Picking a used Mathews

[Nosaj]

The advantage of a vertix (or newer) Mathews is you can change the draw length, draw weight and % let off by only changing the Switch weight mod.. I bought a Vertix when I started archery as an adult and initially shot it at 55 lbs with a 60lb mod then moved up to 70lbs with the 70 lb mod and have since dropped back down to 62 lbs with a 65 lb mod.. I also changed my draw length when I went from a wrist strap to a thumb release.

 

[HuumanCreed]

@HaunSolo

I know its a little above, but this is a really good price. You can probably talk the seller down a little, but honestly that price is pretty good especially with free shipping.

https://www.archerytalk.com/threads/mathews-vxr-31-5.6177624/

 

[MOBIGBUCKS]

Only thing I'll add is to get a cam 1/2" shorter than your draw. Most Mathews Solos come in a solid 1/2" long.

I like the OG Switchback myself. Bought one For $100 off an EBay auction I didn't think I'd win. Rebuilding it from ground up currently and setting it up with a 29.5" cam. I'm mostly a traditional guy these days, but having a classic bow design around like that a guy can't go wrong.

Good Luck!

 

[Plebe]

I have a Legacy and a Switchback XT. They are great bows, but bows like that aren’t going to give you a marked increase in speed over what you have.

I’ve been thinking about buying the Carbon Elite to make that jump in fps, in a bow with a generous brace height like my current bows offer.

Still, at a 29” draw and 65-70lbs draw weight, I’ve never had an arrow fail to pass through a deer. So there’s that too.

 

[HaunSolo]

Thanks for the responses everyone, you've given me alot to think about.

@HaunSolo

I know its a little above, but this is a really good price. You can probably talk the seller down a little, but honestly that price is pretty good especially with free shipping.

https://www.archerytalk.com/threads/mathews-vxr-31-5.6177624/

I'll have to create an archery talk account and check it out.

 

[woodsdog2]

I have a Legacy and a Switchback XT. They are great bows, but bows like that aren’t going to give you a marked increase in speed over what you have.

I’ve been thinking about buying the Carbon Elite to make that jump in fps, in a bow with a generous brace height like my current bows offer.

Still, at a 29” draw and 65-70lbs draw weight, I’ve never had an arrow fail to pass through a deer. So there’s that too.

Love my Legacy but man is it slow!!

 

[enkriss]

I have had a few newer Mathews. Vertix, V3 the shorter one and V3X the longer one. I couldn’t shoot them well at distance. Any other bow I picked up I shot better. I loved my Switchback XT and Drenalin but the new Mathews they are not for me.

 

[dbow0603]

All,

Last year I killed my first deer/buck with a bow - a hand me down Mission UX2 from my brother. The bow worked fine for me, but I've built my own set of heavier arrows and I'd like to purchase a used Mathews for myself this year. Based on what I could find, the UX2 is rated for 308 fps, has a 33.125" ata, 7" brace height and weighs around 3.9 lbs.

I'm looking to buy something used for $500 or less bare. Some bows I've seen in this price range are the Switchback, Drenalin, Heli-m, Monster, Reezen, Halon 6, Z3, and Z7 - to name a few.

What kind of things should I consider when looking at these used models? Are there models to avoid and ones I should look for? How important is brace height?

Ultimately I would like something a little faster and not too heavy.

Any help is appreciated.

I wouldn't touch any used Mathews bow for $500. You'd be better off buying a new old stock Elite or something else. The problem with an older Mathews like the Heli, Monster series and older is the bearings. The chances of the bearings still being good are slim to none. If it's an older AVS system the bearings are press fit which means you'd have to replace the entire cam. A new monster cam from Mathews starts at $160 per cam. I've owned many many Mathews bows and I gotta say unless you buy new, they are a money pit.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I don't know. I've had the same Heli-M for over ten years and I used to shoot it so much I replaced the strings ever year and haven't had any issues. The strings are the only thing I have replaced.

 

[Horn]

I wouldn't touch any used Mathews bow for $500. You'd be better off buying a new old stock Elite or something else. The problem with an older Mathews like the Heli, Monster series and older is the bearings. The chances of the bearings still being good are slim to none. If it's an older AVS system the bearings are press fit which means you'd have to replace the entire cam. A new monster cam from Mathews starts at $160 per cam. I've owned many many Mathews bows and I gotta say unless you buy new, they are a money pit.

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experiences.

I'm no Mathews fan boy but this is the first I've heard of this issue, and I do want to admit I've only been into archery a year now.

I started on a switchback xt, which is 15+ years old, have had 3 (+?) cams on it, because it's draw length specific a cam. I've had absolutely no problems with that bow. It's honestly been hard to switch to the brand new bow I bought in November.

Is there maybe a little more info you could share for us newbies and potential buyers? What's the time frame for the AVS system, for example? Specifics to look for or avoid?

I don't mean to call you out, I'm sincerely curious.

 

[Sgt. Beardface]

I don't know. I've had the same Heli-M for over ten years and I used to shoot it so much I replaced the strings ever year and haven't had any issues. The strings are the only thing I have replaced.

Couldn’t agree more.

 

[dbow0603]

I'm sorry to hear about your bad experiences.

I'm no Mathews fan boy but this is the first I've heard of this issue, and I do want to admit I've only been into archery a year now.

