Best Recurve Bow for Beginners and Experts in 2023

In order to shoot well with a recurve bow, you must unlock the keys to accuracy. In order to get started, you will need coaching, patience, and the right equipment if you wish to embrace the traditional route. 

From Olympic recurves to selfbows, I have shot, competed, and hunted with everything over the last 16 years. The number of bows I’ve owned during that time has reached dozens.

Additionally, I was an archery instructor who assisted many students in selecting their first bow. Since the beginning of the year, I have been testing some of the biggest and best readily available recurve bows on their grips, features, speed, draw cycle, and shooting experience over the past month.

The following is a list I have compiled of my favorite recurve bows that I have shot in the past. 

1. Best Budget: Samick Sage
2. Best Mid-Priced: Galaxy Vega
3. Best New Riser: Amagi Archery
4. Best Bow Package with Gear: PSE Pro Max Takedown Recurve Bow Package Set
5. Best Budget Bow: DOSTYLE Archery Takedown Recurve Bow and Arrow Set
6. Best Recurve for Tall Folks: Southwest Archery Spyder XL Takedown Recurve Bow
7. Best Target Bow / Olympic Style Bow: HYF 68-Inch ILF Recurve Bow
8. Best Recurve for Hunting: SAS Courage Hunting Takedown Recurve
9. Best Recurve Horsebow: KAINOKAI Traditional Handmade Longbow

Choosing a Recurve Bow

Buying a recurve bow is largely a matter of taste, so many decisions will be based on your preferences. To achieve your goals, the bow must fit you properly and help you reach them. 

1. Length

It is linked to the draw length of your bow. If your bow is too long or too short, you will lose performance, and if it is too long or too short, you will have to troubleshoot it and draw it smoothly. I shoot bows between 62-inches and 74-inches long with a 30-inch draw length.

Those are a lot of different bow lengths, but consider that the bows at either end of that range have radically different designs. What is the best way to determine the length of a bow?

A chart with recommended bow lengths for draw length ranges is usually available from manufacturers and custom builders. I recommend a three-piece recurve with a 19-inch riser if you are unable to find that information. 

• The draw length of fewer than 27 inches for 60-inch bows 
• The draw length of a 62-inch bow is 27 to 29 inches 
• The draw length of a 64-inch bow is 29 to 31 inches 

You should consider a 21-inch riser with long limbs for a 66-inch bow if your draw length is longer than 31 inches.

In those recommendations, recurves are recommended for hunting. You can use these recommendations as your riser length changes.

You can adjust the length of the riser by adding or subtracting it from the lengths above. If the riser is 25 inches, the bow draw must not exceed 27 inches. 

2. Draw Weight

In order to make a good recurve bow, you must choose the draw weight appropriately. It’s best to start with a lighter draw weight than you’re used to shooting if you’re already shooting a compound bow.

The draw weight that is recommended for new archers should be under 35 pounds for their draw length when they start archery. It is important to note the “at your draw length” section. 

Pulling back a recurve or longbow increases its draw weight. Bows with 28-inch draw lengths typically have 28-inch draw weights. The draw weight of a 40-pound bow won’t be 40 pounds if the draw length is 26 inches.

Approximately 35 pounds is what you can expect. For every inch above 28 inches, add 2.5 pounds, and for every inch below 28 inches, subtract 2.5 pounds. 

What is the best way to determine if you are drawing too much weight? Let’s take a look at a simple test. Your bow should be drawn and your target should be aimed at. A draw weight that is too heavy will cause you to shake after five seconds.

Having the ability to pull the bow back isn’t enough for a recurve. The bow must be controlled throughout the shot. 

There is a general range of 35 to 45 pounds that target archers use for their draw weights. The average hunter draws between 40 and 55 pounds. Which range you fall into depends on your personal preferences.

Whitetails are mostly hunted at close range with hunting bows weighing 40 to 45 pounds. At those draw weights, I’m able to maintain excellent control for several seconds while waiting for an opening to arise. 

