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Bear Archery has been making compound bows a lot longer than most. Its very first compound, the Bear Alaskan, was introduced way back in 1975. Over the decades, Bear has learned what it takes to make an exciting compound bow.

“Best” isn’t a word that I throw around lightly. But it seems to me that the 2010 Bear Attack is one of the best new compounds for 2010. It’s also, in my opinion, the best compound bow that Bear Archery

has ever offered. And is, in fact, a perfect killer.

I base those statements on actual shooting experience with the new Bear Attack. This new bow does almost everything right. To begin with, it’s an exciting design. The short Max Pre-Load Quad Limbs are bold, daring and packed with power. The innovative Dual Arc Offset String Suppressors are equally audacious, and the fact that those string suppressors parallel the short, highly pre-stressed limbs creates a visual impact that is practically electric. That electrifying impact is so strong that the 2010 Bear Attack looks like it’s in motion even when it’s standing still.

Blended with that eye-catching design is a performance level that is unmistakable. The new Bear Attack draws with surprising smoothness, lets off a full 80 percent and still delivers arrow speeds that rival or match the bulk of today’s best high-end bows.

Topping everything off is a reasonable high-end price designed to please. The MSRP on the 2010 Be

ar Attack is just $749.

Life’s greatest adventure lies in doing one’s level best. Bear Archery’s best compound bow ever is the new 2010 Bear Attack.

How It Shoots

The initial and primary contact that any of us have with a bow occurs at the grip. A bad grip can quickly sink an otherwise good bow. The grip on the Bear Attack is exceptional. It’s everything I want in a bow grip. It’s thin-throated to reduce shooting torque. Its back is slightly flat to encourage consistent bowhand placement. It’s perfectly angled for a solid and secure wrist position. And its slightly soft material is both appealing and comfortable.

Drawing this fast bow is a pleasure. A lot of bow companies are laying claims to a smooth draw with their new bows. Some are indeed smooth, but others don’t quite match their claims. The 2010 Bear Attack is one of the smoothest-drawing bows, given its excellent arrow speed, I have ever tested. With the Bear Attack, draw weight builds gently as you begin to ease the bow back. Further into the draw, the transition to letoff is surprisingly rounded and smooth, in spite of the fact that the bow drops 80 percent at full draw. The Attack features a lower-cam-mounted draw-stop peg that rotates around to contact the bow’s inside cable, resulting in a comforting back wall that I would describe as medium-firm.

Everyone shoots better with a bow of the proper draw length. Adjusting and fine-tuning draw length with the 2010 Bear Attack is easy and convenient. Interchangeable modules are used to make convenient one-inch draw-length adjustments. No bow press is required to change modules. Additional, half-inch draw-length changes can be made by removing the bowstring or cable from the “dot” posts on the drive cam and reattaching them to the drive cam’s “+” or “-” posts. A bow press is required for this fine-tuning operation.

At the shot, I found the 2010 Bear Attack remarkably still in my hand. There’s precious little handshock anywhere. My test bow was also bowhunter-quiet right out of the box, even with very light arrows.

The inherent accuracy of a bow is a tough thing to measure. This bow, however, seems and feels wonderfully forgiving and accurate to me. The Attack’s big, perfectly balanced one-cam system certainly helps, as does the great grip and the bow’s shock-free, quiet shot. Also aiding is a riser that is only moderately reflexed (backset). That moderate reflex means that the Attack points and aims beautifully.

The 2010 Bear Attack really is a best bow and a perfect killer.

Key Features and Benefits

New Max Pre-Load Quad Limbs

Each of the ultra-tough limbs on the new Bear Attack measures barely a foot in length. And each is pre-stressed to the maximum to deliver more arrow speed along with a quieter and more shock-free shot. These are state-of-the-art bow limbs.

New Bear E-Cam System

The Bear E-Cam System on the Bear Attack is a multi-tasking single-cam eccentric system. Because it’s a single-cam, there are no cam synchronization issues whatsoever and that makes perfect arrow flight so much easier to achieve, especially with broadheads. The new E-Cam System seems remarkably efficient, which enables such a smoothly drawing bow to be so fast. On top of all that, draw length is easily adjustable.

New Dual Arc Offset String Suppressors

Nearly all of the top bows today feature some sort of single or dual string suppressor or stop. The advantages included a quieter, more aftershock-free bow and a quicker and cleaner release of the arrow from the bowstring. Bear’s Dual Arc Offset String Suppressors are unique in that they focus like laser beams on the two areas of the bowstring with the most potential for shot vibration, and they stop that vibration cold.

New Zero-Tolerance Limb Pockets

Properly designed limb pockets allow for easy draw-weight adjustment and still lock the limb butts in place like they were in a bank vault. The Zero-Tolerance Limb Pockets on the new Bear Attack do just that. Each limb is secured within the pocket in a custom-designed and cushioned cradle. As the adjustment is made, the entire pocket pivots to minimize undue limb stress. When the adjustment is completed, each pocket locks in place with a Limb Bolt Lockdown Tang and Screw.

New Bear Contra-Band HP Strings/Cables

Less than optimal cables and bowstrings can drag an otherwise great bow down faster than a rock dropped off a cliff. Great strings and cables, like the new Bear Contra-Band HP Strings and Cables on the Bear Attack, have been pre-stretched and specifically assembled to eliminate lingering string stretch and ensure consistent peep rotation. Bear Archery utilizes a proprietary construction process with these premium strings and cables to guarantee peak performance.

Bear Attack Grip

This accuracy-oriented grip is comprised of the right stuff. It’s small, trim and just soft enough to be wonderfully comfortable.