Summary
All in all the Bear Authority is a great compound bow with everything you would expect from a Bear bow. Although it will not top any performance lists, this bow has a smooth draw and is a good shooter. Add on Bear’s reputation for quality, and a lifetime warranty, and you have yourself quite a package to hit the woods with.
Table of Contents
Intro
Archery, and all shooting sports, seem to be a blue collar addiction. That’s not say that white collar folks don’t enjoy them, but most the folks I see in the woods and at shoots are as blue collar as they come. If you tend to see yourself in that regard, or are looking for those qualities in a bow, the Bear Authority might be a good fit. This bow certainly won’t blow anyone away, but it can show up and get the job done. It has good performance, is a solid shooting bow, and has several nice features hunters and tournament shooters may appreciate.
Ratings, Pros and Cons
What we liked:
- Shootability
- EZ3 Cam System
- Limited Lifetime Warranty
What we didn’t:
- Slightly Unforgiving
- Limited Color Options
Features / Specifications
| IBO Speed Rating (fps): | 315 |
| Bow Weight (lbs) | 4 |
| Brace Height (inches): | 6.75 |
| Axle-To-Axle (inches): | 31 |
| Draw Length Range: | 24.5-31.5″ |
| Let-Off: | 80% |
| Draw Weight Range: | 50,60,70 |
| Riser Construction Material: | Aluminium |
| Limb Construction Material: | Composite |
| Price Range: | Low-Mid |
| Handedness Availability: | Both Left and Right Hand |
| Warranty: | Limited Lifetime |
Videos
Compound Comparison Tables
Need more ideas? Then take a look at this in-depth guide to what we think are the best compound bows on the market. Alternatively f you’re looking for a great place to quickly hone in on a bow by draw weight, IBO speed, draw length, mass, handedness or ATA length then all the bows we review get added to our compound bow comparison table that lists all those features and more. So make sure to check that out too!
In-Depth Review
Riser
Like most bows available today, the riser of this bow is made of an aluminum alloy. Aluminum is light, durable, and can easily withstand the forces being applied to it. This riser has standard waffling cutouts that add to the bows appearance, but also help reduce the overall weight of the bow. Most often the people who appreciate a light bow are hunters who often trek for miles and miles.
Grip
The grip featured on the Bear Authority is similar to many bows that Bear engineers. Engineers have integrated the slim grip into the riser itself. This feature makes the bow comfortable to draw and hold while shooting. It also has been designed to encourage your hand to grip the bow the same way every time. Repeating your grip is essential for developing accuracy. While the grip is comfortable, it does have the downside of being mostly aluminum. When hunting in cold weather the aluminum riser will hold in the cold. This makes the grip much colder to hold while out on your hunt.
Cam System
Bear opted to use the EZ3 cam system on this particular bow. These cams were designed with comfort and shootability in mind, rather than speed. You can expect the Authority to have a comfortable draw cycle and break away nicely to its 80% letoff. For people who shoot lots of arrows the ease of the draw can help extend your practice sessions. Finally, one nice feature of this cam system is the ability to adjust the draw length without the use of a bowpress. This feature is not only advantageous for growing archers, but if you like to tweak with your setup, or are new to archery, this feature could be one worth considering.
Draw Length and Draw Weight Adjustment
To adjust the draw weight of the Bear Authority, all you need is a set of allen wrenches and about 10 minutes. These cams have a rotating module that is secured with a few allen bolts. By undoing the bolts and aligning the module to your owner’s manual you can adjust the draw length from 24.5” to 31.5” in no time.
In addition to the ability to easily adjust the draw length, the draw weight can be adjusted up to 10 pounds by twisting the limb bolts of the bow. Once again, this ability to tinker with your bow in your basement is a nice feature everyone can enjoy.
Limbs
Engineers at Bear decided to equip this bow with a pair of split parallel limbs. These limbs reflect a current trend in archery today, and have proven to be durable and provide pinpoint accuracy. The major benefit of split limbs is to reduce the overall mass of the bow.
Styling
In the style department, the Authority comes across as a fairly utilitarian bow. Nothing really makes this bow pop out and grab your attention. It comes in one color option, Realtree camo riser with black limbs, so if you are looking to blow your buddies away with a bow that looks like it should be on the runway, this may not be the bow for you. On the other hand, if you want a bow that can perform, and don’t get to worried about looks, the simple style of this bow could be for you.
Shooting
The real question to ask when buying any bow is about the shootability. In this department the Bear Authority should meet the expectations of experienced archers. It can reach arrow speeds of up to 315 feet per second. For hunters, this speed is more than adequate to take with you to the woods. As previously mentioned this bow also has a smooth draw due to the EZ3 cams that many people will appreciate. There are a few design features that contribute to this bow’s shootability you’ll want to consider.
First off, the bows 31” ATA is fairly short. Shorter bows tend to be more difficult to shoot because any torque of the bow will have magnified effects. Secondly, the 6.75” brace height is partially responsible for the good speed of the bow, but also can make the bow more difficult to shoot. The reason? Since the arrow travels on the string longer during the shot, there is an increased chance your bow arm will move prior to the arrow release. Both of the measurements don’t make this bow hard to shoot well, but they reveal that this bow may be better suited in the hands of an archer with some experience. That being said, this bow could easily be a first-bow and one that teaches an inexperienced shooter about their mistakes.
“How does it compare?”
Bear Authority vs Cruzer G2
Also, if you are looking for a dual cam bow, this PSE bow has you covered. In fact the cams on the PSE are regarded as some of the finest shooting cams out there. Finally, the PSE Brute Force also comes in 50,60,and 70 pound models, but offers a 20 pound max weight range. That means that a 50 pound bow could be let off to only 30 pounds, and the 70 pound model could drop to 50 pounds. If that sort of versatility is appealing to you, the Brute Force may be worth a closer look.
Bear Authority vs PSE Brute
Speaking of versatility, if you are looking for a bow that has tremendousversatility, the Bear Cruzer G2 is about as versatile as they come. The G2 is capable of being adjusted from a mere 5 pounds of draw weight, all the way to 70 pounds. What’s more, this is all done without the use of a bowpress. In addition to being able to adjust the draw weight, you can adjust the draw length from 12” to 30” just as easily. That type of versatility is great for young and mature shooters alike. Finally, you won’t give up anything in terms of arrow speed, as the Bear Cruzer G2 hits 315 fps just like the Bear Authority.
Bear Authority vs SAS Rage
If you are looking for a bow that has some performance, but falls into the category of “budget bow”, you might take a look at the SAS Rage. Compared to the Authority, the Rage has a few noticeable strikes against it. For one, the arrow speed is only 270 fps. While this is still fast enough to hunt with, the slower speed will make hunting more difficult. Secondly, this bow only comes in right handed models and has a limited 3 year warranty. That being said, the SAS Rage could still be a steal for the right shooter. It has a long axle to axle measurement and a higher brace height. These two measurements make this bow more forgiving to shoot. Secondly, although it is heavier, that may be a benefit as heavier bows tend to be quieter than light bows. Read our review here.
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