Bow Testing

Field Test: Bow Shootout 2017 Field & Stream put the year's new flagship compound bows and crossbows to the test in an annual four-day grudge match. For compound bows, editors looked for speed, bow noise, accuracy and forgiveness; all the while evaluating draw cycle, shock and vibration, balance and handling, and fit and finish. For the crossbow test, they judged for accuracy, speed and energy, noise, handling, fit and finish, trigger pull, cocking effort, and safety. Then they chose the top ten in each category. As always with this test, there was a lot of shooting, measuring, taking notes, crunching numbers, and arguing. Lots of arguing. Here's how it shook out. After stumbling off the podium in 2016—the first time out of our top three in at least six years—Bowtech is back on top. While there's nothing radically new about the 2017 flagship, the Reign puts all of the brand's best technologies (Overdrive Binary Cam system, FLX-Guard, Center Pivot riser, and Powershift) into a near flawless package that's smoother shooting than last year's.