An Honest Comparison Between the Amazon Black Hunter, Inspected Black Hunter, and Bob Garner Recurve
Traditional archery is full of opinions.
Some people care most about speed. Others care about smoothness, price, noise, craftsmanship, or customer service. And when we first announced the idea of building a USA-made bow designed to compete with the Black Hunter, one question immediately followed:
Did you actually beat the Black Hunter?
That’s exactly what this test set out to answer.
But instead of giving a biased “winner,” this comparison focused on presenting the facts and letting archers decide for themselves.
The three bows tested were:
- A standard Amazon Black Hunter
- An Inspected Black Hunter from Shatterproof Archery
- The USA-made Bob Garner Recurve
Each bow was evaluated in five categories:
- Specs
- Speed
- Smoothness
- “Snagability” (how easy it is to pick up and shoot well)
- Sacrifice (price/value tradeoff)
Why Specs Matter More Than People Think
One of the first things tested was whether the bows actually matched their advertised specifications.
That may sound boring… until you realize how important it is.
If a beginner orders a 30-pound bow and it arrives pulling 40 pounds, they may not even be able to shoot it comfortably. On the hunting side, a bow that comes in lighter than expected could potentially put someone below legal hunting weight requirements in their state.
The review focused on three specification categories:
- Actual draw weight
- Brace height
- Included accessories
Amazon Black Hunter Review
The Amazon Black Hunter performed surprisingly well in the specifications test.
The bow arrived with everything advertised — plus extras like:
- String silencers
- Limb silencers
- A pre-cut arrow rest
The advertised 40-pound draw weight measured almost perfectly at 40.2 pounds.
Brace height also landed directly within the recommended range.
That’s honestly impressive for a bow sitting around the $100 price point.
One thing the review emphasized was that the Amazon Black Hunter actually followed a great business principle:
Underpromise and overdeliver.
The bow included more than expected and matched the advertised specs extremely closely.
Inspected Black Hunter Review
The inspected version of the Black Hunter includes upgrades and quality control from Shatterproof Archery.
It came with:
- A Flemish twist string
- Beaver silencers
- Arrow rest
- Setup resources and QR codes
- Factory accessories as extras
The review also openly criticized the stock factory arrow rest, calling it “absolute trash,” which is why the inspected version includes a replacement rest.
The tested bow measured around 37.7 pounds despite being labeled as a 40-pound bow.
However, there was important context behind that result:
- The bow had been custom-requested lighter by the original customer
- It had been hanging strung up in the shop for an extended period
- The original customer specifically requested a lighter pull weight
One of the most refreshing parts of the review was the willingness to leave these imperfections in the video instead of editing them out.
That honesty matters.
In a world where many reviews feel scripted or overly polished, transparency builds trust.
Bob Garner Recurve Review
The Bob Garner is the USA-made bow in this comparison.
Unlike the imported Black Hunter models, the Bob Garner is built as a customizable bow where customers can request specific draw weights and setups.
During testing, the particular bow used measured 36.7 pounds.
Again, this came down to the fact that it had originally been built lighter for a customer request.
What stood out most about the Bob Garner during shooting wasn’t necessarily quietness.
It was responsiveness.
The bow felt more “snappy” during the shot cycle and ended up producing the best feet-per-second-per-pound efficiency in the tests.
The thinner limbs and custom design may contribute to that faster, more energetic feeling on release.
Speed and Noise Results
Speed tests were conducted both with and without silencers installed.
Here’s what stood out:
Without Silencers
- Fastest raw speed: Amazon Black Hunter
- Best speed efficiency (FPS per pound): Bob Garner
With Silencers
- Fastest: Bob Garner
- Quietest improvement: Inspected Black Hunter
One especially interesting observation was how much quieter the inspected Black Hunter became after adding small beaver silencers.
The noise reduction measured significantly larger than expected.
The likely reason?
The Flemish twist string.
Compared to endless loop strings, Flemish twist strings often shoot quieter and offer easier brace-height adjustment.
Which Bow Was Easiest to Shoot?
All three bows scored similarly in “snagability.”
That means they were all easy to pick up and shoot instinctively.
Each bow is cut to center, making arrow flight intuitive and forgiving for traditional archers.
That’s one major reason the Black Hunter platform became so popular in the first place.
The Biggest Difference: Sacrifice
This may have been the most important category of all.
Because every bow requires a different level of sacrifice.
Approximate pricing at the time of testing:
- Amazon Black Hunter: around $94–109
- Inspected Black Hunter: around $188
- Bob Garner Recurve: around $499
That’s a huge spread.
And honestly, the Black Hunter continues to be incredibly difficult to beat purely from a value standpoint.
The Amazon version delivers a shocking amount of performance for the money.
But the higher-priced bows offer things the Amazon version doesn’t:
Inspected Black Hunter Advantages
- Customer service
- Setup help
- Tuned options
- Quality inspection
- Upgraded string/accessories
Bob Garner Advantages
- Made in the USA
- Fully customizable
- Custom draw weight requests
- Personal craftsmanship
- Customer support
So… Did the Bob Garner Beat the Black Hunter?
That depends entirely on what matters most to you.
If price-to-performance is your only metric, the Amazon Black Hunter is still incredibly hard to beat.
If customer support, tuning help, and upgraded accessories matter, the inspected Black Hunter offers real value.
If USA manufacturing, customization, craftsmanship, and supporting American bow building matter to you, the Bob Garner enters a completely different category.
And honestly?
That was probably the biggest takeaway from this comparison.
There wasn’t a clear “winner.”
There were just different priorities.
And maybe that’s exactly how traditional archery should be.
Watch the Full Comparison Video
If you want to hear the bows side-by-side, see the chrono testing, and watch the full honest breakdown, check out the original video here: