PSE X-Force Dream Season DNA Review

March 19, 2013 By Jon E. Silks

PSE is one of the largest, most successful archery companies in the world, and it shows no signs of slowing down or letting up. Year after year, PSE pushes the boundaries of bow design and tweaks its creations with a goal of continuous improvement.

PSE's 2013 X-Force Dream Season DNA is loaded with features, including the all-new Flex Cable Slide, Core Hybrid Cam, 4th Generation X-Technology limbs, Centerlock 2 limb pockets, forged reflex riser, B.E.S.T. Raptor grip, new BackStop string silencer, America's Best string/cables and Detachable Limb Bands.

Speed²

PSE has a reputation for producing super-fast bows, and the DNA falls right in line. Its new, Core Hybrid Cams are responsible for advertised speeds ranging from 344-352 fps on a 6-inch brace height. The string and cable grooves are engineered to reduce friction and wear while enhancing consistency.

An Inner Cam system offers draw lengths from 26-30 inches, in half-inch increments. A pin protruding from the Inner Cam is positively positioned into one of the available holes on the main body of the cam. Simply place the pin in the hole that corresponds to your desired draw length and lock down the screws. Main cams and inner cams are clearly marked with easy-to-read engraving. Draw stops on each cam are to be located in the holes that correspond to the inner-cam position.

Forged Strength

PSE's forged aluminum riser serves as the base of operations for the DNA and is fully CNC-machined into its final form, which is designed to promote a stiff platform through straight lines both front and back. The Planar Flex design is made to keep much of the riser's flex in a front to back motion rather than allowing twist and flex from side to side. All this translates into improved performance through increased consistency

and accuracy.

When you pick up a DNA, one of the first things you may notice — other than the fact it is surprisingly lightweight at only 3.7 pounds — is the cable guard system. For 2013, PSE introduced the new Flex Cable Slide. This device is essentially a miniature X-Technology limb manufactured with a friction-reduction material attached to the side opposite the cables to allow the cable slide to operate freely.

The idea is that the limb will flex as the bow is drawn to reduce lateral load by up to 30 percent, which decreases torque at full draw. When the bow is shot, the limb quickly returns to its natural position, taking the cables with it — out of the way of your fletching. Adjustments can be made to customize fletching clearance by simply turning a screw in or out, just like a limb bolt.

The DNA riser incorporates PSE's new Center-Pull Technology that basically places the arrow in the exact center of the bow. PSE's goal for this design is improved tunability and increased performance.

Rounding out the package on the DNA riser is the B.E.S.T. Raptor Grip, a stainless steel stabilizer-mounting insert, multiple sight mounting positions, engraved tuning marks on the shelf and a new-and-improved, tunable BackStop string stop.

The Dream Season DNA is home to PSE's 4th Generation X-Technology Limbs. A heavy pre-load and curl brings the split limbs to a parallel position even when the bow is at rest. At full draw, they demonstrate a radical past-parallel curl. Limbs measure 13.375 inches and are made from fiberglass through a proprietary process. Peak draw weights are available in 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 pounds, with 80-pound limbs

offered through PSE's custom shop.

An all new Centerlock 2 limb pocket was designed to be stronger, lighter and more stable than the first generation. This is a pivoting pocket that has a center locking feature and allows for 10 turns of adjustment.

Range Notes

The Dream Season DNA is incredibly fast. The front side of the draw cycle and narrow valley are not for the timid, as both are extremely aggressive. This is done to squeeze every last drop of speed from the power stroke. I like the narrow B.E.S.T. Grip's feel and find it to be functional in consistently positioning my hand. The kick and vibration noted at the shot are easily tamed, and the bow is exceptionally quiet. This is a killing machine, plain and simple.

BowTech Destroyer 350

BowTech has brought the Destroyer 350 — its groundbreaking flagship bow from 2010 — back as a limited edition series for 2013. The Destroyer 350 was one of the best-selling bows in BowTech history, thanks to a trio of industry-changing technologies; Hard Core Limbs that combine durability with maximum speeds, the FLX-Guard cable-containment system that dramatically reduces riser torque and the Over Drive Binary Cam system for symmetry, synchronization and stability at the shot.

