May 15, 2014
By Bowhunting Online Staff
Mathews recently added two new bows to its Monster Chill Series for the 2014 season, the Monster Chill X and Chill SDX .
The Chill X offers avid archers versatility for 3D target shooting or hunting. With an IBO speed rating of 336 fps with 75 percent let-off, an axle-to-axle measuring at 35-inches, 7-inch brace height and featuring an all new AVS DYAD Cam System with enlarged perimeter weighting, the Chill X provides a solid shooting platform with superior post-shot feel.
At just slightly over 4 pounds, the Chill X also comes standard with Mathews' all-new ROCK MODS for enhancing performance and versatility.
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MSRP for the Chill X is $1,099.
Mathews' Chill SDX is a top-of-the-line dual cam bow designed specifically for women archers that may be small in stature, but demand big performance. With the AVS DYAD Cam system, the SDX provides a smooth draw and features an axle-to-axle length of 30.5-inches, 6-inch brace height, a Geo Grid Lock riser, focus grip and weighs just under 4 pounds. At a blazing 330 fps, the SDX packs tremendous downrange energy.
The SDX is available in black and Lost Camo . Additionally, the SDX can be further enhanced with Mathews new PNK graphics package.
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MSRP for the SDX is $999.
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
