August 12, 2013
By Jon E. Silks
influence on the archery industry in recent years as BowTech . Driven by its "Refuse to Follow" motto, BowTech has built a strong following by taking bold design risks and developing a host of leading bow technologies.
For 2013, BowTech introduces the aptly named Experience , a bow designed to maximize the archer's overall shooting experience, with a strong focus on accuracy. This rig features the new CarbonCore Limbs and Extinguish Dampening System, along with a host of proven technologies such as the OverDrive Binary Cam System, Center Pivot Extreme Riser, Two-Piece Wood Grip, FLX Guard Cable-Containment System and Octane factory string and cables. Read more for my BowTech Experience review.
What's New?
BowTech introduces the all-new CarbonCore limbs on its new flagship bow. Each limb includes six proprietary layers of laminated material, including a layer of carbon and a layer of impact resistant skins on the top and bottom surfaces. The laminated, double taper limbs, coupled with the Center Pivot design, result in low dynamic mass and improved dynamic response, reducing energy loss and noise while making any limb vibration easier to dampen. Limbs measure 12 inches in length and are offered in draw-weight ranges of 40-50, 50-60 and 60-70 pounds.
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Also new on BowTech's Experience is the Extinguish Dampening System, which features The Clutch String Stop, Dura-FLX Cable Dampeners and a set of Revolver Dampeners. Unlike many other string stops, The Clutch actually has a receptacle to catch the string inside of its "jaws." BowTech's Revolver is named for its webbed rubber design that resembles a revolver's circular chamber. A Revolver is located near each end of the riser and on the string stop mounting rod. There are five weights suspended in rubber around the outside diameter of the web to reduce vibration.
What's Proven?
Along with the new technologies and features on the Experience, there are many proven features carried over from previous models. Kick it into Overdrive: The OverDrive Binary Cam System is a symmetrical cam system, which means the top and bottom cams are mirror images of each other.
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Further, the two cams are forced to turn in synchronization by the cam synchronizing axles. Together they result in straight and level nock travel, even at high speeds. The cam synchronizing axles allow the attachment of a split bus cable to both the top and bottom cams, which does two things.
First, it provides a rigid platform that reduces the possibility of limb twist/cam lean, and second, it allows for simple adjustments to the split bus cable for systematic tuning without moving the arrow rest side to side. With this system, you set the arrow rest at dead center and tune to perfect arrow flight by adjusting the split cables.
Draw lengths from 26€‰1„2-31 inches, in half-inch increments, can be selected via a rotating module and adjustable draw stop. The OverDrive Binary Cam System produces an advertised IBO speed of 335 feet per second with a 7-inch brace height and 80 percent effective letoff.
Center of Operations: BowTech's signature Center Pivot Extreme (CPX) riser is configured in such a way to allow the limbs to be attached to the riser over a longer span than is typical. This moves the limb pivot toward the shooter and results in a riser with minimal reflex for enhanced torque resistance, which equates to improved forgiveness.
On Guard: BowTech's FLX-Guard cable-containment system has an attachment arm that acts much like a bow limb, flexing during the draw cycle. When the bow is drawn the arm gives way to system tension and bends toward the centerline of the rig, reducing accuracy-stealing torque. When the shot is fired, the FLX-Guard automatically springs back to position and out of the way of passing vanes.
Experience the Extras: The Experience has a two-piece wood grip that is designed to force the shooter's hand into the throat and against the upper stop consistently and comfortably. Also at home on the riser is a stainless steel stabilizer bushing and a flared riser shelf to keep broadheads away from the shooter's hand.
Impressions
BowTech's 2013 Experience is designed to enhance your shooting enjoyment and make you a better shot. During testing, I was able to do exactly what is advertised — place the arrow rest dead center and tune with the split bus cables. I like that feature. The grip was comfortable and the draw cycle was fairly smooth. Minimal shock and vibration are further reduced with a
quality stabilizer.
Archery Accessory Box ols, you'll realize that they are easy to misplace, which is why a storage system like the
Archery Accessory Box from
Plano Molding is a good idea. The Archery Accessory Box is designed with a see-through top, one lift-out tray, up to 16 adjustable compartments, and is compact enough to throw in your vehicle when you hit the road in the fall.
Price: $ 20
Archers Allen Wrench Set If you want to boil down tool needs to a granular level, the jumping-off point for all bow work involves a quality set of Allen wrenches. I emphasize the word quality because I've had sets completely explode on me the first time I've used them. I don't know why it's so hard to make a set of Allen wrenches that will last, but a lot of companies seem to have trouble with the task. Fortunately,
Pine Ridge Archery has it figured out with their
Archers Allen Wrench Set . This set has all of the wrenches you're likely to need, and it contains them with a bolt and nut assembly that doesn't allow them to flop all over the place like lesser-quality sets. I keep a set in my shop, my truck and my daypack, so I'm covered no matter where or when I hunt.
Price: $ 10
Bowsmith Another tool that has found its way into my shop is the
Bowsmith from
Real Avid . The Bowsmith contains needle-nose pliers, a string spreader, knife blade, fletching stripper, nock crimp, string loop setter, and a bevy of other tools (28 in total). This handy tool set is small enough to stow away in a pack as well, and it can be invaluable in bow camp when the nearest pro shop is far away.
Price: $ 50
Allen Company Compact Bow Tuning Kit I also used my
Allen Company Compact Bow Tuning Kit . Since I had to redo my center serving, I also needed to tie on a new string loop, which necessitated the use of the contained bow square. Although I didn't use a nock set, the Compact Bow Tuning Kit comes with nock pliers and three nock sets.
Price: $ 15
Digital Bow Scale An often-overlooked tool that is simple and can be used by every bow owner is a bow scale. I like
Cabela's Digital Bow Scale , which features a backlit LCD screen and automatic weight lock, and is accurate up to 110 pounds in case you plan to shoot deer hiding behind concrete walls. It amazes me how often I talk to bowhunters who simply guess at their draw weight after cranking their limbs in or out a few turns. It's much better to know exactly what your bow is set at, especially if you're getting close to either end of your bow's recommended weight spectrum.
Price: $ 20
Pro Archery Pliers If you're in the market for a pair of pliers that will last longer than any bow you're likely to buy and features a nock set crimper and remover, a D-loop stretcher and scary sharp side-cutters, look no further than the
Pro Archery Pliers from
Easton Technical Products . These needle-nose pliers are extremely durable and can make home bow fixes a breeze.
Price: $ 22
Bohning Mini Server Considering potential bow fixes, it would be wise to not ignore serving issues. Last fall I was sitting in a treestand in north-central Wisconsin, when I happened to glance down at my nocked arrow. The angle looked off, and upon closer inspection I realized that my center serving had slipped and my entire string loop had crept up my string, throwing my entire bow tune out of alignment. Back at the cabin, I busted out my
Bohning Mini Server and re-served my string. The Mini Server is perfect for the home bow mechanic because it eliminates the need for a cable spreader and is extremely easy to use. However, that wasn't the only tool I used to get back to shooting.
Price: $ 19
Economy Vise After putting the above tools to good use at home or in deer camp, it's inevitable that you'll realize something is missing — a vise. The option to clamp your bow into a quality vise and work on it with both hands free is important, which is why I've started using an
Economy Vise from
Apple Archery . Plastic-coated jaws provide a secure grip on your bow's limb without causing any damage to the finish, while the Economy Vise allows for 360 degrees of left-to-right and front-to-back rotation. Just like using a lineman's belt to hang a treestand for the first time, when you use a vise like this to work on your bow, you'll wonder how you ever functioned without it.
Price: $ 81
