Athens Archery - Vista 35’s Review

[Tater1973]

2022 Vista 35’s arrived on Monday.  The draw cycle is smooth with no loading up or hump, back wall is solid and fit/finish is incredible on these bows.  Great company and in my opinion is making better bows than the big names.  Plus you can’t beat the lifetime warranty that is transferable for the life of the bow.  If your looking for a new bow I’d definitely considering trying the Vista series 31, 33 or 35.

*I still have the 2019 Ridge 34 for sale if someone is looking.*

[flukebelly]

I have 4 Athens bows right now:

a vista 31

vista 35

peak 38

and ridge 34.

they all shoot better than a long list of other bows i have owned !

my own top 5 list after owning and shooting dozens of flagship bows the last 4 or 5 years is as follows:

#1 Bowtech Revolt X ( i just bought a second one )

#2 Athens Vista 35

#3 Elite Energy 35

#4 Mathews Traverse

#5 tie Athens peak 38 and Mathews TRX38

 

[flukebelly]

By the way Tater…i love the opposite color combos ! 

[Tater1973]

Thanks flukebelly!  Your stable of tools looks great!

[hammer4reel]

2 hours ago, flukebelly said:

I have 4 Athens bows right now:

a vista 31

vista 35

peak 38

and ridge 34.

they all shoot better than a long list of other bows i have owned !

my own top 5 list after owning and shooting dozens of flagship bows the last 4 or 5 years is as follows:

#1 Bowtech Revolt X ( i just bought a second one )

#2 Athens Vista 35

#3 Elite Energy 35

#4 Mathews Traverse

#5 tie Athens peak 38 and Mathews TRX38

 

So what kind of scores are you shooting on a field round , hunter face , Vegas round , indoor NFAA round .

3d ? 

[flukebelly]

Hammer,

i use the bow techs and vista 35 for 3D. On a bad day I’ve shot as low as 250’s , avg day a little over 300. If i would have submitted my card at the Rhinehart 100 last year i would have been top 5.

The peak i just picked up as a 50 meter and field bow for fun and have not shot for scores yet, but it is dialed in out to 100 with victory VXT shafts. To be honest, i cant find anybody to shoot field with ! 

Never shoot indoor spot. I’m too busy hunting from oct - Feb.

by no means am i a hardcore competitive shooter , don’t have the time. In fact all spring and summer , I’m an archery instructor here at the union co. Archery range, as well as a hunter ed instructor. I will be shooting for the Farmers Sportsman’s 3D championship this July in KNOWN 50.

and yes…i have shot Hoyts. Sorry , don’t like em.

[Gobblengrunt]

I have a peak 38 and a vista 35.  Im a hardcore target shooter and hunter. This year I either shot, owned, and sold just about every high end bow.  I was searching for a certain feel in the grip (mainly balance of where pressure point sits at full draw and torque) and cam feel.  I feel of the rtx cam is super comfortable.  A smooth linear feel with an easy transition into the valley.  Cams are advertised as 80-90% letoff but I set up my cams at 70% to my liking.    After tuning (had to shim cams slightly to get perfect bareshaft) both bows shoot phenomenal.  I shot a lot of indoor with the peak 38 and just started shooting 3d with the vista 35.  I shoot bowhunter freestyle nationally.  3D is hard to judge a bow by score being a shoot in a unknown yardage class but do shoot known yardage also in some tournaments.  As an average, my bows have given me a slight edge on scores over other bows ive been shooting.  I average unknown 3D 300-310, known 3D 315-320, NFAA indoor 300/55x and Vegas 299/ 20x.  Great bows and a great company

[flukebelly]

As mentioned before…their customer service is top notch. I have emailed and called with questions and either Jim or Tracie ( owners ) have called me back almost immediately. They truly respect the customer/ company relationship.

