Compound Bow Comparator

The BowTech BlackHawk is one of the more likeable budget hunting bows of the early 2000s - the shortest, lightest single cam in BowTech's catalog of its day, carried at a $499 launch MSRP that put it hundreds below the flagships while still handing the shooter the continuously-tunable InfinityCam and a genuine low-310s IBO rating. Its whole case is compactness without compromise: under 29 inches and under three pounds, yet quick, quiet, and reported by owners as nearly free of hand shock even shot bare. It asks one thing in return - a soft, honest grip, because a bow this light will not hide a torqued hand the way a heavy target rig does. What stays with me about it is that contrast: a sub-three-pound bargain bow that still sits dead-still at the shot. For the treestand or ground-blind hunter who prizes a bow that comes up fast in tight cover and holds easy through a long sit, and especially for anyone restoring a clean used example with a fresh custom string, it remains a rewarding little bow. Hunters who would rather have the steadier hold of a longer, more forgiving frame should look instead at the BowTech TomKat or the PSE Firestorm - same era, same value spirit, a calmer aim in exchange for a touch of the BlackHawk's speed and handiness. Read full review...

The BowTech TomKat is the value package bow of the brand's Binary Cam era, and its trick was putting a flagship-grade cam under a budget riser and shipping it ready to hunt. For roughly $550 in the mid-2000s you got the complete rig - rest, sight, peep, quiver, sling and Hush Kit - around a compact 313/4-inch chassis with a tall 81/2-inch brace, a self-correcting Binary Cam with a speed-or-smooth module choice, and 65-80 percent adjustable let-off. Real-world speed with a hunting arrow lands near 280 fps, the shot is quiet and low in hand shock straight from the factory, and the whole package is light and easy to carry on a stand or a 3D course. What I keep coming back to is how much finished bow this was for the money - the accessories were basic and the valley is short, but the bow underneath them was the real thing. It is an excellent choice for the budget-minded or first-time hunter who wants a complete, dependable rig in one box, and it remains a smart used-market buy for a compact treestand or 3D setup. Buyers who want a longer, steadier, lighter bow should also look at the Mathews Classic, and those who want the widest adjustment range and a little more speed should also look at the Hoyt Trykon. Read full review...

The PSE Firestorm is a compact and good shooting bow that was manufactured and evolved for 8 years. With a short axle to axle length and very generous brace height, this rig is very forgiving, maneuverable, and lightweight. The bow is a good choice for tree-stand or blind hunting. While it's not a speed monster, the Firestorm is very quiet and smooth to draw as noted by many owners. Although it could have better quality strings and a bigger sight window, overall this is a decent quality bow for the money. Read full review...

• Pocket-sized and under three pounds - the sub-29-inch frame swings up fast and holds easy from a treestand or inside a cramped ground blind where a long bow fights you
• Dead in the hand for a value bow - owners report little to no hand shock even shooting it bare, without hanging a stabilizer on the front to quiet it down
• High, dial-in let-off - the InfinityCam's continuously adjustable 65-to-80% hold lets you trade holding weight for aiming steadiness, and owners favored the 80% setting for all-day hunting

• Complete ready-to-hunt package - Hostage rest, fiber-optic sight, peep, quiver, sling and Hush Kit all in the box, the only BowTech sold this way
• Runs the same Binary Cam System as BowTech's flagships, with a solid, repeatable back wall that holds its timing
• Quiet, low-recoil shot straight from the factory Hush Kit - many owners shoot it well with no added stabilizer
• Compact 313/4-inch axle-to-axle with a tall 81/2-inch brace makes it easy to pack and steady to aim, a favorite for 3D
• Fast enough for real hunting - hunting-weight arrows fly around 280 fps, flat enough for typical whitetail ranges

• Very forgiving bow with generous brace height
• Good choice for tree-stand or blind hunting
• Modular-adjustable eccentric system
• Smooth draw cycle
• Decent quality for the money

• The short 28 7/8-inch axle-to-axle rewards clean, relaxed form; shooters who want a more forgiving stance at full draw, or who draw long, may prefer a longer-riser bow such as the TomKat
• A long-discontinued model, so factory InfinityCam draw modules and string sets are special-order today - a used buyer should budget a shop-built custom string and have the cam timing checked before hunting it

• Entry-grade factory rest and sight - owners often swap both for better aftermarket parts, a cheap and common upgrade, since the bow itself is the value
• Tall brace and short axle-to-axle keep the speed but give a short valley - shooters wanting the era's most forgiving BowTech should look to a longer-riser model

• Factory strings could be of better quality
• Smaller sight window