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My son has a Powermax, I still shoot the prior version Charger. I should add that I also have a Carbon Defiant but hunted with and am shooting the Charger for leagues this fall. Why? Because I shoot it better and it weighs 1/4# less. The Powermax is a fantastic bow, easy to tune, easy to shoot, very quiet with reasonable speed. I love bows with a yoke system. Makes them so easy to tune.

At this point I'd wait another week or two and see what Hoyt comes out with for 2020. It may be great or not - but might just get you a nice discount on a 2019 Powermax!

 

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If you have a good shop close by then that is definitely the way to go. I have been at this for 35 years, shops have come and gone so I have collected enough equipment and knowledge along the way to work on my own stuff if necessary. I usually have the local shop work on my bows though.

 

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Kills me that the Powermax, Charger, etc. is referred to as a "budget bow" "beginner bow" etc. What it really is - is tested, tried and proven. They are a combination of has worked for the manufacturer in recent years. The Charger was basically an Alphamax 32, the Powermax is a Nitrum clone.

Building dies and getting set up to cast risers is a big investment and is much more difficult than reprogramming a CNC machine. Therefore when you buy a cast riser, they are not taking any chances on geometry. Once set up they make a pile of them. The mass production brings the price back down and it is also the reason you see the same riser used for several years. I have owned and shot cast risers since the only other option was wood and have never had an issue. It may not be quite as sexy to say you have a cast riser as a carbon fiber riser but a cast riser is absolutely up to the task..........and it's really fun to whip up on your buddies with a "budget" bow.

 

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What would be a good bow in Hoyt's lineup that is a step or 2 above a PowerMax, but reasonably priced in the used market (~$500)? I have been keeping my eyes peeled for a deal on a Spyder 34 (or Carbon Spyder), or Nitrum 34 / CRX 35 / Faktor 34.

The Torrex has replaced the Powermax in Hoyt's lineup for 2021. I think it is an even better Powermax. In my opinion it is the pinnacle of Hoyt's cam and 1/2 design. On their premier bows they have gone with a binary system. Jury is still out on that, the older hybrid system like the new Torrex has has been around since 2003. Tried and true, still has yokes for easy tuning and lots of draw length adjustability. Of all the Hoyt bows the basic Torrex is my favorite this year. Not the flashiest bow they have but truly a solid rig. Great proven geometry, great proven cam system, good speed, very quiet, smooth shooting rig that should last for many years. Just wish my local shop would get one in 60# max......