2026 Hunting Bows??? What will you be buying or shooting this year???

[RBanta66]

Since No one has mentioned this earlier I'll be that guy. LOL
I made a switch!!! I purchased the new Hoyt AX-3 33in 65-75lb limbs. I got the new Sandstorm with black limbs and Grey topo contour lines, with matching brand and model logos, also sand strings. I'll be shooting a Easton Match Grade 5.0 at 465gns, AAE Max Stealth Vanes, 4in green topo wraps, Easton X knock, Easton 75gn steel match grade halfouts up-front and I'll be shooting a 125gn broadhead, most likely the G5 T2 or a Striker V2, possibly a Grim Reaper Pro micro Hades.
I'll post a couple pics after it gets here.
UPDATE: Arrows are built without points they weigh exactly 350gns which makes it simple. With 100gn point = 450gn, with 125gn point
= 475gn.

 

[-CRASH]

Still shooting my old Mathews Heli-M. Lol

I know I should upgrade. But stuck in this long range shooting upgrades rut. Lol

 

[RBanta66]

Still shooting my old Mathews Heli-M. Lol

I know I should upgrade. But stuck in this long range shooting upgrades rut. Lol

You'll be in my position one day. GOT MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER USE OR NEED!! Still wanting more Big Boy TOYS!!!

 

[Dallen0427]

My VXR is still doing its duty, kinda same as Mr. Crash

 

[RBanta66]

My VXR is still doing its duty, kinda same as Mr. Crash

I absolutely didn't need another bow as I've got 3 Bowtech's that have all killed deer. I've killed more deer with my 2012 Insanity CPX than my other 2 combined. I've always wanted to try a Hoyt and since I'm turning 60 in 2 months I decided it was time. My buddy in Oregon keeps killing elk with his VXR. They are great bows!!!

 

[Dallen0427]

I absolutely didn't need another bow as I've got 3 Bowtech's that have all killed deer. I've killed more deer with my 2012 Insanity CPX than my other 2 combined. I've always wanted to try a Hoyt and since I'm turning 60 in 2 months I decided it was time. My buddy in Oregon keeps killing elk with his VXR. They are great bows!!!

60! Holy smokes that’s old! I have at least 6 more months

 

[Wired2Hunt]

Still shooting my old Mathews Heli-M. Lol

I know I should upgrade. But stuck in this long range shooting upgrades rut. Lol

LOL this is exactly me. Everytime I go into an archery shop I realize that my bow will do just fine, but I could surely use another gun.

Plus I love my Heli-M. I am sure the new Arc is better, but can't justify the cost increase.

 

[RBanta66]

LOL this is exactly me. Everytime I go into an archery shop I realize that my bow will do just fine, but I could surely use another gun.

Plus I love my Heli-M. I am sure the new Arc is better, but can't justify the cost increase.

I hear ya, it took my a long time to buy a new bow as my Insanity is still faster and lighter than all the new bows. What I can say is the big improvement in the new bows is in the cams. They are way more efficient throughout the entire draw cycle. Other than that they're had been more improvement in Archery accessories like sights, stabilizers, side bars and how these accessories attach to the bow. Funny thing is yesterday I got my Insanity out and shot 1 group at 40yds, the vanes were all touching, a 1in group. Still my favorite bow behind my Parker Blackhawk XP I shot before my Insanity. That bow was so quiet and a killer. I killed so many deer with that bow. Wish I would have never got rid of it.

 

[Dallen0427]

LOL this is exactly me. Everytime I go into an archery shop I realize that my bow will do just fine, but I could surely use another gun.

Plus I love my Heli-M. I am sure the new Arc is better, but can't justify the cost increase.

I’m the same…..especially when the shop guys tell me to shoot it a couple times to try it out……from my first bow (bear WT hunter) to now, they have jumped in orders of magnitude in terms of performance, material and engineering. I think the difference between yearly models these days is very small incrementally, but it’s enough. The only thing I was looking at this year was a new sight. My current works just fine but was looking at a slider type sight, but not sure how that would work in a quick shot scenario.

 

[RBanta66]

The only thing I was looking at this year was a new sight. My current works just fine but was looking at a slider type sight, but not sure how that would work in a quick shot scenario.

