MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Buying a bow! I think I have narrowed it down to: Mathews outback and the Bowtech Liberty. Which one is choice?

I bow hunt whitetails in MN from tree stands. So I need a light, quiet, durable and reliable! I don’t want a bow that I have to tweak every time I go out. I really want a durable bow, one that can take a little abuse.(like back packing and pulling up and down from the stand, you know)

I own a buck masters bow I bought about 5 years ago. Its not as consistent as I would like. I have had trouble tuning it.

Any help or comments on my decision would be great!

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Between those two, the one that feels best in your hand.

Seriously.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

They are both good bows, and will get the job done. The grips are very different, the Outback being somewhat fat, and the Liberty very slim. There is much more adjustability in the Liberty cam. Draw length, let off, and valley are all adjustable. The Outback has a very narrow valley (nearly nonexistent). It is also a little faster, though a pound or so heavier. I'd expect the decision will come down to what you like better after shooting them both. Either bow would be a very good choice for a hunting bow. For what it's worth, (I know, not much [&:]) I'll be hunting with a Liberty this fall.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

No one can tell you which bow is best for you, except you. Even so, you might even choose the wrong one. It can take some extended shooting to make choose the right one. That said, both are great bows, and both would likely make you happy. Now it's up to you to figure out which one will make you happiest.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Both fine bows. I went with the Liberty, but the Outback is nice also. I prefer Bowtech's Customer Service to Mathew's... Which in the long run means alot to me.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Both are tremendous bows and which ever you decide on will be a good one. If I had to decide on those two, by far the Liberty felt the best when I shot it. The draw cycle is sickenly smooth and the bow shoots and holds very well. At least for me it did. Go shoot em side by side a couple times and decide for yourself.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Yup. Great advice from everyone so far. Shoot em both and be happy with what you finally decide. It seems like most folks narrow it down to 2-3 and then second guess themselves after they have buy one of them. Every bow has it's pros and cons.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

this is out of bowhunt america magazine.......both bows 29 inch draw and set at 70 pounds..... both with prong type arrow rest.
1st bow is the outback
w/491gr arrow 255fps w/ kenetic energy of 70.0
w/428gr arrow 273fps w/ ke of 70.8
w/416gr arrow 276fps w/ ke of 70.4
w/412gr arrow 277fps w/ ke of 70.2
w/411gr arrwo 277fps w/ ke of 70.0
w/385gr arrwo 284fps w/ ke of 69.0
w/378gr arrow 287fps w/ ke of 69.1
w/305gr arrow 312fps w/ ke of 65.9
2nd bow is the liberty
w/491gr arrow 247fps w/ ke of 66.5
w/428gr arrow 263fps w/ ke of 65.7
w/416gr arrow 267fps w/ ke of 65.9
w/412gr arrwo 268fps w/ ke of 65.7
w/411gr arrow 268fps w/ ke of 65.6
w/385gr arrwo 276fps w/ ke of 65.1
w/278gr arrwo 278fps w/ ke of 64.9
w/305gr arrwo 302fps w/ ke of 61.8

based on this bow report the outback is faster and carrys more kenetic energy the liberty. i think you proshop guy was a little off. i own a outback and love it. but that is my preference. and my opionion that the outback is better. but you are right guys nobody can tell you witch is better for you.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

I don't think you can go wrong with either choice ,Both these bow's are top of the line .You'll have to shoot both and make that decision for yourself ,But myself I went for the BowTech and definetly glad I did.

nubo

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Which ever you choose? I think you will have a big smile on your face leaving the proshop;)

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

I also think that either would be a good choice. You are getting a bit more speed and KE with the Outback but the draw is a little stiffer, it has a shorter valley and weighs a little more. The Liberty is a bit lighter with a smoother draw but is not as fast.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Ditto. I shot the Outback several times, thought it was great each time. When I shot it head-to-head with the Liberty, though, I liked the Liberty better. To me, it was smoother, quieter, and just felt better. Better strings, too.

