Prime Revex Evaluation | Outside Life

Final yr Prime went away from their signature parallel cam design to their new Inline cam. This yr, their new bow is ditching the outdated cam in favor of a brand new design, and as soon as once more, I like the brand new cam higher than the predecessor. The Revex is Prime’s 2023 flagship searching bow and it bucks the adjustability pattern for a cam system that requires altering modules so as to change draw size.

However Prime mentioned it determined to return to mounted modules so as to obtain peak efficiency in any respect draw lengths, and it resulted in my favourite Prime bow so far. The Revex 4 that I shot was easy drawing, produced respectable arrow velocity, held regular at full draw, and was whisper quiet with little or no vibration on the shot. Traditionally, I might say I’ve not been an enormous fan of Prime bows, however the Revex 4 introduced me into their nook.

Revex 4 Specs and Options

• Axle-to-Axle: 34 inches
• Weight: 4.6 kilos
• Brace Peak: 6.25 inches
• Draw lengths: 26.5 to 30.5 inches
• Draw Weight: 40 to 80 kilos
• Value: $1,299

As they usually do, Prime is providing the Revex in three lengths: 32 inches, 34 inches, and 36 inches. By doing this, Prime is providing a mannequin for nearly everybody—you’re not caught with only one measurement.

For draw weights, you’ve additionally acquired loads of choices, with peak-weight choices of fifty, 60, 70, and 80 kilos. That’s going to cowl a great section of the bowhunting inhabitants as properly.

The New Core Cam

The Core cam is new for Prime, nevertheless it carries over some options from the 2022 Inline cam. For starters, now we have a typical binary cam system with one cam up high and one on the backside. Wanting again over the previous decade, that is new for Prime, which was recognized from 2011 to 2021 as the corporate with the four-cam bows.

Prime’s parallel cam system, with two cams up high and two on the backside, turned its signature function. Final yr, Prime ditched the parallel cams for its inline system. The engineers mentioned it achieves the identical outcome because the parallel cams, however in a quieter, easier system.

The Core cam is the following iteration of the Inline system. At relaxation, the cables sit off to the aspect of the bowstring. However as you draw the bow, the cables shift towards the cam in order that, at full draw, each cables and the bowstring are in keeping with each other on the cam. Prime’s engineers say that evens the load on the cam, stopping cam lean and enhancing tunability.

As beforehand talked about, the Core cam employs modules which are draw-length particular, versus adjustable, rotating modules just like the 2022 Inlines have. So when you get a bow that’s set at 29 inches, then that’s all it’s. You would wish to alter modules to alter the draw size.

Engineers have lengthy preached mounted modules to maximise effectivity at each draw size. That’s, a bow with a rotating module that may be adjusted from 27 inches to 31 inches goes to get one of the best efficiency at 31 inches, nevertheless it’s going to be much less environment friendly at 27. That’s why some producers, like Hoyt, provide two totally different cam sizes to separate the adjustable draw size vary. Having two cams minimizes the effectivity loss on the low finish of the draw-length vary. The mounted module maintains higher efficiencies throughout all draw lengths in a bow’s vary.

That’s to not say the mounted modules are superior in each method. To alter draw lengths, it’s a must to have entry to modules. In case your native store doesn’t have them for the size you need, you’ve acquired to go searching elsewhere. If I wish to play with my draw size on a bow with an adjustable module, all I would like is an Allen wrench.

Traditionally, bows with adjustable modules allowed draw size adjustments in 1/2-inch increments. Lately, we’ve seen a swing towards modules that may be adjusted in 1/4-inch increments to permit archers to actually fine-tune their draw lengths with minimal cable twisting. (One strategy to improve draw size is to place twists right into a bow’s cables, however that may adversely have an effect on the bow’s efficiency.)

