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Mathews HTR No Cam Review

By Justin ZarrDecember 31, 201429 Comments

LAST UPDATED: May 19th, 2015

Your bow is more than simply an object that brings enjoyment through the act of shooting.  It’s also more than simply a tool used to harvest game animals.  Your bow is an extension of who you are as a hunter.  With the exception of your own mind and body it is the single greatest factor in your shooting success; both on the range and in the field.  For this reason it’s no wonder why hunters and archers alike wait with eager anticipation as bow manufacturers announce their new offerings to the public each fall.

I’ve been a self-admitted archery and hunting gear junkie for the better part of the last decade. Like many others I too wait impatiently for bow specs to be released; always wondering which company will introduce the next great technology to the archery world.  Earlier in the year when I was informed the folks at Mathews had something never before seen coming down the pipeline my curiosity was at an all-time high.

Come late October I got my first look at this year’s offerings and my first reaction was similar to many others I heard.  “What?”   Well after getting my hands on one and having the opportunity to shoot it for a few months I have a much better understanding of just what makes this new system so special.  So without further ado here’s my Mathews HTR No Cam review.

No Cam String Track Technology

Many folks, myself included, originally mistook the name of this new technology to mean the bow had no cams at all.  For those familiar with compound bows and how they generate and store energy you understand that this cannot be true – unless you want to shoot a bow with 0% let-off of course.  While this works great for archers who favor the traditional stick-and-string it doesn’t exactly work for us compound aficionados.

Mathews HTR Wheel

The “ST” in No Cam ST stands for String Track.  In layman’s terms this simply means the wheels that the bow string rides on are not cammed, but rather the axle is in the direct center of the wheel itself.

What No Cam ST technology means specifically is that the string track itself is not cammed.  Both wheels that the string rides on are perfectly round as opposed to a dual cam system where the string rides on a pair of elliptical (oblong) cams, or a single cam system where the string rides on a single round idler wheel and a lone elliptical cam.

The cables in this No Cam ST system are attached on one end to a replaceable draw module (which is cammed) and on the other end to a familiar circular bearing system which features an offset axle.  This bearing is the same one used in the AVS system on the McPherson Monster series bows. As you draw the bow back the draw module takes up the cable that the other end lets out. The cam action of these two pieces is what helps generate both the power and let-off in the No Cam ST system.

Didn’t We Already Have Bows With Wheels?

Yes and No.  There were a variety of cam systems developed decades ago that used round wheels on both ends of the bow.  The big difference between those systems and the No Cam ST is that the axle in those old bows was offset in the wheel, thus providing the camming action needed to generate power and let-off.

When you draw back and release a bow with offset wheels those wheels will rise and fall in relation to the limbs of the bow.  The same holds true for a bow with an elliptical cam system.  As that string rises and falls during the shot process this may cause the nocking point to also rise and/or fall.  Of course a nocking point that moves during the shot may result in a bow that is less accurate and more difficult to tune.

Mathews HTR Limbs

The HTR utilizes a split limb system with No Cam ST graphics.

The beauty of the No Cam ST system is that the string remains at a constant distance from the axles throughout the entire draw and shot process.  This results in perfectly level nock travel and ultimately in a bow that is inherently more accurate, more forgiving, and easier to tune.

While I may be a gear junkie I’m far from an expect bow technician.  Many would say I know enough to be dangerous when it comes to working on my own equipment.  While it’s taken me days, sometimes weeks, to achieve perfect paper tears with some of my previous bows I was able to have my HTR shooting bullet holes in less than 5 shots.  Subsequently I was shooting fixed blade broadheads in groups with my field points out to 40 yards with no additional tuning required.  Within the first half hour of shooting this bow I was sold on it’s accuracy and ease of tuning.

So How Fast Is It?

When it comes to talking bows, whether it be online or at the bow shop, nothing gets brought up more than speed.  I suppose that’s just a guy thing.  From fast cars to fast computers we seem to want products that push the limits of modern technology, and at times our own safety.  Right or wrong it’s just the way things are.

The new Mathews HTR will provide speeds up to 330 fps with 65% let-off modules.  With the 85% let-off modules that come standard on the HTR you’ll be in the 320 fps range.  While this may not be the blistering speed that some archers crave it’s certainly more than fast enough to harvest any big game animal you may want to hunt.

For reference my HTR is setup with 85% let-off modules and a 28.5” draw length at 70 lbs and it is shooting a 450 grain arrow at 269 fps.  This is compared to my dual cam Monster Chill with the same arrow and draw weight with 75% let-off Rock Mods that clocks in at 280 fps.  A difference of 11 fps means at 20 yards my arrows will be exactly 9 thousandths of a second apart.  Hardly enough to make any sort of tangible difference in any hunting scenario.  If the price of added accuracy is a few feet per second that’s certainly a compromise I’m willing to make.  All the speed in the world isn’t worth anything if you can’t hit what you’re aiming at.

The HTR, and all No Cam ST bows, feature draw length modules which can be removed and installed without the need for a bow press.  Simply remove the two allen screws that hold the module to the wheel and install your new module in it’s place.  As noted earlier these modules can change both your draw length as well as your let-off, which will change your bow’s speed.  The lower the let-off the faster the bow.  For reference the black modules are 85% let-off, silver modules at 75% and gold modules are 65%.  All modules feature a draw stop which provides a rock solid back wall for repeatable accuracy shot after shot.

