anything else?

 

Split limb parallel design.

 

The split limbs are extremely wide.

I used my Ratchet Loc portable press, and it BARELY fit. Interesting.

 

The split limbs are extremely wide.

I used my Ratchet Loc portable press, and it BARELY fit. Interesting.

In saying "rigid," you're referring to having minimal Limb Twist / Cam Lean?

What's the spacing / width between the limbs?

 

Here is a view of the top cam spacing,
combined with the SUPER WIDE split limbs.

 

Here is a nice view of the limb pocket for the bottom limb.
Notice how the riser flares out into a HUGE support for the parallel, split limbs.

The support is nearly 50% of the limb length.

Impressive.

 

Here is a view of the top limb pocket / support.

 

Here is a view of the limb bolt,
that is recessed inside the riser frame.

Look closely under the leading edge of the limb,
and you see a rectangle of anodized metal...looks like a fine "U" shaped line.

That block will rise up, as you take turns out of the limb bolt,
which strengthens the limb bolt connection to the riser
and ADDS to the overall stiffness of the connection of the limb
to the riser frame.

 

Keep going

 

Fit and finish are simply top level.

 

Soooo,
enough with pretty photos
and design details.

Sooo,
how does it shoot?


I have been doing testing and tuning in the late evenings, usually from 9pm to midnight.

First evening with the Zeus,
I was tweaking the string and buss cable and control cable settings,
and building draw force curves.

Second evening, I decided to stick with factory specs,
for the buss cable and the bowstring. DEAD ON PERFECT for draw length,
when using the factory specs for the buss cable and bowstring. AMAZING.

Then,
tweaked the control cable for best nock travel (minimum vertical group variation).

(NOTE: I was also testing the Perry's No Peep prototype APO)...so no peep sight,
and the Spot Hogg Hogg-It pin sight. Only 2nd time I used the pin sight. I'm normally a scope shooter.


I had ONE "oops" shot.
It was midnight, and this was my very last arrow group of the evening.

2nd day of tuning and testing the Zeus.

Mostly, the testing on Day 2 was for finding the best cam synch position,
for the Zeus VTR system.

 

RISER STIFFNESS AND CENTERSHOT

The Zeus riser is EXTREMELY stiff and has close to zero twist,
at full draw.

What this means is that this is a non‐shoot through riser
that tunes very close to dead center (parallel to the sight window).

At least for me, using skinny target arrows
(Carbon Express Nano XR 450s)
has the arrow rest centershot
position at 0.8745 inches (using a digital caliper)
away from the sight window at the height of the arrow rest holes.

 

CAM SYNCH for Best Nock Travel

The Maitland Website recommends that for the VTR system,
to have the top and bottom cam draw stops contact the cables at the same time...

and NEVER to have the TOP CAM stop hit FIRST.

I have to agree. I tried ALL variations for CAM SYNC....top cam hitting first,
both cams hitting at the same time, bottom cam hitting first.

So, here is a picture of where I get the best nock travel (tightest arrow group size).

My recommendation is to use a draw board....

have the bottom cam metal draw stop just kiss the cable lightly...

top cam (bottom edge of the DL module) a SKOSH away from contact with the cable...say 1/16th inch.

Your results will vary, depending on how FRONT HEAVY your stabilizer system is,
and
how you apply pressure across your bow hand to the grip.

 

CAM SYNC and CAM TIMING on the VTR cam system


Using a draw board, get the bottom cam draw stop to just lightly kiss the cable.

Then, check the top cam module position...
(how large of a gap do we have between the top DL module and the cable).

I got the best nock travel (tightest groups) with the module just
a hair away from touching the cable....say 1/16th inch.

ADD half twists (SHORTEN) to the control cable to move the
module away from the cable (increase the gap).

REMOVE half twists (LENGTHEN) from the control cable to
move the module towards the cable (shrink the gap).


CAM TIMING

The cam timing is controlled by the length of the buss cable
(split yoke cable with 3 end loops) and the bowstring.

Confirm that the buss cable is to factory spec length,
at 100 lbs of tension on a stretching device,
and do the same for the bowstring.

If you order a custom set of string and cables, the
lengths will usually be dead perfect.

I found the AMO draw length was PERFECT,
with the buss cable and bowstring length
at factory spec. Simply AMAZING...

PS: cam timing (cam starting rotation position) will be just fine, as well.

 

The Zeus VTR CAM system has 3 pegs for the bowstring up on the top cam.

VERY nice.

So, the #3 draw length module provides a 29.0-inch AMO draw length setting.
This is when you install the top bowstring end loop in the CENTER peg position.

If you decide to use the peg in the LEFT side of the picture,
you reduce the draw length by 1/4-inch...28.75-inches.

If you decide to use the peg in the RIGHT side of the picture,
you increase the draw length by 1/4-inch....29.25-inches.

Total of 1/2-inch of DL adjustability.

VERY nice.

 

This is a little bit confusing me, if i take a look on the website draw length chart there is stated 29" to 29.75". What is right?

 

Draw Stop PEG System


The VTR Small Cam has 4 available draw length modules.

So, the bottom cam (VTR System) also have 4 matching draw stop threaded hole locations.

For best performance,
just match up the size of the DL module to
the draw stop hole (each hole is numbered 1, 2, 3 or 4).

I had the 29.0-inch DL module (module #3)
so,
I had the metal draw stop in the #3 hole position.

 

CONCLUSIONS

I have had my eye on the Maitland Company,
from the time they first started posting on AT.

Quality.
Fit and Finish.
Interesting engineering design details.

What caught my eye, at first, was how the riser flares into that HUGE limb support at the top and bottom.

This was just looking at pictures.

Now,
that I have had a chance to do extensive testing,
take many many many more photos, that what is presented here...

gotta see one to appreciate the quality and craftsmanship.



Excellent target bow.

 

Thanks n&b, awesome bows.

 

Rob builds some sweet shooting bows, I had one of the original Maitland Retributions with the VTX cams. Very smooth draw cycle, great balance/feel. Held on target like a much longer ATA bow, I attribute that to the Long Riser technology Rob uses. The Maitland bows are a very solid shooting platform. Wish all the best of luck to Rob in the years to come.

 

Now that is a review! Great job. Maitland has been on my radar since they came out.

 

I have been searching for a target bow and this one is definitely on my list in the future. However no dealer anywhere around me :thumbs_do

Thanks for the review

 

My 2010 Zeus was a very stable bow

 

Extremely well done N&B (no big surprise there). The Maitland line is the most striking (in a handsome way) of any bow line out there (yes, I appreciate that beauty is in the eye of the beholder). It is nice to see a unbiased appraisal of the bow!

 

N&B

Was their anything you didn't like as much compared to other bows?

The strings that were on the bow were they the ones from the factory?
If so how would you rate them?

What is the grip like?
Would you consider it a low, medium or high wrist?

 

The strings that were on the bow were they the ones from the factory?
If so how would you rate them?

Not sure what the 2012's will come with yet but the 2011 stock strings were VaporTrail

 

I bought one of the first Zues bow when they came out. I love the way it shoots, it tunes well and it shoots great for and old finger shooter, the only thing I found I didn't like was "it wouldn't fit in my old bow case" I had to buy a new one. I have been watching for the new ones, I need the overall length to check if it will fit my bow case.
Charlie

 

great review