Did you know that one out of every five hunters in America is a bowhunter?
And the weapon of choice for most hunters is the compound bow.
Why is that, you ask?
A compound bow like the PSE Brute X can fire an arrow at a speed of more than 300 feet per second. That’s about the same top speed as a Porsche 911, a Lamborghini Gallardo, or the TGV trains in France.
Yup. That’s pretty darn fast.
This bow lets hunters track and shoot their prey from greater distances while staying accurate.
How Do Compound Bows Work?
Compound bows use a system of cables, pulleys, and cams to bend the bow’s limbs. The mechanical advantage generated by this system allows the bows to be constructed with materials of high tensile strength.
This, in turn, allows for more stored potential energy in the limbs. As a result, compound bows have greater force production during the draw, and faster arrow speeds on release.
Another feature that sets compound bows apart from other bows like recurve bows and longbows is that they have a meager draw weight at full draw length.
The system of cams and pulleys work together to produce a dramatic drop in draw weight towards the end of the draw. This reduces the amount of muscle fatigue the archer experiences and makes it easier to handle the bow and adjust aim.
The ease of draw and the faster arrow speed make compound bows exceptionally suited to hunting game of different sizes.
Today, compound bows come in all shapes and sizes and can range from very cheap to very expensive. The sheer variety of choice available on the market can be quite daunting.
However, if you’re in the market for a compound bow and are looking for suggestions, we highly recommend the PSE Brute X compound bow.
Overview of The PSE Brute X
The PSE Brute X is a compound bow manufactured by PSE, a world leader in archery equipment. PSE offers a wide variety of compound bows, and the PSE Brute X is one of their most popular models.
We conducted a detailed series of tests during our review, to try and learn as much as we could about this bow.
In this review, we’ll cover various attributes of the bow and give you our thoughts on the product. Read on to see why this bow is adored by legions of archery enthusiasts and is one of our favorites as well.
1. Dimensions & Specifications
The PSE Brute X bow weighs 4.3 pounds. It has a brace height of 7.25″ and a total arm length of 31″. These dimensions make it very easy to maneuver and carry around, without causing excessive fatigue.
The bow comes with three standard draw weights – 50 lbs, 60lbs and 70lbs. Each of these can be further adjusted to suit the needs of the user. The let-off for the PSE Brute X is 75%.
The let-off percentage is an essential feature archers should pay attention to. It indicates how much the draw weight reduces at full draw. A higher let-off percentage results in a much more comfortable full draw.
This gives the archer the ability to adjust his aim and sights without struggling to maintain the bow in the extended draw.
2. Build Quality & Durability
PSE has built itself a reputation for using high-quality materials in all their bows. With the PSE Brute X, they made no exception.
Every component of the bow is machined with very high tolerances, and the overall quality is superb. The limbs and the riser are light-weight, durable, and extremely strong.
This is a bow that can take a beating and then some.
3. Ease of Use
With any bow, there exists a tradeoff between power and ease of draw.
The more comfortable a bow is to draw, the less tension is generated and stored in the limbs. This, in turn, results in a lower power output once the bowstring is released.
One of the most noticeable features of the PSE Brute X is just how easy it is to draw, and still generate superb arrow velocity. There’s no better way to describe it than that it’s buttery smooth.
A smooth draw makes the bow extremely easy for beginners to get accustomed to it. This allows the archer to focus on his form and aim, instead of struggling to pull the string all the way back.
The PSE Brute X’s parallel limb design also allows it to overcome a widespread problem with other compound bow designs. There is virtually no hand-shock.
What is Hand Shock?
When a bow is drawn to the maximum draw length, there is a significant amount of potential energy stored in the limbs of the bow. This power is what propels the arrow out towards the target.
Ideally, all this energy will be transferred to the arrow. But this doesn’t happen in the real world.
When the string is released, some of the energy transfers through the limbs of the bow and onto the archer’s hands. Check out this video of the shockwave captured in slow motion.
Depending on the bow design and shot mechanics, this shock can be quite jarring and painful.
However, the parallel limb design on the PSE Brute X ensures that the excess force does not reach the hand grip. This results in a very comfortable release.
There is one thing that we’d like to point out. The PSE Brute X, while having exceptional usability, does have a very narrow valley.
What Is a Valley?
The valley refers to the distance between the wall at the very end of the draw and the length at which the bow tension increases.
A bow with a long valley is more forgiving to a user. It allows the archer to make minor adjustments to their draw length at the end of the pull without sacrificing form.
In contrast, a short valley provides a tiny window to the archer for adjustments. Stray too far from the wall, and you find a sudden increase in the tension on the string.
The PSE Brute X’s short valley does take some getting used to, but it’s a minor shortcoming in an otherwise delightful and usable bow.
4. Approachability
To a beginner, the very sight of a compound bow can be quite daunting. All those crisscrossing cables, cams, and levers can quickly make a first time user nervous.
