Compound Bow Comparator

The Tempest E 3D launched at $799.99 in target colors as the 3D member of Darton's 2021 Tempest E line, bringing a machined 7075 riser, 7075 E-System cams, and a genuinely forgiving platform to a price point the big target names do not serve. Its 320-325 fps IBO translates to a real 268-271 fps at a practical 60-pound, mid-draw target setup - target speed, honestly stated - and its heavy, stable 5.1-pound build and rock-solid cable-stop wall are what make it shoot well, not raw velocity. In my experience a heavy, forgiving target bow like this flatters a developing shot process more than a light, fast one does, and the deep tuning range lets you grow into it. The square machined grip and painted finish are the two things to handle on your own terms. An excellent bow for the club 3D and known-distance archer who wants real target hardware on a budget, particularly strong on a 3D course where its compact length and planted hold shine. Buyers who want flagship fit, finish, and a quieter shot - and will pay for it - should also look at the Mathews TRX 38 or the Hoyt Invicta 40 SVX. Read full review...

The Mathews TRX 38 was the bow that brought the 40-inch TRX target platform down to a more manageable 38 inches for 2018 -- the same long dual-bridge riser and mini-Crosscentric cam, now in a shorter, lighter frame splitting the brace height between the original TRX 7 and TRX 8. Launched at $1,799.99, it pairs a 328 fps IBO rating off a forgiving 7.5-inch brace with a smooth, humpless draw, a firm cable-stop back wall, and the new-for-2018 70-Valley mod that deepened the hold. What stays with me is the shot: this is a remarkably quiet bow that sits still in the hand, and the long riser holds the pin planted through a full scoring round in a way shorter platforms cannot quite match. Its honest limitation is that even the 70-Valley keeps a fairly short valley -- this is a demanding target cam, and archers who want a lazier hold should spec a lower peak weight or the 80% mod. It is a bare bow, so a used-market buyer should budget for a rest, sight, and bars on top and be ready to carry 4.86 pounds of long target rig over a full round. Discontinued and now a used and clearance find, it remains a genuinely stable, quiet long-riser target bow for the price. An excellent bow for dedicated target and 3D archers who want maximum hold stability in a long, quiet frame at the shorter end of their draw-length comfort. Buyers who want the same length with Bowtech's damping tuning should look at the Bowtech Reckoning 38, and those who prefer a heavier 65% target hold should look at the Hoyt Invicta 37 SVX. Read full review...

The Invicta platform is an awesome target bow specifically designed for the most serious archers on the planet. Everything about the bow and the re-engineering was done to provide target shooters the most stable and forgiving platform possible. The SVX cam is a tournament favorite for Hoyt pro staffers and it is no secret why it is such a trusted cam system. The 40-inch model will more than likely be the option for those interested in a spot shooting bow, but some 3D guys like a longer model also, and the Invicta 40 may find itself as a summer 3D bow too. The modular grip is one of the best ideas in target archery, and the ability to adjust the angle and draw length is a genius move. Many companies have alternative grip options for purchase, but to have all the options included with the bow for no additional charge is a great move by Hoyt. The Invicta 40 SVX is a really great design for shooters wanting a longer bow for their target setups. The largest downside of any Hoyt target bow, the Invicta 40SVX included, is the $1899 price tag. It has been mentioned a few times during the course of this review, but that amount of money is way too much for a compound bow. Will shooters pay for the Invicta 40 SVX? Of course, but that dollar amount is getting too steep and will most certainly push shooters to another model, which will be cheaper and arguably as feature packed. Read full review...

• Forgiving at full draw - the E-System roller-and-yoke equalizes limb stress and offloads the cam bearings, and the platform settles and holds the pin with unusual calm
• Rock-solid back wall - the big cable-stop pad hits with no sponginess, and an optional limb stop gives a second, even firmer wall
• Heavy, planted hold - the machined 7075 riser and matching 7075 cams on wide 0.790-inch pockets keep the sight still while you aim
• Deep tuning for the money - 85 percent adjustable let-off, valley-shortening spacers, and combinable limb-stop and cable-stop setups let you shape the back half of the shot

• Smooth mini-Crosscentric draw that rolls straight to the wall with no sudden drop into the valley
• Firm cable-stop back wall you can lean into - a defined wall, not a soft slope
• Strikingly quiet, dead-in-hand shot with almost no recoil for a bow this long
• Long dual-bridge riser and wide, near-parallel limbs hold the pin planted on target
• New-for-2018 70-Valley mod adds a deeper, more forgiving hold than the prior TRX 70% module

• Longest riser designed on a Hoyt target bow
• Most shock and vibration free target bow
• Modular Grip System is legit
• Color options look fantastic

• The square machined grip is polarizing - some shooters take to it immediately while others find the flat profile unusual at first; thin grip tape or stick-on side plates reshape the hand feel if it does not suit you
• Paint, not anodize - the painted riser can pick up finish runs or lift under repeatedly applied grip tape, so inspect the sight-screw holes on setup and leave grip wrap in place once it is on

• Even the 70-Valley mod runs a fairly short valley - target archers who want a lazier hold can drop to a lower peak weight or fit the 80% mod for more let-off

• $1899 is getting ridiculous