2012 Mathews Heli-M Bow Review

[JerryR]

http://youtu.be/oLsfU_ZrBps

[brent.westbrook]

We have one in our shop, nice bow. Lighter than the Element and has metal riser.
All of the threaded inserts are titanium. However, I noticed slightly more vibration in the Heli-M than the Z7 series, I believe is due to the lighter weight, Also note, you put a FUNCTIONAL stabilizer of it, and she is back to sweetness

[Trap-Daddy]

yea i held that bow, i feel like it would vibrate more, being that light. plus have more recoil

[brent.westbrook]

no sure I like all the "new lighter" looks cheaper to me,

Actually had a customer tell me I like me Z7, this lacks style... I couldnt help but laugh

[Trap-Daddy]

HAAAAAAAAAAA that guy jerry on the video used to do all my bow work and fletch all my arrows when i was still living at home. he is based out of mabank TX. he knows his stuff and does beyond excellent work. He is a great guy to go to if you dont mind a bit of preaching.

[brent.westbrook]

well, vibration leads to "recoil" bows without recoil dont have much vibration either

The Bow is still by far a great bow... you just have to ask do I want light, or do I want less vibration

either way you probally wont notice by the time you are finished decking the bows out. I really dont understand why everyone is so wound up over .4lbs.. heck stabilizer difference and arrow weight difference can make more than that!

this post is refering to Z7 series or heli-m.... Not talking about choosing any other brand

[Trap-Daddy]

oh im not griping about it or anything im just asking questions, yall sold me on the z7 extreme up there at the shop and i will be in next week to put it on layaway

[brent.westbrook]

You'll have to forgive me, I have a hard enough time remembering names, you cant possibly expect me to remember tbh identities as well. Choose either way, you still getting a great bow!

[Trap-Daddy]

ha well ill be around, ill make sure to introduce myself next time

[TexMax]

Originally Posted by brent.westbrook

well, vibration leads to "recoil" bows without recoil dont have much vibration either

The Bow is still by far a great bow... you just have to ask do I want light, or do I want less vibration

either way you probally wont notice by the time you are finished decking the bows out. I really dont understand why everyone is so wound up over .4lbs.. heck stabilizer difference and arrow weight difference can make more than that!

this post is refering to Z7 series or heli-m.... Not talking about choosing any other brand

2800 grains. That'd be a he'll of an arrow!

[doudle d]

nice review Jerry. right on the money as always.

[brent.westbrook]

I was referring to people complain about .4lbs of bare bow weight, but dont relize all the weight including in the other stuff, stabilizers, sights, heavy(good)hunting arrows, and quivers. I have seen someone buy an element because it was light and then put the heaviest accessories on it...

[Bowhunter004]

Nice review as always Jerry! Heli-m sounds like a solid bow

[robbyreneeward]

I think its nice to finally have a Mathews bow do its advertised IBO. This is even more awesome that Jerry's apparent bow will do OVER IBO. People don't think Mathews has a winner here, but I'll argue that point all day. They improved upon everything I thought they could with the original Z7 platform. Removed all the red accents on the roller and cam module, less reflexed riser, DRAW STOP for a more solid back wall, and the weight of the Z7 XT was really closer to 4.4 lbs (advertised at 3.98# i believe) due to the ** on the Mathews site saying without accessories like the harmonic dampers or the heavy harmonic stabilizer. So in all reality Mathews shaved almost a whole pound off this bow and still raised ATA by 2". A winner in my book!

Hey Jerry, do you have time today to weigh an xtreme and let us know true bare bow weight so we know the actual difference between the 2? Thanks.

RW

[Greg]

Great review as always Jerry . Thanks

[chris1911]

still not worth $1000.

[robbyreneeward]

Originally Posted by CRTR_GTR

still not worth $1000.

$959 is msrp. Most if not all dealers sell for well below that. Closest dealer to me is selling them for $800 even

[Chase This!]

No string stop on the bottom, carbon rod instead of machined aluminum on the roller guard, carbon rod instead of machine aluminum on the dead end.

And something really innovative, they went with a "Lite" model on the Harmonic Damper.

I am surprised how many people are buying into the "it's lighter" hype. To that, I say SO what. Once you add a heavy stabilizer to reduce vibration it will be no lighter.

[Chase This!]

Ps. Nice review!!!

[robbyreneeward]

Originally Posted by Chase This!

No string stop on the bottom, carbon rod instead of machined aluminum on the roller guard, carbon rod instead of machine aluminum on the dead end.

And something really innovative, they went with a "Lite" model on the Harmonic Damper.

I am surprised how many people are buying into the "it's lighter" hype. To that, I say SO what. Once you add a heavy stabilizer to reduce vibration it will be no lighter.

All things being equal, if I moved my setup off my tactical and onto a heliM, it will still be 3/4-1 full lb lighter. Have you held or shot it yet?

[Chase This!]

Originally Posted by robbyreneeward

All things being equal, if I moved my setup off my tactical and onto a heliM, it will still be 3/4-1 full lb lighter. Have you held or shot it yet?

Held and shot it several times. It's lighter. Which I don't care about. My bow hangs in my tree until I am ready to shoot.

Why would you switch from the Tactical to the Heli-M? Other than wanting a new toy? I see no reason to make that move.

And honestly, I walked in to my archery shop to buy my dad a bow, and walked out with a Z7 Extreme. I felt like the Z7e was a smoother shooting bow.

[LWolken]

Nice Bow. Glad to see this video solve the light and fast vs. slow heavy debate when it comes to KE and penetration.

[robbyreneeward]

I got rid of my tac strictly because of weight. My MR5 weighs a bit more than my tact but its 5" longer ATA which is justified to me. Couldn't justify a 28" bow being that heavy

[Rwc]

JerryR, Thanks for taking the time to do this.

