Compound Bow Comparator

The Darton DS-3800 was one of the most speed-and-bow-for-the-money buys on the market when it launched at $829.99 in 2011, and it still is on the used market a decade later. It is a genuine 345-350 fps speed bow that reaches its rating on a chronograph, draws smoother than its 6-inch brace height should allow, changes draw length without a press, and shoots quiet and dead in the hand - a combination that lets a hunter drop arrow weight for a flatter trajectory without giving up a forgiving shot. What I keep coming back to is that it held pace with a bow rated 13 fps faster, from a brand most buyers have never shot, at a fraction of the marketing noise. The aluminum chassis and the long, uneventful record of the DualSync cam make it a bow you set up once and hunt for years. It is an excellent choice for the value-minded bowhunter who wants flagship-class speed and a long 25-to-31-inch draw range without flagship pricing, and it is particularly strong for taller, long-draw shooters and for anyone who hunts open country where a flat trajectory forgives a yardage misread. Buyers who would rather have a shorter, more compact frame with a more forgiving brace height should also look at the Bowtech Assassin or the Bear Carnage. Read full review...

Designed with proven Bowtech technologies and equipped with a very attractive ready-to-shoot package, the Bowtech Assassin is a good shooting hunting bow at a very affordable price. With an extremely flexible eccentric system, the draw length on the Assassin can be easily adjusted without using a bow press or any extra cams or modules. In addition, the performance system is designed to be equipped with either smooth or fast rotating module thus allowing for choosing the right combination of smoothness and speed. While some shooters can feel a little hump closer to the end of the draw cycle, others either don't feel it for their setups or say it's not pronounced. The Assassin has a pretty good valley and extremely solid back wall. While the Assassin is a very good hunting bow for beginners, it will also be a great choice for advanced shooters who want to save money. Overall, the Assassin is one of the best bows for the money in 2011. Read full review...

With great shootability characteristics and excellent performance, the Bear Carnage is one of the best hunting bows manufactured in 2011. Bear seems to have hit a homerun with this rig. It has all the attributes and features that the modern bow hunter/archer is looking for. With an easily adjustable draw length, excellent shootability characteristics and a low mass weight, the Carnage is capable of yielding fast IBO speeds without generating nearly any noise or vibration. It is a definite upgrade over last year's Attack model. With a draw length range from 25.5 to 30.5 inches and a draw weight range from 40 to 70 pounds there is virtually a set up option for almost anyone. Read full review...

• Genuine 345-350 IBO speed that holds up on a chronograph, not just on the spec sheet, even across full hunting setups
• Draws smoother than a 6-inch brace height has any right to - the "muscle bow with manners" name is earned
• Draw length changes by hand with no bow press - swap the module, no trip to the shop
• Quiet shot with very little hand shock, settling dead in the hand with the factory string suppression
• Solid, holdable back wall and a stable full-draw feel that shoots more forgiving than its short brace suggests

• fast bow with little hand shock and vibration
• lightweight and well balanced
• very adjustable performance system with a nice valley and a very solid back wall
• eccentric system can be equipped with either speed or smooth rotating module
• no bow press or cams/modules are required to adjust the draw length
• comes with a good ready-to-shoot accessories package
• one of the best value for money bows in 2011

• Excellent shootabilty
• Very fast single cam
• Solid back wall
• Very Comfortable 80% let off
• The draw length is adjustable without the aid of a bow press
• Nearly vibration free
• One of the best hunting bows of 2011

• Short valley typical of a speed bow - the back wall is firm, so staying engaged against it keeps you off any creep
• Darton's thin dealer network makes one hard to try in person - ordering through its online dealers, helped by no-press draw changes, sidesteps most of that

• some shooters report a little hump closer to the end of the draw cycle
• the draw cycle is a bit stiff (but smooth)

• Seemingly steep valley