3. Bow Style

For new archers, I recommend three-piece bows since their limbs can be easily adjusted as their draw weight increases. Transporting them is also easy. Following your heart can lead you to a traditional one-piece bow, such as the Bear Kodiak. 

It’s also important to think about what type of shooting interests you. Are you interested in hunting, competing, or just having fun?

Short hunting bows make it easier to maneuver from blinds and tree stands and to shoot from them. There is usually a longer draw weight on competition bows, as well as a heavier mass weight on competition bows. 

4. Grip

When buying a bow, the grip is one of the most important factors to consider. Bad grips will drastically reduce your accuracy since they are the only interface you have with the bow during the shot.

Just like no recurve bow is perfect, no grip is perfect either. An important feature of any good grip is its ability to provide consistent grip pressure and torque-free shooting. The grip you choose will also be influenced by your shooting style, hand size, and personal preference.

5. Speed

Speed shouldn’t be a factor in choosing a bow. It has been a long time since I shot recurve bows, and I’ve owned dozens of them. Most bows that I have owned are fast enough, and I have had trouble shooting the really fast bows. 

Recurve bow with best takedown ability and best overall performance

Our discussion of this bow has been lengthy, and it deserves its popularity.

1. The Samick Sage Recurve Bow

It’s true! Our site is filled with reviews of the Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow, and you’ll quickly discover that we love it. Our recommendation for the best recurve bow for beginners is without a doubt this one.

It is also an excellent choice for intermediates. With its Maplewood riser and sturdy takedown bow, this bow is pretty darn attractive and designed for accuracy.

We’re going to go point-by-point about why we think this is the best recurve here, but it will probably be the longest review we’ve ever written:

You can use this bow as you become a better archer. The best starter bows are still just that: starter bows. In order to get the most out of your bow, you’ll have to figure out what you’re doing and buy a better one.

Despite its basic nature, the Samick Sage can be used effectively by beginners, intermediates, and advanced intermediates. You can practice and shoot targets with it because.

There are a lot of accessories that can be attached to the riser. There are a bunch of holes on the riser (the handle of the bow).

When you get involved with competitive archery, you can augment these locations with bow sights, plungers, elevated rests, stabilizers, and much more. If you’re a beginner, that’s great because you can experiment with each piece of equipment and learn how to use it. Furthermore…

Beginners to intermediates will enjoy this takedown bow. It is a bow that can be taken down and its limbs replaced with stronger ones. The draw weight of every bow indicates how difficult it is to draw the bow.

The draw weight of 20 pounds will make drawing a bow easier than the draw weight of 40 pounds. As you spend time with the bow, you will build your strength, which is why it’s a great idea to replace the bow’s limbs.

You’ll eventually want a 30-pound bow if you start out with a 20-pound recurve bow, in order to shoot faster and farther arrows.

By taking that bow down, you’ll be able to replace the 20-pound limbs with 30-pound limbs, so you won’t need a new bow, you’ll just need new limbs. I think that’s a great feature (especially for younger archers).

You can set it up in a few minutes. You need to assemble and tune your new bow, believe it or not. It’s also easy to assemble (we’ve written posts on how to do that), so that’s another great thing about it. The Sage bow isn’t as complicated as some bows.

In addition to target archery, you can also use it for hunting. It’s not uncommon for archers to use target archery for hunting if their draw weight is high enough.

Many archers like target archery at the range, but if you’re inclined, you can use it while hunting. To hunt with a Samick Sage, you’ll need a bow weighing between 25 and 60 pounds, which is what most states require. Also, that’s a great feature:

The product is available in a variety of poundages. Some recurve bows are only available at 35 pounds, 45 pounds, or 65 pounds, so the draw weight of the bow is very limited. From 25 pounds up to 60 pounds, Samick Sage’s draw weights are available.

It may not have appeared in our breathless praise, but we think the Samick Sage is an excellent bow, especially if you are a new archer. The model is extremely popular, and you’ll probably see other archers using one if you visit the range.

We need to share one very important fact about the Samick Sage: It measures 62 inches long and is designed for archers with draw lengths up to 29 inches. It’s for people who are between six and six-foot-1 inches tall.

