Compound Bow Comparator

The Bear Rant is the uncomplicated first bow done right: a complete, ready-to-hunt compound that fit almost any adult and shot forgiving enough to flatter a beginner, at a $349 launch price that undercut the mid-tier competition. Its 310 IBO rating translates to real-world speeds in the 250s to 270s with hunting arrows - modest on paper, but plenty for whitetail and hogs inside normal bow range - and its single cam's no-press draw adjustment, 80% let-off, and tall brace height all pull in the same direction, toward ease of use. In my experience it is the kind of bow that quietly builds confidence: nothing about the draw or the shot intimidates a new archer, and the wide fit range means one Rant can serve a whole household or carry a growing hunter for years. Budget realities show up in the stock sight and in setup quality that depends on who assembled it - both easily handled with a cheap sight swap and a pro-shop check. An excellent first bow for the adult beginner or the family that wants a single, affordable, grow-into-it hunting setup, and it is particularly strong as a shared household bow or a stress-free backup. Buyers who need a bow that reaches down to a small child's draw should also look at the Diamond Edge 320. Read full review...

The Diamond Edge 320 earned its place as one of the best-selling grow-with-you hunting bows of its run for a simple reason: it does more things well at once than a $449 launch price has any right to. It is the longest and steadiest-aiming bow in Diamond's Edge family, adjusts across a class-leading 7-to-70-pound weight range and 15-to-31-inch draw entirely without a press, and holds a high 85 percent let-off for a light, long aim. The Synchronized Binary Cam System delivers real speed to match the name - a true 320 fps at the top setting and 309 at the 30-inch IBO mark on a chronograph - and the shot is quiet and calm in the hand in a way that usually costs more. What I keep coming back to is how little this bow asks of the shooter: an even draw, a wall that holds, a light hold, and a clean release, all on a frame forgiving enough to teach good form. Produced from 2019 to 2022 and now found on the used and closeout market, it was succeeded by the current Diamond Pro 320, so the platform lives on. It is an excellent bow for the grow-with-you household, the beginner who wants a bow they will not outgrow, and the value hunter who still wants genuine speed and a steady frame. Buyers who need to start a smaller, lighter beginner should also look at the Bear Legit Maxx, and those who prefer a tall, forgiving brace at the same tier should look at the PSE Stinger MAX. Read full review...

For a fully set up bow, with a package price of $449, it is really hard to beat a rig like the Stinger Max. Although entry level models are often geared toward a younger shooter, PSE was conscious in making the Stinger Max available to all ages and shooter sizes. Almost anyone in the bow market can be set up to fit in the 30-inch axle-to-axle rig, and the single cam draw force curve is amazing for those just getting started in the world of archery. The Stinger Max shoots well, but when considering the value, the Stinger Max really shines. PSE also did a great job giving the bow enough finish options to meet the entire range of potential buyers offering patterns for anyone and any purpose. Anyone interested in getting started in archery with a frill less bow, at a great price, needs to seriously consider the PSE Stinger Max. It may be one of the best values in the compound bow market for 2020. Read full review...

• Fits almost any adult frame and grows with a new archer - 25 to 32 inch draw and 50 to 70 pounds adjust on the cam module and limb bolts without a bow press
• Tall 7 5/8 inch brace height makes it forgiving of form errors, so beginners shoot clean groups sooner
• Smooth single-cam draw with a deep 80% let-off valley - easy to pull, easy to hold, no steep drop into the back wall
• Light at about 4.5 pounds on a 31.25 inch axle-to-axle frame - carries and swings easily from a treestand or ground blind
• Complete ready-to-hunt kit at a big-box price - sight, Whisker Biscuit rest, quiver, stabilizer, and a pre-installed peep and D-loop

• The name is the speed and it nearly holds up - 320 fps IBO on paper, and a real chronograph reads 320 at the top draw setting and 309 at the 30-inch mark, fast enough for any whitetail range
• One bow spans a child to a grown hunter - 7 to 70 pounds and 15 to 31 inches, all set on the limb bolts and a rotating module with an Allen wrench, no press required
• Smooth draw into a back wall that holds - the cam rises evenly to peak and settles into a wall firm enough to anchor against, easy to let down
• Quiet and dead in the hand - minimal post-shot vibration and hand shock for a budget bow, the kind of calm shot that usually costs more
• Complete R.A.K. ready-to-hunt package plus a high 85% let-off - everything to start hunting in the box and a light holding weight at full draw

• A redesign of a popular model from previous years
• 2 limb options cover a draw weight range of 22-70-pounds
• Has an accessory package
• Decent starter bow for any shooter

• Stock three-pin sight is the weak link - some owners swap it for a $40-60 unit once they shoot past 30 yards, though three pins is plenty for a beginner's ranges
• Real speed lands well below the 310 IBO claim - expect roughly 250-270 fps with hunting-weight arrows, fine for whitetail in close but not a speed bow
• Setup quality varies by where it is assembled - have a pro shop check the draw length, timing, and factory peep before you hunt, and the bow rewards a quick tune

• At peak weight it draws about a half-inch short of the marked length, and the 15-inch floor sits on the cam's B cable setting rather than the default A - back the draw weight off or move to the B setting and the full range opens up
• Plastic limb pockets and a barebones Tundra sight mark the price point - the whisker-biscuit rest and 3-pin sight get you hunting, but shooters who grow into the bow often swap the sight for a brighter multi-pin later

• Does not have any flagship model technology
• Not the best accessories in the package