When experienced hunters pick a new compound bow, speed is of the utmost importance. While the fastest compound bow might not be the best overall, there are multiple advantages to fast bows, especially when hunting.
If your bow has higher speed, it will shoot flatter arrows. This means that it will be easier to combat gravity. When hunting at larger distances, determining the path of your arrows is crucial, and gravity can mess up all of your plans.
Shooting faster arrows is important, and we have compiled a list of some of the speediest compound bows on the market.
Reviews Of The Fastest Compound Bows
1. Bear Archery Escape
Best Overall
One of the fastest bows on the market
Completely silent
Adjustable draw length
Might be uncomfortable for some
Not a lot of finish options
With a speed of 350 fps, the Bear Archery Escape is definitely capable of achieving some of the highest speeds on the market. It comes extremely close to being a 400 fps compound bow, so if you are wondering what is the fastest compound bow, look no further.
However, speed is not everything this product has going for it. The Bear Archery Escape has plenty of little extras that make life easier, such as rubber inserts placed on the riser. This means that the bow makes practically no noise or vibrations whatsoever.
The draw length of this bow can be adjusted between 25.5 to 30 inches, meaning most archers will be able to set it up to their liking. However, if there is one thing we did not like about this bow, it is the brace height. It is a bit too small, so some people might find the bow uncomfortable to use.
Other than that, it is a high-performance model that will find the most use from more experienced users. It also features a HingeGuard, which can completely diminish torque. This is another quality of life feature that will make experienced hunters happy. Overall, this is an extremely fast and high-quality hunting bow.
2. Diamond Archery Deploy SB RAK
Runner Up
Carbon grip perfect for the winter
Excellent all-around specifications
Great draw length for hunting
Only for right-handed archers
Draw weight can’t be adjusted
Another excellent Diamond Archery product, this bow is capable of reaching speeds of 330 fps. The Deploy truly is a solid choice for experienced hunters. However, you don’t need to expect that you will pay a high price for this model, it is actually quite affordable.
This bow is excellent for hunting, as evidenced by its two-piece carbon grip. This grip is perfect for hunting during the cold weather. This means that no matter how harsh the winter conditions are, you will be able to shoot with this bow.
The draw length of the Diamond Archery Deploy can be adjusted from 26 to 30.5 inches, which means that it can even be used by archers with less experience. There are three models of this bow available, according to the draw weight, the 50lbs, 60lbs and the 70lbs model.
The brace height is 6.75 inches, so it is quite comfortable to use. However, one downside is that this bow is only available in a right-handed version only. We would expect manufacturers to offer both options in this day and age, but some obviously still don’t.
While this is not the most powerful compound bow on the market it still packs quite a punch, so it deserved a spot on our list. The Deploy is definitely a viable option for any archer looking for a fast, all-around good bow. Just remember that you need to be right-handed.
3. PANDARUS Compound Bow Draw 0-70 LB
Best for Beginners
Great for beginners
Lightweight and easily adjustable
Highly versatile bow
Draw weight may not get to 70lbs
If you’re looking for a compound bow that is both strong and simple to use, look no further than the Pandarus Compound Bow Draw 0-70 LB.
This bow contains a string-stopping mechanism that protects the string from being destroyed by dry fire at a speed of 320 fps. It also includes a free carrying case and numerous accessories!
The PANDARUS Compound bow is intended to be safe and simple for children and beginners. It has an adjustable draw length of 19.25 to 31 inches, making it appropriate for persons of various ages.
The bow’s draw weight ranges from 0-70 lbs, allowing it to be used for both small game hunting and target shooting.
This bow has 12 arrows (color may vary), an arrow quiver, and an easy-cocking rope cocking system. It also comes with a sight pin, which allows you to aim precisely at your target before shooting.
Overall, the PANDARUS Compound Bow 0-70 LB is ideal for anybody wishing to get started in archery or add another fast bow to their collection.
4. Bear Archery Cruzer G2
Most Innovative
Great for beginners
Easy adjustability in draw length and weight
Easy to set up
A bit pricey
Despite not being the fastest compound bow, the Bear Cruzer G2 has an amazing speed of 315 fps. This bow has a wonderful hand feel, and the grip is long, flat-backed, precisely angled, and slender.
