Welcome buddy from Penn State

 

Out of the 2 bows that you listed, I would go with the Bowtech Reckoning 39 Gen 2. I would love to see a head to head comparison between the Reckoning 39 Gen 2, the Verdict, the Reckoning 38 and for good measure the Bowtech Fanatic 3.0. That is because I am shooting the Bowtech Fanatic 3.0 on comfort setting for indoor spots.

 

Hi dear Bowfriends

I am actually a Mathews Shooter and I love the bows but I wished the did something new in the target section...

With all the new released target bows I am wondering which bows you really would buy and why? For me Hoyt Stratos and Bowtech Reckoning Gen2 is very interesting and I am thinking probably to buy one. Which you would prefer and why?

Sincerely Simon

Of the two, I'd do the Hoyt. The main difficulty with the Hoyt would be getting the correct cam size for my drawlength (which I've complained about elsewhere), but assuming I could actually get one in my hands before I had to buy it, it still would be my pick. Reason being, Hoyt's target risers have always been the best on the market, IMO, especially their grip, for me.

The Bowtech is an interesting design but on the Gen2, the only feature on it I'd actually use is the "time lock" system that allows you to micro-adjust your cable lengths without a press. The rest of the stuff on the limb tips is way overengineered, IMO, and would be nothing I'd ever actually use. All that machinery at the tips could become a reliability issue over the long term.

The Hoyt just has the traditional axle stuck through a pair of holes in the limbs - much simpler and totally maintenance free over the life of the bearings in the cams....

lee.

 

The Bowtech is an interesting design but on the Gen2, the only feature on it I'd actually use is the "time lock" system that allows you to micro-adjust your cable lengths without a press. The rest of the stuff on the limb tips is way overengineered, IMO, and would be nothing I'd ever actually use. All that machinery at the tips could become a reliability issue over the long term.

I’m kind of the opposite, however I do own a press and have a back yard range. I have a reckoning and really enjoyed the deadlock over shims or top hats when setting up. Adjusting arrow flight by removing cams and swapping shims is so inefficient compared to tweaking that deadlock. I can’t say I wouldn’t by a bow without it but I had my paper tear perfect in 10 mins. On my other bows swapping shims is an annoying job.

On the other hand if I need to adjust timing it only takes minutes for me to press the bow pop a cable off and add a twist. I set my cams to be symmetrical by lining up the timing dots and the bow shoots great. Use quality string and cables and you shouldn’t have to mess with it much from there forward.

 

Bowtech Reckoning 39 Gen 2, way above the rest!

 

I ordered a Reckoning 36 Gen 2 a couple weeks ago. It draws, holds and shoots like a dream.

 

I went into the shop intending to buy a verdict and walked out with the reckoning gen2

 

Athens Peak 38. Or atleast that’s the one I want.

 

Probably the Bowtech because I already have a pair of Invictas, and would want to try something different. Have you looked at the PSE Dominator Duo?

 

I reallllyyyyy want to get my hands on one of these and see it in the flesh. My wife probably doesn't want me to but thats a problem for future me.

 

I ordered the Hoyt Stratos with HBT cams. Liked the riser better. Like the grip options and not sure the cable timing system would ever be used that’s on the BT, neat feature though. Like the hard/soft back wall adjustability and the letoff adjustment on the cam.

 

Man got to love that time lock feature. Bowtech Reckoning 39 Gen 2 would be my choice!

 

Bowtech for sure.

 

Invicta was my 1st compound, then moved to PSE supra RTX which i could shoot 100m were with the Invicta I could do a bit more than 70m in that setup and draw felt so much better, now I bought Reckoning 36 gen2 because of the tuning possibilities.

 

The bowtech rec 36 would be my pick

 

I'm a sucker for innovation. That said, the Hoyt is nice with the multiple grip choices and the 1/4" draw length adjustment. On the other hand, the limit draw length range of each cam is a definite turn-off for me as it limits re-sale opportunities.

The Bowtech has many more adjustments and is much more flexible. I really like the idea of the infinitely adjustable grip angle and the wide range of let-off adjustments. The other tuning adjustments are also quite interesting to me. Finally, I like the flip disk system that offers different draw profiles that can be changed in 5 minutes without a bow press. With Hoyt you need to purchase all new cams and use a bow press to change draw profiles.

Based on all this, I ordered the Reckoning Gen2 36 with medium cams. I'm sure the Hoyt is a fine bow, but the Bowtech just sucked me in with all its features.

 

My understanding, at least for the HBT is this mitigates efficiency loss for shorter draw lengths by having 2 cam sizes and a range for each. SVX probably same. Not an engineer, that’s how it was explained to me when I asked why they didn’t use a single cam with wide dl adjustment

 

The Reckoning G2 checks every box you can think of. Adjustable grip, cable timing, let-off, micro adjustable draw length, side to side cam positioning without a press. Different cam options to maximize efficiency. Flip the mod for comfort vs performance... what other bow does all this?..

