I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved stories about underdogs. Since childhood, one of my favorites is the biblical account of the shepherd boy, David, defeating the giant warlord, Goliath, with a small stone accurately hurled from his leather sling. Another favorite of mine is the film American Underdog, which is based on the true account of NFL quarterback Kurt Warner rising above many challenges and naysayers to become a two-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion who was eventually inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.   

Speaking of underdogs, let’s talk about Martin Archery. At one time, the bow company had ads in every major bowhunting publication and was a globally known manufacturer. But it’s Walla Walla, Washington, doors closed in summer 2017. I’m sure the archery industry, especially other bow companies, thought that the closure was the nail in Martin Archery’s coffin.   

However, Martin Outdoors purchased Martin Archery in 2017. Once a booming brand, Martin Archery was now the underdog. Everyone still recognized the brand, but both dealers and consumers were no longer sure what to make of it. The company’s new leadership faced the steep challenge of breathing life back into an essentially dead entity. As if that mountain wasn’t steep enough, Martin Outdoors added more incline to its trek when it acquired Obsession Bows in 2020. The growing pains were many, and the leadership had to sink or swim.

It swam. Despite the ups and downs between 2017 and 2024, Martin’s resilient team stood firm, and now the underdog has risen. February 2024 was a pivotal turning point for the brand; that’s when it inked a deal with mastermind engineer Kevin Strother. “Strother’s fingerprint on our bow line helped us turn the corner, and the feedback we’re getting on our new FireCat bows is staggering,” Martin’s Joel Miller said. 

I recently tested Martin’s FireCat M-3, and I can assure you that this is an underdog story worth reading.

Test Bow Specs

• Axle-to-Axle Length: 30 inches
• Brace Height: 6 inches
• Draw Length: 28 inches
• Draw Weight: 62.6 pounds
• Let-off: 78-82%
• Bow-only Weight: 3.6 pounds 
• Accessorized Total Weight: 5.2 pounds (including sight, rest, and front stabilizer)
• Velocity: 245 fps (with 468-grain Easton 6.5mm Acu-Carbon 340 arrow); 249 fps (with 456-grain CX Maxima Triad 350 arrow); 253 fps (with 441-grain Victory VAP SS 350 arrow); 270 fps (with 388-grain CX Predator 350 arrow)
• Kinetic Energy: 62.39 foot-pounds (Easton); 62.79 foot-pounds (CX Triad); 62.7 foot-pounds (Victory); 62.82 foot-pounds (CX Predator)
• Test-Bow Finish: Black
• MSRP: $1,495
• Contact: martinarchery.com 

The Riser

Not all, but many bowhunters seek a bow platform that unites stability with short maneuverability. The FireCat M-3 does that beautifully. The long magnesium riser — machined in Georgia — in conjunction with a 30-inch axle-to-axle length, yields a 3.6-pound mass weight and lots of stability. Rife with details, the riser yields a robust, dependable build with intricate geometry that removes weight in a calculated manner while maintaining tunnels and bridges throughout to harness strength, reduce weight, and enhance balance. For customers who’re looking for a bow that’s lighter and less expensive than most carbon bows, this is a great option. 

The FireCat M-3’s grip is as good as any I’ve felt. It provides a natural fit and an ideal angle for comfort and consistency. It’s the same width as the riser, but Martin attaches a module to the riser that appears to be crafted using a 3-D printer. The net is a grip that feels like you are gripping directly onto the riser, but with a comfortable barrier between the magnesium and the archer’s hand for those cold days afield. Great grip.

The riser is machined to accept compatible IMS rests. Your customer will have to choose a bow sight with a conventional mount, though, as the riser is neither rigged to accept a dovetail sight nor a Picatinny sight. Nonetheless, the riser is outfitted with integrated quiver mounts. Other than a modern sight mount, the riser checks all of the boxes, from durability to balance to the rest and quiver mounts. 

The Cam

Martin fuels the FireCat M-3 with the aptly-named FireCat Cam. I can’t say enough about how smoothly it draws. The 60-pound test bow measured at 62.6 pounds on my Last Chance scale, and drawing it and letting it down was like butter. Most bows draw smoothly, but this one might have the nicest draw cycle of the new bows I’ve tested. It’s impressive. Folks with aging shoulders will love it.

