Compound Bow Comparator

The Darton DS-3800 SD answers a question most of the industry ignores: where does an adult short-draw shooter go for a genuine fast hunting bow instead of a youth model? Built for 2011-2012 at the DS-3800's price point, it hands a 23-to-27-inch-draw archer the flagship's full 6-inch-brace, 4.1-pound aluminum chassis, 70-pound-capable limbs, synced DualSync cam, and press-free draw changes, with the draw cycle re-engineered so they reach peak weight comfortably rather than fighting a tuned-down adult cam. The 305-310 fps rating is the honest cost of a shorter power stroke, not a weaker bow, and it is quick for the draw lengths involved. What I appreciate about this bow is that it treats short-draw shooters as serious hunters who deserve the real chassis, not a compromise - and the quiet, holdable, torque-resistant platform it shares with the DS-3800 is a genuinely good foundation to build accuracy on. It is an excellent choice for the adult short-draw bowhunter who wants a full-spec speed-class hunting bow that actually fits, and it is particularly strong for the shooter building a true 60 or 70-pound whitetail setup at a draw length the rest of the market ignores. Buyers who want a more compact frame should also look at the Bowtech Assassin SD, and those prioritizing maximum adjustability at the lowest price should look at the Diamond Infinite Edge Pro. Read full review...

The Bowtech Assassin SD was introduced to the lineup in 2012 to bring in a new dimension of hunters by offering a fast, accurate, and affordable bow to those with shorter draw lengths. The team at Bowtech decided to take the Assassin and outfit it to accommodate those archers. This culminated into the production of the Assassin SD. This rig provides the same characteristics of quality, speed, and accuracy of the Assassin, but specifically designed for those with a 22.5" - 27" draw length. This is not a beginner's bow though. This bow can be purchased with limb weights of 40#, 50#, 60#, or 70#. This rig also offers a 305 fps IBO. It has also been chrono'd at 297 fps at 27" and 60#. This bow is easy to tune and will give the shooter exactly what they are looking for in a hunting rig. Read full review...

The Infinite Edge Pro came back for a reason: it does one thing better than almost anything at its price, and that is stretch to fit whoever picks it up. The 2026 Legacy edition keeps the formula - 13 to 31 inches of draw, 5 to 65 pounds, an 80-percent let-off and a smooth, quiet shot - and wraps it in a complete ready-to-hunt package at around $330, less than the model cost at its 2015 launch. It gives up five pounds of peak weight and ten fps against the original, trades that are invisible to the beginner, youth archer, and shared-family buyer this bow is built for. In my time around bows like this, the ones that get a household actually shooting are rarely the fastest or the quietest - they are the ones that fit everyone and are cheap enough to shoot without worry, and the Infinite Edge Pro is squarely that bow. It is an excellent choice for youth archery, new adult hunters, and any family that wants a single adjustable rig, particularly strong as a first bow that will still fit years later. Buyers who want more top-end poundage or speed for big game should also look at the Bear Cruzer G3. Read full review...

• A real short-draw hunting bow, not a youth bow or a cranked-down adult rig - the full 70-pound-capable DS-3800 chassis at a 23-27 inch draw
• Draw cycle re-engineered for the short-draw shooter to reach peak weight comfortably, rather than just limiting an adult bow's modules
• Carries the DS-3800's quiet, low-shock shot, solid holdable back wall, and stout aluminum build
• Draw length changes by hand across 23-27 inches with no bow press - swap the synced DualSync module

• Virtually vibration/noise free
• Relatively fast
• Affordable
• Accurate
• Easily adjustable

• One set of limbs covers 13-31 inches of draw and 5-65 pounds of weight - genuinely one bow for a young beginner and the adult hunter that beginner becomes
• Smooth draw cycle that rolls over the peak with no lope and settles into an easy valley against a solid back wall
• Quiet, low-shock shot for the price tier - the arrow is in the target before the riser finishes settling
• Forgiving to tune thanks to a double-yoke setup - cam lean comes into line quickly and a bullet-hole tune is easy to reach
• Complete ready-to-hunt package - sight, rest, quiver, stabilizer, peep and sling - at a price below both its main rivals and below its own 2015 launch

• IBO drops to 305-310 fps against the standard's 345-350 - the physics of a shorter power stroke, a trait of any short-draw bow rather than a weakness, and the trade that buys a short-draw shooter the full chassis
• A 2011-2012-only bow from a thin-dealer brand - scarce used and hard to try in person, so confirm module and string availability before buying; standard aftermarket strings fit

• A little hard to transition to let-off

• Changing draw length means pressing the bow to reach the module screw and re-timing the cam afterward - set it to your draw once at a shop and it is a non-issue day to day
• Some owners find the grip a touch bulky in the hand though the shape stays comfortable - an aftermarket grip is an inexpensive swap for anyone who wants a slimmer throat