2005 Diamond Victory Solitaire
Initial Overview and Performance:
Remarks:
As many of you know Bowtech aquired Diamond Archery this year and redesigned the bow models to be a more direct link to the mid-range market. No nonsense, high bang for the buck type bows, and if the Victory is designed with this in mind?.... It's all that and then some.
The Victory is a model which I only really got to hold and draw at the ATA show breifly even though I was around them for 4 days. (Anyone who was there can explain why[:-])
In any event I finally got my own to play with because my initial impression of the bow was , to be honest, one of surprise""surprise at the quality, fit and finish of the bow. It is very solid feeling , has terrific balance, maybe the best balance of any hunting bow I"ve had in the last few years. Trust me, when you think "Mid-Price" this isn't the bow you are expecting.
It carries many of the high end touches of it"s 1st cousin the Bowtech Patriot. In fact it is very "Patriotlike" in overall feel; feel of draw, limb angles, heft , and how it points is remarkably similar.
Included are the Locking pivoting limb pockets, new limb bolt and bezel assembly, full Bowtech Hush Kit and the same quality TS1 custom pre-stretched string and cable set""..the Diamond ones are very cool too, 3 color twist for a real camo effect. The cam is modular and shares a similar profile to Bowtech"s Infinity series cams. Draw stop peg for let-off adjustment is the same.
The riser has all the same beveled edge machining of the top end Bowtechs.
(You can also order the Bowtech style wood laminated grip (as you can see in the pic)for a few buck more but it will not be engraved with Bowtech or Diamond)
Camoflauge is Mossy Oak "New" Break Up, not Obsession like the Bowtech line.
Specs:
34 3/16" ATA (measured)
7 ¾" Brace height (Measured)
Draw length 30" (good genetics) (30 1/8" AMO measured)
Draw weight 70# peak (not measured)
Performance :
As you will quickly see, this bow is no slouch in the performance department especially considering it"s generous brace height: (5 shot group avg speed)
Speeds were attained with 2 hush kit silencers, string loop, and 2 tied in nock sets.
(Arrow weights were measured on a digital scale, speed on a Pro Chrono digital)
350gr = 314.8fps avg / 77ft lbs of KE
385gr = 302.4fps avg / 78ft lbs of KE
403gr = 295.6fps avg / 78ft lbs of KE
426gr = 289.0fps avg / 79ft lbs of KE
The bow is VERY VERY quiet, I would go so far as to say it is every bit as quiet as my Liberty, and carries a similar shot feel. Almost no recoil, no felt vibration, just that quick soft thump and she sits there even at the 315fps mark.
Like I said before it feels very similar to the Patriot in all regards.
Draw cycle is pretty smooth, picks up fairly early and carries it further into the cycle than an Equalizer cam bow. A touch more end loaded than a Freedom cam".I"d call it very close to the "I" cam cycle.
IMO this is one heck of a bow for the price, and it"s gonna sneak up in a hurry on anyone who picks it up expecting the feel and performance typical of a more mid-priced bow. Call it the "Poor Man"s Patriot" if you like, but don"t call it lower quality. I am so pleasantly surprised with it, I"m rethinking even getting an Allegiance. No joke, You really don"t need more"".315fps speed with a nearly 8" brace height, super quiet and all the VFT benefits of the $719 big brother.
At an MSRP that is $120 less than a Patriot, you could fully outfit this bow with good stuff for the price of the Patriot bare bow. Dealer prices as always will very from location to location, but I would expect this bow to be had most anywhere for low to mid $500 range.
You all know my connections to Bowtech (and now Diamond) by now, so feel free to take my impressions however you feel, I won"t get offended. I can honestly say I am extremely surprised by this bow, and if anyone has their heart set on a Patriot but might be a little short on cash?........
Diamond Victory Solitaire (Performance and Overview) *pics*
