Best Recurve Under $500
- Wandering Wild
- Dec 12, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Apr 2
If you’re looking to get into archery without breaking the bank, a recurve bow under $500 is a great choice.
Recurve bows are versatile, beginner-friendly, and widely used by archers of all skill levels.
Whether you're aiming for target practice, recreational shooting, or even hunting, you don’t need to spend a fortune to find a reliable and well-performing bow.
In this article you’ll learn what to look for in a recurve under $500, what the top bows under $500 are and how to get the most out of your recurve bow.
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What to Look for in a Recurve Bow Under $500
So why is the $500 price point so important for recurves?
That’s the line where you get the most bang for your buck performance wise.
Get too high above that line and you start drifting into bows where you’re paying more for better looks.
Are higher priced bows better performing?
A little bit…
But it’s not such a big jump that it’s worth the extra money for the average archer.
Other key things to keep in mind when looking for a recurve are draw weight, bow length, and reliability.
Draw weight is the first big thing to look out for.
Knowing what draw weight range you need to be in is important because most bows only have certain draw weights available.
For the most part you’ll be able to find average draw weights with most bows, but if you’re wanting to shoot the higher end of the draw weight range, like 55 - 65 pounds, only certain bows are made that high.
Next up is bow length.
Depending on how you plan on using your bow, the bow length starts to become an important factor.
If you’re a bow hunter that wants to hunt out of a tree stand, having a shorter bow can be useful.
BUT…
There is a flip side to this.
If you have a longer draw length, you’re more than likely going to need a longer bow.
Once you start getting over the 28” or 29” draw length, bow length starts to play a role in your decision making.
Lastly is simply reliability.
If you’re just going to shoot your bow as a fun hobby, this is less important.
But if you want to do archery shoots or are planning on going on big archery hunts around the world…
You’re going to want a bow from a well known brand that makes bows that are extremely reliable.
Best Overall recurve under $500
Fred Bear Grizzly Recurve Bow
Draw Weights:
AMO: 58"
Price: $499
Fred Bear was one of the pioneers of modern archery and his company Bear Archery is still one of the top companies in the archery world today.
The grizzly is the original bow that Fred Bear designed back in the 1950s.
He made some minor updates into the 1960s and this bow has been proving itself ever since.
And I get…
At $499, this bow is barely under $500.
But the reason that this is the best overall recurve from this price range is because it is one of the most value packed bows you can get.
If you're wanting to get a tried & true bow and get the most bang for your buck, this is your bow.
Now, one downside of this bow is that it is a 58-in bow.
So if you are a taller Archer or have a longer draw length you're going to be cutting it close with this bow.
If that's you, you're probably going to want to bump up to one of the other Bear bows that don't fit in this price range, like the 64-in super Kodiak.
Best recurve under $500 for hunting
Traditional Only Oberon 60" Recurve
Draw Weights:
AMO: 60” or 62”
Price: $500
The Oberon is a newer bow from Traditional Only and it is a GREAT looking bow.
One thing to note, the one piece version of the Oberon is shorter than the takedown version.
The takedown is 62” where the one piece is only 60”.
This isn’t a huge deal for most archers, but for archers on the higher end of draw lengths, pay attention to that.
A great upside to this is you can get different strength limbs so if you're starting out and you want to start with a lower draw weight and perfect your form…
Then later you can go to a higher draw especially if you're looking at having a higher draw weight for hunting.
This bow is great for your everyday traditional Archer it's a little on the high end of the price point for a beginner but if you're someone that's really committed to it as a beginner.
This is going to work great looks and performance wise as a back up bow for more experienced archers if they don’t want to spend $1000+ on another bow.
Best recurve bow under $500 for beginners
Traditional Only Sitkin 58" Takedown Recurve
Draw Weights:
AMO: 58”
Price: $350
This is a very similar bow to the Obereon, but at a lower price point.
What’s nice about this bow is it is a 58” bow, so it’s more maneuverable than most other bows.
That makes it great for anyone who plans on hunting out of a stand…
But it does limit the draw lengths you can use it with.
Really anything over 29” is going to be too much for this bow, so for a taller archer, this may not be for you.
For everyone else, this bow comes in around $350, making it reasonable for beginners, but not dirt cheap.
It’s available in a one piece or a takedown
Best Budget Recurve
Samick Sage
Draw Weights: 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60
AMO: 62”
Price: $150
The Samick Sage is the most popular budget bow on the market.
A big reason for that is its availability and wide range of draw weights to fit any archer.
Despite the budget price point, the Sage flat out performs!
If you're completely brand new to archery and aren't sure it's something you're going to want to keep doing this is a great starting point.
It's not going to break the bank but you'll get to try out archery, see if you like it and be able to go from there.
For anyone looking to add a backup bow on a budget this is a great bow for that!
How to Maintain Your Recurve Bow for Longevity
With proper care and maintenance a quality recurve can last you for decades to come.
First things first, if you’re new to traditional archery, always remember to unstring your bow whenever you’re not using it.
That alone is going to keep the longevity in your bow.
For travel, use a bow case or bow sock to protect your bow from any crazy accidents.
For a deeper dive on recurve maintenance, check out this full post:
Accessories to Consider with Your Recurve Bow
Most bows in this price range don't come with accessories, so if you’re new to archery or at least traditional archery, there’s some things you’ll want to grab.
For starters, you'll need an archery glove or finger tab.
You’ll also need a bow stringer for getting your bow string on and off.
If you plan on hunting with your recurve, it would be a good call to get some string silencers and string groove silencers.
Most of the bows on this list don't come with an arrow rest, having some kind of leather or calf hair arrow rest is important.
You'll obviously need arrows to shoot.
Depending on if you get a one piece or take down bow you will need a phone case or a bow sock to store your bow when you're not shooting.
A backup string is nice to have especially if you plan on hunting far from your house or archery shop just in case things go wrong.
An arm guard is a must have to protect your arm while you’re shooting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are recurve bows under $500 good for hunting?
Yes, you can use a bow under $500 for hunting.
The price point isn't the main factor for hunting with a recurve, it's really about the draw weight and how well your arrows are tuned.
Can beginners use recurve bows under $500?
Technically, yes.
$500 is right on the high end of the budget I would suggest for someone that's brand new to archery in general.
It can be a big investment to make if you're not sure you'll like archery or not.
Now if you're making the transition from a compound over to a recurve, this is more of the sweet spot.
What draw weight should I choose?
This is a little bit of a tougher question.
It really depends on who you are as a person.
If you plan on hunting I would generally say be above 40 lb definitely, check your local regulations some states have minimum draw weights for hunting and usually in that 40-45 pound range.
If you are brand new to traditional archery and you've never shot a bow before I would start in that 20 to 30 lb range.
I know that seems a little low but that's going to allow you to start with the best form possible and then you can go up from there, especially if you have a takedown recurve like the Samick Sage, you could just buy new Limbs and go up in weight.
But starting that low it's going to give you great form and keep you from hurting yourself.
If you want a more detailed breakdown of this go check out this post on How to Choose a Draw Weight for Bows
How long do recurve bows last?
If you take good care of your recurve, it can last you for decades!
Especially if you buy a recurve from a well known brand like Bear
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