Available in limited quantities, the Destroyer 350 LE weighs 4.1 pounds, has 80 percent let off, measures 32€‰3„8 inches between the axles, has a 6-inch brace height and an IBO speed rating of 350 fps. It has a draw-weight range of 60-70 pounds and can accommodate draw lengths from 25-30 inches. It is available only in Black Ops finish with custom, limited-edition limb graphics.

MSRP: $849

Prime Impact

G5 Outdoors has turned plenty of heads with the exclusive Parallel Cam Technology on its Prime bows, and the 2013 Impact is sure to leave its mark on bowhunters. Like all Prime bows, the hallmark of the 35-inch Impact is its parallel cams, which distribute the load of the draw force equally on each side of the cable, virtually eliminating cam lean.

As a result, Prime bows enjoy reduced horizontal nock travel for better accuracy and reduced limb fatigue for enhanced durability. The Impact's new PCX cam produces an IBO speed rating of 340 fps with a 6€‰¼-inch brace height, and it's forged, 7000 series aluminum riser is among the stiffest in the business. Other highlights include C-1 Laminated Limbs, Gore Fiber string and cables, removable anti-torque grip and the TI-Glide flexible titanium cable guard system that reduces cam lean by 25 percent. The Impact weighs 4.5 pounds, offers draw lengths from 26-30 inches and peak draw weights of 50, 60 or 70 pounds.

MSRP: $949

PSE Prophecy

PSE says its new Prophecy is the fastest single-cam rig ever created. The Prophecy's high-performance single-cam system provides a smooth draw while still producing an IBO speed rating of 340 fps. Other highlights include PSE's Planar Flex riser, past parallel split limbs, B.E.S.T Raptor Grip and Backstop 2 string dampener. The Prophecy has a 6-inch brace height, measures 32 inches between the axles, weighs 4.1 pounds and has 75 percent letoff. It can accommodate draw lengths from 25-30 inches and is available with peak draw weights of 50, 60 or 70 pounds.

MSRP: $699

Hoyt Spider 30

Hoyt's engineering team of die-hard bowhunters combined years of field experience with technological wizardry to create the all-new Spyder 30. To provide extreme stealth at the shot, Hoyt created patent-pending AirShox Technology. The AirShox dampeners are mounted to the limb pockets, allowing the limbs to pull away at full draw and then be cushioned by the AirShox as they spring back into place upon release.

To boost maneuverability, Hoyt trimmed the Spyder 30's axle-to-axle measurement to just 30 inches, making it the most compact Hoyt rig ever. And to generate the power needed to make a lethal strike, Hoyt included its RKT Cam and ½ that produces an IBO speed rating of 330 fps. The Spyder 30 also features Hoyt's TEC Lite Riser, XTS Pro ARC limbs, Fuse Custom Strings, In-Line Roller Guard, Pro-Fit Custom Grip, Silent Shelf Technology and more. The Spyder 30 weighs 3.8 pounds, has a 6€‰¾-inch brace height, can accommodate draw lengths from 24€‰1„2-30 inches and is available with peak draw weights of 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds. Finish options include Realtree Xtra, Realtree MAX-1, Black Out and many others.

MSRP: $999

Elite Hunter

With an all-new riser and cam system, smoother draw and wider range of draw lengths, the 2013 Hunter from Elite Archery offers plenty of exciting upgrades from the original. Elite President Peter Crawford said the Hunter's new cams offer the company's smoothest-drawing bow to date, while a more parallel limb configuration creates a truly 'dead in hand ' feel at the shot.

Maneuverability is excellent thanks to the Hunter's 31€‰½-inch axle-to-axle length, and archers will enjoy plenty of forgiveness via the rig's generous, 7€‰¾-inch brace height. Despite all those features designed to enhance shootability, the Hunter still powers arrows at more than respectable IBO speeds of 323-326 fps. Another highlight is Elite's exclusive 'dwell zone, ' a wide spot in the valley that makes taking aim at trophy game extremely comfortable.

The 4.3-pound Hunter comes with Winner's Choice Custom Bowstrings and is available in draw lengths from 25-31 inches and with peak draw weights of 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds.

