Archery Talk Forum banner

Just shot the 2021 Bowtech Solution and Solution SS, my thoughts

46K views 50 replies 32 participants last post by  Esteban9770  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
(Disclaimer; I have the world's slowest chrono apparently. I am ok with that and would rather have a true baseline of the minimum speed I am getting rather than an over optimistic one but take my speeds with a grain of salt)


I was able to shoot the 2021 Solution and Solution SS this afternoon. The Solution was 71lb and the SS was 60 on the nose, both bows set at 29inches of draw. They were both on comfort as through the years I have come to know time and time again that I do not like the draws of the Bowtechs in performance. This has been true of every flip disk I have ever shot so now I just keep them at comfort and call it a day.

The last 2 years all the bow tech bows (every hunting bow they made) I have shot at 29.5inches of draw. They have always felt better to me that way and in most bows I am a 29inch draw (except Mathews where I am a 28.5inch draw). Both of these bows were set at 29 and they felt right to me where they were. I think at 29.5 they would of felt a bit long.

To keep this somewhat short I will say the fit and finish on these bows is the same as the last 3 years of Bowtech meaning very nice. The riser on the Solution is extremely close to that of the SR6 and if you didn't have them side by side it would be hard to tell the risers apart. The same can be said of the SS. If you have seen a Solution SD this riser is the same or very, very close. Camo looks good and the bow looks well put together. Grip is still the clutch and I like that but of course grip is personal.

On the Solution the bow draw very much like the SR6 in comfort did, with a little less of a hump in the back. It felt this way at 29 and my buddy who shoot it at 30 said the same. At 30 there is still a little hump but better than the SR6. This is to be expected because the cam both looks a little less aggressive and the speeds are a little slower. In comfort the draw is less stiff than the V3 (and valley is worlds better). My Xpedite NXT draws heavier at 76-77lbs but I think if the weight were reduced to be the same the draw would be close in feel.
Speaking of speeds this bow shot a 476grain arrow at a five shot average of 278fps through the chrono. Pretty quiet but not as quiet as the V3 or as the Revolt was. A little bit of vibration but it wasn't until I was really looking for it that I noticed it. It would take an extremely sensitive person for this to be an issue with, especially since this bow was bare. Overall a really nice bow but if I had an SR6 not sure I would upgrade to this if I was looking for a hunting bow on the faster side. Of course the tuning would be a lot easier but if your SR6 was already tuned up I couldn't say this would be a wise investment (of course when have I listened to that).

I really, really like the Solution SS. Enough to try and convince myself I need one in green even though I am about to be gone a year. As I mentioned above the riser is the same as the Solution SD and I think very attractive. It is light without being too light. It is advertised as being 4lb and it feels it. It is a bit short at 30in ATA but the string angle actually feels almost identical to the Solution at 32inches. I know it can't be, and I fully understand that it might be me liking the bow so much I am whishing it longer than it is but I can make pretty decent nose contact without having to dip my head much. Can't figure it out but I like it. Now the bow was only set at 60 and a lot of bows (most) feel really good at 60lb but this bow was just so dang easy and effortless to draw. Zero dump into the valley just a gentle easing into a really nice wall. The valley was nice and deep but it was not jarring to let it down at all, just an extremely hunter friendly draw. In a world where every flagship wants to be an AI mag fed, internal chassis 6.5 PRC (at least, if not a 300 PRC) this is Remington model 7 in 7mm-8 with good ammo and minus the whole bankruptcy thing. As far as speed the bow shot the exact same 476grain arrow at 248fps. I think the right 70lb one maxed out would get you to 270fps pretty easy, and given its sweet heart draw and 7inch brace that's not bad with that weight of an arrow. It was extremely quiet and vibe free as you would expect but I think it will be proportionally the same at 70lb. Give me a one at 70 or 71lb and call it good I would think.
Although I shouldn't even think about it, this bow done with a simple CBE Tactic hybrid 3 pin, a (gasp) whisker biscuit and a green B-stinger counterslide Hexx, and the bowtech/tighspot quiver in green could be awesome! With the easy of tuning you could play around with some larger fixed heads and get them flying great in no time. Maybe the Iron Will Wide Solids or more practical would be the G5 striker X with matching BMP's. Who knows.......

So that are my thoughts on the 2 new bowtech bows. Ask away if there are questions.
 