In order some firms are providing extra draw size adjustability to bow homeowners, Prime goes the opposite course. Once more, their engineers say that’s within the title of efficiency. And to be sincere, after a decade of working with prospects at Lancaster Archery Provide—one of many largest bow retailers within the nation—I can say there are various bowhunters who merely don’t play with draw size. As soon as it’s set on their bows, they by no means contact it. So whereas there are bowhunters who need adjustability, there are lots who won’t ever make the most of that function anyway on a bow that provides it.

Middle Grip Expertise

One function of Prime flagship bows that makes them stand out is the situation of the grip. The throat of the grip is the middle of the bow. That’s a great bit greater than it’s on different bows, which is why whenever you choose up a Revex, you’ll discover much more riser underneath your hand than you’ll have with different bows.

That middle place makes the bows steadiness exceptionally properly with none equipment. Prime’s principle is that the extra the bow is balanced with out something on it, then the much less it’s a must to do with stabilizers to realize steadiness after including a sight, relaxation, and quiver.

Nano Grip

One of the painful options of aluminum bows is usually the grip. Aluminum grips get downright frigid when the mercury drops and the searching will get good. And they’re going to suck the warmth out of your hand in seconds.

Prime’s Nano Grip is a rubber piece that matches over the riser and feels heat in its personal proper. Beneath the grip, Prime coats the riser with Aerogel, a NASA-created substance designed to guard in opposition to the chilly. So holding the Nano grip in frosty temperatures will not be a painful problem.

Swerve

One other uniquely Prime function is the swerve, which is discovered on the Revex bows. The swerve is a curve within the riser beneath the grip that matches the one above the grip, which creates the sight window. Prime engineers say having the matching riser curve beneath the grip causes the riser to flex in a extra uniform vogue by the shot. That helps with stability and minimizing vibration.

Movable Spacers

Wanting having a proprietary tuning system like Elite’s SET or Bowtech’s Impasse, the frequent methodology for tuning binary cam bows is to have movable spacers on the axles, which let you shift the cam left or proper. The Revex continues Prime’s spacer system launched with the Inlines. There are three sizes. Let’s name them small, medium and enormous. Both you might have two mediums, or a big and a small to keep up the correct spacing between the limb ideas.

It’s essential to press the bow, take away the axle after which juggle the spacers round to get the proper tune. It’s a stable system, however there’s no query it’s not as user-friendly as SET or Impasse.

Testing the Revex 4

I borrowed from Lancaster Archery Provide a Revex 4 set to a peak draw weight of 60 kilos and a draw size of 29 inches. With these specs, and capturing a searching arrow weighing 477 grains, Lancaster Archery’s chronograph confirmed I used to be getting an arrow velocity of 260 ft per second.

I might classify that as respectable arrow velocity. It’s not screaming quick, and it’s not canine sluggish. The bow’s IBO velocity ranking is 338 fps, which is achieved by capturing a 350-grain arrow at 70 kilos from a bow set to a 30-inch draw size.

The 260 fps I acquired with 10 fewer kilos of draw weight, an inch much less in draw size, and an arrow that’s 127 grains heavier will not be far off the bow’s rated efficiency. Common readers of my critiques will recall that I’m not a velocity freak. I’ll take a nice-shooting, forgiving, and correct bow over a bow that’s merely constructed for velocity any day.

The setup I shot produces 71.5 ft-lbs of kinetic vitality. In line with varied charts that suggest the kinetic vitality ranges wanted to bowhunt massive sport animals, 65 ft-lbs is the height thought of essential to bowhunt grizzly bears and cape buffalo. So it’s greater than sufficient for whitetails and elk.

For many who are involved with velocity, I may simply get into the 280-fps vary just by slicing arrow weight. And that’s superb velocity for a 60-pound bow at 29 inches.

Tuning the bow was a snap. My bow got here with 4 medium spacers, which put the cams within the middle of the limbs. I set my arrow relaxation so the middle of my arrow was 13/16 inch from the riser. And I set my nock top, so the arrow was degree from the string to the remainder. My first shot by paper was good. I didn’t have to regulate my relaxation, nor did I’ve to swap out any spacers.