I started on a switchback xt, which is 15+ years old, have had 3 (+?) cams on it, because it's draw length specific a cam. I've had absolutely no problems with that bow. It's honestly been hard to switch to the brand new bow I bought in November.

Is there maybe a little more info you could share for us newbies and potential buyers? What's the time frame for the AVS system, for example? Specifics to look for or avoid?

I don't mean to call you out, I'm sincerely curious.

Sure. The early AVS systems started with the Mathews XLR8 and continued thru the Monster MR5-7 bows. I'm not sure which ones after that have it but more importantly if you buy a Mathews I would definitely look at the bow and do a sound check to listen for the bearings. Shooting it will be able to help you as well. If you hear a rattle it's either the cable guard bearings or cam or idler bearing. I've owned a couple C4 bows, Switchback. Helim. Both the switchy and helium had to have the idler bearings replaced. One of my c4 ended up with a bad idler bearing and also a bad washer/tophat. If anyone says they have never heard of issues with Mathews bearings they a really full of ****. google it and you'll see plenty. Now days you can literally buy a new old stock elite for $500 which would include full warranty.

 

[Horn]

Sure. The early AVS systems started with the Mathews XLR8 and continued thru the Monster MR5-7 bows. I'm not sure which ones after that have it but more importantly if you buy a Mathews I would definitely look at the bow and do a sound check to listen for the bearings. Shooting it will be able to help you as well. If you hear a rattle it's either the cable guard bearings or cam or idler bearing. I've owned a couple C4 bows, Switchback. Helim. Both the switchy and helium had to have the idler bearings replaced. One of my c4 ended up with a bad idler bearing and also a bad washer/tophat. If anyone says they have never heard of issues with Mathews bearings they a really full of ****. google it and you'll see plenty. Now days you can literally buy a new old stock elite for $500 which would include full warranty.

Thank you! I appreciate your prompt reply and insights. I'm not full of anything, maybe ignorance but that's why I asked. When someone doesn't know, they don't know.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Yeah, I've never heard of bearing issues but then again, from my perspective if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I don't go looking for problems, lol. Sorry to hear you have had issue.

 

[dbow0603]

Thank you! I appreciate your prompt reply and insights. I'm not full of anything, maybe ignorance but that's why I asked. When someone doesn't know, they don't know.

I have to say that Mathews is not the only bow company that has problems with used market bows. Bowtech can get you in a bind with the older limbs breaking. I've wasted plenty of money on Bowtech bows, RPM 360, Destroyers... I have settled with Elite. For me right now I'm shooting an older Elite that I got for $200. I can still shoot out to 80 just like any of my other bows and if it breaks I'm not out much.

 

[enkriss]

I have had issues on 2 mathews with those big bearings on the side of the cams falling apart.

 

[Sgt. Beardface]

It is so weird how the issues vary from person to person. I have shot thousands and thousands of arrows out of Mathews and, all told I have had one issue that came up where I couldn't shoot my bow that was due to manufacturing issues. I had the top string stop arm on my Z7 snap which left a jagged edge in the string path. Other than that I have never had a bearing, limb, etc. go bad. I have however had an Elite that sheared a drawstop and locked itself out at fulldraw. It's weird how experiences differ from person-to-person, and probably more importantly dealer-to-dealer (or "DIYer-to-DIYer).

 

[dbow0603]

It is so weird how the issues vary from person to person. I have shot thousands and thousands of arrows out of Mathews and, all told I have had one issue that came up where I couldn't shoot my bow that was due to manufacturing issues. I had the top stain-stop arm on my Z7 snap which left a jagged edge in the string path. Other than that I have never had a bearing, limb, etc. go bad. I have however had an Elite that sheared a drawstop and locked itself out at fulldraw. It's weird how experiences differ from person-to-person, and probably more importantly dealer-to-dealer (or "DIYer-to-DIYer).

One thing I do have to give credit to Mathews is their warranty. If you buy their bow new they will take care of you. Nobody else is that good. If you have a BT destroyer and its limbs blow up they will not replace anymore. They will give you a lower quality new bow as a replacement. If you have a single limb Elite and you blow a limb, good luck, they don't make them anymore and new limbs are impossible to find, or not made anymore. Hoyt I have no idea about.

 

[Halfstep]

As for cam bearings; I have pulled the rubber shield off of cam bearings before because there wasn't enough grease in them, and they would rattle when the bow was shot. Even though these bearings are supposed to be greased and sealed from the bearing manufacturer, some of the bearings slip thru without any or much grease at all. If the bearings aren't packed full of grease, the balls will rattle when shot. I can take a pick and pry the rubber side shield off of the bearing and repack them and put the rubber shield back in place. Hoyt was bad about having rattle bearings and I have even repacked bearings on brand new bows before they left the local shop.

If one does have a bearing issue and the bearings need replaced, that isn't difficult or expensive to do as long you have a bow press and the necessary tools.

 

[woodsdog2]

I’ve never heard of this before I have a Lagacy I bought new in 2004 still going strong and a Monster Chill R I bought new (old stock) in 2018 no issues either. I have a buddy who just picked up a used Monster Chill for this past season and he’s loving it. No bearing issues either. I think a lot of this may be specific to the archer and conditions they’ve hunted in but again, I can’t believe Matthews would have not honored a repair for it if needed.