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In 2007, Bear Archery hit a huge home run with The Truth bow. The design of The Truth was a collaborative effort between Bear engineers and Team Primos. It blended technological expertise with real woods experience, and the result was a feature-packed bow that looked and shot much better than its sticker price suggested. That made Bear Archery’s The Truth a quick hit with bowhunters nationwide. What’s not to like about a whole lot of bow for a great price?

I suppose that Bear could have rested on its laurels and simply offered The Truth for another year. But that’s not the way the new Bear Archery thinks. The company and Team Primos went back to the drawing board, poking, prodding and examining nearly every aspect of The Truth success. I’m told they went in it to change a few things and came out changing everything.

The net result was a brand-new and better bow for 2008–Bear Archery’s The Truth 2. I’ve shot both bows, and the 2008 Truth 2 is faster, smoother and quieter than the original. If The Truth was a home run, The Truth 2 is a grand slam.

That status comes complements of a host of new and improved features. There’s a newly designed and faster single-cam system, new Flare Quad limbs, a sleeker riser, a better grip, improved strings, dual string suppressors and even innovative weighted axle-mounted dampeners. Bear Archery took a proven winner and turned it into a startling new champion.

This really is a fascinating new bow. And like The Truth before it, The Truth 2 carves out a new standard for what bowhunters can expect from a mid-priced bow. More than one archery dealer has already told me that even the top bows don’t look better or more advanced than Bear Archery’s 2008 Truth 2.

How It Shoots

A variety of things jump out at the range when shooting Bear Archery’s new Truth 2. To begin with, I really like the new grip. Its soft texture is both pleasing and comfortable, and there’s an undeniable impression of warmth. My hand easily positions itself in that grip, riding high and resting solidly against the grip’s comparatively flat back.

The draw cycle on The Truth 2 is moderately smooth. To gain extra arrow speed, peak weight is maintained well into the draw, but the transition into letoff comes with an evenness that will be much appreciated in a cold treestand. The back wall is firm and reassuring.

Because of its minimalist approach to riser reflex (backset), The Truth 2 seems particularly stable at full draw. It just sits there, enabling you to aim fine and shoot true.

Upon release, Bear Archery’s new Truth 2 is a relatively quiet and mostly shock-free treat. There are two sets of curving string suppressors that grab, silence and deaden the bowstring. There are also weighted dampeners located on both ends of each of the bow’s axles. All that onboard dampening seems to work just fine, creating a sweet-shooting bow.

Arrow speed is a step up from the original version of The Truth, demonstrating a 9 to 10 feet-per-second increase on average.

Particularly when one considers the pleasing price of Bear Archery’s Truth 2 and all the high-tech features, this bow seems destined to become a fan favorite in no time.

Key Features and Benefits

Trim, Forgiving Riser

The trimmer riser on The Truth 2 is better looking and lighter than the older Truth riser. It also features just a bit over one inch of reflex (backset) at the grip, which is considerably less than many of today’s bows. What that does is create a more forgiving bow that is less susceptible to bowhand torque.

Perimeter-Weighted Modular
Single Cam System

The cam system on the original Truth bow was good. This one is even better. The cam and idler wheel both rotate on sealed, stainless-steel ball bearings for a silky smooth feel. One-inch draw-length modules are easily changed (just two screws) without a bow press, and there’s also a bowstring post ½-inch change option. Maybe best of all, the new system is faster than the old system.

Flare Quad Limbs

Limbs are just limbs until someone comes up with a better performing or looking limb. The limbs on the 2008 Truth 2 are novel and especially strong. They’re flared where they flex the most when drawn.

Dual Arc String Suppressors

Strings suppressors aren’t new, but curving dual suppressors coming out of the riser are innovative. They parallel the curve of the limbs, look great and work well. Their big rubber bumpers securely capture the bowstring.

Axle-Mounted Weighted Dampeners

Dampening noise and vibration at the far ends of a bow is important. The weighted dampeners located on the ends of The Truth 2’s axles optimize dampening.

Slim Synthetic Grip

This textured soft grip feels great. It’s thin throated and flat backed to promote constant bowhand placement and accurate shots.

Winner’s Choice Strings

The Truth 2 is equipped with pre-stretched premium-grade strings for consistent performance.

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