Hi all! My name is Nick and I am relatively new to both bowhunting and this forum (first post!). I want to ask a question regarding Mathews bows. What are the major differences between the Heli-m and the Z7 other than the half pound in weight? I haven't yet shot the Heli-m but currently have a Z7 that I like. It looks like most of the specs are similar. I would possibly be interested in getting the Heli-m for this season if it is a worth it.
Nick - first off, welcome to the Forum! Glad to have you on board. As for your question, the simple answer is "not much". When you look at the stats of the two bows side by side they're about the same so far as axle to axle length, brace height, speed, etc. So a lot of people pick out the weight as the only real difference between the two. Of course there's a lot that goes into making that difference - the riser configuration is different, roller guard is different, the Dead End string stop is different, the Harmonic Stabilizer is different and so on down the line. All of those variations add up to the reduction in weight. Now aside from that, the biggest difference is the cam. IMO the Heli-m's cam draws smoother and holds better than the Z7's. Much of this is thanks to the new draw stop that creates an extremely sold back wall. Many shooters much prefer this as it helps create better consistancy and accuracy. Seeing as you already own a Z7, I would visit your local Mathews retailer and shoot the Heli-m and see what you think. There's no better way to find out how different they are than to shoot them both. Then make your decision from there.
welcome, nick! i, too, am fairly new to bows and bowhunting so for what it is worth - i decided to buy a new bow at the beginning of this year and i had it narrowed down to the z7 and the heli-m. i shot both bows quite a bit and decided on the z7. im very happy with my z but i also dont think you could make a wrong choice with heli-m. i think it boils down what feels "right" in your hand. shoot the heli-m and see if feels more or less comfortable.
Thanks for the input! I'll have to get out and shoot the Heli-m to decide for myself. I know I can't go wrong sticking with what I have, but it's always fun to check out the new toys.
