Contents
Bow Package Contents
The AW Pro comes in a version for right handed shooters only. It is set to a draw weight of 45 lbs and a draw range of 28 inches when it is delivered, so you might have to lower or raise those values to fit your personal needs. But all this can be done easily with the included Allen wrenches. It comes fully strung and assembled. All you have to set up yourself is the arrow rest, sight and the quiver.
This model is manufactured in China (by Junxing Archery). The importing company is based in CA, USA, though. The fact that it is made overseas does not mean that it’s bad right away. What you have to take into account with those sets is, that you might have to switch out some of the accessories that come along with the compound as they are usually not of a great quality to get the price down. The AW Pro Compound looks a bit like The Mathews Mission Craze, which could mean that Mathews produces their model in China as well 🙂
Alternatives
| Infinite Edge Pro | SAS Rage | Bear Cruzer RTH | Leader 50-70 |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |
| RH & LH | RH Only | RH & LH | RH Only |
| 5 - 70 lbs | 55 - 70 lbs | 5 - 75 lbs | 50 - 70 lbs |
| 13" - 31" | 26" - 30" | 12" - 30" | 26" - 30" |
| 310 fps | 270 fps | 310 fps | 310 fps |
| Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Along with this model comes a no name arrow rest, which is just fine for starting out. You can switch it out against a Whisker Biscuit or Drop Down Rest later if you want to, as the pre-drilled holes are pretty much standard.
You will get a no name illuminated 5-pin sight that is not sighted in, which is pretty normal, as sighting in a compound should be done by the owner and not by someone else. If I would give you my model that was sighted in by me for me, you would not get the same results with it. If you want to learn more about sighting in a compound please read my guide here => How To Sight In A Compound Bow.
The AW Pro has a peep sight and a D-loop already installed. As these items need to fit the owner / shooter as well, you might have to re-adjust them to fit you. If you have no idea how to do that, I would suggest you visit a professional shop in your area to have it set up for you for a small fee. If you are a beginner you might also want to read my beginner’s guide here => Beginner’s Guide To Compound Bows.
The AW Pro is available in a camo and a black finish. Both look pretty cool, so which one to get is just a question of taste.
Included in this set are 12 no name 30″ long carbon arrows. Those are better than a lot of the ones included in similar sets. Nonetheless I found a statement from a buyer where a few broke the first day while shooting at a target. This does not mean that the arrows are completely bad at all, but as arrows tend to get lost over time anyway, I would suggest you start out with the included ones and get something better later. As choosing the right arrows depends on the poundage of the model, your draw length and the purpose you are buying them for, just go to a professional shop or read my guide here => Choosing The Right Arrows For A Compound Bow.
Getting the right arrows is more important than getting the best compound bow.
For carrying your arrows around you will get a no name quiver that can contain 4 arrows. Some customers stated that the foam piece comes out when pulling the arrows out of the quiver and that the top piece twists around the bolt a bit. They fixed those issues with super glue.
The stabilizer seems to be pretty standard and does its job well. It balances this model overall and takes vibrations out of the shooting process, thus silencing it down a lot.
A hand held release is also included in this kit. I would suggest you get a release aid with a wrist sling, because shooting with that is much better than shooting with a hand held model, as you have more control over the whole process.
The included wrist sling is quite handy. You can attach the compound to your wrist with it, which lets you shoot with a rather relaxed grip. This is important for keeping proper form while shooting. If you haven’t heard the term ‘proper form’ before, I would suggest you read my article about it here => Proper Form For Compound Bow Shooting.
You should wax string and cables with the included bow wax right away – before you shoot the first time! This will prolong the life of the string and cables a lot when done regularly. Depending on how often you shoot, you will have to replace string and cables. Do so if you find areas of wear or fraying. Otherwise it is enough to replace string and cables once a year.
A customer stated that there are no papers included that concern a warranty – if that’s for real it would be a big downer for a lot of guys and gals interested in this kit. As I can’t imagine that there’s no warranty included, I will send an email to the company about this case and let you know their answer as soon as the give one.
Noise Level / Handshock Of The AW Pro Compound Bow
The AW Pro is rather quiet because of the stabilizer, its string dampeners and the parallel limb design, which is very good for hunting as sound travels faster than arrows, which may warn the game animals. The limbs have some dampeners as well, that take out even more vibrations.
There is no recognizable hand shock because of the parallel limb design.
Bow Specifics / Limbs / Riser / Grip / String
Overall the AW Pro seems to be well constructed. It feels sturdy and durable and is made out of a modern composite material that a lot of the other available models are made from.
The riser is machined out of aluminum alloy and has a comfortable grip. It feels rather heavy, which is good for shooting accurately.
Its split limbs have dampeners installed and are designed in a parallel way that eliminates any hand shock. A lot of models are designed that way, which is – technically speaking – state of the art.