#2 ·
(Disclaimer; I have the world's slowest chrono apparently. I am ok with that and would rather have a true baseline of the minimum speed I am getting rather than an over optimistic one but take my speeds with a grain of salt)


I was able to shoot the 2021 Solution and Solution SS this afternoon. The Solution was 71lb and the SS was 60 on the nose, both bows set at 29inches of draw. They were both on comfort as through the years I have come to know time and time again that I do not like the draws of the Bowtechs in performance. This has been true of every flip disk I have ever shot so now I just keep them at comfort and call it a day.

The last 2 years all the bow tech bows (every hunting bow they made) I have shot at 29.5inches of draw. They have always felt better to me that way and in most bows I am a 29inch draw (except Mathews where I am a 28.5inch draw). Both of these bows were set at 29 and they felt right to me where they were. I think at 29.5 they would of felt a bit long.

To keep this somewhat short I will say the fit and finish on these bows is the same as the last 3 years of Bowtech meaning very nice. The riser on the Solution is extremely close to that of the SR6 and if you didn't have them side by side it would be hard to tell the risers apart. The same can be said of the SS. If you have seen a Solution SD this riser is the same or very, very close. Camo looks good and the bow looks well put together. Grip is still the clutch and I like that but of course grip is personal.

On the Solution the bow draw very much like the SR6 in comfort did, with a little less of a hump in the back. It felt this way at 29 and my buddy who shoot it at 30 said the same. At 30 there is still a little hump but better than the SR6. This is to be expected because the cam both looks a little less aggressive and the speeds are a little slower. In comfort the draw is less stiff than the V3 (and valley is worlds better). My Xpedite NXT draws heavier at 76-77lbs but I think if the weight were reduced to be the same the draw would be close in feel.
Speaking of speeds this bow shot a 476grain arrow at a five shot average of 278fps through the chrono. Pretty quiet but not as quiet as the V3 or as the Revolt was. A little bit of vibration but it wasn't until I was really looking for it that I noticed it. It would take an extremely sensitive person for this to be an issue with, especially since this bow was bare. Overall a really nice bow but if I had an SR6 not sure I would upgrade to this if I was looking for a hunting bow on the faster side. Of course the tuning would be a lot easier but if your SR6 was already tuned up I couldn't say this would be a wise investment (of course when have I listened to that).

I really, really like the Solution SS. Enough to try and convince myself I need one in green even though I am about to be gone a year. As I mentioned above the riser is the same as the Solution SD and I think very attractive. It is light without being too light. It is advertised as being 4lb and it feels it. It is a bit short at 30in ATA but the string angle actually feels almost identical to the Solution at 32inches. I know it can't be, and I fully understand that it might be me liking the bow so much I am whishing it longer than it is but I can make pretty decent nose contact without having to dip my head much. Can't figure it out but I like it. Now the bow was only set at 60 and a lot of bows (most) feel really good at 60lb but this bow was just so dang easy and effortless to draw. Zero dump into the valley just a gentle easing into a really nice wall. The valley was nice and deep but it was not jarring to let it down at all, just an extremely hunter friendly draw. In a world where every flagship wants to be an AI mag fed, internal chassis 6.5 PRC (at least, if not a 300 PRC) this is Remington model 7 in 7mm-8 with good ammo and minus the whole bankruptcy thing. As far as speed the bow shot the exact same 476grain arrow at 248fps. I think the right 70lb one maxed out would get you to 270fps pretty easy, and given its sweet heart draw and 7inch brace that's not bad with that weight of an arrow. It was extremely quiet and vibe free as you would expect but I think it will be proportionally the same at 70lb. Give me a one at 70 or 71lb and call it good I would think.
Although I shouldn't even think about it, this bow done with a simple CBE Tactic hybrid 3 pin, a (gasp) whisker biscuit and a green B-stinger counterslide Hexx, and the bowtech/tighspot quiver in green could be awesome! With the easy of tuning you could play around with some larger fixed heads and get them flying great in no time. Maybe the Iron Will Wide Solids or more pratical would be the G5 striker X with matching BMP's. Who knows.......

So that are my thoughts on the 2 new bowtech bows. Ask away if there are questions.
 
