By Dave Hurteau

This winter I was tickled—tickled I say—to learn that Bowtech would offer a 35-inch version of its new flagship Insanity, along with a fairly normal-by-today’s-short-bow-standards 32-inch model. This, along with Bear’s new 35.25-inch Anarchy and PSE’s 33.75-inch Dream Season EVO and Hoyt’s 35-inch Carbon Matrix, among others, could actually make a person hope that the short-and-light craze is mercifully coming to an end. (More on that another time.)

I say mercifully because I tend to like a longer, heavier bow. Generally, they shoot better. I say generally because this cannot be assumed in the particular. (I recently tested a 30-inch, 3.5-pound Mathews Heli-M that was a real shooter. More on that another time.) And so, I just got done shooting the Bowtech Insanity CPX and CPXL, equipped with the identical accessories, side-by-side. Using the same three arrows, I took 10 three-shot groups at 30, 40, 50, and 60 yards with each bow, and then averaged the group sizes. Here are the results:

CPX @ 30: 2.77 inches
CPXL @ 30:  2.86 inches

CPX @ 40: 3.87 inches
CPXL @ 40: 3.48 inches

CPX @ 50: 5.77 inches
CPXL @ 50: 4.39 inches

CPX @ 60: 5.66 inches
CPXL @ 60: 4.39 inches

They are surprisingly different bows. The CPX has a shorter brace height, a more aggressive draw stroke, and a steeper valley, all of which contribute to its 15 fps IBO edge. The CPXL is easier to draw and hold against the back wall, and, I found, easier to hold on target. In terms of accuracy and forgiveness, there was very little difference between the two inside 40 yards. But beyond that, the longer, heavier bow started to pull away.

For most hunting, there’s a legitimate argument for the faster model. But I like the more accurate one, which is still purdy dern fast. 

Comments (9)

from Sneaky wrote 48 weeks 21 hours ago

Do they even make bows anymore that aren't fast and accurate?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Clay Cooper wrote 48 weeks 19 hours ago

Going on 13 years now on my HCA 4Runner modified with a Mathews wheel with bearings.

Nobody has impressed me enough to buy a new one or considered to up grade (to what?)

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Walt Smith wrote 47 weeks 6 days ago

Yes longer bows are easier to hold on target, and when hunting whats the most important thing? Being on target!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from davycrockettfv wrote 47 weeks 5 days ago

Anybody else deeply impressed with a 4.39" group at 60 yards? Nice!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Josh Giannino wrote 47 weeks 5 days ago

i prefer my short bows, the longer bows are cumbersome in tight situations like ground blinds and secluded treestands in a limby tree, and why are all the new bows black? I prefer the camo which is getting harder to find.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from habben97 wrote 47 weeks 5 days ago

I think most any bow these days are pretty impressive.

yesterday me and my buddy were shooting, I had my mission menace, and he had a Mathews outback. I outshot him that time. he stuck an old arrow in the ground in front of the target and told me to try to hit it, which I did, at 20 yards snapping it right in half.

he was pretty surprised

oh, and that was my fourth shot

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 47 weeks 5 days ago

Dave,

Very impressive groupings. You do know the Olympics are just around the corner?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from BippityBoopityMate wrote 46 weeks 3 days ago

wow, i can barely hit my target at 60 yards. good shooting!!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from labguy wrote 45 weeks 5 days ago

I have owned both a longer and heavier bow and now own the bowtech outlaw.(3.8lbs)I agree that target shooting I think the heavier longer bow will have the advantage.However carrying that bow through the woods in the cold was horrible.As I get older,hunting with the lighter bow is more enjoyable without giving up accuracy.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from Sneaky wrote 48 weeks 21 hours ago

Do they even make bows anymore that aren't fast and accurate?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Clay Cooper wrote 48 weeks 19 hours ago

Going on 13 years now on my HCA 4Runner modified with a Mathews wheel with bearings.

Nobody has impressed me enough to buy a new one or considered to up grade (to what?)

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Walt Smith wrote 47 weeks 6 days ago

Yes longer bows are easier to hold on target, and when hunting whats the most important thing? Being on target!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from davycrockettfv wrote 47 weeks 5 days ago

Anybody else deeply impressed with a 4.39" group at 60 yards? Nice!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Josh Giannino wrote 47 weeks 5 days ago

i prefer my short bows, the longer bows are cumbersome in tight situations like ground blinds and secluded treestands in a limby tree, and why are all the new bows black? I prefer the camo which is getting harder to find.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from habben97 wrote 47 weeks 5 days ago

I think most any bow these days are pretty impressive.

yesterday me and my buddy were shooting, I had my mission menace, and he had a Mathews outback. I outshot him that time. he stuck an old arrow in the ground in front of the target and told me to try to hit it, which I did, at 20 yards snapping it right in half.

he was pretty surprised

oh, and that was my fourth shot

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 47 weeks 5 days ago

Dave,

Very impressive groupings. You do know the Olympics are just around the corner?

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from BippityBoopityMate wrote 46 weeks 3 days ago

wow, i can barely hit my target at 60 yards. good shooting!!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from labguy wrote 45 weeks 5 days ago

I have owned both a longer and heavier bow and now own the bowtech outlaw.(3.8lbs)I agree that target shooting I think the heavier longer bow will have the advantage.However carrying that bow through the woods in the cold was horrible.As I get older,hunting with the lighter bow is more enjoyable without giving up accuracy.

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.