Mission Maniac Bow

To enlarge this image, please click here.

Mission Archery bills itself as the fastest growing company in archery. So, what are their keys to success?

First, their goal is to produce a top performing hunting bow within a given price range -- your price range. Second, they want to exceed your expectations in customer service. In the end, they want you to feel great about your purchase, knowing you bought a solid hunting rig from a company whose employees are as excited about bowhunting as you are and willing to stand behind their product.

Mission's six-bow lineup covers a range of price points, IBO ratings, mass weights and cam systems. The Maniac features an adjustable dual-cam system, parallel limbs, limb mounted String Suppressors and D-Amplifier string silencers. A metal stabilizer mounting insert, one-piece composite grip and composite V-lock limb pockets are also found on the Maniac.

Highly Adjustable
The Maniac's dual-cam system features a single rotating module that allows for draw-length changes from 22-30 inches, in one-inch increments. All that is needed to make the change is a 1„8-inch hex driver to remove the screw holding the module in place. No bow press is required. Clear markings on the module leave no doubt about your selected draw length position. The system generates a letoff of approximately 77 percent. However, the exact percentage depends on the draw length setting. Mission CNC machines the dual cams out of aluminum and anodizes them in black. The Maniac uses two split cables and a string, both are Zebra Hybrid brand and are made of BCY's 452X Blend.

Damping Focus
Mission employs parallel limbs, limb-based String Suppressors and D-Amplifier string silencers to deaden sound and vibration.

---

The String Suppressors are molded from a proprietary dampening compound and ride in an aluminum bracket mounted on the tip of each limb. When the bow is fired, the hook-shaped suppressors cradle the string and absorb vibration as it returns to the at-rest position. D-Amplifiers are small rubber string accessories designed to decrease post-release vibration and noise.

The Maniac's limbs are made of layered glass and notched near the end closest to the riser to receive tabs protruding from the inside of the limb pockets for secure connection. Probably as important as the makeup of these limbs is their parallel position at full draw. A bow that incorporates this technology has significantly reduced shock, vibration and noise compared to a similar bow with upright limbs. Mission offers 50-, 60- and 70-pound peak limbs for the Maniac, which actually cover draw weights from 20 pounds to just over 70 pounds depending on the draw length and limb set. A chart on Mission's Web site details all the draw length/weight combinations.

Rounding Out the Package
The Maniac has a relatively short reflex riser, which is fully machined from aluminum. A metal stabilizer-mounting insert eliminates the hassle of cross threading the stabilizer directly into the riser. Mission uses a composite material to construct their one-piece molded grip and V-Lock limb pockets.

Impressions
Mission's Maniac has a surprisingly low manufacturer's suggested retail price of $449, making it one of the lowest priced adult bows on the market. I factored that into my personal assessment.

Two factors that will play into your first impressions of any bow are grip comfort and draw cycle smoothness. The Maniac scores well in both areas with a well formed grip and draw cycle that starts a bit stiff before getting smoother all the way into the soft valley.

At the shot, expect to experience a notable kick and a measure of lasting vibration, which results in average noise output. Balance at full draw is solid, and the bow locks onto the target.