I am realy not certain what to look for in a bow regarding quietness and how its going to be able to stand up over the next couple year. Ive looked at a great number of bows however the shops in my area do not have the availability for me to shoot a bow. Ive listened to a great number of posts here for different bows and still confused especially where some folks have two and three bows. Would there be that great of a difference say between a hoyt magnatec and a hoyt cybertec or a mathews legacy and a Q2 or for that matter a bowtech mighty mite and a patriot. The shop not far has a Magnatec xr200 that I can take right out of the shop today but um not certain that its the bow for me .Any Suggestions from you all.. Thanks

Caliper, why is it that the shops won't allow the bow to be shot? I find that disheartening.

As for the MagnaTec vs CyberTec...basically it comes down to money since you can't shoot them. They are virtually the same bow to a degree. It's the difference between the magnesium riser of the MagnaTec and the machined aluminum riser of the CyberTec. I can tell yo this, if you shot the two, you'd definately see/feel the difference. The CyberTec is lighter, less shock, noise, jump, vibration, etc..

I'm not knocking the MagnaTec, in my opinion the MagnaTec and MT Sport offer the most bow in that price range on the market today. Excellent choice, howeve there is a difference compared to the aluminum high end bows. I also don't care for the ZR200 limbs compared to the XT2000 limbs on the Hoyts. I feel the XT2000 limbs are some of the best limbs on the market today regardless of solid/split configuration.



<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

I agree with Rob, for the most part. Between the CyberTec and MagnaTec, it's mostly a matter of Cadillac vs Chevy. I like the thicker grip of the MagnaTec better, but I've got some serious sized hands and it just fits me better. The XT2000 limbs are definitely better than the ZR200 limbs, but how much better do you need? Are you going to shoot a lot of serious 3D tournament competition, or just do some recreational shooting in preparation for hunting? I really can't see that much difference in vibration or noise between the two and, frankly, it seems the little bit of extra weight in the MagnaTec absorbs more of the shock and vibration. At least that's how it feels for me.

Between the Tech 29 and Patriot though, there's a LOT of difference.

If you can't find a shop that will let you shoot their bows in your area, I'd find a shop elsewhere that will. A daytrip to an out-of-town shop would wind up cheaper in the long run if you can avoid buying the wrong bow today.

I'm in a unfortunate situation. Pro shops don't stock bows in my draw length, so I have to find something that feels good in my hands and base my decision on a bow that way. But I'm really rolling the dice on paying for one, special order. Most times I like the bow, but I've had a few god-awful flops too.

I like the MagnaTec and don't have any hesitation in recommending it to anyone but if it doesn't feel right you, you'll never be happy with it. Tell that guy that you have to shoot the bow before making a final decision on it. All shops (the ones worth doing business with, anyway) at least have a target set up in the back room for tuning bows. He's got the facility. If he won't let you shoot it, walk out the door and start planning your daytrip.

Edited by - Arthur P on 09/08/2002 12:09:00

Okay....my opinion differs from both Robs and Arthurs. However I have owned both. Without a doubt the CyberTec out performs in every category, but if i had to say which bow is the best for the buck it would be the MagnaTec. IMO the MagnaTec is the best bow for the buck. The ZR200 limbs I dont like. I favor the thinner grip of the CyberTec, but that will differ for everyone. Vibration..CyberTec wins, but actually not by a long shot. Even though the CyberTec is lighter it still has less recoil due to a little different riser and limb angle geometry. Here is the part that i havent figured out. The CyberTec's brace height is supposibly 6 1/2. Ive looked at 4 different cybertecs. All measure above. Mine actually only likes maybe a milimeter of being 7&quot;. This is actually a semi short brace, however i find it more forgiving than the magnatec. I also owned a Mathews FX with a 7 1/2&quot; brace and find the CyberTec more forgiving than it. It comes down to what you need. If you want a top of the line bow that shoots as good as any out there. Go with the CyberTec. If you want a mid range bow that shoots as good as any out there go with the MagnaTec. Either bow is perfectly suitable for hunting or 3D competition. But when i refer the MagnaTec im talkin about versa cam with XT200 limbs. I simply do not like the ZR200's. IMO the XT2000's are the best split limb on the market if not best all around. The MagnaTec with XT2000s is almost in the same class as the CyberTec. MagnaTec with ZR200s imo not even close. Yes...the limbs can cause that much of a difference. You wont regret buying either bow, but if u plan on keepin either of these bows for a long time go with the XT2000s.

I think you would be happy with any of the bows you mention with the exception of the legacy . Thats was just my impression of that bow . You did mention quiet and one more quality bow you might check while shoping is an alpine steath .Its not cheep though . I would give them all a hands on trail at the shop and chose which one feels best to you . good luck .I think you will allso notice that while the bowtechs are not the quietest bows they are well made .

If information provided by the members of this board have helped you please let us know .

<font face='Arial'></font id='Arial'>This isn't a direct answer to your question, but a bit more of an endorsement. I haven't bowhunted in 20 years and decided to get back into the sport this fall. Of course, I was overwhelmed by the selection of manufacturers, models, accessories, arrows, etc. After many hours of questioning bowhunting friends, reading everything available and admiring the merchandise, I decided on the Hoyt Magnatec. My decision was based on the recommendation of a friend as well as actually shooting the bow in the backroom of where I purchased it.

By shooting it (and a couple of other models by other manufacturers), I was able to tell the difference in sound and feel, it just felt good to me. I continue to read the literature and posts on this board to see if I made a good choice and so far, no regrets. It seems that other Hoyt models may be quieter and faster, but I think the Magnatec will be more than sufficient for what I will be using it for - hunting whitetails.

Finally, not having shot a bow for 20 years, I had no basis for comparison as to just how quiet this bow is. Yesterday, I took the bow to a friend who is a successful bowhunter - gets his buck every year. I had him shoot my bow and then his 3 year old bow. What a difference in sound. Compared to the sound of his bow, the Magnatec is a whisper. Needless to say, the more time I spend shooting this bow, the more convinced I am that it was a good choice.

Caliper,

I have been shooting the magnatec for 2 years. It is a great bow
for the money. The cybertec may be lighter and maybe a little
quieter but not enough to justify the price difference in my opinion.
Good luck! Buying a new bow isn't easy.

I've been shooting my Magnatec for three years and love the bow.Sure some of the top end bows are going to be a little better,but for a much higher price.

KY, you didn't differ from either of us, you pretty much mirrored our responses, at least the way I read it....and that's a good thing.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>

My bad Rob....i started to realize that. I didnt finsish readin all of your post. I just noticed the part where you said they are pretty much the same bow and that got my attention.