A bow like this can be a great option if your draw length is less than 29 inches (for more information on finding your draw length, see the section below). We have a section titled “Best Recurve for Tall Folks” if your draw length is 30 inches or more.

2. Best Mid-Priced: Galaxy Vega

A three-piece recurve bow, the Galaxy Vega measures 60 inches and has a hardwood riser. In my opinion, the contrast between dark and light wood is very pleasing to the eye. A maple core is surrounded by black glass limbs.

I find the grip of the Vega to be good, but it isn’t great. You should be careful not to get an improper grip with the left side of the grip, and it may be too wide for archers with small hands if you aren’t careful. However, I was still able to keep even grip pressure and shoot accurately – it just took more focus.

60-inch bows aren’t supposed to shoot smoothly at long draw lengths, but the Vega surprised me at 30-inch draw lengths. The bow’s draw weight steadily increases, and it’s beginning to gain weight per inch beyond 28 inches, but it’s not extreme.

I felt as if I was hitting a wall once I was in my holding position. If you have a draw length of less than 29 inches, I still recommend this bow. Longer draws are better with the Galaxy Ursa 62-inch. 

Additionally, the Vega shot extremely quietly and didn’t vibrate. In spite of the fact that I used a Mountain Muffler bowstring on the Vega and heavy arrows, I would not hesitate to use this bow after a spooky southern whitetail. 

There are five-pound increments for the limbs. It’s important to understand that a bow marked 45 pounds might not be 45 pounds. Listed as the nearest 5-pound increment, the limbs could weigh 43 pounds.

As far as production bow limbs go, Galaxy bows are not the only ones with this issue. If you’re not sure what your target draw weight should be, Lancaster Archery has great customer service. 

3. Best New ILF Riser: Amagi Archery

In traditional archery circles, John Wert has earned a reputation as one of the leading designers of risers for traditional bows. His new company, Amagi Archery, recently released a riser that broke the internet.

A resupply should arrive before hunting season since the first batch sold out in just a few days. There are a few new innovations in Wert’s riser that set it apart from its competitors, as well as proven ILF geometry with just the right amount of deflex.

I like how the bow balances, one of its best features. It does not roll backward on release, and it has a neutral balance. This makes the Amagi riser a stable platform for launching arrows.

A barebow weight or stabilizer can be screwed into a stabilizer bushing on any ILF riser to achieve the same balance. In spite of this, Amagi keeps the traditional bow aesthetic in its design by utilizing an integral weight.

I can aim steadily and maintain a solid follow-through with the Amagi because of its balance. I trust this bow to make up for my mistakes under pressure since it is easy to be accurate with. 

There are three types of rests you can use: bolt-on rests and plungers, springy rests, and the Amagi. As far as ILF recurves go, Wert has developed the best off-the-shelf system.

Besides having an ideal radius and solid construction, it looks like it belongs to the bow. As well as being easy to install, it is also easy to remove. Adjustable center shots would be the only improvement. 

In addition to the Jager Best 2.0, Amagi has included a low-wrist grip. It’s the right size and shape to accommodate most hands, and it’s hard to torque. 

He contributed to traditional archery with his well-designed riser. In addition to the riser, he offers limbs. In the meantime, he plans to have a mid-priced limb available soon, and he has a budget limb available at the moment.

It doesn’t seem like the limbs are costing me much in terms of accuracy, considering their price. However, I really like these limbs, so I am upgrading them to Hoyt Velos limbs. 

You shouldn’t use this riser if you like feather-light bows. This riser is also not suitable if you need your bow to be made in the USA. ILF risers aren’t all that great, but if you want a balanced target bow with great customer service, check out the Amagi. 

4. PSE Pro Max Takedown Recurve Bow Package Set

When it comes to archery, there are more than just bows and arrows—there is a lot of gear archers use, and you may find it difficult to collect it all, especially if you’re just starting out or buying a recurve bow for someone else.

We like the PSE Pro Max Takedown Recurve Bow Package Set because there isn’t usually a “budget” option for bow packages.