There’s no actual strategy to take a look at the declare that fixed-module cams maximize efficiencies throughout all draw lengths as in comparison with cams with rotating modules. To check this, you’d should have two of the identical bows, however one with a hard and fast module and one with a rotating module. That simply doesn’t exist. However I’ve heard sufficient engineers from a number of bow manufacturing firms make this declare that I’ve no cause to doubt it.

The place the Prime Revex excels in my e-book is the capturing expertise. I mentioned at first that is the nicest Prime I’ve ever shot. For me, the distinctive expertise begins with the brace top. Prime lengthened it from final yr’s 6-inch bows to six.25 inches. That’s the candy spot for me. It’s forgiving, with out sacrificing a ton of velocity. Seven inches is right, however that’s an excessive amount of brace to supply respectable speeds from hunting-weight arrows for my part.

So that you begin to attract the Revex from a cushty place. The draw cycle takes some effort on the entrance finish, after which the bow simply glides to full draw. The cam rollover appears like a downhill run.

At full draw, Prime got here up with one other tweak that I like. The mounted modules have built-in draw stops. These stops contact the cables as a substitute of the limbs, which Primes have included up to now. I’m discovering that I like cable stops an increasing number of as time goes by. They’re not as squishy as they was, however they’re nowhere close to as exhausting and abrupt as a limb cease. At full draw, the Revex is stable, nevertheless it has simply the correct amount of give to drag by the shot.

Talking of full draw, the Revex held like a dream. I solely put a 12-inch Shrewd stabilizer on the entrance, moderately than my traditional front-bar, side-bar setup. But it surely held properly anyway. I feel the Middle Grip Expertise negates the necessity for as a lot stabilizer manipulation.

As soon as I acquired this bow sighted in, it pounded the center at 20 yards. Then I took it outdoors and acquired the identical outcomes out to 50 yards. I didn’t really feel like I needed to rush my pictures at distance as a result of I may really feel my purpose breaking down. The pin sat within the center till I executed the shot. Now, I don’t at all times execute good pictures, however that’s not the bow’s fault. The arrows hit behind the pins. That’s all I can ask.

I’m certain the 60-pound weight performed an enormous position in my stamina, however I felt like I may shoot this bow properly all day. I didn’t get fatigued, like I do with some bows with harsher draw cycles.

The ultimate piece of the Revex shot cycle that impressed me was how quiet it was in each sound and vibration. I do know the parallel-cam Primes produced considerably extra of each. Final yr’s Inline was higher than these bows for noise and vibration, however not fairly pretty much as good because the Revex.

The place the Revex Is Missing

A pattern in compound bows at present is to streamline them. Bowhunters at present need their rigs to have a slim profile. Whereas the Revex has a threaded gap within the entrance of the riser to obtain a brand new low-profile quiver that TightSpot is producing, it has no such streamlined mounting choices for a sight or a relaxation.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t word that there are those that will knock the Revex for shifting away from the adjustable draw-length module to the mounted module. Whereas engineers just like the system’s efficiency, it creates potential issues for locating modules whenever you want them. Additionally, it’s not a one-size-fits-all state of affairs when it comes time to promote the bow.

What the Revex Does Greatest

It attracts good. It holds good. It’s correct. It’s quiet. It has barely noticeable hand shock. In essence, the bow does every little thing you need a compound bow to do. In quite a lot of retailers, bows are offered on the 5-yard line. That’s, potential consumers take a shot at a goal 5 yards away with no sight on the bow and gauge its efficiency solely by really feel. In that state of affairs, the Revex can cling with something in the marketplace.

Last Ideas

For me, Prime was at all times this bow producer on the perimeter that made the bows with 4 cams. They had been okay, however I by no means actually gave them a lot credence. With the 2023 Revex lineup, Prime caught my consideration. This stable compound bow is on par with anything in the marketplace. For me, it checked all of the bins for what a compound ought to really feel like and do.