There have been LOTs of questions concerning what exactly are the differences between Mathews previous years’ Z7 and this year’s Heli-M. Here are the answers!
First off, a simple picture of the bows side by side:
Now an overlapping view:
2012 Mathews Heli-M Specifications
Speed: 332 FPS
Axle to Axle Length: 30″
Brace Height: 7”
Draw Length: 26″-30”
Peak Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 lbs.
Weight: 3.5 lbs.
Let-Off: 80%
MSRP: $959
2010-11 Mathews Z7 Specifications
Speed: 333 FPS
Axle to Axle Length: 30″
Brace Height: 7”
Draw Length: 25″-30”
Peak Draw Weights: 40, 50, 60, 65, 70 lbs.
Weight: 4.0 lbs. (no accessories)
Let-Off: 80%
MSRP: $849
Summary of differences
By the pure specs, the differences are that the Heli-M has a 1 FPS slower rating, no 25 or 25 1/2 inch draw length on the Heli-M and 1/2 pound lighter on the Heli-M vs. accessory-less Z7. Not much of a difference other than the weight, which is substantial.
The Heli-M lost its weight by taking material out of the riser (much thinner Grid Lock pattern, now called the Geo Grid Lock), dumping the heavier aluminum roller guard for a thin carbon rod, thinning up the Dead End string suppressor, removing the bottom limb-mounted suppressor, replacing the Harmonic Stabilizers with the Lite version and taking some material out of the cam and idler wheel.
Besides the weight and small specifications differences, there are a few other notable changes. The Dead End String Stop Lite is mounted lower than the previous version on the Z7 series, thus allowing for the elimination of the bottom, limb mounted suppressor. The standard Z Cam has now been replaced with the new Heli-M cam, and is supposedly smoother on the draw by creating a draw force curve that peaks rapidly, then slow eases off before dumping into the valley. Also, the Heli-M cam looks to be larger overall.
By looking at the overlay of the two bows, it’s obvious that the risers differ more than in the change to the Grid Lock. The Heli-M riser is slightly shorter and follows slightly different lines than the Z7. The brace height and the ATA both remain the same, however the limbs on the Heli-M have less pre-load to them and are more akin to the 2012 Jewel.
The roller guards, though different in their mounting systems, appear nearly identical in location as does the top limb-mounted string suppressor. Both bows also include two Harmonic Stabilizers in near identical locations. Handles on both bows appear nearly identical, though supposedly the new Heli-M handle is made of a higher grade walnut that Mathews calls “Rich Walnut,” more akin to wood used in high-grade gun stocks. The Heli-M maintains the available colors, with Lost Camo, Black and Tactical available.
Of course there is the added price upgrade of around $110 to the Heli-M over the now discontinued Z7.
Loading ...
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
the brace height on the z 7 is 7 3/8 and its 330 fps ibo
Kevin, I believe you are thinking of the Z7 Extreme
yup your right
sorry for that…. any ways just picked up my heli-m on sat. I love this bow, I also have a z7 extreme both amazing but the weight difference is considerable. the valley is a little short on the heli-m but the new cam is so smooth it makes up for it. long story short I love it and am glad I bought it.
2012 mathews heli-m
71.2lbs
30 1/2″ draw
at 335.2 fps
Kevin, what weight arrow are you using to get that speed?
beaman 340 ics hunter
Hi Guys, I am an ower of the Z7 extreme and after reading the specs on both bows and personally I wouldn’t upgrade to the Heli-M for just for a 1/2 pound difference. The Z7 extremem is faster, otherwise basically the same bow, just 110 bucks more expensive. I told my Son that if I had the correct draw length on my old MQ-1 I never would have bought another bow. I went to the Switch Back but then as I got older couldn’t pull the draw weight so I decided on the Z7 extreme maxing out at 50 lbs. Please don’t be offendered by my this next comment but I feel that the new Heli-M is just a sales gimmic. Hunters are like fishermen, as soon as a new lure comes out, they just gotta buy it. The same holds true is Camo clothing. But that’s another story. Bottom line, there is just not enough change in the new Mathews Heli-M to make it wouth while buying. Respectfully, Sal Agro, Youngsville N.Y.
Further to my earlier comment. Let me say this. If I was shopping for a new bow and didn’t already have the Z7 extreem, I’d go with the Heil-M. That’s the advise I gave my son.
Regards
Sal Agro
I have every year for 14 years wanted to buy a new mathews bow and never did. Until now i bought the 2012 heilm. My first mathews was a ultra max was the best bow i thought. Now the heilm is to be the best bow of 2012 i think i have to say. I did my homework on all the new bows out their and i picked the best one.
