Compound Bow Comparator

The Diamond Pro 305 is the grow-with-you bow of the value hunting category, the pro-shop version of Diamond's long-running 305 platform with the hardware upgraded where it counts. At a $549 launch price it sits above the online grow-bows, and what that money buys is a machined-aluminum riser, aluminum adjustment blocks in place of the old plastic ones, and the patented Synchronized Binary Cam System on a long, forgiving 32 inch frame with a tall 7.25 inch brace. Its 19 to 31 inch draw and 7 to 70 lb range, all adjustable at home without a press, let one bow fit a young beginner and a grown hunter and every stage in between, while the 80 percent let-off keeps each of them steady at full draw. The 305 fps IBO figure marks it as a capable rather than a blistering bow, which is the right balance for a platform built around fit and forgiveness instead of raw speed. What I keep coming back to is how light it is for how much it adjusts, 3.3 lb bare on a 32 inch frame, which is what makes it genuinely holdable for the smaller shooters it is meant to grow with. It is an excellent bow for the household or the developing archer who wants one adjustable, pro-fitted bow to start on and keep, particularly strong for the parent equipping a child who will still be shooting it as an adult and the petite adult who wants a real 70 lb setup that also comes down far enough. Buyers who need to reach a genuinely small first-year child or who want to spend less should also look at the Bear Legit Maxx, and shooters who want the lowest package price might prefer the PSE Stinger MAX. Read full review...

The Bear Legit Maxx delivers practical upgrades over its predecessor at a $499 launch MSRP and serves as the budget RTH option in Bear's adjustable lineup, carried over from 2025 into 2026 without spec changes. The addition of Integrate Mounting System rest mounting and a Picatinny sight rail brings setup convenience from higher-priced bows into the budget category. The 14 to 30 inch draw length and 10 to 70 lb draw weight ranges make this one of the most versatile bows in the lineup for families or growing archers, a single bow that genuinely works from teenager through adult. Performance specifications, 315 fps IBO, 6.25 inch brace height and 75 percent let-off, are competitive within this market segment, and chronograph testing across multiple measurement sessions confirms speeds from around 242 fps with heavy 500 grain arrows up to 278 fps with 350 grain shafts at the full 70 lb draw, sufficient kinetic energy for ethical whitetail shots at typical bowhunting distances. Shot noise lands at roughly 96.8 dB, quiet for the price tier. The 75 percent let-off is honest about its trade-off: a shorter valley and more holding weight at full draw, which is the central characteristic to weigh against the lower price. The Legit Maxx is the budget option in Bear's adjustable lineup and the shooting experience reflects that; it is not the smoothest or the quietest bow in the category, but it is well-rounded with modern features that make ownership easier. For families buying a single compound bow that needs to serve multiple purposes or multiple archers over many years at a $499 entry price, the Legit Maxx deserves serious consideration; buyers seeking the widest single-archer growth path should also weigh the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro, hunters past the 21.5 inch draw threshold who prioritize a more forgiving brace height and the lowest cross-brand entry might prefer the PSE Stinger Max, and Bear-ecosystem buyers seeking the lowest entry point should look at the Bear Limitless. 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...

• One riser grows with the archer, a 19 to 31 inch draw and a 7 to 70 lb weight, all set on the module and limb bolts with an Allen wrench and no bow press
• The parts that used to be plastic on the Infinite 305 are now aluminum, so the left-right and up-down adjustment blocks stand up to the repeated re-tuning a growing archer needs
• Synchronized Binary Cam System gives a smooth, set-and-forget draw and flat-line nock travel, and the 80 percent let-off holds light at full draw for a developing shooter
• Light in the hand at 3.3 lb bare with a tall 7.25 inch brace and long 32 inch axle-to-axle, an easy, forgiving bow for a smaller or newer shooter to hold steady
• Ships pro-shop fitted with the upgraded Octane kit, a quick-detach quiver, five-pin sight, rest, stabilizer, peep and sling, sighted in and shooting out of the box

• Wide adjustability range covers 10-70 lb draw weight and 14-30 inch draw length in a single bow, suitable for one-bow households and growing archers
• Integrate Mounting System dovetail accepts compatible arrow rests with tool-free, self-leveling installation
• $499 launch MSRP places the bow at the lower end of the adjustable-platform market

• 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

• The draw length only comes down to 19 inches, so the very smallest first-year children who need a 14 inch draw fit a dedicated grow-bow like the Bear Legit Maxx better; the Pro 305 suits an older child, a teen or a petite adult on up
• It is a value-tier bow built around adjustability and price rather than flagship silence, and no independent Pro 305 noise or chronograph data exists yet, so a shooter stepping down from a quiet flagship may want to shoot one in person first

• 75 percent let-off creates a shorter valley and a higher holding weight at full draw; the bow asks the shooter to stay engaged on the back wall
• Some hand shock and post-shot vibration are present at the budget tier and are noticeable to anyone stepping down from a flagship build
• Cable slide rather than a cable roller is used on the cable arm, a cost-saving choice that affects perceived draw smoothness
• Bear no longer publishes an official mass weight; hands-on measurements settle around 4.2 lb bare bow
• Real-world draw weight ceiling drops with shorter draw lengths, so a 20 inch youth setup will not reach the published 70 lb peak

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