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| BOWTECH GUARDIAN |
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By Jason Balazs
Mar 13, 2008
RISER AND GRIP:
The Guardian is made totally different than any other bow that I have ever shot. Not only does the bow have parallel limbs, but also in the middle it has a limb type roller, which Bowtech calls center pivot/riser technology. This allows the limb to bend and flex in the middle versus completely through the limb. The center-limb bracing point, distributes load evenly, eliminating the typical "diving board" effect., The riser is made from machined from forged Aluminum, which retains the grain strength of the original alloy. There are no worries about a possible fracture from a cheap piece of aluminum here. The grip is a two-piece wood grip that comes standard on all Bowtech’s. However, there are custom grips that you can order from a Bowtech dealer.
LIMBS AND CAMS:
The Limbs are parallel and use something called Vertical Force Technology. Upon release of an arrow, the force is distributed equally throughout the limb, which results in lower hand shock and vibration. The cams are the binary cams that Bowtech is famous for. However, the cams on the Guardian are Centertrac Binary cams. This puts equal cable tension on both sides of the cam, placing the bowstring in the center track. This results in zero lean on your cam and greater consistency with your shots.
Testing:
Like all the other bows in the review, the first test I conducted was the grip test. I drew the Guardian 10 times and would always grip the bow a little different each time. This way, I was not just utilizing my grip in the testing. The results I was looking for were if there was any torque on the bowstring. The grip on the Guardian is very comfortable and fits my hand naturally. Even when I changed my grip, the bow would not torque. Even though this bow is only 33 ¾” axle-to-axle, the riser is long. With a long riser and forgiving 7 1/8” brace height, there was no torque noted.
Next, I wanted to test the draw of the bow at 70 lbs, so like all the others I drew the bow 10 times. The Guardians draw was complete throughout the turnover of the Cams. The one different thing about the Guardian versus the other bows is the solid draw. The valley was smooth and would not catch you off guard. This enables you to feel that you are in total control of the drawing cycle and reduces the chance of having your arrow bounce off your rest. Once past the valley, the wall was solid with zero creeping at all.
For testing the speed I shot through my Chronograph from Competition electronics 10 times. The average speed of all ten shots was 313fps. Thanks to the vertical force technology and the center pivot technology, there was zero, and I mean zero hand shock. I even shot the bow with my hand open and it did not move. This really gives new meaning to the term, “Dead in your hand.” Along with no vibration, there was hardly any noise, which is a must for all hunting conditions.
Conclusion:
To say I am impressed is an understatement. I remember when Bowtech was first coming out with the 2007-bow line up and I heard about the Guardian. I sat there at their website and studied this “contraption” for hours on end. Bowtech has really taken a hold of the industry and jumped to the lead of producing some of the fastest and quietest bows in the world. I would have to say that they really put an effort into coming up with a bow that has zero hand shock, noise, and great technology. I used my Guardian this year while on our elk hunt and had the chance to get a shot in. I drug it up and down mountains for 5 solid days with no problem. If you are looking for a bow that has everything, speed, accuracy, zero hand shock, zero noise, comfort, and great ascetics, then the Guardian is for you. It will be really hard for Bowtech to top this one, but if I know them, they will for sure!!
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Brace Height:
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7 1/8"
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Draw Weight:
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50-60-70-80
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Draw Length:
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25"-30.5"
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Axle to Axle:
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33 3/4"
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Speed MOD IBO:
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317-325 fps
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Kinetic Energy:
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82.11 fpe
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Adjustable Let-off:
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65%-80%
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