The kit isn’t fancy nor overly comprehensive, but it includes everything you need to get started: a bow, three arrows in a hip quiver (with a convenient clasp you can fasten to your belt loop), an armed guard (to keep you safe), a bow stringer (to keep you safe), and an adjustable bow sight.

It’s a nice little touch that you included a bow sight as well, as those don’t always come packaged with archery sets. It’s a well-made bow that measures 62 inches with a wooden riser and composite limbs, making it suitable for adults, adolescents, and children.

As of now, the draw weight on this gun is 25 pounds and it is designed for right-handed users. There aren’t many budget bows that offer more than one draw weight, and 25 pounds can actually be a good starting point.

The package is an excellent choice for budget-minded people and one of the best recurve packages we have seen.

5. The DOSTYLE Archery Takedown Recurve Bow and Arrow Set

There are a lot of high-end bows available, so we always want to include one that is easy to access. Budget-minded folks should consider these recurve bows…

As one of our “big four” criteria for bows, the DOSTYLE Archery Takedown Recurve meets each of these categories:

• Designed with a steady grip, it has a molded riser;
• This bow comes with an arrow shelf built into the design and points on the arrows.
• There are a few targets faces included!
• Why don’t more bowmakers include target faces with every bow? What’s the problem? It’s obvious we want to shoot some targets! The little thing seems like a big deal.
• You won’t be able to guess how easy it is to assemble- some bows can’t even guess how to assemble!

You can always upgrade if you wish to make a more serious commitment to archery later. For beginners, there is no need for any of the extras required for advanced shooting.

This product is designed only for right-handed people–sorry, left-handed people! For younger archers and kids, the draw weight of 40 pounds might be too much. Overall, this is a good budget bow that is easy to access.

6. The Southwest Archery Spyder XL Takedown Recurve Bow

For taller men and women, this is the best recurve.

Spyder XL Takedown Recurve closely resembles Samick Sage in terms of design. The Samick Sage is even made by the same people.

However, it is specifically designed for people with draws over 30 inches It comes with a complimentary string, a beautiful Maplewood riser, and takedown limbs. 

Those with a draw length of 30 inches or more and taller people with longer arms can use it. The average draw length for people over 6 feet 2 inches is 30 inches.

In order to shoot accurately (and comfortably, for that matter), a recurve bow should be of the right size.

The Samick Sage is an excellent option for those who need a bow with a longer draw length (and, by the way, we explain all of that in detail below if you need to know your draw length and other measurements).

When it comes to performance, the Spyder XL is on par with the Samick Sage when it comes to target shooting.

7. The HYF 68-Inch ILF Recurve Bow

Target bows have always seemed odd to us since you’re likely to be aiming at a target if you shoot an arrow.

In general, when people talk about “target bows,” they’re talking about Olympic-style bows (usually recurve bows). This is our pick for the best Olympic recurve bow or best target bow.

We would look for everything in an Olympic-style recurve in the HYF Target Bow Recurve. 68 inches is much longer than a normal recurve.

As its shape is longer, it provides more stability; a 25-inch long riser is also more stable. The riser features a lot of bushings for target-shooting add-ons, including long stabilizers, arrow rests, and high-end bow sights.

This bow comes with limb sheaths, something you usually don’t find in non-target bows. Known as “ILF,” you can replace your limbs with any other set of limbs (no matter what manufacturer they are from) as long as they are also ILF.

There should be a left-handed version of this bow. The product is currently only available for right-handed people. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about it. Right-handed people live in a right-handed world.

Additionally, more colors would be nice on the riser. Target bows are usually made in a wide range of colors and styles, which is a non-functional but fun feature. Ultimately, though, that’s not the most important thing.

If you like target shooting, especially at longer distances, the HYF recurve is one of the best options. This one is a good deal for a “mid-range” model.

8. SAS Courage Hunting Takedown Recurve

SAS Courage Hunting Takedown Recurve Archery Bow is a great choice for bow hunters looking for recurve bows. The design is simple, and streamlined, and it comes with limbs, risers, shelves, and arrow rests, and it’s available in 35-65 pound “hunting” draw weights.