You can get a slider with 2 or 3 vertical pins. Right now I'm shooting a single and it hasn't cost me a deer yet. If you practice as much as I do you'll see that set on 30yd you just aim low on closer shots and high shoulder on longer shots. I'm getting close to 300fps and this works great. I have a 3 pin vertical slider for my new bow CBE Trek Pro Micro 3V. Top 2 pins are 20, 30, third pin is 40 and the slider for longer shots. I've got this set-up on my Insanity with a cheap Redline sight and it works great.
Pic is off the CBE

 

[Dallen0427]

You can get a slider with 2 or 3 vertical pins. Right now I'm shooting a single and it hasn't cost me a deer yet. If you practice as much as I do you'll see that set on 30yd you just aim low on closer shots and high shoulder on longer shots. I'm getting close to 300fps and this works great. I have a 3 pin vertical slider for my new bow CBE Trek Pro Micro 3V. Top 2 pins are 20, 30, third pin is 40 and the slider for longer shots. I've got this set-up on my Insanity with a cheap Redline sight and it works great.
Pic is off the CBE

My set up right now is first pin good from 0 to 30 (aim a bit low for something like a frontal shot at 10 or less). That way there isn’t too much thinking involved for quick shots. I think I’d like to simplicity of a single pin. For longer shots, I generally have a bit more time to get the shot off. I think like you, I’d know where the hold over was at for 40 in case the shot is quick. Moose are really big targets and they aren’t terribly reactive. Elk on the other hand……

 

[-CRASH]

LOL this is exactly me. Everytime I go into an archery shop I realize that my bow will do just fine, but I could surely use another gun.

Plus I love my Heli-M. I am sure the new Arc is better, but can't justify the cost increase.

Exactly. I think once I get my rifle stuff where I am happy and fills my current and future needs, I will upgrade.

There is a lot of advantages to getting an updated bow for sure. I have no doubt on what @RBanta66 said above that the draw cycles are better/smoother. Especially since my bow is many many years old. The other advantage I see would be the speed increase. I don't dare to say I am a speed freak when it comes to bows. But the thought of a single or dual pin site is appealing. Right now I have the trophy ridge react site. It's a (5) pin site and it serves me well. But you do need to pay attention to which one before letting her fly. Something more simple would nice.

 

[RBanta66]

I shot a 4 or 5 pin sight until about 4 yrs ago. I did really well with those sights and was skeptical going to a single pin slider. @-CRASH We talked about this when I made the switch. The biggest advantage is your sight picture not being cluttered with at those pins. The pins rather single, dual or triple stacked from the bottom straight up the center is so much cleaner and just presents a much cleared sight picture and IMO much easier to get on target.

 

[Dallen0427]

I shot a 4 or 5 pin sight until about 4 yrs ago. I did really well with those sights and was skeptical going to a single pin slider. @-CRASH We talked about this when I made the switch. The biggest advantage is your sight picture not being cluttered with at those pins. The pins rather single, dual or triple stacked from the bottom straight up the center is so much cleaner and just presents a much cleared sight picture and IMO much easier to get on target.

This is the main reason I’m looking at switching. There have been times where my sight pins have obscured the animal enough that I had to tilt my head away from the site to get the frame of reference back. I think a single or dual vertical pin would really help in these instances. I think I’m sold on these sliders.

 

[-CRASH]

This is the main reason I’m looking at switching. There have been times where my sight pins have obscured the animal enough that I had to tilt my head away from the site to get the frame of reference back. I think a single or dual vertical pin would really help in these instances. I think I’m sold on these sliders.

Not so sure I'm sold on the "slider" aspect of the sight. Id honestly probably just leave it and adjust like @RBanta66 mentioned he does. Stuff happens very quick where I hunt and I just don't like the thought of adjusting the sight then going at it.

I should mention at my current skill level, I try to keep my shots at 35yds and in. 40 is the max I would send one. And it would need to be a giant, lifetime buck. I prefer 30 and in.

I've also started learning more about FOC and heavier weighted arrows. The archery thing can be just as much of a rabbit hole as long range shooting. I definitely need to be more informed and up to date with current equipment and techniques. I just need to remind myself that it's more of "skill stacking". Having skills at multiple hunting disciplines is never a bad thing.