#5 ·
On the draw I would say very similar, it seems like the Solution SS might be a little more efficient but heavier arrows (given its slower starting IBO speed) but would need to do a lot more testing to confirm that. I do think it is a bit quieter and though and better balanced and lighter though
 
#40 ·
So what's the efficiency drop off you mention for the Realm SS? I just got one set up recently
The Realm SS is faster than expected for me. 29" draw, 70#
465gr arrow 279fps in comfort
465gr arrow in performance 290fps
490gr arrow in performance 281fps

465gr arrow in performance 28.5" draw 278fps
 
#12 ·
Good feedback, thanks for sharing! Will be watching additional feedback and clearly it's early but don't see my Revolt X being at much risk of replacement by one of these at this point.
 
#15 ·
(. Ask away if there are questions.
What year reveal will bowhunters in the know that are not clowns get a 34 and 7 bow or is that an impossible question with the two tools I saw on the live stream review today?
 
#18 ·
Great review! Someday I’ll get myself a Revolt or a Solution, but for now my Prime is treating me well so far.

I shot the Solution SD (maxed out draw length at 28.5), Carbon Zion, and Revolt a few weeks ago. I hated the Solution SD. The draw cycle was terrible and maxed out too short for me.
The Carbon Zion felt good, nice draw, solid back wall, but jumped at the shot pretty bad. I’m sure it would be better with stabilizers added.
The Revolt was smooth, quiet, and solid. One of the best bows I’ve shot. I like the clutch grip and the deadlock cams seem to be an excellent tuning tool.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brian318
#19 ·
I shot the SD when it first came out. I can tell you the draw is night and day different than the SS. If you are a shorter draw and still want a 7 inch brace you will have to pay for it somewhere. That draw is where with the SD. The SS has the same riser and limbs (looks like) but the engine is totally different.
 
#22 ·
Had a chance to shoot the Solution SS yesterday & had a similar experience as 4IDARCHER
After shooting it I thought WOW this baby is super smooth,draw cycle was great & felt great at the the shot

I told the guys at the shop this would make a great hunting bow particular for guys hunting in cold weather
My only concern was the short 30"ATA I've never been a big advocate for short ATA bows, but to be honest this one wasn't too bad at anchor ..actually felt pretty decent

I did have my Revolt X with me & compared it to the Solution SS & found that the draw cycle to be pretty close to the Solution SS not quite as smooth but close

If I was looking at picking up new bow I'd probably still go with the Revolt X but you couldn't go wrong with the Solution SS just comes down to what feels best to you & fits your needs
 
#25 ·
I had a RevoltX and a RealmX. The RevoltX had a better transition into the valley but i shot my RealmX way better. Personally, I think the dead lock cam system might of needed a little refining. It tuned pretty nock high. More than I am used to and I did not like the crazy cable routing. Very easy for the cable to jump out of the groove.

Have they made any changes to the cams this year?
 
#26 ·
I just bought a Reckoning it's 35 inch ATA, deflexed riser and 7 inch BH. The IBO is 335 my 37+ 7 inch BH 2007 Commander is 318. I'm betting in comfort mode they will be the same. In the performance mode I'm betting I'll see maybe 8 FPS?

I bought for the Deadlock system and the riser looks very forgiving. I don't know if it will be as quiet as my Commander but there aren't very many 35+ 7 inch BH hunting bows to choose from and that's what I like. I figured I better grab one before 30 inches is all you can find.............lol
 
#27 ·
I'd like to draw the Solution ss in performance. I dont mind a firm draw or one that loads early, I just want a smooth transition to the back wall and prefer a wide valley. As sweet as the bow and draw in comfort sounds, $1100 for a 320 IBO would be a tough pill for me. A 4lb aluminum bow is refreshing these days.
 
#28 ·
(Disclaimer; I have the world's slowest chrono apparently. I am ok with that and would rather have a true baseline of the minimum speed I am getting rather than an over optimistic one but take my speeds with a grain of salt)
You also probably have the worst 60 yard groups on AT as well ;)
 
#32 ·
I held out on a revolt x to see what the 2021's would be... so far not sold. Biggest issue between the revolt x and the solution ss is the ATA.

Multiple people have said peep angle wasnt terrible dispite the ata...

Has anyone/can anyone measure the actual cam edge to cam edge length of the solution ss to see what the actual string angle would be in the 29-31" DL range?
 
#38 ·
I wish these new models came in mossy oak county roots, I think it looks great on a bow


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
IMO one of the best patterns ever offered by a bow company. I was not happy when I saw it gone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bamsdealer