Bowhunt America

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The battered American economy continues its convalescence,” recently said The Wall Street Journal. In that process, “the stock market just completed its best first quarter since 1999, the Dow industrials gained 428.58 points and corporate earnings came in stronger than expected.” That’s great news from the financial market. Things are indeed looking up.

However, the question we’re wondering about is have those rays of economic sunshine drifted all the way down to the guys in mid-America who buy new bows? The answer to that is debatable.

Most reports still show that American consumers are skeptical. They’re playing their finances close to the vest, holding back, and when they do spend, are looking for indisputable value.

For many bow buyers that means they’re looking for a Parker bow. Over the years, Parker Compound Bows has earned a reputation for agreeably priced compounds that are lightweight, smooth and as dependable as the day is long. Those are the sorts of things that even a skeptical new-bow buyer can begin to wrap his wallet around.

For 2010 Parker is offering all that and more in its new bows. The perfect case in point is the brand new 2010 Parker Inferno. The Inferno is a surprising bow in that it offers so much for little. The company’s catalog pegs the price on the new Inferno as “from $499.95.” That’s welcome relief in rocky economic times. And there’s more.

The 2010 Parker Inferno is unexpectedly packed with top-end features. For that agreeable price, the Inferno delivers an extreme parallel-limb design, an advanced roller-style cable guard, a deluxe spring suppressor, a two-piece walnut finish grip, an integrated bowsling, the new Inferno Single-Cam System with convenient draw-length adjustability and a tune-able draw stop and premium Stone Mountain strings. In other words, the 2010 Parker Inferno delivers indisputable value.

How It Shoots

The Parker Inferno seems exactly the sort of bow that many grassroots bowhunters want right now. It merges a strong dose of glitzy high-tech elements with smooth, reliable and commendable performance.

The 2010 Inferno is a smooth-drawing bow. Its transition into letoff is especially gradual. That’s important during those long hours of summer practice and as a big buck approaches. It’s also especially welcome should you need to let the bow down.

At full draw, the Inferno delivers a wonderfully solid back wall. That’s because the Inferno Cam System sports a draw stop that pivots around to quietly contact the bow’s lower limb. No other type of draw stop produces such a firm back wall. Also advantageous is the fact that the Inferno’s draw stop is infinitely adjustable, which means that the bow can be fine-tuned for a draw length that is absolutely perfect for each archer.

Should even larger draw-length changes be needed, the Inferno’s cam system also features a series of two interchangeable modules, both of which are included with the bow. One module takes the Inferno from 26 to 28 inches, depending on how it is installed. The second module goes from 29 to 31 inches. Those interchangeable, pivoting modules make Inferno

draw-length adjustments ultra-convenient. I set my test Inferno to 29 inches and then tweaked the position of the draw stop just slightly for an absolutely perfect feel, something that is not all that common with bows in this price range.

Set up that precisely, the 2010 Parker Inferno shot very well for me. In fact, what’s not to like—nice torque-free grip, smooth draw, 80-percent letoff, solid and reassuring back wall (in precisely the right place) followed by a sensibly quiet and shock-free shot?

The Parker Inferno is definitely a whole lot of bow for the price.

Key Features and Benefits

Agreeable Price

With a retail price that typically begins at just $499.95, the 2010 Parker Inferno, with all its high-end features, represents obvious value.

Light Mass Weight

A light mass-weight bow is a good thing. The Parker Inferno weighs just 3.75 pounds and that’s something that every bowhunter will appreciate.

Adjustable Inferno Cam System

Convenient cam adjustability translates directly into both versatility and the ability to custom fit any bow to almost any archer. The Inferno’s highly adjustable single-cam system is easily and quickly adjusted (without a bow press) for draw length in one-inch increments from 26 inches all the way up to 31 inches. That’s accomplished with two interchangeable, pivoting modules which are included with the bow. In addition, the Inferno’s draw-stop peg is infinitely adjustable for a perfect, custom-fit feel.

Roller Cable Guard

Brand new from Parker on the 2010 Inferno is an advanced roller-style cable guard. It captures the bow’s cables completely and reduces system friction to boost bow efficiency.

Deluxe String Suppressor

Just below the Inferno’s two-piece grip is a Deluxe String Suppressor. That suppressor is easily adjusted for optimum bowstring contact. The Parker Deluxe String Suppressor install stops residual bowstring vibration.

Premium Stone Mountain Strings

High-grade Premium Stone Mountain strings dress up the 2010 Parker Inferno and help to ensure consistent shot-to-shot performance.