Initial XT/Outback Chrono results(Updated)

[Buckfever]

Today I received what is basically the new version of the Hansen scale which I checked against my home digital scale and it was spot on. I weighed the XT and it came in at 72lbs and the Outback came in at 69.

I put the homemade light kit(Thanks joatman!!!!) on the Prochrono digital and put a few through just to take some starting measures. Both bows are 28.5" draw and have about 12 grains on the string. The Outback gave me 278ft/sec with a 383/384 grain Goldtip which roughly translates to a 310 IBO. The XT gave me 286ft/sec which roughly implies a 312 IBO. I do think that I have the Outback tuned better, just needs the ATA shortened to gainback some lbs that I've lost and the specs are a little off on the XT so I should pick up a little bit there.

I think that the scale and chrono are are excellent tools, that I'm really going to enjoy using to gain additional knowledge with.

[Buckfever]

Okay some more comparisons. I put the Outback to specs, haven't retuned it. Had to reserve the XT cable and I lost a little draw weight I'm at 71.5, but the specs look spot on to me. I'm at 70lbs on the Outback. I've reserved the Outback cable as well. The serving I'm using might be thicker than specs and I might be losing a little length and letoff and thus draw weight, now on both.

Using a 403 ACC I get an average of 274.5 for the Outback and 278 for the XT. With a 383 grain 7595 I get 280 for the Outback and 284 for the XT. With a 365 Goldtip I get 290 for the XT and 286 for the Outback. If you consider the 1.5lb difference there's only about 1ft/sec difference between the bows. The Outback speeds equate to about 310-311 IBO and the XT translates to about 311-312 IBO. With the Outback really liking the ACC 3-71.

I'll do final adjustments and tuning on both and compare them again. But I think the results will come in about the same.

It doesn't really surprise me though. My particular XT has a braceheight a little over 7-9/16th, so you got to figure speed wise this one should be on the lower end of the XTs. Not a barn burner say compared to the Bowtechs with the speed modules, but still plenty of power and speed if you need it with a lighter arrow and it's silky smooth, whisper quiet and crazy accurate.

That Outback still impresses me though.

[ncboman]

They sure are close together speedwise.

hmmm....

40yds
3 sets of 3 from each bow.
no wind

40yds
same as above
10mph crosswind

60yds
same as above.

pics
we want pics. ;D

[Buckfever]

nc, unfortunately the outdoor range over here doesn't open for a while. I really want to see what the XT will do at the longer ranges. I also want to compare the Outback and XT from an elevated position at 40 yards. Really that will be the deciding factor for me between the bows. I agree with you that speedwise it's a wash.

I don't think you buy the Mathews bows for speed. They have okay speed, but what you really get is a 70 lb draw that feels like 62-63lbs, real quiet and very accurate short ATA bow. For where I am, in my hunting I've settled on 2.5" of total cut for Whitetails. I need a minimum of 65ftlbs and .47 momentum. Either of these bows will give me that as long as I don't go with too light of an arrow.

I do prefer 280ft/sec because with the pendulum I can get out close to 40 yards. But in a case like this where the Outback really likes the 3-71, I'll give up the 5-6 feet/sec.

I really we've reached a point where the incremental improvements in bows are going to be very small going forward.

[Buckfever]

Final results:
I have both the bows in perfect spec. A hair short of ATA on one side and a hair long on the other. Both cams are maybe a 64th over rotated. String is trackign straight off the idler at full draw. Braceheight on the Outback is 7-3/8th, on the XT 7-9/16ths. I had to retune both bows, but I have clean bullets out of both now at 2 feet and 5 yards, with both the 7595s and the 3-71s. Outback is at 70lbs and the XT is at 71.5.

XT: 403 ACC 3-71, 278ft/sec, KE:69.18ft/lbs; 383 grain Goldtip 7595, 284ft/sec, KE:68.61ft/lbs; 366 grain Goldtip 5575, 290ft/sec.

Outback: 403 ACC 3-71, 274ft/sec, KE:67.2ft/lbs; 383 grain Goldtip 7595, 280ft/sec, KE:66.69ft/lbs; 366 grain Goldtip 5575, 286ft/sec.

Both bows retain more KE with the ACCs.

Both bows have a left tear with the 5575s.

Using this calculator:

bucklemke.com/ke/ke.php

and figuring 12 grains on the string,

the numbers equate to an IBO of 311-312 for the XT. And an IBO of 310-311 for the Outback.

It's interesting but the Outback was really out of tune, yet the stiffness of the 3-71 absorbed the energy anyway, whereas the 7595s suffered till they were flying clean.

I think this is a pretty accurate comparison of these 2 bows, performance wise it's very close. I think what is impressive to me about the XT is how they managed to get a bow with a taller braceheight and riser, to put out that kind of power, with such an easy draw. The other thing that impresses me is how advanced of a bow the Outback was a couple of years ago when it first came out.

I think that's it for the power comparisons between the 2 bows. The next true comparative tests will come outdoors at the longer ranges.

The next chrono based tests that I'll run will be individual testing of the bows of various arrow/point weight combinations, to see what the spine requirements are for the bows.