Ross Cardiac

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Ross Archery has quickly chiseled out a solid pedestal for itself in a highly saturated marketplace. From the get-go Ross bows have exhibited exceptional quality and incredible attention to detail.

Past Ross bow models have displayed plenty of usable speed, most clocking in around 305 fps IBO. This year's new Cardiac is significantly faster, boasting advertised IBO speeds of 320 fps. Will this speed boost affect the Ross shooting experience fans have come to expect?

Power And Feature Packed

Features that have made past Ross bows tick are still in place in the Cardiac. The handsome 24-inch machined-aluminum riser includes fully-radiused edges, a generous sight window, and wide shelf with attached broadhead guard and stainless steel stabilizer bushing. The Propriety Center Shot Technology assures the string rides through the middle of the riser with each shot. Rugged one-piece limbs and matched Cardiac cam and idler wheels create dead-even tiller and an exceptionally smooth draw, the modular-adjustable system including sealed bearings top and bottom. Tuff-Tech Color Fusion Realtree AP camouflage is designed to last. Long-term accuracy is assured via factory-installed Winners Choice Custom Strings.

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SPECIFICATIONS
MANUFACTURER:	Ross Archery Inc.
MODEL:	Cardiac
DRAW WEIGHTS:	40/50, 50/60, 60/70 and 70/80 pounds
DRAW LENGTHS:	26.5 to 30 inches; modular adjustable in one half-inch increments
RISER:	Machined 6061 A1 aluminum with heavy reflex
LIMBS:	One-piece Gordon glass
MASS WEIGHT:	4 pounds
LETOFF:	80-percent standard; 65-percent optional
GRIP:	Narrow, with laminated hardwood side plates
BRACE HEIGHT:	7 inches
AXLE-TO-AXLE LENGTH:	33 inches
FINISH:	Realtree AP with new Tuff-Tech Color Fusion
ADVERTISED IBO SPEED:	320 fps
PRICE:	$730
COMMENTS:	A speed demon of a bow with a sweet-shooting disposition, owning compact lines today's serious archery hunters have come to prefer.

Silence also seems to have been a priority. A slick Teflon cable slide rides a carbon rod, and a new FLATLINE Anti-Vibration System covers all parts of the bow. These include factory-installed limb silencing blocks, cable-guard dampener, string silencers and all-new carbon-rod-mounted String Stop. The Cardiac's nearly parallel limb geometry also contributes to its bowhunting silence.

Home On The Range

I'm not an ardent fan of short bows. I had reservations as to how well this 33-inch bow would actually shoot set up for my 30-inch draw at 70 pounds.

I quickly added a popular drop away rest, simple sight, stabilizer, string loop and magnesium peep. I tried several stabilizers, from a short six, through longer 10-inch models. At rest the Cardiac is decidedly front heavy (a personal pet peeve), but at full draw it balanced, becoming easy to hold on target.

When I came to full draw for the first sight-in shot, the Cardiac's silky-smooth draw cycle grabbed my attention. It's best compared to a ride in a luxury automobile, smooth and even, right through peak and sans the slightest bump until I hit the draw stops. I like that. That's something that any archery hunter fighting in a hurry to get a shot off will appreciate. Solid draw stops contribute to accuracy; though afford little wiggle room for relaxing at full draw.

My first shot, loading a light 3-D arrow, produced the results I was looking for; absolutely zero hand shock, and a dull, short-lived thump. The bow's practically hunt-ready off the rack.

Defining Performance

Test arrows constitute readily available, popular models, a zippy "lightweight" cut to 29.5 inches, and a 30-inch "heavy". The first has a finished weight of 353 grains (Carbon Tech Cheetah 4570, 90-grain tip, finishing just over IBO standards), the second 441 (Carbon Express Maxima Hunter 350).

CRAFTSMANSHIP	GRIP ERGONOMICS	FINISH	DRAW CYCLE	RECOIL	SHOT NOISE	NOTES
Attention to detail from top to bottom.	Comfortable, narrow throat that introduces no torque.	Sharp and tough Tuff-Tech Realtree AP.	Smooth a s silk, with no harsh bump at letoff.	A noticeable lack of shock and recoil on release.	Out of the box hunting silence.	Better-than-expected shootability from a short, performance bow.

The draw stops revealed their merits, repeated shots spinning out numbers that match to within tenths of a foot per second each time. The light arrow also shows Ross' truth in advertising, missing the appointed 320 fps mark by only a couple fps, likely due to the added peep and string loop. The heavier arrow managed consistent 285 fps numbers.

In Parting

If the Cardiac is any indication of what I can expect from Ross in the future--sweet-shooting characteristics, a high degree of accuracy, and incredible speed--Ross is now a loud and clear blip on my hunting-bow radar. You can have it all: speed, accuracy and maneuverability, and a competitive price.