Mathews VXR 28 Compound Bow: Examined and Reviewed

For the all-around looking bow that’ll work properly for starting and superior bowhunters alike, the Mathews VXR 28 compound bow, winner of our 2020 bow take a look at, is an ideal mix of quiet, simple taking pictures; pace, maneuverability, adjustability, and beauty.

Mathews VXR Specs:

Pace: 326.7 fps

Axle-to-Axle Size: 28 inches

Brace Top: 6 inches

Weight: 4.4 kilos

Draw Weight: 60, 65, 70, or 75 kilos

Draw Size: 25.5-30 inches

What Form of Looking Bow is the Mathews VXR?

The Mathews VXR 28 is a flagship-level (i.e., top-of-the-line) compound bow with a machined riser, cutting-edge expertise, and premium parts. It has the value to match, however count on it to supply years of service. A brief axle-to-axle mannequin that’s snug to shoot with middle-of-the-road speeds, the VXR 28 is a looking bow, at the beginning. It’s proper at dwelling in tree stands and floor blinds, but in addition lots appropriate for run-and-gun turkey looking and elk looking. It’s constructed for bow looking and this Mathews VXR bow has many sturdy options to assist hunters within the subject. Regardless of the compact dimensions, this compound bow is a shooter, and so even open-country mule deer and pronghorn hunters can discover lots to love about it.

How We Examined the Mathews VXR

We examined the Mathews VXR 28 in spring of 2020 as a part of our annual compound bow overview. Per process for that take a look at, we obtained two of every taking part compound bow. One is ready to IBO specs: a 30-inch draw size and 70 kilos. The opposite is ready to twenty-eight inches and 60 kilos, for hands-on vary testing. We confirm all of the specs of the IBO bows upon arrival, and alter them as wanted. Then we chronograph them with a bare-shaft, 350-grain IBO-spec arrow. We use a Whisker Biscuit relaxation and D-loop for this process, so you possibly can assume a lack of 5 ft per second, give or take, with these issues added.

Testing the Mathews VXR for Noise and Vibration

As soon as that’s completed, we take the IBO-spec bows to Stress Engineering, the place we use their tools and procedures to measure noise and vibration for every bow, along with mapping draw power curves and calculating effectivity. Bows are randomly labeled throughout this section of the take a look at in order that when the outcomes are in, we all know they’re unbiased.

Testing the Mathews VXR for Accuracy and Forgiveness

Subsequent, we arrange the 60-pound bows with drop-away rests, sights, and peeps, after which we paper-tune them. Our taking pictures panel then evaluates the bows by taking pictures and measuring a sequence of 25-yard teams with every of them, utilizing 340-spine Carbon Specific arrows, minimize to twenty-eight.5 inches. Throughout that, we additionally subjectively consider the classes of draw cycle, match and end, steadiness and dealing with, and grip. Our accuracy and forgiveness take a look at—the place a number of shooters measure a number of teams from a number of bows over the course of a number of days—is exclusive to our overview, however we imagine it’s an important a part of the take a look at. Nearly any bow can shoot one-hole teams by way of a Hooter Shooter. And nearly any particular person shooter can have a nasty day. However with a number of shooters over the course of a number of days, sure developments do certainly emerge from bow to bow, and that’s what we’re after. Everybody makes minor errors in kind and launch. The bows that persistently shoot properly—no matter who’s taking pictures them—are, by definition, probably the most forgiving.  

How the Mathews VXR 28 Carried out in Our Take a look at

The Mathews VXR 28 was one of the best all-around bow of our 2020 flagship take a look at. It scored prime of the pack in 5 of our seven take a look at classes, together with:

·   Draw cycle

·   Noise

·   Vibration

·   Match-finish

·   Dealing with

As soon as our take a look at outcomes additionally decided that the Mathews VXR compound bow completed so close to the highest in each pace and accuracy/forgiveness, there was no catching it.

What This Mathews Bow Does Greatest

Mathews Archery has refined the CrossCentric cam sequence through the years with fashions just like the Halon, Triax, Vertix, and the VXR 28. Like its predecessors, the VXR was most famous for its easy draw cycle, and close to lack of noise and vibration. The 2019 Vertix was, to that time, the softest-shooting bow we’d ever examined. However the Mathews VXR was, by some means, even deader within the hand. Plus, at 326.7 fps., it was lots quick.

Throughout the goal testing at Stress Engineering, we discovered the Mathews VXR to have an effectivity rating of 82.5 %. Compound bows for looking don’t get a lot better. The Mathews VXR 28 is a 28-inch axle-to-axle compound with a 6-inch brace top, and it weighs 4.44 kilos. It has an prolonged six-bridge riser that shaved somewhat weight in comparison with its predecessor, and it made general dealing with a bit higher. It hits the candy spot for looking bow specs. The CrossCentric Cam sequence has not often completed on the very prime of the accuracy and forgiveness take a look at, and the VXR didn’t, both—but it surely was shut, with a 1.18-inch common group from three take a look at shooters at 25 yards. That was adequate for second place.

What This Mathews Bow Does Worst

Even with the lack of pace from the seize relaxation and D-loop accounted for, we couldn’t make the Mathews VXR shoot to its marketed IBO pace (it fell 17 fps quick). However that’s fairly typical of even one of the best compound bows, and never one thing we apprehensive a lot about.

Actually, about the one criticism we will provide you with for the Mathews VXR 28 is that it’s extra of the identical. For those who already personal a Vertix—or a Triax or Halon for that matter—consider the VXR as a refinement, slightly than a major improve. A number of the older fashions would possibly vibrate a contact extra, or be somewhat louder—however you’d in all probability want Stress Engineering-level tools to detect it. Plus, among the older bows are literally sooner.

The Mathews VXR 28 does have some hunter-friendly updates that warrant additional consideration. It has a module system, for instance, that permits you to make the same old draw size modifications, but in addition peak-weight modifications in 5-pound increments, whereas retaining the limbs bottomed out. Some bowhunters assume bottomed-out limbs shoot higher, and we agree with them. This Mathews bow additionally has the Silent Join System, which lets you use a specifically designed pull rope and bow sling at the side of quick connection factors. For those who’ve ever been caught by a whitetail deer strolling towards your tree whereas pulling up your bow—and wanted to untie a knot or unsnap a clip rapidly—you perceive some great benefits of this method.

Does the Mathews VXR Ship on Its Mission?

The truth that the Mathews VXR compound bow gained our 2020 Better of the Greatest Award as one of the best compound bow of the 12 months says lots. The VXR 28 is now not the front-runner flagship for Mathews, having been changed by the 2021 V3, however it’s nonetheless accessible from Mathews sellers in six finishes and peak draw weights (don’t neglect these mods) of 60, 65, 70, and 75 kilos. Draw size changes are beneficiant, too, starting from 25.5 inches to 30 inches, and with an 80- or 85-percent let-off. Go for rather less—most individuals shoot it higher, and also you gained’t discover a lot distinction at full draw. This Mathews compound bow is a bit of looking tools that any archer will probably be completely satisfied to have with them within the woods.