Best Recurve Bows for Beginners

You find bowhunting interesting and decided to make it your hobby and as recurve bows are easily the most used bows in Olympic and recreational archery, you are now looking for the best recurve bows for you.

However, before we give our recommended recurve bows for beginners, let us go through the necessary basics and check what are the factors to consider before you do your purchase.

Before you wave goodbye to your hard-earned money have a look at this list. 

• Budget

Recurve bows can go as high as $2000. Do you need to buy this type as you start your newly found hobby? No!

You can find $200-$300 quality recurve bows in the market. However, a bow is not everything that you will be needing to start shooting. You will be needing at least another $200 for arrows, accessories, and gears as well.

They said that bow hunting is an expensive hobby but so do most other hobbies. Just make sure that you are getting the right value for your money. 

• Decide on your way of shooting 

You have many options for shooting a recurve bow but there are two main ways you could choose from Olympic Recurve or Barebow Recurve. When shooting Olympic recurve, you can have the aid of sight, clicker, plunger, stabilizer, and other accessories to make your bow as accurate as possible when target shooting.

If you want to shoot Barebow you won’t have any help from gears but this challenge appeals more to many. 

• Draw weight

This refers to the amount of effort you exert when pulling the string. Beginners usually start at 20-30 pounds. Even those who are into exercise are recommended to start light as not all exercises develop the exact muscles needed for bow shooting.

It is always safe to start lighter and upgrade as you get more experience. Children and teenagers can also start at 15-20 pounds. 

• Draw Length

As mentioned above, you will be needing more than a bow to shoot. The next most important thing is the arrow. In order to get the perfect length of the arrow, you need to know your draw length.

It is commonly measured from the tip of your right-hand middle finger to the tip of the opposite middle finger. Then divide the measurement by 2.5.

You will need to add 1-2 inches more to get the good length or arrows for you. 

• Choose a bow size

The best bow size for you depends on your draw length. Longer arrows need longer bows, otherwise, it will be difficult to reach a full draw. Here is a general suggestion to consider. 

• 20-22 inches draw length - 54-inch bow.
• 22-24 inches draw length - 62-inch bow.
• 24-26 inches draw length - 64 to 66-inch bow.
• 26-28 inches draw length - 66 to 68-inch bow.
• 28-30 inches draw length - 68 to 70-inch bow.
• Higher - 68-72-inch bow

Recurve Bow Recommendations:

Martin Jaguar Elite Takedown Recurve Bow

This takedown bow is good for beginners and is just below $300. It has a draw weight of 35-55 pounds.

The good thing about this bow is that you can change its limbs to increase poundage over time. This is a bow that would grow with you from target shooting to hunting.

Once you reached enough draw weight (40+ lbs) you can easily take down a deer during a hunt. In addition, it is light enough to carry while chasing your target.

 

OMP Explorer 2.0 Recurve Bow

If you are looking for a lighter draw weight to start with, the OMP Explorer 2.0 recurve bow is for you. It has a draw weight or 20-40 lbs.

It has a convenient 3-piece take-down design that allows for ease of assembly, and storage during the off-season.

It is also equipped with sight, plunger & stabilizer bushings installed in bow. Not to mention that it comes in less than a $200 tag.

It may not be strong enough for big hunting but it is a good buddy to practice target shooting.

For our female archers, you might also want to consider more feminine color option so we recommend checking “Top 5 best pink recurve bow for women”. 

 

OMP Smoky Mountain Hunter Recurve Bow

If you are looking for a bit of a challenge, the OPM Smoky Mountain Hunter Recurve Bow is what you are looking for. It has a draw weight of 45 pounds.

It has an ideal power and accuracy for hunting and it has a smooth draw and release which is pure joy for target shooting.

Although it can match an advanced archer’s ability it is very forgiving of a beginner’s skill.

Another edge of this bow is its lower price compared to its rivals. 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

It is easier to find something when you know what you need and what you are looking for.

If you are willing to spend more on your first recurve bow you can also check our article on “What are the Best Hoyt Recurve Bows”. You can also check “Tips on How to Use Bass Pro Recurve Bows” for more help. Welcome to bow hunting and we hope you find the best recurve bow for you soon.