2012 bow of the year mathews heilm
I brought my 2006 Bow Tech Old Glory into the bow shop to fix my bottom cam and put a new string on it. While in the bow shop I picked up a Mathews Heli M off the rack and was in awe by how light it actually was. After that I knew I had to test out the new Mathews Heli m and I loved it. It had an incredibly smooth draw, an awesome back wall, it had little to no vibration when releasing the arrow and overall was an excellent bow and by far blew my Bow tech out of the water! I actually ended up buying the Mathews Heli M and loving it, bye bye Bow Tech, I am hooked on Mathews for life!
i also bought a helim and love it. about the valley being shallow , my bow shop called me and let me know mathews solved this and sent out smaller draw stops and they work really great. might want to contact your dealer. they are free if you bought a helim. some like the old ones, some like the new ones . great to have a choice . just thought i would let you know. bye bye bowtech.
david, Thanks for the update! I’m sure Heli-M shooters would like to know this.
i got a mathews black max and a limb broke it is 11 years old and it was replace no questions ask so i pick it up and look at the helim and feel in love with it. so i bought one and love it. mathews will back there bows . mathews helim bow of the year.
what is the off set from center of the lower oval cam? I am making a bow rack for my z7
I’m in the market for a new bow and shot the new helim…very nice shooting bow!!! Problem is I have a 31″ draw length. Anyone knowif they are going to have a long draw helim like they have with the z7′s big brother the z9??? Thanks for any input
Just shot the z7 extreme, heli, and the bowtech insanity. I went with the heli, it is by far the smoothed bow! About 10 fps slower than the bowtech and about 10 fps faster than the extreme. This is an all around amazing bow!
Rocky, from what i’ve heard around my local shop, Mathews is supposed to be addressing this for the November release. If you can’t wait, there was also a new minster released last year, the MR8. Might want to shoot it and see what you think…
I was in the market for a new bow. I had done some homework and was pretty sure I wanted a z7 or z7 extreme over the heli m. The shop guy talked me into playing around with the heli m for a while. The draw was incredibly smooth so smooth I wish they made an 80 lbs draw. The heli m had a little zing in the handle after the shot, I thought I could counter this with some accessories. The bow I shot only had a rest. I impulsively bought the bow($799), decked it out, but for me it was still to light. The heli m was very hard to hold on target being so light at full draw 70lbs 29″. I have had to add the reg harmonic stabilizer and put the light one up top to get rid of the zing I also added weight to the axion light stabilizer by removing the harmonic damper and replacing with the stabilizer light, and added the reg harmonic stabilizer to the front of the axion. After adding all the weight, the bow shoots dead in the hand, and holds on target steady as can be. My groups are almost to tight, as I keep busting knocks and fletchings off arrows in the target. I now have an extremely accurate bow with a unbelievably smooth draw ( I even have shoulder issues, and confidently feel with this draw 80 lbs would be no problem) still probably a little lighter bow than a z7 or extreme loaded up. I still feel the roller guards are cheap looking and the z7 and extreme are better looking bows. I hope the roller guards hold up to many years of shooting. The draw stop does make a small thud when it hits( the small draw stop) the larger one is much more quiet but reduces the valley to about nothing. I hope this helps anyone who is trying to decide on a mathews heli m. As said above I would not upgrade from a z7 or a z7 extreme to a heli m.
Read some reviews in latest issue of Outdoor Life? that said it was one of the loudest bows tested. Any thoughts on this?
Im in the market for a new bow, will ,be ny first bow. I love the mathews bows. My problem is, i have a 32″ draw… is my best option the z9? Ive heard great things about it, but just want some input. Also, whats everyones thought on the best releases, sights, rests, arrows, and broadheads? Has anyone used the new rage 2 blade chisel tips? They look nasty and im pretty interested in those!
Thanks for the input!
Sal O.
@ Sal O…I don’t know about the bow options for you as I shoot 28″ and I’ve been shooting the original Bear Truth for 4 years now (I have a big family and the money comes by pretty hard). I use one of the TruBall releases (like the Stinger version) and love it (only one I’ve ever used so can’t compare), Truglo sight (like their carbon x5 version–cheaper but good), and I used to use a whisker biscuit but I found my fletchings were getting worn too fast so this July I switched to a QAD Ultrarest HDx drop-away rest–I paid $100 at Scheels for it as it was on sale from $130 and I’m very pleased. I can shoot all day and the fletchings have no contact to wear them down. They have a hunter version for a lot cheaper ($50?). Arrows–I just use cabella’s or Scheels brand as they are about $40 or so–there’s a lot better and if you can afford them go for it. Broadheads–saw penetration test and chisel tip rage 2′s went in a little deeper than last year’s model with the blade tip. I used to use muzzy, but friend bragged so much about the rages that I had to try them–they killed my buck last year just fine. I have some of both versions for this year. Need anything else? Just reply back and I’ll try to answer. I’ve only been hunting here in MN for the last 4 years, but been doing so heavily when I can, but I don’t have any monster deer under my belt or fancy hunting trips either, just two deer that were extremely tasty. Later.
Could you do an overlay of the Helium and Creed?
Thanks
I look into doing it!
Creed vs. Heli-M is now up: http://archeryreport.com/2012/11/2013-mathews-creed-helim/
Yeah that overlapping view is pretty nice. Would love to see the z7 xtreme vs Heli m vs creed on overlapping view