Mathews NO CAM HTR Bow
OutdoorHub Contributors 08.20.15
Archery season is rapidly approaching. Around this time of year, many hunters start looking at new bows to equip themselves with. Deciding on a new bow can be a daunting task. Over the last decade or so there have been many new manufacturers that have entered the marketplace. Most have brought a level of quality and innovation but there is one brand that has stood the test of time: Mathews.
Mathews has introduced many new products over the years and was able to leverage the parallel limb design with the ever-popular Outback. The brand has always been known for its quality and commitment to excellence. This year Mathews has released another new bow, the NO CAM HTR. At first, I thought this might simply be a toothless way to market the brand. How could a compound bow in today’s world not have cams? My opinions were quickly shifted the first time I pulled it back.
Specs
- Brace Height: 6 5/8″
- Draw Weight: 50, 60 & 70 lbs
- Bow Weight: approximately 4.14 / 4.3 lbs (with two Harmonic Stabilizers)
- Let-off: 65%, 75%, 85%
- Draw Lengths: 24-30″
- Half Sizes: 24.5-29.5″
- String/Cable String: 59 7/8″, Cable: 37 5/8″
- Riser Length: 28.92″
- IBO Rating: up to 330 fps
- Axle-to-Axle: 32″
- MSRP: $1,099
I am not a Mathews pro staffer, nor am I a professional archer or hunter. I am, however, a very passionate whitetail and big game hunter. I have approximately 15 years of archery hunting experience.
Before we go any further, I equipped the bow up with an Archer’s Choice Range Rover Pro sight from TRUGLO, an arrow rest from TRUGLO, and Easton Deep Six arrows. I set the draw weight at 65 pounds and the draw length at 27 inches.
I was set-up and was ready to sight it in. When I pulled it back to release my first arrow, I was blown away by how smooth the draw cycle is. It was at that point I knew I was in for a treat. I quickly sighted in and began working on my groups. I don’t like to use the word “forgiving” in archery because there is no forgiveness when you make a poor shot on an animal you set out to harvest, but this bow is extremely easy to shoot. It is well-balanced and sits nicely in the hand with the new grip.
Over the past decade, the big thing in archery has been speed. Most of the newer manufactures have competed in the IBO game. Speed is important to shoot flat and confidently. The NO CAM has plenty of speed, with a 330 IBO rating. What impresses me way beyond speed is how I think this bow will perform in the field. After all, we are looking at this from a hunter’s perspective. Here are three specific reasons why I think the NO CAM will be a solid performer.
First, the draw cycle and solid wall on this bow are some of the best in the business. It will allow for a smooth draw in tough scenarios and poor weather conditions. We all know that it can be difficult to draw your bow after sitting in a treestand for hours in what feels like (and in some cases, what are) sub-zero temperatures. This bow will definitely help overcome those challenges.
Second, noise. The other impressive aspect of the NO CAM is how truly quiet it is. As we set up the slow-mo camera (see below) to get some fancy shots, I released an arrow into the target. My cameraman said to me, “go ahead and shoot.”
“I already did,” I replied.
“Wow,” he said. “I didn’t even hear it!”
He was standing less than 10 yards from me. This bow is extremely quiet and nothing can be more valuable to the hunter than that.
Third, after shooting 100 or so arrows, I began to notice something. After I released my arrow, the bow didn’t even move. It felt like it was dead in my hand. There was little to no vibration in the bow after released. This helps tremendously with accuracy and consistency. When we looked at the slow-motion footage we recorded, we could really see how little vibration occurred. It is no surprise why this bow is so accurate out of the box.
You can see our video of the bow in action below:
Aside from being one of the most impressive hunting bows I’ve shot, the fit and finish are also very appealing. Mathews’ website offers the customer an opportunity to customize their bow with a choice of finishes, string and cable options, and accessories. This is a great feature for those who want the appearance of their bow personalized to their liking.
At the end of the day, whether you are a novice archery hunter or an absolute die-hard, this bow will perform. I highly recommend it.
