Handled a Guardian.. LIKES AND DISLIKES

[mesquitecountry]

First off I love bowtech's allegiance and tribute both great bows. Here's the review of the guardian.

I handled Matt's (Double Lung) guardian yesterday. Didnt have time to take it to the range and shoot it but I'm pretty sure it would have been quiet and fast. Okay first off. the bow does look great. The mossy oak camo looks really good. It has a great natural balance to it. It seems to have the perfect rock to it in your hand. I Like the cams back wall was solid. Very well made.



Okay now here comes the bad part.

The center pivot thing has me scratching my head. They changed the fulcrum point on the bow. So now you go from flexing about 12-13" of limb on a normal bow to only about 6. Sure it might flex some from the riser to the center pivot but not nearly as much. That equates into very tough pull back. Pulling this thing back set at 68 pounds was like trying to pull guitar strings straight off your guitar.. It was ridiculous. I'm a pretty strong guy i've benched 425 in my lifetime and it was all I wanted. I dont know why Bowtech decided to alter their great award winning lineup. I hope they dont change to make this their new design which all bows will be made like here on out from them If you change the fulcrum point then the force needed to flex is going to be much greater.

Next letting this thing back down was rough. Man you could barely hang on to it let it back down. Sheesh. The reason is because almost all of the energy is stored for the main part in the limb that is in between the cam and fulcrum.

Also the cable guide rod that comes out of the bow actually stuck out past the string????? I have no clue as to why this is. Only thing I can figure out is that they put it there past the string to bust your knuckles when you let the string relax.

Man is this thing heavy. Remember split limb bows were made to make the bow lighter. Sheesh I cant imagine how it would be with a solid. And all matt had on it was a limbdriver rest.

Looking through the peep matt asked me, " what do you notice?" I said krap the cable is dang near right in the middle of the peep. It was distracting.


Overall it was a good bow in my eyes. Not near as good as the Ally or the Tribute IMO. Just my .02. I'd shoot it but I dont think i'd be absolutely as please with it for 6 years like my mathews q2.

I'd line up my favorite bowtech's in this order of my preference.

Tribute
Allegiance
Guardian

[Mike D]

I didn't notice it being any harder to pull than most other bows I've shot, but I already shoot Bowtechs so maybe I'm used to it. The cable issue can be resolved by a Saunders cable slide. I did think it was a bit heavy, but it shot very well, dead in the hand and very quiet. Don't know how it did speed wise as I didn't shoot it through the chronograph.

I think it is an awesome bow but not designed for every archer out there.

[mesquitecountry]

i'd agree with the shooting well part just from the standpoint of how balanced that thing was.

[Mike D]

I think you are right on it your list of the Bowtech bows. If I were going to buy a new one today it would be the Tribute. I think it is the most versatile choice in their lineup.

[Ground Checkin' Heavies]

Travis,

What does matt think of the bow? Is he pleased or is he a little upset?

[mesquitecountry]

Tony,

He was on the fence I think. He said it was a great bow he just wasnt as pleased with it as he is with his mighty might from what he said.

BTW. Him and Kyle are coming down batesville way next weekend.

[jay]

Travis, you are right about the pull. That is why I had to get rid of mine. After having one shoulder surgery in the past, that guardian was getting me ready for another. I have actually backed my Allegiance down now due to my shoulder hurting from the guardain. I think I re-aggravated my old injury from letting the guardian down one time.

Jay

[mesquitecountry]

Jay,

I hear ya man. That thing is a beast. I was thinking about my shoulder surgery when I was holding it.

[Texastaxi]

Travis, you're such a sissy!

You benched 425 and you can't hold up a measly bow?
Don't worry about the let down ... you shouldn't be letting down, you should be SHOOTING!
I must be stronger than you, I thought the Gaurdian was easy to draw at 65#.

[cantexduck]

Travis, When I shot one last friday I noticed the same thing. I didnt think the draw was that smooth. It was dead in the hands after the shot but the draw took away from that plus. I shot it only 4-7 times before I crossed it off my list. Still a sweet bow but not for me. The tribute is a sweet shooter!-Mike-

[Smart]

Travis I Drenalin have heard that about the Guardian as well Drenalin. I might know where an Allegiance is for sale Drenalin after being shot three times...Drenalin The owner was not happy with the groupings or the noise. That was the loudest bow Drenalin of the 10 or so at our semi weekly shoot we have up here. Faster than hail but loud...The owner shoots an XT also and is probably going to go look at the Drenalin.

Before any of you Bowtech homers reply, I am just repeating his words Drenalin and what I heard for myself. There was no manipulation on our partDrenalin.....well maybe when I stepped to the line to shoot against him and I had my ear muffs on......LMAO!!.....no really . It was a fast mutha no doubt but it was sure enough loud.

[texag93]

Glad to see someone less reporting that the Guardian ain't all that. The draw cycle is tough(mine at 61#) compared to a single cam and you really don't want to have to let one down. I thought I had seriously hurt my right shoulder when I let mine down one evening. Thoughts of surgery, no bow hunting ran through my head as I was wincing in pain from that little experience! Fixing the cable in peep view with an aftermarket cable slide? Kidding right? that shouldn't be an issue to fix in the first place.

I still say they shoot great, quiet, no shock but there are things that just keep it from being the "It" bow for sure in my book.

[jay]

Sorry that your friend is unhappy with his Allegiance Smart, and no I am not upset that some one is talking bad about a Bowtech. My allegiance is actually as quiet as my guardian was. I have the same CSS on it as you have on your no name bow (just kidding).....lol

Jay

[mesquitecountry]

TT,

i have been getting weaker in my old age.


Smart,

That is one of the greatest subliminal messaging sequences ever LOL.

[Rattler]

Travis, Might be coming through Flatonia on Friday!