Either way, though, you really can't go wrong. Good luck with whatever you choose.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Gentlemen,

I am new to this forum, but for what its worth I did a decision matrix using a number of courses of action (different bows) comparing them using a number of criterea such as speed, price, forgiveness rating, AtA length, weight, brace height, etc. The Mighty Mite won out BIG TIME over the Patriot, Justice, the Buckmasters G2 and the Matthews Outback.

I have not finished shooting these bows to add that into the mix, however the decision matrix I used is designed to take emotion out of the equation. Again, it wasn't even close.

Having said all of that, I am not sure I will get the MM as I haven't shot it yet. But if I believe the reports I am getting from friends and other bowhunters, they maintain I will love it. No negative reports yet.

Hope this helps, I guess all of your tax dollars on my Army training didn't go to waste!

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Welcome aboard! :)

Thank you for serving! :) I gather by your "handle" you are a Tank Jockey? :)

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

That's good info for the analytical types, however bow buying tends to be a very emotional thing. The people I see getting new bows, seem to always use very subjective criteria like, feel of grip, eye appeal, weight (both heavy and light being preferred), camo pattern, their best friend shoots one, a popular pro is winning with one, an advertisement convinced them it's the best, the waranty was better, the service was better, their favorite shop carries it (maybe the best reason), they have an emotional attachment to a particular company or even that it was recommended on a forum. On the other hand, I have never seen anyone write down every stat concerning each bow and pick the one that looked better on paper. Bow buying is a lot like car buying. It's a very emotional thing for most people, so there is no one bow or bow brand that will appeal to all.

By the way, welcome to the forum. :)

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Nice to make your acquaintance. Ofcourse, I agree with your analytical matrix as I am currently shooting a Mighty Mite as my hunting bow. :)

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Thank you all for your warm welcome! I was "Light Cavalry", the 2d ACR, now I teach Leadership and Decision making in the Army Reserves.

I should have pointed out that the decision matrix is just a tool for lots of different decisions. The "feel" and look of a bow are important too, just like a car. Which is why I haven't completed my purchase either! ;) I haven't had a chance to shoot each of the bows a couple of times.

However there is one unintended benefit I have found for the decision matrix. I can take my "data" to my wife and show her all of the homework I have done and how whatever I decide on is a great buy! :D

I will close for now with this comment. I was surprised that the MM "won out" by so convincing a margin on the analytic part of the decision. I took great pains to use as independent of data as I could get and then checked it against manufacturers web sites. That way everybody's lies were compared against each other (IBO speed, etc).

It is my guess that once you are talking about the higher dollar bows, ALL of them shoot fast and sweet. As my momma said, "You get what you pay for"; well she didn't really say that all that often, but I heard it somewhere. Maybe it was that strip club outside Ft. Benning.... oh well, you get the point. :D

Sorry about being long winded, we are about to move to the Northwest from Texas and I am getting antsy waiting for hunting season. [:@]

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Glad you joined us:) You're moving in the right direction,,, BowTech's factory is in Oregon so maybe you can take a tour of the pro shop and factory there and really get the low down on the show down;) Good luck with your move!!!

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

I guess it comes down to... Which is better a Mustang or a Camero? It's pretty much which one you like the best. That said I'm a Camero and Mathews guy.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Welcome aboard Cavguy. I don't know which part of the NW you are moving to, but let me just say that Oregon has everything an outdoorsman could want, including some terriffic hunting. In no particular order for archery opportunities we have: Rocky Mtn and Roosevelt Elk, Whitetail, mule, and blacktail deer, pronghorn, cougars (lots), bears (lots and lots). And that is just the big game. The seasons are generous and the terrain goes from temperate rain forrest to high dessert, with all things in between. Washington is about the same, just a bit further north. Have a great move!!!!

JMAC

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

We are moving to Western Idaho and I will be pursuing a PhD in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University and I can tell you I am just about salivating at the thought that hunting season is rapidly approaching! Or rather all too slowly approaching depending on how you look at it! :(

Thanks again for the welcome guys, I myself will have many questions in the very near future. I'm glad I have found somewhere to get great advice. ;)

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Both are great bows. I actually think I would choose the Liberty out of those 2 bows but it woudl be a hard choice.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

I've shot the Outback, great bow. i think this forum is a little biases towards bowtech, so i would take their advice with a grain of salt.

slayer

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Deerslayer_37

Actually I am a rather large Mathews fan & my main hunting bow is a Q2XL. I really felt the new Liberty was the creme of the crop for Bowtech. I have a Extreme VFT that I have not shot nearly as much as my Q2XL but then again I am not a die hard speed freak!