The FireCat Cam is outfitted with two modules, one for let-off and one for draw length. The let-off is adjustable from 78-82%. I shot the FireCat at 80% and love how it feels. The let-off modules also double as draw stops and provide a nice, solid back wall. The draw-length modules range from 26.5 inches to 29.5 inches, and a long-draw module gets you to 30 inches. The cam is aesthetically pleasing, and it produces plenty of power considering its smoothness.

The Extras    

Before I get to my test evaluation, let me outline a few more details. Most notable is the K-Set Tuning System. It eliminates spacers and is so easy that a kid can do it. First of all, the axle adapters are mounted onto the limbs, which means the axle doesn’t pass through the limbs. The ends of the axles are adjustable with a hex wrench to move the cam left or right, and there is no locking screw. Once you identify how arrows are tearing the paper, you can simply move the cams left or right with the simple turn of a hex wrench. You’ll want to move the top and bottom K-Set adjustments equally. My only complaint with the K-Set Tuning System is that I’d like to see some laser-etched marks so that you can track adjustments. Still, it’s a killer tuning system that’s stupid easy.

The FireCat M-3’s bowstring cushion mutes vibrations and mitigates oscillation. A ball bearing roller guard complements the FireCat Cam to reduce friction and deliver an impossibly smooth draw cycle. The riser is rigged with two stabilizer mounts, allowing individual users to customize weight distribution and achieve a custom feel and balance. I found that a weighty 8-inch stabilizer threaded into the bottom mount, which is located near the bottom limb pocket, felt exceptional.

If that’s not enough, how about some GAS Bowstrings? Yep, the FireCat M-3 comes standard with them. Your customers can count on no creep, no serving separations, and no peep rotation. When a difficult hunt boils down to one challenging shot opportunity, they can trust this set.

Martin offers the FireCat M-3 in 45 different finishes. I don’t know of any other bow that even comes close to touching that. The bow is already visually pleasing, but the finish options round out the bow and give every customer the option to customize it. 

The Test

Accuracy and repeatability are the products of top-notch engineering, but also comfort. I touched on the grip and smooth draw cycle earlier. Now, I want to home in on the full-draw comfort that is seemingly built into the FireCat M-3. From the riser geometry to the string angle, everything feels exactly how it should: natural and 100 percent comfortable. That translates into a stress-free aiming experience. While shooting out to 60 yards, I was completely relaxed. 

I outfitted the FireCat with modest accessories, including a full-contact bristle rest because it was all I had that wasn’t occupied. I’m a big proponent of fall-away rests that provide full vane clearance, so I had my accuracy expectations tempered accordingly for this test. But the FireCat blew away my expectations. I shot groups out to 60 yards, and ya’ll, and this FireCat shoots like a champion, right out of the gate. The accuracy was stupendous, as you’ll see in my accompanying photo. Achieving accuracy was practically effortless.    

The FireCat M-3 is also astonishingly quiet and vibration-free. The more you shoot it, the more you’ll appreciate the lack of vibrations and twang. Amazingly, it’s that good without any in-string dampeners or limb dampeners.

Final Thoughts

Buying from Martin Archery supports a family- and veteran-owned company. Veterans, whether they rise or fall, put their necks on the line for us so that we can enjoy our freedoms, and I want to recognize Martin Archery’s veterans right now for their service. From the bottom of my heart, thank you! 

Martin Archery has been an underdog that undoubtedly faced doubt from naysayers, in addition to many other hardships. But, like so many times in history, the underdog has risen to the top, and based on my test results, Martin’s FireCat M-3 will compete right alongside the best hunting bows out there.

Additional Notes: The Martin FireCat M-3 was set up using a Last Chance Archery EZ Green Bow Press and EZ Green Bow Vise, and the draw weight was calculated using Last Chance Archery’s Digital Bow Scale. A Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph measured the arrow velocities. Other products used were Easton’s Nock and D-Loop Pliers and Pro Hex Fold-Up Allen Set. Arrows were weighed on Last Chance Archery’s Pro Grain Scale.

In-the-field photos by Becca and Darron McDougal