Mathews HTR Draw Module

The removable draw length module also allows you to change the let-off of your bow and can be removed and replaced without the need for a bow press.

Riser Design

Aside from speed, riser design is without question the most talked about feature of Mathews bows since the Gridlock riser was introduced several years ago with the Z7.  This particular topic is especially polarizing online where debates continue to rage over the aesthetics of these bows.  Love them or hate them there’s no denying that the structural integrity of this riser is second to none and this strength is achieved without additional weight.  In fact the HTR weighs in at just 4.3 lbs while boasting a stable 32 inch axle to axle length.

Mathews HTR Riser & Shelf

Love it or hate it there’s no questioning the structural integrity of the Gridlock riser.

I for one have always been a fan of the Gridlock riser and think the look of the HTR is the sharpest offering from Mathews yet.  While I’ve always been a fan of Mathews’ Tactical color pattern I believe the new Stone Tactical (think Gunmetal gray) and Lost Camo OT look especially impressive on this new bow.

Silence Is Deadly

Mathews has long been known for their quiet bows thanks to a variety of technologies including their patented Harmonic Dampeners and Harmonic Stabilizers which are embedded directly into the bow’s riser.   The Harmonic Stabilizers in the HTR’s riser have been moved closer to both the string and the limbs in order to further enhance their ability to dampen noise and vibration.

Mathews HTR Riser

Mathews’ patented Harmonic Dampers have been moved up closer to the limbs and back closer to the string of the HTR in order to enhance their effectiveness at dampening noise and vibration.  As always they feature replaceable grommets which can be easily swapped out to add a touch of color to your bow.

While I don’t have any expensive audio testing equipment I will say that the HTR is most likely the quietest bow I’ve ever shot.  What is most impressive to me is that this is achieved through sheer design alone; not through a series of aftermarket rubber do-dads all over a bow.  With a single Monkey Tail near the top wheel the HTR achieves a level of silence that simply needs to be heard (or not heard) to be believed.

Attention To Detail

The difference between a good bow and a great bow is often the little things.  Minor details that are overlooked or corners that are cut can certainly mean the difference between putting that new bow in your truck or back on the bow rack.  Mathews has built their reputation on this attention to detail and the HTR is no exception.

For starters the popular Focus grip is included standard on this bow (it was previously available as an upgrade on older models).  However the grip on the HTR isn’t your standard Focus grip but rather it is inlayed with gunstock grade hardwood which really enriches the look of the bow.  Will it help you shoot more or bigger deer?  No.  But it certainly does look nice.

Mathews HTR Grip

The popular Focus grip has been enhanced on the HTR to include a wood inlay.

The HTR also features Mathews’ new 0-T axle system, which stands for “zero tolerance”.  In layman’s terms this means there is zero slop or play anywhere in the axle system that runs through the limbs and wheels.  Zero tolerance means more repeatable, and more accurate, shooting.

The Perfect All Purpose Bow?

I don’t believe there will ever be a bow which can be described as perfect by all bowhunters.  Simply put there are too many of us out there with varying opinions on what the perfect bow is for us.  Some prefer insane speeds while others favor a more forgiving setup.  Some prefer long axle to axle length while others prefer compact bows for tight situations.

Regardless of your personal preference on a bow’s measurements I think all bowhunters will agree that a perfect bow is the one they can shoot most accurately under the widest variety of situations.  Whether you’re in a treestand in Ohio, stalking the prairies of South Dakota or climbing the mountains of Colorado being able to hit your mark under extenuating circumstances is paramount.  Without this dependable accuracy all of the other features and numbers can be thrown out the window.

Mathews HTR at full draw

With a variety of new and innovative features the new Mathews HTR with No Cam ST technology may be one of the finest hunting bows ever produced.  It’s certainly my favorite so far.

When Mathews’ founder Matt McPherson set out to create this new bow he wanted to build the most accurate system the world has ever seen.  By removing variables that have plagued archery accuracy for decades the No Cam ST system may be just that.  In the short time I’ve hard to pleasure of setting up, tuning, shooting and hunting with mine I can unequivocally say it is far and away my favorite Mathews bow I’ve ever owned.

But don’t take my word for it.  Swing by your local Mathews retailer and shoot one today.  However if you end up with a few less dollars in your bank account when you leave don’t blame it on me.

Mathews HTR by the numbers:

  • Weight: 4.3 lbs

  • Axle to Axle Length: 32 inches

  • Brace Height: 6 ⅝”

  • Speed: Up to 330 fps

  • Let-Off: 65%, 75%, 85%

  • Draw Weights: 50,60,70 lbs

  • Draw Lengths: 24-30” inch .5 inch increments

  • MSRP: $1099

My setup as shown:

  • Mathews HTR – Stone Tactical

  • 69.8 lbs draw weight

  • 28.5” draw length

  • 450 grain Carbon Express Blue Streak shooting @ 269 fps w/85% let-off modules

  • NAP Carbon Apache rest

  • HHA Optimizer King Pin sight

  • Pine Ridge Archery Nitro Hunter 5.5” stabilizer

Justin Zarr
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General Manager at Bowhunting.com
Justin has been bowhunting for more than 30 years and co-hosting the popular bowhunting show Bowhunt or Die since 2010.  He lives in the NW suburbs of Chicago with his wife, 3 children, and semi-smelly dog.
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