This past Saturday I went and shot some of the new bows, and I came home with a new Bowtech Realm SR6. I love to test and review bows, so I took some time this evening after work to play a little, plot some DFC's, and get some numbers from the chronograph. I hope you enjoy.
I'll start with the subjective stuff. Everybody has their own preferences when it comes to bows, and yours may differ from mine, but I'll give you my thoughts on this bow before getting to the good stuff.
Finish- It's black, and seems to be well done. I'm not quite as picky about finish as some, but I can't find a blemish anywhere on this bow. It seems to be really well done. We'll just have to give it some time to see about the durability.
Grip- I love the grip on this bow. It's narrow, and flat. It seems to be very repeatable, and comfortable. I know that its the same Clutch grip that the Realm X had, but it seems to be more comfortable than the Realm X.
Balance- Bare bow balances very well. It just sits vertically in your hand. I like a bow that is well balanced.
Draw Cycle- This is where this bow surprised me. When I saw the cams on this bow, and compared them to the Realm SS, I expected the SS to be much smoother. I shot the SS and the SR6 side by side, with both set at 60 lbs and both on the comfort setting. Both bows are smooth, but I expected the SS to be the smoother bow, especially given its name. I was really wowed by the draw cycle on the SR6, especially for the speed that it gets. I shot both several times, and though both were nice bows, I came home with the SR6. The combination of the speed and the draw cycle sold me on the SR6.
After the shot- The bow has some feedback. On the shot the bow has just a little kick to it, and a little vibration. This is one area that this bow fell short on in comparison to some of the others that I shot. To me though, a little vibration after the shot doesn't really bother me too bad. Once you put a stabilizer on, it greatly reduces the felt vibration. I might order a Cool Hand Luke string stop for it, and see what that does as well.
Here is a pic of the bow. Sorry, I was in my work shop and didn't have a good back drop.
![]()
Ok, so now for the real numbers. The subjective stuff, is for each person to decide for themselves. I like to give my thoughts, but I like to try to keep them short and sweet.
I forgot to weigh the bow before I installed the rest (Sorry), but the bow weighed in at 4.63 lbs with just a QAD HDX rest installed. I set the draw length at 29", and the bow is a 50-60 lbs bow.
I synched the cams, and shot the bow through paper prior to plotting the DFC's and doing the speed tests. I set the nock point at 1/8" high, and the center shot at 13/16" and shot an Easton FMJ 340 through the paper. I had a right tear, so I pressed the bow, and added 2 twists to the right side yokes, and took 2 twists out the left side yokes, and shot bullet holes. Typical Bowtech tuning, easy breezy.
I measured the draw length on my draw board, and the bow came it at exactly 29" on the dot. Perfect. The bow was on the comfort setting, and the draw weight came in at 62.34 lbs. I used my draw board and an LCA digital scale to get the weights and plot the DFC. Here is the draw force curve:
![]()
You can see by this curve that the draw cycle is smooth. It hit peak weight at about 6" into the cycle, and then gently slopes off into a very nice valley, and a low holding weight. The holding weight was 9.82 lbs, which puts it around 85% letoff. When you go to let the bow down, it has that binary cam feel to it, that you almost have to totally relax to get it to let down.
I shot 3 different arrow weights for this review, and they are as follows. Arrow 1- 311.8 grains, Arrow 2- 397.4 grains, and Arrow 3- 453.4 grains. The bow had a d loop and tied nock sets on the string and that's it.
I shot each arrow 3 times through the chronograph and took the average. Bow is 29" on the button, 62.34 lbs. Here are the speeds in the comfort setting.
Arrow 1- 311.8 grains- 323.5, 324.1, 324.2- Average 323.9- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 339, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 336
Arrow 2- 397.4 grains- 288.5, 289.5, 289.5- Average 289.2- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 333, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 332
Arrow 3- 453.4 grains- 271.3, 271.3, 271.1- Average- 271.2- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 334, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 331
After I did all of this on the comfort setting, I changed the flip disc to the performance setting, and did it all again. Draw length 29", and peak weight 62.26 lbs. Here is the draw force curve on the performance setting.
