Compound Bow Comparator

The Darton Cyclone SD solves a problem the industry mostly ignores: it gives short-draw shooters a real hunting bow instead of a youth rig or a bottomed-out adult cam. On the standard Cyclone's fast, forgiving 30-inch chassis it fits a dedicated 24-to-28-inch cam that keeps the efficiency a wide-range bow surrenders at its short end, with a 30-to-70-pound draw-weight range, press-free bench tuning, and the same complete Ready-to-Hunt kit at a $949.99 launch MSRP (or $689.99 bare) that the standard model ships with. It holds tune, holds on target, and settles on the shot far more calmly than short fast bows usually do - the thing that stayed with me after shooting it. The honest asks are a firm 24-to-28-inch fit window and a specialty-brand dealer network, now that the bow is discontinued. An excellent bow for the short-draw adult or the transitioning teenager who wants a purpose-built hunting setup rather than a compromise, and particularly strong from the treestand and blind. Buyers who prioritize the widest possible adjustability or the lowest price 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...

• A purpose-built short-draw cam, not a full-size bow cranked down - 24-to-28-inch shooters keep the efficiency and speed a long cam gives away at the bottom of its range
• Reaches a full 70 pounds of real hunting weight, not a youth-capped bow - a short-draw adult or a growing teen gets a legitimate hunting setup rather than a trainer
• Forgiving to shoot for its size - the 7-inch brace height and 30-inch chassis hold steady and settle clean on the shot
• Tune it on your own bench - rotating DualSync modules change draw in half-inch steps with no press, and dual cable/limb stops set the back wall you like
• Full Ready-to-Hunt package with no weak links - third-axis sight, drop-away rest, lightweight quiver and carbon stabilizer all worth keeping

• 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

• The 24-to-28-inch window is a hard fit boundary, not a limitation to work around - longer-draw adults simply belong on the standard Cyclone instead, so measure your draw before you buy
• Fewer built-in tuning aids than premium bows - some short-draw owners have noted there is no yoke or shim to lean on, so plan to tune through the rest and, ideally, a Darton-savvy pro shop

• 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