Rwc

[glpoe1]

Excellent review. I still haven't shot this bow yet but looking forward to giving it a try. Just may have to buy a new one this year after all.

[Kokanee]

I wasn't that interested in it from looking at the ads and pictures as it did have the cost down appearance. However after shooting it, I was impressed by the weight and the ease of hold it had. Felt very balanced and quiet. I have the Extreme and will wait for the rush to subside and order a blacked out Helim. Spot and stalk antics above 10,000' for hours on end hunting elk made me want a lighter bow for next year!
Great review by the way!

[Ragin']

On weight. I used to always want the lightest bow i could find. Seems the more years that have passed ive gravitated to bows that weigh atleast 4 pounds plus. I know im in the minority on that. And i never set out to go that direction. I just finally got to a point that i quit careing about ads and hype. Now days i just pic a bow up. Shoot it. If im in the market and like the feel i buy it. No matter the brand.

[Slick8]

Great review on a great looking bow. I like the speed that it's getting but don't care for how they shaved the weight and the roller guard giving up some fletching clearance. That was one of the best things about the Z series IMO. I'm also guessing that apples to apples set up the Z is quieter.

I'll be keeping my 2010 Z7 for a while.

Thanks for the review.

[Harvey]

I know companies have to keep innovating...but I'll keep my dinosaur; the Drenalin!

[41Chevy]

Originally Posted by Harvey

I know companies have to keep innovating...but I'll keep my dinosaur; the Drenalin!

Or LX.

[JerryR]

Originally Posted by robbyreneeward

I think its nice to finally have a Mathews bow do its advertised IBO. This is even more awesome that Jerry's apparent bow will do OVER IBO. People don't think Mathews has a winner here, but I'll argue that point all day. They improved upon everything I thought they could with the original Z7 platform. Removed all the red accents on the roller and cam module, less reflexed riser, DRAW STOP for a more solid back wall, and the weight of the Z7 XT was really closer to 4.4 lbs (advertised at 3.98# i believe) due to the ** on the Mathews site saying without accessories like the harmonic dampers or the heavy harmonic stabilizer. So in all reality Mathews shaved almost a whole pound off this bow and still raised ATA by 2". A winner in my book!

Hey Jerry, do you have time today to weigh an xtreme and let us know true bare bow weight so we know the actual difference between the 2? Thanks.

RW

Hey robby the bare weight on the extreme is 4.52 lbs.

[BIG IRON]

Good review Jerry. What other brands do you carry?

[VorTexan]

X-Factor Stabilizer and you've got something.

[VorTexan]

Originally Posted by BIG IRON

Good review Jerry. What other brands do you carry?

Anything you need to look at except hoyt.

[Mojo]

I know where to take my Z7 for a tune up one a deez daze...
that was a pretty thorough evaluation...
awesome, or as some put it, allsome!

[doudle d]

Originally Posted by BIG IRON

Good review Jerry. What other brands do you carry?

he carrys elite, strothers, bowtech, mathews and mission. Great guy, great service.

[txdukklr]

Originally Posted by CRTR_GTR

still not worth $1000.

I paid $849 for mine two and half weeks ago. . . . two years ago I paid 799 for my z7

Originally Posted by robbyreneeward

$959 is msrp. Most if not all dealers sell for well below that. Closest dealer to me is selling them for $800 even

WHA in Katy has em for 849 and should be getting the shipment any day.

[Greg]

Hey guys when I was at RBO the other day I noticed the price on the z7 extreme was $759.00 in camo the Heli- m was $789.00 in camo and all there Monsters in camo are 819..00 looks like Jerry has some good prices on Mathews bows

[dcw]

Good review

[robbyreneeward]

Originally Posted by JerryR

Hey robby the bare weight on the extreme is 4.52 lbs.

That's what I figured. I appreciate it Jerry. Oh yeah I thought it was no shave November?!?!

[JerryR]

Had to Shave for the Review Robby...lol But its back on!

Originally Posted by robbyreneeward

That's what I figured. I appreciate it Jerry. Oh yeah I thought it was no shave November?!?!

[doudle d]

great prices and great service. can't beat that

[Delirious]

You guys that think you need lighter bows need to do some 12 ounce curls. Nuff said

[robbyreneeward]

Originally Posted by Delirious

You guys that think you need lighter bows need to do some 12 ounce curls. Nuff said

Thank you for that very helpful and insightful comment. You really added intellectual value to this thread. Its not that I'm a pansy, its about feel and personal preference. Its also about Mathews finally being truthful on weight numbers for once. If you like to shoot boat anchors go right ahead. If you don't have something helpful to say next time, just leave it alone for the rest of us please.

[Keith]

It's about time I replaced my old Mathews Q2. I'll definitely be checking it out. Does anyone have a Z7 they plan to sell before next hunting season?

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Keith

It's about time I replaced my old Mathews Q2. I'll definitely be checking it out. Does anyone have a Z7 they plan to sell before next hunting season?

Same here Keith except I'm still shooting the Outback. Time to give her a rest

As always, great review Jerry!

Sent from my HTC EVO.

[mudbone]

I have shot Mathews bows for years and my take on the Heli is not good!! I shot it at the shop and it had quite a bit of hand shock, it looks and feels cheap as though someone was just trying too put something out for this year. The price is certainly out of line for the quality of this bow. The one good thing about it is I will not be spending any money on a new bow this year. These are my observations of this bow and I stand by them.

Mudbone

[VorTexan]

Originally Posted by Keith

It's about time I replaced my old Mathews Q2. I'll definitely be checking it out. Does anyone have a Z7 they plan to sell before next hunting season?

Any good shops around Sulpher Springs?