IBO speed are all ingredients that make a great target bow that is very forgiving and capable of competing with some of the top target bows of the world. The Specialist uses a binary cam system making it a smooth drawing bow that is easy to adjust and has virtually no timing issues. Tuning may need to be done by a professional but once it is set up there should be no problems keeping it that way. With a number of color options to choose from, it's a bow that can look good while putting great numbers up on the score card. Read full review...

• No hand shock on the line - the 13-inch hybrid limbs and StealthShot string stop kill the in-hand buzz earlier Hoyt target bows carried, leaving a clean riser through the shot
• Dead-stable, forgiving hold - the long 38-inch platform settles the pin and stays solid through release, rewarding aim over fighting the bow steady at distance
• Two cams on one platform - pick the forgiving DCX or the firm-walled SVX without changing the riser, limbs, or grip you have already learned
• Low-torque competition grip - the thin machined-in grip indexes the hand the same way every shot and takes a lot of torque out, keeping the pin on point
• Flagship-grade rigidity at a more accessible price - the dual-bridge aluminum riser holds rigid with minimal flex, bringing Invicta-class stability below the shoot-through flagship

• Forgiving platform with a 39-inch axel-to-axel measurement
• New caged riser, great feeling grip, new cable containment system, and cams
• Adjustability and customization in the draw cycle to create a feel shooters want
• Custom draw stops gives shooters the exact feel they want at the back wall
• Some cool target colors available

• No timing issues after initial setup
• Virtually no riser torque
• Minimal Vibration
• No bow press needed to adjust draw length
• Smooth drawing
• Fast IBO speed rating

• The DCX valley is very short and its back wall soft - relax at full draw and it creeps forward, so stay engaged and pull through; shooters who want a rock-solid wall can choose the SVX cam instead, which is built firm
• Draw length is set by cam size with no overlap between sizes - worth getting fitted if your draw falls between two cams, and the SVX's interchangeable half-inch modules give finer in-between steps than the DCX's three cams

• Suggested retail price of $1399 is steep for some, although this is comparable to other target bows
• It would be nice to see limbs other than black available

• Limited draw lengths (no option for longer draw shooters)
• Some shooters complain of small valley
• Limb color limited to black only