As far as bow sights are concerned, it does not have any apertures. Many recurve bow hunters (including many of those we know) prefer instinctual shooting, which means using a bow sight without doing so, and the SAS Courage does not have a bushing for one.

It was designed to be used instinctively. You may not be able to use this with a bow sight if you’re looking for a recurve.

It is necessary to drill a hole into the riser to mount a bow sight to this recurve, and we do not recommend doing so.

The recurve bow is a good choice for hunting with recurve bows. A SAS Courage package set is also available.

This SAS Courage 60″ Hunting Takedown Recurve Archery Bow Package includes a good selection of equipment. While it is not extensive (and it does not include arrows), the soft case is a welcome addition, and the bow is available in a wide variety of draw weights.

Also, we recommend the Samick Sage recurve if you are looking for a recurve that can be fitted with a bow sight (and other accessories).

With the right skills and accuracy, the Sage can provide the game with an ethical and quick finish, with bushings to accommodate all kinds of add-ons.

9. The KAINOKAI Traditional Handmade Longbow

Our next choice is a different kind of bow than all the rest, and that’s because it’s not exactly a recurve, but rather a “specialty” bow: the KAINOKAI Traditional Handmade Longbow.

It was created and used for a very specific purpose, which is why the KAINOKAI is considered a specialty recurve. Horseback shooting is used against animals or enemies. 

Shooting while in motion is made possible by a number of structural differences. Compared to modern recurves, it is shorter and squatter. You can maneuver more easily when mounted, and the design is more streamlined since there are no arrow rests, bow sights, etc.

In addition to making it perfect for shooting in motion, those features make aiming a little more difficult. A feature is traded for another in archery as with many things.

Some people absolutely adore designs like this; others find it easier to do target practice with more mainstream recurves, but there are some who are absolutely captivated by them.

That’s great! Our suggestions are now clear to you. Choosing a recurve that fits your needs and measurements is as simple as following these steps:

FAQs

There are a few questions we get asked frequently by visitors to the site, so I’d like to address them here. Mostly, they deal with how to buy bows and some of the most common problems that arise. The first is the most common:

Q: The bows I buy online come in left-handed and right-handed. I don’t know which one we should pick.

A: The number of times we receive this question would amaze you. When you hunt with an arrow string, you pull it with your left hand when you are right-handed. When shooting an arrow, you pull the string with your left hand if you’re left-handed.

“Hand Orientation” lets you pick Left or Right based on your shooting style. If you shoot as a leftie, choose Left, if you shoot as a rightie, choose Right.”

Q: It turns out I forgot to buy arrows when I bought my bow! It’s totally confusing to choose arrows online. I don’t know what to do.

A: The majority of new archers overlook the importance of getting arrows when they buy a bow. Easton Jazz XX75 arrows are our favorite for new archers.

Since they’re made of aluminum, they can get beat up and still work, which is great for new archers.

Q: Why is there a “#” in the title? Everywhere I look, I see that.

A: Some archers use that to refer to draw weight, so, if a bow has a 25# draw weight, it means it is a 25# bow, if it has a 45# draw weight, etc.

Ironically, that hashtag can make posting on social media a bit difficult, since it confuses people. That’s all! Let everyone know.

Q: Can I fight crime with one of these bows if I buy one?

A: You cannot do that; it is specifically prohibited.

Q: Would it be possible to buy any limbs I want when it comes time to buy new limbs, or do I have to buy limbs specific to my bow type?

A: If you want to make sure that the limbs fit the bow, you should definitely stick to that. Purchase Samick Sage replacement limbs if you own a Samick Sage bow. Spyder limbs are recommended for Spyder Takedown bows.

You can usually find replacement limbs for recurves from the manufacturer. We haven’t yet seen a manufacturer sell a recurve without replacing old limbs — just make sure you’re using the same brand.

Conclusion:

Our salute goes out to you if you’re still here! Certainly, this was a lengthy post containing a lot of information. We would like to welcome you to archery if you are a newcomer.

Please leave your questions below, and we’ll do our best to answer them.