Darton DS-700 Compound Bow Review

The Darton DS-700 at First Glance

Welcome to our Darton DS-700 compound bow review. The first thing an archer notices about the DS-700 is that it is really short and really fast! Also, it has a 7-inch brace height which is unusual for such a short bow.

It is the perfect choice for archers with shorter statures and those who regularly hunt from a tree stand or ground blind since the long brace height makes it more forgiving to shoot and the adjustable Dual-Sync cams make it both quiet and smooth to shoot as well as highly adjustable.

Darton offers the bow as a package that includes Darton’s BQ4 four arrow quiver, a three-pin fiber optic sight, and a full capture arrow rest and, it is available in your choice of three different camo patterns as well as solid black.

The Darton DS-700 Riser, Grip, Limbs

Like most other modern compound bows on the market today, the Darton DS-700 features a machined aluminum riser made from 6061-T6 aluminum with cutouts to reduce overall weight without sacrificing rigidity.

Unlike many of the bows on the market today, the Darton DS-700 features a less radically reflexed riser which, when combined with the generous 7-inch brace height, makes it a very forgiving bow to shoot.

In addition, it also features Darton’s new Signature Competition Grip which is basically a slim section of the riser that is specifically designed to prevent the shooter form torquing the bow when shooting for increased accuracy.

Last, it also features Darton’s pre-loaded, parallel, EET (Efficient Energy Transfer) Mach I Quad Limbs with e-glass skins and PPLP (Pivoting Positive Limb Pockets) limb pockets with that totally eliminate the problem of cam lean.

Plus, it includes Darton’s Bow Noise Separation System which mounts in the lower accessory hole in the riser to dampen string vibration.

Darton DS-700 Cam System

In addition to the Mach 1 Quad Limb system and Pivoting Limb Pocket system, the Darton DS-700 also features Darton’s new Dual Sync cams and a Dual Sync yoke system that is specifically designed to eliminate the timing problems often associated with dual cam bows as well as the problem of cam lean.

It is specifically designed with a cam that leans to one side when the bow is not draw so that the cam straightens as the bow is drawn combined with a PTR (Progressive Torque Reduction) cable guard which bends as the bow is drawn to completely eliminate the problem of cam.

The cams feature an adjustable module that enables the archer to easily adjust the draw length from 27 inches to 30 inches.

It should be noted that unlike some other compound bows with adjustable draw length modules, the Darton DS-700 does not feature an adjustable draw weight and it must be purchased in your choice of 40, 50, 60, or 70 pound draw weights.

The Darton DS-700 Draw Cycle

Due to the Dual Sync Cam System combined with the medium cam design, the Darton DS-700 has an amazingly smooth draw cycle and an exceptionally quiet release.

Also, it features an adjustable draw stop that provides the archer with a rock solid wall and not only is this bow very smooth to draw, it’s also very accurate to shoot. With 80 percent let-off, this bow is a breeze to hold at full draw for extended periods.

The Darton DS-700 Noise and Vibration Level

Due to its wide, bridged, riser and incorporated harmonic dampeners as well as the included string dampener combined with the lightweight, quad, limb design and hybrid cam system, the Martin Lithium is amazingly adept at reducing and eliminating vibration in the bow!

Consequently, not only is the Martin Lithium LTD a very quiet bow to shoot, it has almost no perceptible vibration in the riser to distract you and interfere with your shot placement.

Darton DS-700 Shooting Speed

With an IBO ranting of 330 to 335 fps, the Darton DS-700 is amazingly fast for such a short bow! In fact, it easily launches even relatively heavy arrows with enough kinetic energy to humanely harvest even the largest North American or African game species.

It is important to know that IBO speeds are somewhat deceptive because they are based on a draw weight of 70 lbs. shooting a 350 grain arrow but, they have no standard for draw length.

Bow manufacturers automatically use the longest draw length available in any given model. Your actual arrow speeds will likely be somewhat less than IBO speeds if you shoot a shorter draw length, a lighter draw weight, or a heavier arrow than the given IBO criteria.

Darton DS-700Kinetic Energy Levels

It should be noted that the kinetic energy generated by the Darton DS-700 will greatly vary depending on your draw length, draw weight, and arrow weight. But, here are some close estimates of what KE levels to expect from a couple of different parameters:

• 70 lbs. / 30″ draw / 350 grain arrows: 87.2 ft-lbs KE
• 70 lbs. / 30″ draw / 425 grain arrows: 105.9 ft-lbs KE

Please Note: The results listed above are measured at a point-blank range. In order to determine the Lithium LTD’s kinetic energy output at different distances, you will need to subtract approximately 1.8 ft-lbs. for every 10 yards of distance from the target.

Using the Darton DS-700 for Hunting

Specifically designed to be a dedicated hunting bow rather than a target bow, the Darton DS-700 is truly an excellent choice for the avid bow hunter.

In fact, with an axle-to-axle length of just 30 inches combined with an IBO arrow speed of 330 to 335 fps, the DS-7000 is easily fast enough to provide a relatively flat arrow trajectory on longer shots and, it easily generates enough kinetic energy to enable an archer to pursue any game species that they desire.

Plus, its smooth draw cycle and quite release make it easy to achieve pinpoint accuracy without spooking the game when the string is released.

With an overall weight of 4 lbs. it is a bit on the heavy side to carry around all day and employing a bow sling to prevent fatiguing your shooting arm is a wise idea.

Kinetic Energy:	You Can Hunt:
< 25 ft-lbs	Small Game (groundhog, rabbit, wild turkey)
25-41 ft-lbs	Medium Game (Antelope, Whitetail deer)
42-65 ft-lbs	Large Game (black bear, wild boar, elk)
> 65 ft-lbs	Largest Game (Grizzly bear, Cape buffalo, Musk Ox, African elephant)

So, all things considered, the Darton DS-700 is the perfect choice for dedicated bow hunters who frequently hunt from a tree stand or a ground blind and prefer a short bow for increased maneuverability.

Also, with an IBO rating of 330 to 335 fps, it is an exceptionally fast bow with an exceptionally smooth draw cycle and quiet release and it is an excellent choice for dedicated bow hunters.

But, with a mid-range retail price that provides a significant value for the money, the Darton DS-700 is a durable, smooth, quiet, and forgiving bow that is available to the large majority of hunters rather than only to an exclusive few who absolutely demand the latest technological advancements and who are willing to pay top dollar to get it.

The Darton DS-700 is fast making a name for itself in the bow hunting community.