Bowhunt America

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The most watched race in the world of bows today is the one pitting the fastest models against each other. Bow speed is again the hot topic, and many of today’s leading bow manufacturers have entered astonishingly fast candidates into the contest.

The very best of those candidates, however, are more than just fast. They are bows that combine astounding arrow speed with a host of other desirable shooting characteristics—the most notable of which are a shock-free shot, dampened shot noise and as forgiving a shooting nature as possible. Those are the combined characteristics that mark the real speed-bow winners for 2009.

On that short list is the new Sims LimbSaver SpeedZone.

Last year, Sims leaped into the bow game with the introduction of its revolutionary LimbSaver DeadZone bow. The DeadZone featured a unique geometry, a no-contact limb-pocket system and a swarm of Sims LimbSaver vibration-dampening devices. The result was a quiet, soft bow that shot like gangbusters.

For 2009, Sims has taken its bow aspirations to even higher––and much faster––levels with the debut of a brand new bow called, appropriately, the SpeedZone. The new Sims LimbSaver SpeedZone is a rocket and more.

The rocket part is easy to understand. The 2009 Sims LimbSaver SpeedZone is very fast. In fact, its one of the fastest bows we’ve tested for 2009. See the accompanying “Arrow Speed” chart. The Sims SpeedZone rips arrows through the chronograph. But there’s more to this speed bow.

The engineers at Sims also worked hard on the ancillary shooting characteristics of the SpeedZone. They gave the bow a relatively straight riser with minimal reflex (backset) to improve the bow’s shooting stability and forgiveness. They also employed the extended no-contact limb pockets first seen on the 2008 Sims DeadZone. Those revolutionary limb pockets better utilize the limb’s length as well as dampen shot vibration and noise. In addition, Sims added a new sort of String Decelerator to the SpeedZone to further deaden shot vibration without decreasing accuracy.

How It Shoots

First of all, a bow named the SpeedZone must be fast, and this bow certainly doesn’t disappoint. My usual hunting arrows typically weigh in the neighborhood of 380 to 400 grains, and I prefer to shoot most bows right at or just over 70 pounds. With those arrows and with my 29-inch draw length, my arrow speeds with the new Sims LimbSaver SpeedZone hovered between 310 and 320 feet per second. Arrow trajectory proved wonderfully flat, and the penetrating energy of those arrows at those speeds is probably enough to sink a battleship.

One way to build a fast bow is to incorporate a riser with a lot of reflex. That moves the grip back and boosts bow speed significantly, but it also makes the bow a bit touchier to shoot as slight changes in bow-hand pressure and position can somewhat erode accuracy. The Sims LimbSaver SpeedZone, however, sidesteps that potential problem by utilizing a relatively straight riser with minimal backset. What seemed apparent to me in testing is that the SpeedZone is an unusually stable fast bow. At full draw, the SpeedZone points with a seemingly natural and easy ability, and it doesn’t seem particularly tricky to shoot well at all. Accuracy, especially long-range accuracy, seems superb.

There are few totally free lunches in bow performance, and it should be noted that in order to realize all that arrow speed, the Sims LimbSaver SpeedZone does draw stiffly, as does every other bow I’ve tested in this rarified speed stratosphere. Draw weight climbs quickly with the SpeedZone and peak weight is maintained throughout much of the draw cycle. Letoff, however, is not overly sudden. With practice, I believe most shooters would probably acclimatize to the power-packed draw fairly quickly. I know I would, and have.

From end to end, the SpeedZone is loaded with Sims proprietary vibration- and noise-dampening devices. There are cable dampeners, limb dampeners, cable-guard dampeners and bowstring dampeners. There is also an integrated fall-away arrow rest dampening pad on the bow’s shelf and an arrow shaft impact dampener on the bow’s window. The net outcome is a truly dampened shot. The Sims SpeedZone is wonderfully shock-free at the shot, and shot noise is also greatly reduced.

Key Features and Benefits

Comparatively Straight Riser Design

As already mentioned, less reflex (backset) in the riser typically translates into a somewhat more stable and forgiving bow. This is clearly evident in the Sims LimbSaver SpeedZone with its comparatively straight up and down riser. The SpeedZone points, aims and shoots with a natural and forgiving ease.

Extended/Isolated Limb Pockets

Among the most distinctive features on the new SpeedZone are the bow’s radically extended limb pockets. Those advanced pockets allow the SpeedZone to utilize longer bow limbs in conjunction with the straight riser and a 5.9-inch brace height. That unique configuration enables the SpeedZone to use each limb to greater efficiency as each limb is bent over a longer curve. At the same time, these no-contact pockets isolate the limbs from the riser to reduce shot vibration and noise.

H.E.A.T. Hyperdrive Cam System

The SpeedZone’s H.E.A.T. Hyperdrive Cam System is essentially an aggressive cam & ½ eccentric system. As such, this advanced system significantly reduces cam-timing issues while dramatically boosting arrow speed. In addition, the interchangeable Hyperdrive Speed Modules allow for quick and convenient draw-length changes in precise half-inch increments.

Sims Dampening Package

There are a host of Sims vibration-dampening accessories on the new LimbSaver SpeedZone. On the bow’s limbs are Sims Ultra Quad LimbSavers. Sims String Leeches grace the bow’s cables. There’s a Sims Cable Guard Dampener and two additional riser dampeners. Also on the bow’s riser are a Sims Arrow Shaft Impact Strip and a Sims Fall-Away Arrow Rest Pad.

String Decelerator System

The 2009 SpeedZone is also equipped with the brand new Sims String Decelerator. The Decelerator is a new sort of string stop expressly designed to bring your bowstring to a more gradual stop for improved downrange accuracy. A too-sudden stop can cause nock travel issues. With the Sims Decelerator, the stop is gradual and peak accuracy is maintained.

Winner’s Choice Strings

The SpeedZone is equipped with world-class, pre-stretched Winner’s Choice Custom Bowstrings and Cables with WeatherLock to ensure durability, consistent peep-sight alignment and weather resistance.