[hammer4reel]

2 hours ago, Gobblengrunt said:

I have a peak 38 and a vista 35.  Im a hardcore target shooter and hunter. This year I either shot, owned, and sold just about every high end bow.  I was searching for a certain feel in the grip (mainly balance of where pressure point sits at full draw and torque) and cam feel.  I feel of the rtx cam is super comfortable.  A smooth linear feel with an easy transition into the valley.  Cams are advertised as 80-90% letoff but I set up my cams at 70% to my liking.    After tuning (had to shim cams slightly to get perfect bareshaft) both bows shoot phenomenal.  I shot a lot of indoor with the peak 38 and just started shooting 3d with the vista 35.  I shoot bowhunter freestyle nationally.  3D is hard to judge a bow by score being a shoot in a unknown yardage class but do shoot known yardage also in some tournaments.  As an average, my bows have given me a slight edge on scores over other bows ive been shooting.  I average unknown 3D 300-310, known 3D 315-320, NFAA indoor 300/55x and Vegas 299/ 20x.  Great bows and a great company

That’s great shooting BHFS , beats many guys shooting free style .

little tough seeing a pin shooter shooting 20 up on a 30 target course on average if shooting courses pushing max distances . (you shooting a lensed housing ) 
sounds like you should shoot freestyle in the big leagues and make some good side money .

 

If I can get a little more time once I retire I want to compete again .

But will be shooting with the seniors at this point .

.

 

[Gobblengrunt]

2 minutes ago, hammer4reel said:

That’s great shooting BHFS , beats many guys shooting free style .

little tough seeing a pin shooter shooting 20 up on a 30 target course on average if shooting courses pushing max distances . (you shooting a lensed housing ) 
sounds like you should shoot freestyle in the big leagues and make some good side money .

 

If I can get a little more time once I retire I want to compete again .

But will be shooting with the seniors at this point .

.

 

No lens, not allowed in my class (NFAA), IBO would be classed at just  bowhunter.  I dont shoot an open class for reasons I enjoy competing with a bow I would generally be able to take right in the woods.  Ive always been right up with the best shooting against open class shooters locally.  Nationally ive placed in some bigger tournaments (NFAA).  I was one arrow out of competing on the podium at the Lancaster classic this year (nerves got the best of me)!  I hold quite a few state and regional titles too.  320 is my top end on known 3D but lowest i will shoot is 305, unknown is a whole different ball game when judging yardage is involved with me.  BHFS is all about the 11’s in 3D, even an 8 should be “unacceptable” in your mind, shoot one 5 and you may as well pack it up and go home.   If youre ever looking for a new partner to shoot with, im your guy!  I will be in the senior divisions now in NFAA (50+) but I dont like how that sounds, lol.  

[hammer4reel]

4 minutes ago, Gobblengrunt said:

No lens, not allowed in my class (NFAA), IBO would be classed at just  bowhunter.  I dont shoot an open class for reasons I enjoy competing with a bow I would generally be able to take right in the woods.  Ive always been right up with the best shooting against open class shooters locally.  Nationally ive placed in some bigger tournaments (NFAA).  I was one arrow out of competing on the podium at the Lancaster classic this year (nerves got the best of me)!  I hold quite a few state and regional titles too.  320 is my top end on known 3D but lowest i will shoot is 305, unknown is a whole different ball game when judging yardage is involved with me.  BHFS is all about the 11’s in 3D, even an 8 should be “unacceptable” in your mind, shoot one 5 and you may as well pack it up and go home.   If youre ever looking for a new partner to shoot with, im your guy!  I will be in the senior divisions now in NFAA (50+) but I dont like how that sounds, lol.  

Thanks for wrecking my day , just looked I will be shooting silver senior lol. 60 plus 

 

Your 3d scoring Is different than shoots I competed in there were no 11 .

was 12/10/8/5.

 

I Know you have done well here in Nj as I still look at the SFAA  sites .

miss shooting the mid Atlantic’s , so def like to do that again .

Been trying to get Booner out shooting again too .…

 

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