 

[Dallen0427]

I had a scenario that I think would have been better with a single vertical pin last September. We had a bull bugle mid day and went after him. Typical bedding area comprised of fairly thick timber, kinda dark. Called when we got to what we thought was 150 yards or so. Bull responded with a half hearted bugle and I cut him off with an aggressive bugle which evidently pissed him off. I had a shooting window picked, but it was small. When he stepped into it, I cow called and stopped him. He was 27 yards, the window was about 6” wide and I had to pull my head away from the bow to make sure I was looking at his lung area and not the shoulder. Luckily he stood there with that movement, and I took the shot. My pins obscured him enough that I couldn’t be sure where I was looking. Had this happen quite a few times with black bears over bait in low light. I practice to 80 yards and am pretty good, but when it comes to hunting, I always think to myself, I can get closer. Sometimes I can, sometimes I can’t. It’s bow hunting.

 

[Spreedizzle]

Personally I’m a huge fan of a stacked dual pin. For my setup it is 20 and 36 yards dead on. Pretty easy in the heat of the moment to focus on just those 2 and adjust your hold if need be. 3 pin stacked to me gets too cluttered.

 

[RBanta66]

Personally I’m a huge fan of a stacked dual pin. For my setup it is 20 and 36 yards dead on. Pretty easy in the heat of the moment to focus on just those 2 and adjust your hold if need be. 3 pin stacked to me gets too cluttered.

I haven't tried the 3 pin stacked yet so you may be dead on but I'm going to try it as it will be on the bow I'll not only hunt whitetails with but I'll take that bow out west. That's the main reason I'm wanting to try the 3 stacked pins. Out west is a whole different ball game.

 

[RBanta66]

This is the only group I shot today and it was with my 2012 Bowtech Insanity 73lb draw and a cheap Redline with 3 vertical pins at 60yds. I called it good for the day after this group. Didn't want to jinx myself. Lol

 

[Dallen0427]

Good note to end on!

 

[RBanta66]

So here it is boys. My new Hoyt AX3 65-75lb limbs. Draws at 29in and 78lbs, shooting a 450gn arrow at 290fps.
Added a photo as I forgot one of the top of the limbs. One of the cool aspects of the bow.

 

[RBanta66]

First forty yard shots.

 

[Dallen0427]

How do you like those 5.0’s? My arrow supply has dwindled enough to get more. GT right now but looking at those 5.0’s.

 

[RBanta66]

@Dallen0427
I shot basic GT XT Hunter shafts for years. My buddy turned me on to the older Easton HEXX shafts. They are great but were replaced by the Easton Sonic 6.0 they are also good shafts that don't break the bank. Last year when the Easton 5.0s came out I bought a dozen to try. My groups shrank by a significant margin. I shoot all three shafts. I shoot the HEXX out of my Bowtech Insanity, the Sonic and Easton 5.0s out of my Bowtech CP30 and now I will be shooting the Easton 5.0s out of my new Hoyt. All are great shafts IMO. However the 5.0s just seem to be a step ahead of the Sonic. We are fortunate as there are many great arrow manufacturers today. When I first started bowhunting all there really was, was the old Easton aluminum shafts 2216, XX75. I bent quite a few of those before I killed my first deer. Lol.

 

[Dallen0427]

I shoot XT hunters now and have done well with them but like the smaller diameter of the 5.0. Will get a dozen to try. My first arrows were the old green game getters which bent easily. You just straightened them back out, mostly, and kept shooting. When the orange XX75’s came out, that was the thing to have.

 

[Jake0921$]

LOL this is exactly me. Everytime I go into an archery shop I realize that my bow will do just fine, but I could surely use another gun.

Plus I love my Heli-M. I am sure the new Arc is better, but can't justify the cost increase.

I know I'm late to this party but I'm in the same boat. Every time I go into my local shop I shoot whatever is the newest is from Bowtech and Mathews. Then I go home and shoot my Heli-M and am reminded why I'll never get rid of it. Same letoff as the bowtech alliance, .59lbs lighter and very comparable speeds. You're right on the gun part, could always use more of those.