![]()
You can see that on this curve, the bow hit the peak weight of 62.26 lbs at about 6" into the draw cycle just like it did in the comfort setting. In the performance setting though, the bow held peak weight for about 1" and then dropped ever so slightly, but then held that weight for much longer than it did in the comfort setting. This DFC is more plateau like in shape, so we can see where the performance comes from. It holds its weight until about 13" into the draw cycle before dropping a little more, and then takes a sharper drop into the valley and settles into a holding weight of 12.7 lbs, or about 80% letoff. Again, I was actually surprised at the feel of this bow, even in the performance setting. The comfort setting is butter smooth, but I will shoot the bow in the performance setting. The difference in feel is not that much, and I like the little bit shorter valley, and the extra holding weight on the performance setting. Not to mention the extra speed. Here are the speed numbers using the same 3 arrows.
Arrow 1- 311.8 grains- 333.3, 334, 333.6- Average- 333.6- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 349, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 347
Arrow 2- 397.4 grains- 297.3, 297.1, 298- Average- 297.5- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 341, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 343
Arrow 3- 453.4 grains- 279.1, 279.1, 279- Average- 279- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 342, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 341
Now I know that this where most start talking about the bow not hitting IBO. I started a thread a few years back on bow speeds, and I explained some things about testing equipment, and these IBO calculators. I won't take the time to explain it all here, but calculators and these rules of thumb that we use, only get you in the ball park. the only real way to see if the bow hits IBO is to set it at 30" draw length, and shoot an IBO weight arrow. Even then you have some variable when it comes to bow scales and chronographs. But, for this review I set the bow at 30" draw length, and shot the IBO weight arrow.
30" draw, 62.26 lbs, 311.8 grain arrow- 349.4 fps. If you put stock in the calculators, then the bow does lose some efficiency with the heavier arrows when calculating the IBO speeds. I will say that at 30" draw I could feel a hump at the back end of the draw cycle, but I have felt worse. Not to mention that 30" draw is too long for me, so that might factor into that as well.
I highly recommend that you go out and shoot these bows. I'll be honest, and again this is subjective, but even though the bow has a little vibration at the shot, and even though it does seem to lose a little with the heavier arrows (according to the calculator's formulas) this bow really impressed me. The feel of this bow, and the speeds that it puts out is impressive.
I hope you got some useful information here, and as I said, go out and shoot one.
I'll start with the subjective stuff. Everybody has their own preferences when it comes to bows, and yours may differ from mine, but I'll give you my thoughts on this bow before getting to the good stuff.
Finish- It's black, and seems to be well done. I'm not quite as picky about finish as some, but I can't find a blemish anywhere on this bow. It seems to be really well done. We'll just have to give it some time to see about the durability.
Grip- I love the grip on this bow. It's narrow, and flat. It seems to be very repeatable, and comfortable. I know that its the same Clutch grip that the Realm X had, but it seems to be more comfortable than the Realm X.
Balance- Bare bow balances very well. It just sits vertically in your hand. I like a bow that is well balanced.
Draw Cycle- This is where this bow surprised me. When I saw the cams on this bow, and compared them to the Realm SS, I expected the SS to be much smoother. I shot the SS and the SR6 side by side, with both set at 60 lbs and both on the comfort setting. Both bows are smooth, but I expected the SS to be the smoother bow, especially given its name. I was really wowed by the draw cycle on the SR6, especially for the speed that it gets. I shot both several times, and though both were nice bows, I came home with the SR6. The combination of the speed and the draw cycle sold me on the SR6.
After the shot- The bow has some feedback. On the shot the bow has just a little kick to it, and a little vibration. This is one area that this bow fell short on in comparison to some of the others that I shot. To me though, a little vibration after the shot doesn't really bother me too bad. Once you put a stabilizer on, it greatly reduces the felt vibration. I might order a Cool Hand Luke string stop for it, and see what that does as well.
Here is a pic of the bow. Sorry, I was in my work shop and didn't have a good back drop.
Ok, so now for the real numbers. The subjective stuff, is for each person to decide for themselves. I like to give my thoughts, but I like to try to keep them short and sweet.
I forgot to weigh the bow before I installed the rest (Sorry), but the bow weighed in at 4.63 lbs with just a QAD HDX rest installed. I set the draw length at 29", and the bow is a 50-60 lbs bow.
