New Solocam bow as well the mathews Z2

 

I am a huge bowtech guy, so I went into my shop today that sells Mathews and shot the htr. I didn't want to like the bow, as i have my mind dead set on a new bowtech prodigy.
Looks- blown away in person. I have read all the bad reviews already on this bow. They are all wrong. Bow is flawless.
Feel- the bow draws really good. Not elite smooth, but really good. It reminds me of bowtech experience. I shot it first at 62lbs and didn't like it much. Got the tech to crank it down to 70lbs and liked it a lot better. The bow draws like butter and then right before the back wall, it sorta dumps into it. My one and only thing, that I can say negative about the bow. It is "by far" the most vibe free and silent bow I have shot. I shot all the 2014 offerings at the 2014 ata show in Nashville. The bow had no staberlizer. All it had was a whisker biscuit. The new grip is sweet as swell. Not to fat, not to skinny. I payed close attention to the Teflon square near the "no cam" I didn't personally see any contact through the draw cycle. This is by far the best Mathews bow to date. The last one I owned was a helim. Something about that bow and me, didn't get along. I also shot a creed to compare and I liked the htr better. I ordered the htr "no cam" in 28 dl and 70lbs. I wanted black, but my dealer told me it was 100.00 up charge. I went with the camo. On a side note, the bow I tested was a 28/70lb so it fit me good. Hope this helps. I put approximately 10 shots through the bow. I have not shot the prodigy or any other 2015 bow so I can't compare it to those models.

 

Go to another dealer cause I ordered the black tactical and my dealer showed me the up charge list and it clearly stated $50.

 

I had pretty much the same feeling about shooting the HTR. Very surprised.

 

Honestly everyone is complaining about the draw but many say it's a quiet, vibe free bow that holds well. Isn't that what people want, a quiet, accurate bow? Why all the belly aching?

 

I found it to be the nicest bow I've ever shot. Some will not like it. Many have not even shot one and will dog it. To your point some just wanna bash the other brand.

 

Thanks, i guess i have to go try one.

 

I was not too impressed with it but that's me. I guess my Xcentric has spoiled me. :/

 

I was blown away

 

I didn't complain about the draw, I said it was butter smooth. It does and it just dumps into then back wall. It's not bad, it's just quick, unsuspecting.

 

I shot the HTR yesterday, about 50 shots side by side with the chill x. Both were 28" 62lbs, chill had 60# limbs HTR had 70# limbs. The chill x definitely felt like it was a smoother and lighter draw despite being the same poundage. They both had a rock solid wall and the HTR felt like a longer more forgiving bow than any 32" ATA bow I have ever felt. It was quieter and had less vibration than the chill. I went in set on the chill since I have always been more comfortable with a bow 34" or longer but was not impressed with the overall length due to the cams being so big. After going back and forth for over an hour I decided to go with the HTR even though the draw felt stiffer and it seemed to be noticeably slower than the chill.

 

So did you purchase the HTR? If so did you put one on order or did they have one available for sale?

 

I shot it tonight. I was pretty surprised. The draw was ok, stiff for a 330 bow but smooth. I was pretty shocked at how quiet it was. I didn't order one, but it's a pretty nice bow

 

The shop only had a demo that wasn't for sale yet. I was told a week to week and half it should be in.

 

I'll echo the same sentiments here:

Pros:
-smooth draw
-absolutely dead in the hand, ZERO shock
-doesn't lurch or jump at the shot, it barely moves
-absolutely the QUIETEST bow I've ever shot, period. It's unreal.
-it's sexy in person
-holds like a 35"+ bow, it's dead still in the hand

Cons:
-it's not fast
-there is a noise as the cable stop contacts the cables. I think this can be remedied with moleskin or rubber but it clanks as it hits the cables. It's an easy fix

I will have one after deer season is over.

 

What is your definition of fast, and if this isn't, what is the classification you put it in?

 

I shot the HTR at 62 pounds. The feel is different and very comparable to the old steel cabled eccentric bows of the late 70s/early 80s - which I really like. It is by no means slow. Rock hard wall, absolutely no vibration, and the most silent bow ever. The bump at full draw is virtually non-existent, but it is there - no problem whatsoever. After about 25 shots it felt like an old friend. The DL was dead on the money and paper shots were all bullet holes with no adjustment needed from 2 feet out to 10 yards. IMO easily the best bow on the market based on the new models I have shot. Don't buy until you give it a try - more than 2-3 shots - to be sure you make a mistake. I have a TG 8 on order.

 

Doesn't ASA still have a speed limit of 280 errrrr 279.9 288fps. These bows should make that easily. Wasn't that long ago. 330fps was quick for a 6 5/8" brace bow.

 

No. Add 10 fps.

 

It's no quieter than a Strother Wrath but it is quiet. It's an updated version of an old Bear round wheel bow with an offset axle mount. It's what Matt McPherson does best. He takes an existing idea or design and tweaks it. Stiff, but steady, draw force curve. Quiet. Vibe free. Slow. I posted the DFC in another thread already when we set up the shop's demo. We're going to shoot it side by side with a Prodigy tomorrow.

 

I shot the HTR w. 85%mods yesterday (29" at 62#; no stabs; peep & loop). I shoot a 70# ChillX (85%mods) at 29.5/64#.
My backup 3D bow is E35 also setup at 29.5/64#.
I went in to get 29" mods for my X. It runs 1/2" longer than my Elite.
As I spoke with them they offered to take my Elite in trade which I will do.
I figured I'd go for another ChillX; and probably will.
Impressions:
It didn't seem to hold any differently than my X w/o stabs.
The draw is different. Seems stiffer; it loads more quickly.
I think lack of vibe and noise give the impression that it is slower than it is. But it is slower.
No doubt it is slower than my X. For IBO my X at 62# shoots a 315g GT22 at 315fps. (FWIW it shoots a 334g at 309fps)
I'm going back next week to make the trade. I'll prob. go for the X.