**BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

I finally got my hands on one at a local shop, and seeing as how I ordered one sight unseen I was very interested and actually a little nervous at how this bow would feel, look, and perform. Well, I' m not nervous anymore.....;):D
This isn' t a review, as I only got to spend about 10-15 minutes playing with it, but I thought that there would be some guys who might like to hear what I found.


Initial Impressions:
1. The new camo looks awesome: Mossy Oak “Obsession” Lots of contrast and transferred very well, nice clear sharp pattern. Good choice. I' ve never seen it before, but you guys are really going to like it.
2. Cam and idler are big! The pictures don’t do it justice, but the diameter is much larger than the set on a typical “I” cam bow. Maybe a bit bigger than what' s on a Mathews Legacy.
3. Riser is REALLY machined nice! You also can’t really tell from the pictures we’ve seen but the “flats” of the riser are beveled in entire areas as well as each individual cut-out. Looks really sharp, and even side by side with a 2003 Patriot it just looked “refined”. Hard to describe, you just need to see them.
4. The balance was great, no top heavy or bottom heavy anything, just a nice neutral balance. It also felt solid and tight, limb pockets were nice and tight, and I couldn’t see any gaps etc. I didn’t get to play with the pivoting limb pockets themselves but they are going to be a great addition. Always liked the Hoyt version and these look to operate much the same way.
5. Grip seemed a bit different? But I’m not sure……still that nice slender 2003 style but I think it had a little more medium wrist and not the straight down feel of last years. I really liked it. It was a laminated camo style that matched the bow well.
Just a sweet looking bow!......so far so good.:)


Now the good stuff, So how did it shoot?:

Well first I will tell you about how it draws….. No big hump, or stacking at the end of the draw, just a nice smooth steady pull dropping mildly into a nice valley…..draw stop makes it the typical “I” cam (Infinity Cam)style rock solid wall. Draw cycle was very different from the " I" cam.

I drew it once and thought, “Yep that’s smooth[:-].
I drew it again and tried to get a number in my head of what it felt like VS a Patriot with it’s “I” cam. I thought “HMmmm..... If that was a Patriot it’s about 63#”

Well I threw it on the scale to measure and my eyes about popped out of my head, [:o] it was 75#!!! I’m not exaggerating one bit , it felt like low 60’s tops. I couldn’t believe it was 75#!! The guy at the shop just smiled.
I grabbed some ICS-400’s that happened to weigh exactly 375grs(I weighed them before shooting because I' m like that:D) and headed to the range.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, hearing and feeling…….at 75# and a very light 5grs/lb of draw weight this was STILL easily the quietest bow I have ever shot. It was WHISPER quiet. It just SAT there after the shot, no vibration, recoil……NOTHING. Bare bow at 75#!!! I actually had to go back to the scale to make sure I didn’t misread the draw weight.

The new Hush Kit silencers and VibraBlocks seemed to work terrific! Much better than the 2003 version. (The new 2004 Vibrablocks are NOT the ones shown in the picture above, the new ones look very different)
There was absolutely no twang or string vibration at all. even just plucking the string you could feel that they worked, just that nice dull thud and no twang.
I didn’t have any sights on the bow and I was just shooting at a big blank bale but I didn’t want to put the thing down! I can’t imagine what a mid to heavy weight arrow would feel like!? This was on a range where sound echos and every bow sounds louder.......well it sounded like a longbow!
This was simply the most pleasant shooting bow I’ve ever shot. I didn’t get to chrono it but as their chrono was down, but it really seemed to be zipping the arrows in there with authority.
Obviously I’m a little partial to BowTech to begin with, but I can also appreciate bows from other manufacturers……I’m telling you I was STUNNED with how this bow shot.
I know I' m giving the Liberty all the praise here as it was the bow I was most interested in (since I have one ordered) but I also shot the Pro40 Freedom cam! Same experience.......quiet, smooth and quick. Very much like the Liberty, just longer ATA with an 1" higher brace height. Awesome bow, I wish I had the cash to order one for 3D right now. Stupid X-mas![:@]:D

You guys who want a smooth drawing , shooting bow? Oh my just wait until you shoot one. I can only imagine what a 70# or a 65# Liberty feels like!? You are going to give up a bit of the BowTech trademark speed with the Freedom cam (it' s still very respectable), but I just can' t emphasize how smooth this bow drew and shot! I was honestly amazed, just amazed especially considering the specs I shot it at.
I have mine on order and I’m telling you it simply can’t get here fast enough now.[8D]

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

What was the letoff Matt?

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Sorry Coug,
The let-off is adjustable, but I shot it at 80%.

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Matt,
Your account of shooting this bow made me drool!!
I can' t wait to shoot one. THANKS:D:D:D
I have not had the chance to lay my hands on one yet:(

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

CamoHunter,
Just don' t drool ON the bow when you shoot(and you will drool)........shop owners hate that and they make YOU wipe it off.;):D
Heck I' m still drooling!
What an awesome bow.

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

LOL, I couldn' t agree more right now. Just got home from shopping with my wife. Funny how I can spend 8-10 hours in a tree stand with no problems but that much time between two malls really tests a man' s patience. ;):D

Thanks for the feedback on the Liberty. I' m getting more excited already. Too bad I have to wait another month or so unless Santa brings me one. ;)

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Sounds reaaly good Matt. With my bow pulling problem this might be the ticket for next year. I can' t wait to see the new camo pattern!!!!!

Thanks for the report!

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Vaughn,
Yeah I think you would love this bow for that reason and more, but lets be honest here, the only REAL problem you have had the last few seasons is finding wall space for all those big bucks!![:o]:D
I just saw your latest installment, CONGRATS!!!
You' ll have to see if BowTech will send you one with that " Horseshoe" inlaid in the riser.

