Compound Bow Comparator

The Browning Ambush was a budget, entry-tier single-cam hunting bow when new, and on the used market it remains one of the more capable bargains a new or thrifty whitetail hunter can find. The published numbers are modest - a 36-inch riser, 75 to 80 percent let-off depending on version, and an IBO rating of 280 fps that turns into a measured 230 fps with a heavy 450-grain hunting arrow - but those numbers were never the point. The point is that it draws smoothly, holds steady, and shoots accurately enough to drive a clean pass-through on a whitetail inside normal bow range, which is exactly what its owners praise and exactly why some of them chose it over faster bows they already owned. What I keep coming back to with the Ambush is that it was never trying to be a flagship, and judging it as one misses it entirely; judged as a cheap, smooth, dependable deer bow, it holds up. An excellent bow for the first-time or budget-minded whitetail hunter who values a calm, forgiving shot over raw speed, and particularly strong as an easy-shooting, low-maintenance treestand rig inside 30 yards. Buyers who want more speed or a current-production bow with factory support should also look at the Bear Code. Read full review...

The Bear Code is a long-riser, single-cam whitetail bow that chose forgiveness over fps and reliability over flash - a 34-inch, 7.38-inch-brace hunter with patented quad limbs, factory Sims damping, and a 306-310 fps IBO rating that was never the reason to buy it. It launched as a value bow in Bear's Fred Bear-tradition line for 2006 and carried into 2007, and it has aged into a genuine used-market sleeper, and the owner feedback that survives describes it the same way, as a durable, accurate deer bow that shrugs off hard use and asks for little beyond fresh strings. What I keep coming back to is how well the long geometry and single cam still serve their purpose - this bow holds on target and holds its tune, which is most of what a hunting bow needs to do. It is an excellent choice for the hunter who wants a forgiving, low-maintenance deer rig at used-market money and is willing to inspect condition before buying. Buyers who want a new bow with a warranty and the widest adjustment range should also look at the Diamond Edge 320, while those prioritizing a compact, budget entry hunter should consider the PSE Stinger Max. Read full review...

The name says it all, Brute. This bow is a great hunting bow especially if you are on a budget. The incredibly smooth draw and very forgiving brace height make this bow easy to shoot accurately. It is also virtually vibration free, giving it the feel of a much higher priced bow. It is hard to find anything wrong with this bow especially at its price point but that, in fact may be its down fall. Priced at such a low point, the Brute may actually be over looked by many hunters. It seems that over the years the industry has taught that you need an expensive bow to be a successful hunter. Well, the Brute definitely proves that theory wrong. Read full review...

• Smooth, easy-pulling single cam - owners who came to it from faster bows kept it specifically because it draws easier
• Genuinely accurate and hunting-capable - owners report tight shooting and clean pass-throughs on whitetail inside 25 yards
• Strong budget value - an entry-tier bow when new that delivered real hunting performance for well under flagship money

• Long 34-inch axle-to-axle plus a 7.38-inch brace makes it forgiving enough to hold groups at real hunting range - accurate to 40 yards in hands-on use, with does taken cleanly at 40 and 45-50 yards
• Single-cam simplicity keeps upkeep low - no cam timing to chase, and it runs for years on little more than a fresh string set
• Holds up to hard, careless field use - an owner who admits to abusing his gear says this one simply took it and kept shooting

• Incredibly forgiving brace height 8 1/8" to 7" depending on the model year
• Fast
• Inexpensive
• Well balanced
• Newer models have almost no noticeable vibration
• 6 inches of draw length adjustment

• Modest top-end speed - owners are candid it is not a fast bow (230 fps with a heavy 450-grain arrow); fps chasers should look elsewhere, though the trade buys a smoother, quieter draw
• Available used only since Browning left archery - budget for a fresh string-and-cable set from a custom shop and check the cam and limbs before trusting an older example

• Available used only today, so condition is the whole game - buy a clean example and plan on a fresh set of strings and cables, which is typically all one ever needs to replace

• Bow press is required to make draw post adjustments