Cheap Recurve Bows

You might have already seen my list of the best recurve bows, however for those of you looking only for a list of cheap recurve bows I have prepared this separate guide. All of these bows are high quality despite not being expensive, and you’ll be getting great value with each one.

	Martin Saber Recurve Bow See on Amazon.com	Samick Sage Recurve Bow See on Amazon.com	Martin XR Recurve for Children See on Amazon.com
Bow length	64 inches	62 Inches	46 inches
Bow weight	3.4 lbs	3.4 lbs	1.5 lbs
Draw Weight	30, 40, 45, 50, 55 lbs.	30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 lbs.	10, 20 lbs.
Hand	Right	Right	Right/Left
Take-Down?
	Read our Review	Read our Review

Above is a list of the most inexpensive recurve bows currently on the market. These are all made by excellent archery equipment manufacturers and have been proven to deliver quality despite the low price.

Cheap Recurve Bows For Hunting

A good but affordable recurve for hunting must be long enough to provide power and accuracy. It also must have enough draw weight so that the arrow can actually pierce your prey deep enough to put it down, and needs to be quiet and capable of handling different weather conditions properly.

With this in mind, my recommendation would be the Martin Saber recurve. It offers excellent quality and possibly the best value for anyone on a budget. If however the price tag is a little too much for you, then the next best thing is the Samick Sage. Both of these recurve bows are great for hunting though and you’ll be pleased no matter which one you go for.

Cheap Recurve Bows For Target Practice

This would have to be the Martin Jaguar recurve bow – an excellent value.  A solid and strong piece of equipment, which is actually suitable not only for target practice but also for hunting. The only reason I listed it as a cheap target practice bow is because I found it not to be the most quiet out of the models posted on this page; a hunting bow needs to be quiet – a target practice bow doesn’t.

The Martin XR recurve is an excellent choice for youth and children, one of the cheapest around. You shouldn’t be expecting excellence from this bow, however it’s a great choice if you’re looking to introduce your children/grand children or younger siblings to the world of archery. They’ll have a blast shooting it (under your supervision) and it’ll pave the way towards more advanced recurve bows as they grow a little older.

What to look for in an inexpensive recurve?

Everyone will have a different definition of what an inexpensive recurve bow is. To me, this is anything below the $200 mark. If it costs less than $160 I consider it a VERY cheap recurve bow. In light of this, the first thing you want to look at is obviously the price.

Once you’ve decided what your budget is, you then need to decide on a draw weight. I have a handy recurve draw weight chart which will help you determine the optimal weight based on your physique, so make sure to check it out.

At this point please keep in mind that if your looking for cheap recurve bows to hunt with, it should have a minimum draw weight of 40 pounds. This is because weaker bows tend to have trouble piercing the thick skin of your prey, especially if shot from a distance greater than 20 yards, and particularly so if you’re hunting for bigger game like Elk for example. So if you’re going for an affordable hunting bow, make sure it’s 40 lbs. or more. If you are only looking for an affordable target bow, then any draw weight will do.

Cheap Custom Recurve Bows

Unfortunately there is no such thing. Custom bows are expensive and take a lot of time to make, so if you are looking for something durable (like a Bob Lee or a Black Widow), then expect to pay hundreds and often over a thousand dollars for your custom bow. The word “cheap” just doesn’t belong here.

To be honest, I think a custom bow should only be bought after you have already gained experience with at least a few mass-produced, inexpensive recurve bows. Only then – and after you come to understand your preferences as an archer – should you consider going for a custom design of higher value.

Affordable Recurve Bows For Sale

I honestly wouldn’t go for those. Granted, you can probably find reasonably cheap recurves on auction sites or Craigslist if you look well enough, however I’ve personally had a bad experience buying second-hand bows, and I’ve also heard many horror stories associated with such purchases. Often times the person selling his bow has no idea what is wrong with it (or doesn’t want to admit to it) – scratched / bent limbs, loose limb sockets, over-used shelf or arrow rest, cracks in the riser; these are all really common issues with second-hand recurves.

My advice would be to try and avoid these at all cost. If it’s used, you shouldn’t buy it unless you can check the bow personally before paying for it, and only if you know what to look for. It’s almost always better to pay a little extra and sleep well knowing that your recurve will arrive in tip-top shape, and that you can always return it / exchange it / service it if anything were to go wrong.