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Great preview Matt.......I had a 13year old kid draw back the Liberty at my shop today that was set at 74lbs. He drew it back like it was 60lbs. His dad could not believe it[:o]. He ask me to put it on the scale..............for some reason he needed confirmation:eek:..........so I did[8D]. The scale read 74lbs!! I cannot wait to get my hands on one. This WILL BE!! a great hunting/3-d bow. When I was shooting it w/out sights on it I did not want to put it down. IT was EFFORTLESS!!!!............EFFORTLESS!!...........: D:)[8D]

If anyone is shopping for a new bow they owe it to themselves to give any of the new BwTechs with the freedom cam a try.[8D]:D

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Hey Matt, nice to here the new Bowtechs are performing as we have been told;). I was planning on buying a new Bowtech this year and was wondering what pound bow you actually purchased. Was it a 60-70# or 70-80#?
I will be interested on hearing your updates on the bow performs as you get to spend more time shooting it.
Thanks for the Bowtech preview[:-]!

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Lucky Bugger! [:@][:' (]

Sounds like what I' ve been expecting as far as draw, noise, and performance. Also glad to hear about the improvements to the silencers and VB' s, hopefully that will save me about $25 on Sims gear.

Sounds like an excellent hunting rig, which is exactly why I picked that model to begin with.

Now if my 80 pounder would just get here.[:' (] I' ve already got everything else waiting for it: sight, rest, stabilizer, and I' ve got a dozen A/C/C 3-71 shafts on the way (fletching them up w/Flo yellow 4" feathers, red G-nocks, and 125 grain points).

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

And so the plot thickens... :)

Can' t wait to shoot one!

Matt, how would you compare the draw cycle to say a Darton CPS cam system?

Is the MOO camo predominately Green or Brown?

What about it' s holding/aiming characteristics? Steady? Any problems with it wanting to cant easily?

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Whats the MSRP???

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

For Gods Sakes Man! You can deal with 8 HOURS at TWO DIFFERENT Malls???????????????

I can't last ONE Hour at ONE Mall! :D;)

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Malls are evil...

I'm beginning to think Matt is too, coming on here and teasing us with his above post then dissapearing... :)

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Hey guys sorry for the disappearing act. :D I was away at hunting camp. No phone, no TV, etc. Just got back.

Marmax,
I purchased a 60-70# model just because I wanted to take full advantage of the easy drawing nature of the cam......if a 70# feels like 60, I'd personally be defeating the purpose of buying the bow if I got an 80# model even if I could draw it without any problem. I wanted a 70 that felt much lighter, not an 80# that feels like what I am shooting now. If that makes a damn bit of sense.:)


Rangeball,
As far as comparing to a Darton CPS?........different, but similar draw. Not sure how to describe it. The Liberty feels to me like it picks up the majority of its weight early while you are really using your back muscles to make it easier and then just sort of eases back into the rest of the cycle. Its really pleasant to draw. The wall is rock solid.

The Mossy Oak Obsession is actually not very much different than the Advantage Timber in looks.........a lot of different shades, I'd say probably equal in Greens/browns. Its sharper, a bit lighter overall with a lot of contrast, and more defined than the pattern on the 2003's.
I'll try to take some pics of mine, since I just happened to pick it up today.[:-]:DEat you hearts out!

As far as holding and aiming? Like a rock. Balance is beautiful. BowTech's best effort to date IMO. It feels like an extension of my arm. No canting, no tipping, it just sits there at full draw and at the shot.

As soon as I get her set-up in the next few days and fling some serious arrows I will be sure to update what i find.
Man am I glad I bit the bullet and got my order in early........(I think maybe the first day you could order?) Demand is going to be very high for this bow.

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

oooo...this is gonna be good...exactly what I wanted @ 80 pounds:D

Where is the "Throwing a tantrum like my 4 year old does" emoticon on this new softaware upgrade!!!????????[:@]

Hopefully I got my order in as early as you, you lucky dog![:@]

EDIT:Speaking of emoticons..have I mentioned that I really HATE these new smileys!!!!!! [:@]

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Ya gotta love how Matt's "preview" is longer than some of the reviews that I have read...:).

Ofcourse, with a description like that how could anyone not want one?

:)

I hope to play with one when it comes to the local shops. I still have my sights set on an MM VFT but I guess it could not hurt to have a nice backup for hunting next year...:D

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Guy's this is exactly why Bow Tech has been the #1 bow in the new millenium they just keep getting better and better .Every year they give you so many new choices that it's very hard to decide what direction to go .I had my mind made up to the choices of the Extreme VFT and the Patriot Dually now I'm not sure that I shouldn't give the liberty a darn good look as well .Darn you guy's just don't like to make anything easy for a guy do you???? hahaha

nubp

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

nubo,
That's 3 very different "possibles" you have named there! You will definitely want to shoot each to make that sort of decision. I think one of them will probably jump out at you but that's real hard to determine on paper......what I want in a bow might be very different than what you will prefer. One things for sure, they are all great bows, they will just all feel different.
Heck if your dealer will let you.......shoot em all!:D Many times I've heard of guys who went in with one idea and left with something entirely different just because a certain model "Clicked".
Archery is a whole lot more fun when you find that bow that "clicks".

I can tell already I found mine.[:-]

RE: **BowTech Liberty......I SHOT ONE! :-) **
 

Don't forget Nubo that there are at least 10 more options to choose from, unless you are a kid or a lady then that makes 13 more:D If I had my wish, I'd have a new Pat VFT, Liberty, Pro 40 Freedom and then a walk on the WILD side with the BlackKnight:D:)