The Bear Cruzer G2 encourages constant hand placement, and the fact that the neck doesn’t sag too much down the arrow shelf is thrilling.
The bow’s draw length and weight range from 5-70 lbs and 12 to 30 inches, respectively. It is one of the greatest compound bows for beginners because of its adjustability.
Generally speaking, the draw cycle is smooth, and you are not surprised by the bow’s 70% let-off. It lacks limb or cable brakes, resulting in a soft valley, and the more you crank the limb bolts in, the more eager the bow is to shoot.
An archer may develop with this bow, and his self-assurance will increase as he becomes more proficient. You can use the Bear Cruzer G2 for at least five years while honing your accuracy-in-the-field skills.
5. Sanlida Archery Dragon X8 RTH
Most Comfortable To Use
Doesn’t require bow press for dismantling
Comes with its own accessories
Easily mobile
Not very sturdy
Drawstring susceptible to snapping after minimal use
The Dragon X8 is smooth and simple to draw. It’s not as robust as other, more costly bows, but it’s not bad. Furthermore, some archers prefer a slight give in the back wall, so there are no significant troubles here.
The bow is rated at 310 fps, which certainly seems that way. Its shots are sharp and quick. The Dragon X8 draw cycle feels smooth and light even when pushed up to 60 lbs.
Before reaching the full draw, there is a perceptible valley of approximately an inch or two. In addition, the back wall does seem very solid, and Dragon is a good hunting bow since it is silent and almost stealthy.
The Dragon X8 is a solid-feeling shot with no twangs or rattles. Also, vibrations are nearly unnoticeable, especially when equipped with stabilizers.
With only the hunting damper set, the bow naturally cants to the right, but this is easily fixed with a decent side rod. And, like many other hunting bows, due to its short length, you will have to work harder to keep the bow steady, especially if you do not employ a windbreaker or a full stabilizer configuration.
Overall, this bow performs admirably for its intended purpose and is a fine product at a reasonable price. Still, there are better options on our list.
How To Choose A Fast Compound Bow
Now that you have seen our picks for the fastest compound bows, you might be wondering how exactly to approach choosing one. There are several factors when it comes to picking a bow according to its speed. Some of the important ones are the cam design and brace height. This article can also help you pick the best overall compound bow.
Picking a fast compound bow offers plenty of advantages which we will talk about next. Even though our overall winner is the Bear Archery Escape, we urge you to go through the entire list to find a product of your liking. Our goal was not to find the one bow with the highest speed in the world, but to find those that are extremely fast but also offer high quality in all aspects.
Cam Design
The cam system is often extremely important when it comes to fast compound bows. These bows are usually equipped with a cam system that stores the energy in the limbs of the bow which allows you to make sudden shots. This is crucial when hunting, so most of the bows on our list feature one, like the Elite Archery Impulse 34.
The cam system’s design is determined by the curve of the draw force in a bow. This system will help the draw be smooth all the way, from the pull to the release. Cam systems with an aggressive, abrupt curve are what you will be looking for when buying a fast compound bow. These make the energy build up quicker, giving your arrow the necessary force in no time.
Brace Height
Shorter brace height can help a bow chive higher speeds. The brace height can affect the draw stroke of a bow and put increased energy behind your shots. This is important when hunting because you want your arrows to be able to penetrate animal hides which can be quite thick.
Still, bows with shorter brace height can be difficult to use for beginners. This makes sense, because only experienced archers would know how to handle bows with high power and speed. For inexperienced users, it is recommended that the brace height be slightly taller than 6 inches, like in the PSE Archery Evolve 28. This won’t affect their aim, speed and accuracy.
FAQs
Conclusion
While picking the fastest compound bow was not easy, in the end we decided that these are the best models currently available. Our overall winner is the Bear Archery Escape, a bow that can achieve extremely high speeds but everything else about it is on the highest level as well. It is cheaper than many other models on our list, while being faster than those.
The runner up is the Diamond Archery Deploy SB RAK, another excellent fast compound bow. This bow is a bit more expensive, but is well suited for beginners. It also comes with plenty of useful accessories.