355 or 380

[Bronzeback]

I still struggle with why there are two options in the first place. Should have come out with a Matrix 365 or 370 and been done with it. I have the 380 and love it...I have shot a 355 also and love that too. It's a win-win for you either way you go which brings me back to my original question of why there are two soooo close. May be a Matrix 330 and 380 would have made more sense.

The whole 380 thing is a little misleading anyway. My 380 shooting a 382 grain BEA is around the 360 fps mark anyway and I imagine that if you went with anything over 400 grains that you would be around the 350fps mark. I know the 380 fps is with a 350 gr arrow but does anyone use a 350 gr arrow for hunting purposes?

[hummer]

What are the differences, aside from the obvious size/speed? Looks like you don't get REDS suppressors, cheekpiece or Guardian ADF scope mount with a 355. How important are these? Any other features "missing"?

[volfan]

I know the 380 fps is with a 350 gr arrow but does anyone use a 350 gr arrow for hunting purposes?

Sure do....for anything white tail and smaller. It passes through like a hot knife cutting through butter and that is all I need and I get a much flatter tragectry with a 350gr. arrow.

[Xbow Novice]

I got the 380. Originally tried the 355 and was ready to get one, by the time I added the R.E.D.S, Anti-dry Fire, and a cheek piece it was the same a the 380. Was a little concern about cocking the extra lbs, so I tried it at the local shop. It was little harder to cock, but really only noticeable over the last inch or 2. I'm 6’3" - 235 and didn't find either hard to cock. Figured it was great to get the extra power for the same price. If I was doing a lot of shooting or some type of competition where I had to shoot/cock a given amount, I moght have opt'd for the 355, With the 380, I shoot till I'm tied, then go have a beer.

[ranger]

Buy the time the deer hears the whack/thump of my 380 Blackout at 350fps its going to be falling over or taking its last steps.

[ranger]

I still struggle with why there are two options in the first place. Should have come out with a Matrix 365 or 370 and been done with it. I have the 380 and love it...I have shot a 355 also and love that too. It's a win-win for you either way you go which brings me back to my original question of why there are two soooo close. May be a Matrix 330 and 380 would have made more sense.

The whole 380 thing is a little misleading anyway. My 380 shooting a 382 grain BEA is around the 360 fps mark anyway and I imagine that if you went with anything over 400 grains that you would be around the 350fps mark. I know the 380 fps is with a 350 gr arrow but does anyone use a 350 gr arrow for hunting purposes?

I get 350fps all day long with the Diablo arrow with 150gn tip. Total 403gn.

[JPjunkie]

I love my 380 It felt like it belonged in my hand I picked it up shot it a few times and never put it back in the box I took it straight out to the truck and never thought twice about the 355 Best decision Ive made in a long time

[Xnr]

I just went thru the same dilemma. But I wanted the reds, cheek piece and the ADF. Would have been almost the same price as the 380 in the end. So that's what I bought. Then the only decision was black or camo. Camo won out but I still love the look of the black.

Life is not a dress rehearsal....

[automated11]

I have not shot one but these bows are really loud with the 355 being less. Your thoughts please? Wyvern has these at a pretty good price.

The 355 is pretty loud but the bumpers do quiet it down quite a bit. I would however look into the bumpers Dan Miller sells as opposed to the Reds system, The reds seem to have durability issues on the bumpers even when rotated. I have the rubber baby buggy bumpers and have put about 500 shots on them and they look brand new.

[robertyb]

I have not shot one but these bows are really loud with the 355 being less. Your thoughts please? Wyvern has these at a pretty good price.

The 355 is pretty loud but the bumpers do quiet it down quite a bit. I would however look into the bumpers Dan Miller sells as opposed to the Reds system, The reds seem to have durability issues on the bumpers even when rotated. I have the rubber baby buggy bumpers and have put about 500 shots on them and they look brand new.

Pictures please.

[automated11]

This is my super vixen, Matrix 355 with a vixen stock.

You can see my bumpers my friend made the mounts that the bumpers go on but I believe Dan Miller sells them now along with the bumpers that I have on there. They work great!

[timbikeride]

I have not shot one but these bows are really loud with the 355 being less. Your thoughts please? Wyvern has these at a pretty good price.

The 355 is pretty loud but the bumpers do quiet it down quite a bit. I would however look into the bumpers Dan Miller sells as opposed to the Reds system, The reds seem to have durability issues on the bumpers even when rotated. I have the rubber baby buggy bumpers and have put about 500 shots on them and they look brand new.

Do you happen to know the price Dan is charging for the bumpers?

[automated11]

no idea, but I would give him a ring and see what he has to say.

[OkXbowHunter]

I've been kicking around the idea of getting one of the new bows simply because they are more compact. 95% of my hunting is from treestands. I love my Axiom (from the first year they were offered). It has killed everything it has shot at except one that I couldn't find and that was my fault. My longest was 53 yards.

My only complaint is that those limbs catch on everything when walking through the wood and they're kinda wide in some of the trees I hunt.

For that reason, I was thinking about the 355 because it's a tad more compact than the 380. I need to get around and go to the Archery shop and try both out.

I understand why they came out with both bows. Everyone seems to be hung up on speed, but I'd prefer a more compact bow with a 150 to 175lb pull. Excalibur could call it the Treestand Hunter or the Treestander (Excal, you guys can send me a free one when you make it and I'll give you your choice of either name ). Don't need a whole lot of speed to kill a deer and I have yet to have a deer jump the string on my Axiom! If you could make a compact bow like this to shoot in the 250 to 275 fps range, you'd have a great treestand killing machine!

When I decide which one to get (at this point, probably the 355) I'll let ya'll know!