The beautiful thing about the PSE Brute X is just how easy and welcoming it is for newbies.
There’s no complicated assembly required. The bow is very customizable. And the smooth draw combined with the high power output all serve to make this bow a great gateway into the world of compound bow shooting.
5. Assembly & Setup
The PSE Brute X comes fully assembled right out of the box. There is little to no adjustment required, which means you can pick it up and walk right out the door to start shooting.
The bow does come with a few attachments, including a wrist sling, 6-arrow quiver, and a couple of other items.
However, all you need to do is shoot a few arrows to get accustomed to the sights, the draw length, and the draw weight.
6. Customization & Adjustments
The PSE Brute X comes assembled with a standard 29″ draw length. However, the length can be adjusted anywhere between 25″ and 30″.
Adjustments can be made in 0.5″ increments, thus allowing the bow to accommodate a variety of draw lengths.
Tuning the bow is remarkably simple thanks to the cam’s laser-engraved notches.
7. Arrow Speed
Ah – arrow speed. The holy grail of compound bow archery, and the specification that all archers obsess about.
So far, we’ve gushed about how easy the PSE Brute X is to use. It’s approachable and a great bow for beginners. But make no mistake – this is a powerful compound bow.
When tested at IBO specifications, it produces an arrow speed of 320 feet per second.
As a reminder, the IBO specifications require the bow to be tested under standard conditions. These conditions include a draw weight of 70 lbs.’, a draw length of 30″, and an arrow weight of 350 grains.
Actual arrow speed can and will vary according to environmental conditions and bow configuration.
8. Kinetic Energy & Stopping Power
The actual stopping power of the bow is measured by the kinetic energy it releases. The kinetic energy is maximum at point-blank range and then deteriorates the further the arrow has to travel.
With the Brute X set up according to IBO specifications, you can expect this bow to release 72 lb-ft of kinetic energy at point blank range. The energy depletes at an average rate of approximately two lb-ft every 10 yards.
This means that if you shoot at a target that is 50 yards away, the arrow will strike it with a kinetic energy of about 62 lb-ft.
What does that translate to in the real world? At 62 lb-ft, you’d have enough power to hunt a black bear!
9. Maintenance
This bow comes with the PSE’s patented Madness Pro(TM) cam system.
The proprietary single cam system has a power cam attached to the bottom limb and an idler wheel on the top arm.
Because of the presence of just one cam, the Brute X does not require any synchronization. This results in a bow that’s very low maintenance, requiring little tuning, if any.
10. Noise Level
For the hunting enthusiast, being able to approach and shoot at the quarry stealthily is very important.
The PSE Brute X has hush-kit dampeners that are attached to the limbs. These dampeners are made of rubber and help to reduce noise as well as vibration levels.
The bow keeps the noise down to a minimum. The string stop is rubberized and absorbs the vibration from the string after it has been released, resulting in further dampening and noise reduction.
11. Appearance
What’s that saying about beauty lying in the eyes of the beholder? Well, that old chestnut doesn’t apply here.
No matter how you look at it – there’s no denying that the Brute X is a handsome bow.
The split-limb design coupled with the high-quality craftsmanship combine to create a great looking package.
The bow comes in a single color scheme – a mossy camouflage print. You don’t get a whole color palette to choose from, but the camo print looks very cool.
12. Price & Value for Money
The one thing that beginners may not realize when using this bow is just how much value for money they’re getting with it. This bow looks and shoots like other bows priced twice as high.
It’s amazing how feature-rich PSE has made this bow, and yet managed to keep it at this price point.
The quality of the materials, the precision, and the usability of this bow make the current price a no-brainer.
Bringing It All Together
If you couldn’t tell by now, we love the PSE Brute X. This bow is phenomenal. Here’s a quick recap of all the pros and cons we’ve listed.
Pros:
- Great build quality as we’ve come to expect from PSE
- Exceptional usability
- Very approachable; a great bow for beginners and experienced archers alike
- Ready to shoot
- Customizable to suit a variety of archer preferences
- Breakneck arrow speed
- Great stopping power
- Low maintenance
- Very quiet
- Good looks
- Fantastic Value for money
Cons:
- Short valley length takes some getting used to
In summary, the PSE Brute X is a great compound bow, and we highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a robust starter model.
Moving Forward
Compound bow archery is a fun and exciting sport. It also boasts a range of health benefits.
No longer is archery solely a man’s domain – women and children are discovering the joys of the sport as well. In fact, women represent the fastest-growing group of members today.
If you’re a beginner who’s just getting their feet wet, check out our recommendations on the best bows for those who are new to the sport.
We’ve also covered several recommendations for women interested in getting started with compound bow archery. You can check them out here.
If you’re new to compound bow shooting, head on over to our site and check out our introduction to compound bow shooting.
And finally, once you’ve decided to take the plunge and immerse yourself in the world of compound bow shooting, you will need to buy a bow. Here are the six easy steps to buying the best value compound bow.
