PSE Sicario Carbon FDS

Is the 5.25" brace height a problem for accuracy at longer distances?

The Sicario Carbon FDS runs a tight 5.25" brace, and our data flags it as less forgiving than taller-braced rivals. Owners on ArcheryTalk largely report it holding steadier than expected, with several shooting confident groups at 60–85 yards, though one owner traced a persistent windage offset to the bow's sensitivity to grip placement. Short-brace bows reward clean form, so shoot one before buying if your release is inconsistent.

Will my vanes clear a drop-away rest on this bow?

This comes up repeatedly: with the short brace geometry, owners report that vanes around 3" or longer can sit on a drop-away rest's launcher arm before the draw, and one shooter hit this with SK-2 vanes. Owners running a Hamskea Everest reported no clearance issues, and shorter vanes resolve it. Plan your fletching and rest choice together on this bow rather than carrying a setup over from a taller-braced rig.

How does the new FDS cam compare to PSE's EC2 — is the draw harsher?

The community is genuinely split. Multiple shooters describe the FDS as smoother and more linear but noticeably stiffer through the cycle than the EC2 — one decided the speed gain wasn't worth the extra effort, and one Sicario owner swapped back to EC2 cams entirely. Side-by-side chronograph reports in the threads put the FDS roughly 16–22 fps faster on comparable setups, so the trade-off is real in both directions.

What speeds are owners actually getting with hunting arrows?

The bow is rated 357 fps IBO, and owner chronograph numbers track sensibly below that with real hunting setups: 331 fps with a 363-grain arrow at 30"/65#, 307 fps with 462 grains at 30"/71#, and one report of over 320 fps pushing a 500-grain arrow at 78#. ArcheryTalk's review thread called it the fastest bow the tester had ever shot. One caveat from the community: it reportedly sheds more speed than some rivals as draw length shortens, since it's most efficient near max draw.

Is it worth ~$2,100, or should I look at a Mathews ARC or PSE's own Mach 33 instead?

At $2,099 the Sicario Carbon FDS scores 59.6/100 on our CareScore and ranks #4 of 8 in its category, so it isn't our top value pick. In the comparison thread, even PSE fans steered a budget-conscious buyer toward a used bow or a Mach 33, noting Mathews' easier press-free tuning and stronger resale, while the Sicario's case is pure speed in a 3.9 lb carbon package. Several regulars argued no current flagship is strictly "worth" its sticker — you're paying market price for the newest thing.

Does it kick or vibrate after the shot?

Most owners describe a quick "thump" in the grip hand that dissipates immediately rather than a lingering buzz, and some say they've grown to like the feel. It's not unanimous: one shooter called the hand thump and grip a deal-breaker, and another reported residual vibration even with two stabilizers and dampeners fitted. If you're vibration-sensitive, this is one to test in person.

Across four threads, shop tests and owner chronographs back up the 357 fps rating — shooters report it hitting its advertised numbers, beating EC2-cam stablemates by roughly 16–22 fps on like setups, and ArcheryTalk's reviewer called it the fastest bow he'd ever tested.

Pre-release chatter worried openly about the 5.25" brace, but owners in three threads report surprising stability at full draw and clean groups to 60–85 yards. The criticism hasn't vanished: one owner blamed a stubborn windage offset on grip-torque sensitivity, and the concern keeps resurfacing from shooters who haven't tried it.

The consensus phrase is "smoother but stiffer" than PSE's EC2. Fans praise the linear pull and the transition into the back wall; detractors say the extra effort isn't worth the speed, with one shooter keeping his EC2 bow over it and one Sicario owner paying to swap EC2 cams onto the bow.

The practical cost of the short brace: owners report vanes of roughly 3"+ resting on drop-away launcher arms, and one shooter hit contact issues with SK-2 vanes. The community's fixes — shorter vanes and rests like the Hamskea Everest — work, but it's an extra setup constraint buyers should know about.

Within the review thread, owners agree there's a distinct thud at the shot but disagree on whether it matters: most call it a quick, buzz-free thump that dissipates instantly, while one shooter called it a deal-breaker and another reported lingering vibration despite stabilizers and dampeners.

At the ~$2,100 flagship tier, forum regulars are skeptical anyone "needs" it — advice in the comparison thread leaned toward used bows or PSE's cheaper Mach 33, citing Mathews' resale and tuning advantages. The counterpoint raised: PSE held pricing flat year-over-year while competitors raised theirs.