:)

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

The liberty has the freedom cam, which is smoother, but a bit slower. That is why it feels better on the draw than the mathews. And why the mathews is faster. You could basically get the same bow with an infinity cam in a Patriot and it would be faster. It would draw a little harder though. You would still have the same adjustability however. Or you could get the partiot in a dual cam model and get more brace height, more axle to axle and even more speed. They all use the same risor and look to have a bit less reflex than the mathews does as well.

The mathews is also shorter than the two bowtechs above. But you could solve that problem by getting a Mighty Might VFT or the Justice. They are both closer to same size as the Outback. And the mighty might is faster according to the specs. I just bought one this weekend, it's a pretty nice bow.

What was said about the grips is true as well, they are both different. I personally love the grips on the bowtech. My buddy didn't like them at all. I think the bowtechs may have a bit longer risor as well. And I am pretty sure the bowtech will be cheaper. I know the mighty might will be. I looked at both of them. My mighty might was 569, the mathews was like 700 bucks.

It's all going to depend on what feels the best to you. I would shoot a hoyt as well just for giggles. I can almost garauntee that the mathews will have the least handshock. I have not shot that model, but every other one I have shot save for the speed bows had no handshock or recoil at all. They are perfectly dead in your hand. My bowtech is not, not even with a bunch of simms stuff on it. It still has a little lower kick and vibration to it. I compared it with a used MQ32 that i was thinking about getting and was amazed at the difference. The MQ32 was completely dead in my hand. I love those little bows! I almost bought it. It was like 389 completely set up, with a nice 3 pin sight and a muzzy rest.

Good luck with what ever you decide. They are both really well made bows. It all depends on how much you want to spend, and what "feels" good to you at the time.

Paul

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

Shoot the one that feels best to you. But I'll tell ya what. If I had to choose between the two, Bowtech hands down. That liberty is a real peice of work. If you hunt in MN where its colder than hell a lot of days and you're sitting in a treestand for 7+ hours stiff and cold, that Liberty will draw back like melted butter. Thats my choice.

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

$hooter,The Outback or the Liberty,both great bows.Tuff choice,and you really can't go "wrong" with either.Take a look at the stats-
Bowtech Liberty-$679.00(Baltimore,MD)
33.25 ata--7.5 brace ht.
300-308 ibo--65-80% let-off
Freedom Cam(larger than earlier models)
Factory installed "HUSH KIT"
Mossy oak break-up(there are some serious issues with the film dip)
Mathews Outback-$649.00(Baltimore,MD)
31.5 ata--7.62 brace ht
310 ibo--65-80% let-off
HP (high performance)cam
Harmonic Dampening System-String Suppressors
V-Lock Limb Cups
Roller Guard
Realtree Hardwoods HD camo
Centerline grip
The Outback gives you much more bow for the money,and to me,it's a no brainer.I've shot both bows,ALOT,side by side,and the Outback is so much smoother,quieter and shock free,it's not a hard decision.I've owned both Bowtechs and Mathews,and I'm currently shooting an LX.As I said before,They are both great bows,and these comments are my opinions,so go with the one that suits you the best and don't secound guess your decision.Good Luck!...Bob

RE: MATHEW VS BOWTECH
 

i tyoo have been trying to make up my mind about the Martin SlayR, the Mathews outback, and the Bowteck liberty.

all three have great feel in my hand and all three have smooth draw. the only choice i think i had to make was the cost and how much boyw you get for your money. no wi have heard bad things about mathews customer service but thats why i have talked to my shop pro about HIM waranteeing his stuff.

thanks Trestand for the help, i didnt realize that the Mathews came with so much extra. as opposed to teh Martin, i have tried asking alot of people here about them but have not heard back about them. :(

anyway this was a great thread and being new here i have found lots of great information from everyone!
see you all around