Bowtech Reckoning Gen 2 - Two Month Ownership Review
I just shot my first three hundred thanks to the new Bowtech Reckoning, so I guess you could say things are going well. I bought this bow two months ago on an eBay gamble, but I fell in love with it during the setup process. I set it up for the ASA pins class or what most call “Bowhunter Setup.”
This means, rather than the long bars and scopes you see on most “target bows”, I ran shorter stabilizers... dual 10-inch beestingers in this scenario, no magnification, and a multiple pin sight, that while being able to slide… cannot be moved in most competitions. This setup may not allow the bow to shoot to its best potential, but neither do I if we are being honest, and the performance is still incredible.
Initial Impressions
When I first got the bow there were many things to note. I was immediately impressed with the draw curve on comfort mode. It felt like there was no “hump” at all. It was as if the bow drew to the wall and magic made the let off happen, an extremely nice feeling draw. Performance had the noticeable hump that you would expect so I only experimented there briefly, before flipping the discs back.
The adjustability was astounding, expectedly. Bowtech marketed that well, but they really did make setup so nice and easy, my favorite being the time lock. I loved being able to slightly adjust my timing and not have to move in and out of the press 3-4 times. A quick adjustment, a draw board check, a second adjustment, second drawboard check and it was ready to rock. The same for the deadlock while correcting left and right nock travel. It was simply, easy… and for me that is important, because I like to shoot bows, not necessarily tinker with them. This bow allows you to tinker if you so desire or just get it done fast and carry on.
Initial shooting is what really got me excited. I was shooting well enough, but after a quick creep tune with the time lock and basic adjustments it just started shooting… I could break a subpar shot and hit middle. If I didn’t hit middle, I hit behind the pin in whatever la la land that it was floating in. Just a confident feeling.
It was extremely quiet and vibration free for a target bow. This isn’t necessary for its intended use, but it is simply more comfortable to shoot a quiet and relaxed bow… and this was that. It also made me realize that this would be a heck of a hunting bow if you wanted it to be, and the thirty-six even more so, assuming it behaves similarly.
It was quick! I was shooting 284 fps with 490 grain arrows at my 30-inch draw / 65 lbs. Good for a target bow.
2 Month Takeaways
My main concern with this bow, has thus far proven to not be a concern at all. There has been ZERO creeping or moving or tweaking. With many moving parts I feared that I would battle random changes and slight moves. This has not happened. I have shot thousands of arrows through this bow already, and not one thing has needed adjusting.
Accuracy and forgiveness have only increased as the comfort level with the bow continues to rise. It feels like “old trusty” already. I shot my first three hundred and the best 3D scores of my life with this bow in only a couple of months. Full transparency, I have worked harder on my archery than ever before as well, but this bow has been the perfect tool for me!
Moving Forward
What else do you need!? It’s a tough, forgiving, accurate bow that could hold up to hard hunting and is tailor made for the tournament. I have nothing but good things to say about the Gen 2 Reckoning. I will be taking it to several ASA pro/ams and even the Lancaster Classic in its current hunter setup form, and I’ll be doing so with some confidence!
There are so many great bows out there right now, you can hardly go wrong… but if you’re shopping and this is on the list, this is just another thumbs up!
God bless!