The cable guard is made from stainless steel and keeps the cables form touching each other while shooting. On the other hand it keeps the cables out of the arrow’s way – and it does its job well.
With a net weight of 3.6 lbs, this model is light enough to be carried around for hours while hunting. On the other hand it is heavy enough to make the whole shooting process more stable, which leads to a higher accuracy overall. Just keep in mind that it will get heavier as you attach more accessories to it.
Its axle to axle length is 30″, wich makes it a rather compact model. This is very good for hunting while being in small ground blinds or tree stands. You can strap it to your back pack leaving enough room for your sleeping bag and other gear that you might need during a hunting trip.
The cams of the dual cam system are made of a sturdy material as well. Not sure what it is, though.
Draw Cycle / Shootability
Due to the reliable dual cam system, the AW Pro draws very smoothly. It is a very accurate shooter, which makes it a great model for starting out. Tight groupings from 15 – 30 yards are easily achievable even for beginners after some time.
The draw weight range is from 20 – 70 lbs. That’s why I would recommend it for teens and adults, as 20 pounds might be too much for younger kids to pull. The poundage can be adjusted with the included Allen wrenches by tightening (increasing the draw weight) or loosening (decreasing it) the limb bolts that attach the limbs to the riser. Just make sure to keep the number of full turns on both bolts the same. If you are in doubt, tighten them to their maximum setting and start from there. Read the manual for the details!
With a draw length range of 17″ – 29″ this model is quite adjustable and will cover a lot of shooters. You can adjust the draw length with the cam modules. Please look into the manual for the details, but it is very easy to do and you definitely don’t need a bow press for adjusting it.
The let off of 80% gives enough room for aiming. It may be not as comfortable as a let off of 65%, but it is – at least in my opinion – still very comfortable. The back wall is solid, the valley wide enough, which makes it a great model for starting out in archery.
Its brace height is 8″, which is around standard, so you won’t have any advantages or disadvantages because of that.
Shooting Speed Of The AW Pro Compound Bow
The speed of 320 fps was measured after the requirements of the International Bowhunting Organization (IBO): 70 lbs draw weight, 350 grain arrows, 30″ draw length. The 320 fps make the AW Pro not the fastest, compared to some of the others, but fast enough for hunting or bowfishing.
Suitable For Hunting / Kinetic Energy (KE)
According to Easton’s Field Chart, set at the highest poundage, the AW Pro is okay for going after small game, medium game and large game because it achieves a kinetic energy of 79.5 ft-lbs, provided you are using the IBO requirements (70 pounds draw weight, 350 grain arrows).
But please keep in mind that every tiny change can lower the achieved kinetic energy. Poundage, weather conditions, distance, etc. For me it is very important to be able to take game in a humane way, meaning one shot, one kill. To be able to do that you need to be able – apart from using proper gear – to shoot very well. That means you need to learn to shoot with proper form in the first place, so please stay with target practice for some time if you are just starting out. After you have the basics down and some practice, you will have the confidence for bowhunting which means more overall success. If you want to learn more about kinetic energy and what it means for bowhunting, feel free to read my guide here => Kinetic Energy For Bowhunting.
Suitable For Bowfishing
It should be possible to add a bowfishing reel but I have never tested this myself. As there are pre-drilled holes for quiver and sight etc. it should work out, though.
Pricing
With a very affordable price point under 300 bucks the AW Pro seems to be a good option for starting out in archery. It can grow along with teens for years because of its wide adjustability concerning draw weight and draw length and it will serve seasoned bowhunters as well, due to its high poundage settings.
The only compromise you have to make is that you might have to invest in better accessories to achieve better results while shooting. Don’t get this wrong: it is a very accurate shooter as it comes – but better accessories might lead to better results 🙂 .
Pros & Cons
Pros
– very affordable entry level model
– wide adjustability
– good option for teens and adults
Cons
– accessories are not top notch
– made in China
Summary
The AW Pro Compound Bow kit is a good option for people that are just starting out in archery and don’t want to spend an arm or a leg. It is a good model for target practice and bowhunting for a very affordable price compared to the available models of the big brands. The AW Pro itself is well made and feels as sturdy as all the other modern models out there.
Like I said, it is recommended for teens and adults and will cover a lot of shooters due to its wide adjustability. You may have to invest in better accessories, which is – of course – completely up to you.
I would not see the fact that it is manufactured in China as a big disadvantage as many models of the big brands are completely or partially made there, so the more important point here is the customer service of the company selling it in the USA. Unfortunately I have not much info about that at the moment, but I will add this info as soon as I hear back from the company.
Thanks for reading and shoot straight!
This bow maxes at 55# at 220 FPS. Shoot excellent but not up to the advertised specs. Arrows in this set break at first impact and the sight and quiver are not durable.
I cannot bring the bow in with ammozon, who can i buy it through.