I synched the cams, and shot the bow through paper prior to plotting the DFC's and doing the speed tests. I set the nock point at 1/8" high, and the center shot at 13/16" and shot an Easton FMJ 340 through the paper. I had a right tear, so I pressed the bow, and added 2 twists to the right side yokes, and took 2 twists out the left side yokes, and shot bullet holes. Typical Bowtech tuning, easy breezy.
I measured the draw length on my draw board, and the bow came it at exactly 29" on the dot. Perfect. The bow was on the comfort setting, and the draw weight came in at 62.34 lbs. I used my draw board and an LCA digital scale to get the weights and plot the DFC. Here is the draw force curve:
You can see by this curve that the draw cycle is smooth. It hit peak weight at about 6" into the cycle, and then gently slopes off into a very nice valley, and a low holding weight. The holding weight was 9.82 lbs, which puts it around 85% letoff. When you go to let the bow down, it has that binary cam feel to it, that you almost have to totally relax to get it to let down.
I shot 3 different arrow weights for this review, and they are as follows. Arrow 1- 311.8 grains, Arrow 2- 397.4 grains, and Arrow 3- 453.4 grains. The bow had a d loop and tied nock sets on the string and that's it.
I shot each arrow 3 times through the chronograph and took the average. Bow is 29" on the button, 62.34 lbs. Here are the speeds in the comfort setting.
Arrow 1- 311.8 grains- 323.5, 324.1, 324.2- Average 323.9- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 339, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 336
Arrow 2- 397.4 grains- 288.5, 289.5, 289.5- Average 289.2- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 333, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 332
Arrow 3- 453.4 grains- 271.3, 271.3, 271.1- Average- 271.2- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 334, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 331
After I did all of this on the comfort setting, I changed the flip disc to the performance setting, and did it all again. Draw length 29", and peak weight 62.26 lbs. Here is the draw force curve on the performance setting.
You can see that on this curve, the bow hit the peak weight of 62.26 lbs at about 6" into the draw cycle just like it did in the comfort setting. In the performance setting though, the bow held peak weight for about 1" and then dropped ever so slightly, but then held that weight for much longer than it did in the comfort setting. This DFC is more plateau like in shape, so we can see where the performance comes from. It holds its weight until about 13" into the draw cycle before dropping a little more, and then takes a sharper drop into the valley and settles into a holding weight of 12.7 lbs, or about 80% letoff. Again, I was actually surprised at the feel of this bow, even in the performance setting. The comfort setting is butter smooth, but I will shoot the bow in the performance setting. The difference in feel is not that much, and I like the little bit shorter valley, and the extra holding weight on the performance setting. Not to mention the extra speed. Here are the speed numbers using the same 3 arrows.
Arrow 1- 311.8 grains- 333.3, 334, 333.6- Average- 333.6- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 349, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 347
Arrow 2- 397.4 grains- 297.3, 297.1, 298- Average- 297.5- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 341, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 343
Arrow 3- 453.4 grains- 279.1, 279.1, 279- Average- 279- Calculated IBO- Archery Pal- 342, Calculated IBO- OnTarget2- 341
Now I know that this where most start talking about the bow not hitting IBO. I started a thread a few years back on bow speeds, and I explained some things about testing equipment, and these IBO calculators. I won't take the time to explain it all here, but calculators and these rules of thumb that we use, only get you in the ball park. the only real way to see if the bow hits IBO is to set it at 30" draw length, and shoot an IBO weight arrow. Even then you have some variable when it comes to bow scales and chronographs. But, for this review I set the bow at 30" draw length, and shot the IBO weight arrow.
30" draw, 62.26 lbs, 311.8 grain arrow- 349.4 fps. If you put stock in the calculators, then the bow does lose some efficiency with the heavier arrows when calculating the IBO speeds. I will say that at 30" draw I could feel a hump at the back end of the draw cycle, but I have felt worse. Not to mention that 30" draw is too long for me, so that might factor into that as well.
I highly recommend that you go out and shoot these bows. I'll be honest, and again this is subjective, but even though the bow has a little vibration at the shot, and even though it does seem to lose a little with the heavier arrows (according to the calculator's formulas) this bow really impressed me. The feel of this bow, and the speeds that it puts out is impressive.
I hope you got some useful information here, and as I said, go out and shoot one.