MSRP: $899

Mathews Creed

Hardcore bowhunters can put their faith in the all-new, split-limb Mathews Creed, featuring the company's legendary Solocam technology. Powered by the new SimPlex Cam, Mathews says the Creed is the smoothest-drawing single-cam bow ever created, yet it still produces IBO speeds up to 328 fps.

It's also balanced, lightweight at just 3.85 pounds, quiet and accurate. Other highlights include the Geo Grid Lock Riser, Reverse Assist Roller Guard, Rich Walnut SlimFit Inline Grip, Dead End String Stop Lite and Mathews Harmonic Stabilizer Lite.

The Creed measures 30 inches between the axles and has a 7-inch brace height with 80 percent letoff. It can accommodate draw lengths from 26-30 inches and is available with peak draw weights of 50-70 pounds. Finish options include Lost Camo, Black and Tactical.

MSRP: $999

Martin Alien

Weighing a feathery 3.5 pounds and boasting an IBO speed rating of up to 335 fps, Martin Archery's 2013 split-limb Alien is the company's sleekest, most advanced bow ever, making it easy to tune and shoot thanks to a forgiving, 7-inch brace height.

Other highlights include a CNC machined solid aluminum riser, Nitro 3 Hybrid Cams, X4 Twin Limbs, three VEM Vibration Vortex Modules, Carbon Stealth STS string stop, Martin Cable Containment System, Saddleback Thermal Grip and Silent Hunter Arrow Shelf. The 32-inch axle-to-axle Alien offers draw lengths from 25€‰½-30€‰½ inches and peak draw weights of 50, 60 or 70 pounds, with 15 pounds of downward adjustment.

MSRP: $799.99

APA Viper Nano

The new Viper Nano from APA Innovations measures just 30 inches between the axles but boasts a blistering 330 fps IBO speed rating and a forgiving, 7€‰¼-inch brace height. The Viper Nano is APA's smoothest, most efficient, single-cam bow ever, thanks to the new Venom V2 Cam, which offers eight inches of draw-length adjustment in half-inch increments.

The cam also features a positive draw stop for a rock-solid back wall. The Viper Nano comes standard with Scorpion Strings. The riser has a built-in, balanced carrying handle, and APA's Fang Riser features an incorporated limb hook that allows you to easily store your bow while on stand. Also standard on APA bows is the multi-function tool center that features a nock wrench, broadhead wrench, carbide sharpener and cam lock built into the riser. The cam lock allows you to lock the cams and replace the string or cable in the field without a bow press. Shown in optional Snakeskin Stealth finish.

MSRP: $899

Hoyt Carbon Element G3

Hoyt's renowned carbon riser technology is back and better than ever for 2013. The new Carbon Element G3 features the same short and sweet 31€‰1„2-inch axle-to-axle length that has made this bow a favorite among bowhunters along with the all-new, patent-pending AirShox limb dampeners for deadly silence at the shot. The Carbon Element G3 is powered by Hoyt's fast and smooth RKT Cam and ½ system and boasts an IBO speed rating of 332 fps.

The carbon riser helps hold the rig's mass weight to just 3.6 pounds yet offers the strength to stand up to severe abuse in the field. The Carbon Element G3 has a 6€‰¾-inch brace height, can accommodate draw lengths from 24€‰1„2-30 inches and is available with peak draw weights of 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 and 80 pounds. Other highlights include Hoyt's XTS Pro ARC limbs, Fuse Custom Strings, In-Line Roller Guard, Pro-Fit Custom Grip, Silent Shelf Technology and more. Finish options include Realtree Xtra, Realtree MAX-1, black and more.

MSRP: [imo-slideshow gallery= 24],499

Ross XD

At 30€‰1„2 inches between the axles and just 3.16 pounds, the Ross XD (Xtreme Devastation) proves you can pack a lot of performance into a small package. In addition to being one of the lightest hunting bows on the market, the XD features an IBO speed rating of 320 fps with a silky smooth draw and solid back wall, ensuring you will be able to execute a perfect shot during the moment of truth.

The Ross XD has a 7€‰½-inch brace height, 80 percent letoff and can accommodate draw lengths from 26-31 inches. It's available with peak draw weights of 50, 60 or 70 pounds. Finish options include Realtree AP camo or Stealth Black.

MSRP: $524.99