Browning Illusion

BROWNING
Browning has always made quiet bows. I remember them as the first company (or one of the first) to put a rubberized buffer in the limb pockets to keep limb vibration from reaching the riser. (Browning calls this technology Impacstop.) Browning also pre-installs String Chubs string silencers on its 2005 bows. Finally, the newest bow in the line, the Illusion, also features a pair of rubber cradles to capture the string as soon as the arrow is gone, which in turn creates smoother vibration.

The Illusion: When it comes to sweet-shooting characteristics, this is one of the best new bows on the market. It is quiet and has almost no re-coil. I tested it at the Archery Trade Show in January and was amused when one of the reps from Browning stationed at the demo range compared it to the new Switchback from Mathews and the VTec from Hoyt. Once I had shot them all side by side, I could appreciate his enthusiasm. The Illusion has a long riser and short, parallel limbs to cancel recoil during the shot. It is 32 inches long and has a 7 1/4 inch brace height, for an IBO speed rating of 305 to 312 fps. The Illusion also features Browning's new single-cam system, called the Trance. It produces level nock travel and equal tiller measurements for easier tuning and better arrow flight. Let-off is adjustable at either 80 percent or 65 percent. The suggested retail price is $649.99.

Oasis: The new Cyber 1.5 Hybrid Cam System, found on both the Oasis and the Mirage 1.5, promises 75 percent effective let-off, level nock travel, a smooth draw and four inches of draw length adjustment using Browning's patented inner cam module. At 37 inches, the Oasis is almost long by today's standards. The bow has a brace height of 7 1/4 inches and an IBO speed rating of 308 fps. Suggested retail price is $599.99.

Mirage 1.5: Like the Oasis, the Cyber 1.5 is the heart of this bow, but unlike the Oasis, the Mirage is short, with an axle-to-axle length of 32 1/2 inches. The brace height is 7 1/2 inches; the IBO speed rating is 312 fps. Like the Oasis, the Mirage 1.5 weighs 3.7 pounds. The suggested retail price is $549.99 Contact: (520) 884-9065; www.browning-archery.com.

PRECISION SHOOTING SYSTEMS
PSE came out with a new hybrid cam this year called the NRG Hybrid cam system. It is available on four bows: the Mach 12, the new Vengeance, the completely redesigned Primos STL and the Firestorm Lite.

The NRG Hybrid cam system promises level nock travel and is smoother to draw than many other cams I've tested. Notably, it has a comfortable let-off valley, so you won't be fighting it if you have to lean out to shoot around a tree limb. Let-off is adjustable from 80 percent to 65 percent depending on where you position the draw stop.

PSE Vengeance

Vengeance: The Vengeance is the only brand new bow from PSE equipped with the new NRG Hybrid cam. The Vengeance feels quite a bit like the Browning Illusion; it is very smooth and exhibits little recoil or vibration. It is also quiet and ranks among the best bows on the market. The Vengeance has pivoting limb pockets; the Phase III grip system, which allows for three different grip options; String Chubs string silencers; and a very good-looking machined riser. The Hybrid cam version of the Vengeance is 34 1/2 inches long with a 7 5/8-inch brace height and an IBO speed rating of 308 fps, while the One Cam version is 33 1/2 inches long and also has a 7 5/8-inch brace height and an IBO speed of 303 fps. The suggested retail price is $699.99.

Shark: The Shark has a brace height of 8 1/2 inches and is 40 1/2 inches long. This is about as close to target bow specs as you are going to get from a hunting bow. You might expect a bow with these specs to plod, but the Shark is a reasonably fast bow overall. The IBO speed rating is 295 fps with the super-smooth Rimfire One Cam system. The straight riser features the TRM wood grip, a very popular style through the years. The Shark weighs 3.9 pounds and carries PSE's pre-installed String Chubs. The suggested retail price is $549.99. Contact: (520) 884-9065; www.pse-archery.com.

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