Compound Bow Comparator

The Bear Persist 33 is the forgiveness play in the Persist family - the same quiet, machined-aluminum hunting platform stretched to a longer, steadier 33-inch axle-to-axle. At a $1,249.99 launch MSRP it undercuts the Mathews and Hoyt flagship tier while delivering the things a distance-conscious hunter actually wants: a pin that parks on aim, a shot that is dead in the hand, and one of the faster IBO-honest performances Bear has produced - 334 fps with a 350-grain arrow at a 30-inch, 70-pound setup, and a real 319 fps at a 29-inch draw. The EKO cam's four-position let-off lets you hold light for a long treestand sit or add weight to steady a windy shot, and the fully integrated riser makes a clean, snag-free build the default. What stays with me is how still it holds at distance compared to the shorter Persist - the extra length and the honest heft are doing exactly what they should. An excellent bow for the open-country and treestand hunter who prizes a steady hold and a silent shot, particularly strong on measured shots past 40 yards. Buyers who want a lighter, more maneuverable bow for mobile hunting should also look at the shorter Bear Persist, and those chasing the quietest possible long flagship should look at the Mathews Phase4 33. Read full review...

The Phase4 33 launched at $1,299 as the long, steady, forgiving half of Mathews' 2023 flagship line - a hunting bow with a target bow's riser. Its defining number is not speed but sound: 92.9 dB on a meter and a shot so dead in the hand it barely registers, courtesy of the eight-limb Resistance Phase Damping limb design that stops vibration before it reaches you. Around that sits a 33-inch frame that holds a pin rock-steady, a forgiving 6.5-inch brace, and honest chronograph numbers - 320 fps at 350 grains dropping to 283 fps with heavier hunting arrows - that trail the compact Phase4 29 by only a step. Add SwitchWeight's one-bow-fits-all module system and a cam that tunes almost without argument, and you have a genuine hunting, 3D, and target crossover. In my experience the calm sight picture on that long riser is what wins you over - the pin parks and stays. It is an excellent bow for the longer-draw hunter and 3D shooter who values a steady hold and a silent shot, particularly strong when a calm pin matters more than a compact frame. Buyers who want a shorter, more maneuverable bow should also look at the Mathews Phase4 29; those shopping the same long-axle platform for less should look at the PSE EVO NXT 33. Read full review...

At a $1,299 launch MSRP, the Bowtech SR350 is a flagship-tier hunting bow that delivers genuine 350-class speed without the punishing draw that usually comes with it - 342 fps with a light arrow in Performance, 300 fps with a real hunting shaft, and a dead-in-hand 96.9 dB shot that belies the velocity. Its two best tricks are the FlipDisc, which turns one bow into a smooth 85% hunter or a faster speed rig with a flip of a module, and DeadLock, which lets you tune the cams square with an Allen key at your own bench. In my experience the combination is what makes it stick: a fast bow you can actually live with and actually tune yourself is rarer than the spec sheet suggests. The narrow Clutch grip and the late Performance-mode hump are real characteristics to know going in, but both have easy answers - feel the grip first, and shoot Comfort mode or back the weight down if you want all-day ease. It is an excellent bow for the do-it-yourself hunter who wants top-end speed and a forgiving 33-inch platform in the same package, and it is particularly strong for the shorter-draw shooter that most speed bows leave out. Buyers who would trade a few fps for a more forgiving brace height should also look at the PSE EVO NXT 33, and those who prioritize the quietest possible shot should consider the Mathews V3X 33. Read full review...

• Longer 33-inch axle-to-axle makes it noticeably more stable and forgiving - the pin settles and holds steady at distance, out past normal hunting range
• Genuinely fast for a Bear hunting bow - 334 fps with a 350-grain arrow at 70 pounds, among the quickest Bear has produced
• Dead in the hand with minimal post-shot vibration - the Killer Wave and in-riser dampeners leave almost nothing to feel at the shot
• Deep tunability from the EKO cam - four-position let-off from 75 to 90 percent, rotating-module draw length, and an adjustable roller cable guard
• Fully integrated riser - Picatinny sight rail, sling slot, pull-up rope loop and bubble level built into the frame, with an IMS dovetail that accepts a clamp-in rest

• Measured 92.9 dB at the shot - the eight-limb RPD design makes it the quietest Mathews of its era
• Long 33-inch axle-to-axle on a target-length riser holds rock-steady at full draw
• Forgiving 6.5-inch brace height smooths out form errors for hunting and 3D alike
• SwitchWeight modules set peak weight and let-off, so one bow spans 60-75 lb without new limbs
• Tunes fast and predictably - many owners dial it in without touching the top-hat shims

• Press-free DeadLock tuning - a turn of an Allen key drives each cam left or right to chase out a paper tear, no bow press needed
• FlipDisc gives two bows in one - flip the module to a smooth 85% hunting draw or a faster Performance draw on the same chassis
• Real-world speed lands close to the 350 IBO rating - 342 fps with a 350-grain arrow in Performance, 300 fps with a 400-grain hunting shaft
• Dead in the hand for a speed bow - repositioned Orbit dampeners pull noise and vibration down to a level most flagships envy
• Clutch grip is thin, flat-backed and modular, with an alignment channel that makes hand placement repeatable shot to shot

• On the heavier side for the class - the machined riser and 33-inch frame carry some mass, which steadies aim but is worth weighing if you pack in long distances
• A small dump into the back wall at the 90 percent let-off, and the wall could be a touch firmer - dialing let-off down to 80 or 85 percent tightens both up

• The rubber Engage grip divides owners - those who dislike it can pop it off for flat side plates or an aftermarket grip
• The 27-inch draw-length floor rules it out for shorter-draw shooters, who fit the Phase4 29 better

• In Performance mode the draw builds a noticeable hump rolling into the valley - shooters who want all-day smoothness can flip to Comfort or drop a few pounds of peak weight
• The Clutch grip is narrow - most owners like it, but bigger-handed shooters used to a fuller grip may want to feel it first; the modular angles and aftermarket grips solve it