 

Well, not Hoyt.
Then again, my Hoyt dealer does this with Hoyt's delivered to their shop. 'Cause that's what GOOD Hoyt dealers do. (Archery at the Glen, Allentown, PA).

 

I just find the Reckoning not aesthetically appealing. Since I don't shoot for a living, I tend to lean towards what bow makes me want to shoot it.🤷‍♂️

 

It is not the most aesthetically pleasing bow I agree but it delivers. You can not allow your self to be put off by that. You are buying a bow that delivers is well tunable has a good draw cycle....

 

Those gen 2 reckonings look very appealing. Draw length, let off, cam timing, cam lean all adjustable without modules or a press. And let off doesn't affect draw length. I think Bowtech are leading the pack with these new bows. Elite are a close 2nd with their adjustability.

 

Hi dear Bowfriends

I am actually a Mathews Shooter and I love the bows but I wished the did something new in the target section...

With all the new released target bows I am wondering which bows you really would buy and why? For me Hoyt Stratos and Bowtech Reckoning Gen2 is very interesting and I am thinking probably to buy one. Which you would prefer and why?

Sincerely Simon

Funny you say that. I may be posting something for sale on here tomorrow lol 😆

 

I have a Stratos 40 SVX and chose this for the following reasons:

Its a very fast cam and so I can shoot it for WA 3D. Probably a bit faster than the Reckoning 39 G2 in performance it seems. It’s also super smooth and linear.
The Invicta was massively successful on the competition scene with the SVX and the neutral riser would only improve matters on the Stratos, I figured.
I wanted to a try a stiff shoot thru riser.
…. But the R39 G2 wasn’t released when I ordered.

The HBT wasn’t an option due to my DL falling perfectly between the two and fear of ordering the wrong cam.
the +1/8“ grip options are really useful for tweaking DL.

I just handily beat my indoor personal best with the Stratos. It aims and holds so well and this is my main criteria. You can adjust any bow to fit, given time and a press, but how will it shoot for you when you get the most out of it that you can? You need to live with a bow to figure that out. Test shooting at a shop won’t give you the answer.

….But, the R39 also has a neutral riser and loads of tech. I would happily have ordered one blind and bet it’s a heck of a shooter. The reason I didn’t wait for this bow is that I didn’t t think it would compete with the Hoyt SVX for speed and it’s impossible to try one here in the Uk. Now I see how it’s a bit quicker than a TRX at measured DL in Performance, it would definitely have been a toss up with the Hoyt!

the HBT Stratos has vastly better DL adjustment (1/8” resolution) than the Bowtech, but the latter is far better for tuning. Take your pick! Both incredible bows that leave PSE in the dust this year and Mathews will a lot to achieve next year.

P.S. Compared to my TRXs, I can only describe my Stratos as more ‘direct’ and ‘precise’. It’s very forgiving with respect to torque and lateral issues, but also demands a lot of you (SVX, at least) at the back end. that said, when you do things right, I think it communicates better than the TRX and has better, more consistent pin float. I had astonishing pin float from it running a bit too long, but struggled to stay strong on the shot (and you don’t want to get weak with the SVX!). I am now shooting 1/8” too short until new longer string arrives. I can’t wait to see what this bow can do when feeling perfect if I have cut my personal best’s dropped points in half with this bow compared to my TRX. The TRX is much more forgiving of a casual, relaxed shooting style. Small mistakes are ironed out, like a Rolls Royce‘s suspension. The Stratos is unashamedly Porsche GT3.

 

With my TRX I found when adjusting DL to be longer the draw cycle began to change to be more ready to go and the valley felt like it was vanishing. This really influenced my bow buying decision this year

 

Mathews Conquest 4 would be my choice.

Sent from my SM-G990U1 using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for all this infos... Can I ask is there someone who has shot the Gen2 and the Stratos and compared them side by side? What was your impressions?

 

Hi dear Bowfriends

I am actually a Mathews Shooter and I love the bows but I wished the did something new in the target section...

With all the new released target bows I am wondering which bows you really would buy and why? For me Hoyt Stratos and Bowtech Reckoning Gen2 is very interesting and I am thinking probably to buy one. Which you would prefer and why?

Sincerely Simon

If these are my only 2 choices, I would pick the Bowtech. (Assuming it is very close to last years Reckoning)

I have multiple friends who are looking to part with their Stratos.... one just ordered a Peak 38 from me and the other is sticking going back to his TRX 38 for now.

 

Interesting. What are they disliking about their Stratos? HBT or SVX?

I love my TRXs and think that in some respects they are ‘nicer’ to shoot than the Stratos SVX, but can’t get past how precise the Stratos seems to be and where the arrows go! It seems that. The HBT is a very different bow, but assume the riser plays the main role here.