Hint, if you don’t have time to read the entire article, here is the bow we recommend.
If you’re just getting into archery and bow hunting it might seem overwhelming to pick out the best bow for yourself. With thousands of different options to choose from, and prices ranging from a couple hundred to a few thousand it is hard to know where to start.
Many beginners find it useful to be financially conservative on their first bow purchase. This will give them the opportunity to make sure they not only enjoy the sport but also so know exactly what they want, when and if they do upgrade.
For less than $500 you can find some excellent options. Including: the Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro, SAS Rage, and the Diamond Core. Each of these bows is a great option for a new archer or someone just looking to get great quality for their money.
Try before you buy
You can’t under exaggerate the importance of try before you buy when dealing with purchasing a bow. Each individual is going to have slightly different set of preferences concerning grip, weight, pull speed, and agility of their bow. These preferences have nothing to do with bow quality, and everything to do with you as an individual. So don’t ignore your preference in favor of your more experienced neighbors. You should always be comfortable with your weapon.
That said, before you try every bow in a shop it is good to know if you are looking for a competition or a hunting bow. For competition you should be looking for something that will provide the maximum amount of stability. The best way to do this is to purchase a bow with a long axel to axel measurement and a longer brace height. If on the other hand, you are looking for a hunting bow the axel and brace may be shorter to provide more agility in wooded situations.
Sticking to your budget
Many of the top bows on the market can run you nearly $2,000 there are some great options under $500. And although I highly recommend giving several bows a whirl before you buy them, these are a few you should make sure to check out.
1. DiamondCore Compound Bow Package (top rated)
The Diamond core is another great affordable option. It is somewhat adjustable with a draw length of 25 to 30 inches and a draw weight of 40 to 70 pounds. This bow also makes a great choice for hunters who are in elevated or hilly terrain as it only weighs 3.2 pounds and has 322 mps rating. As opposed to the other two options listed above this is a single cam rather than duel cam. Single cams are known for their smooth pull.
This bow performs exceptionally well. Because it has a 31 inch axel to axel and 7.25 inch brace height this bow is abnormally stable and accurate. The stand out factor about this bow is its weight. At only 3.2 pounds it is one of the lightest options out there in this price range. This bow is also very silent which is always a plus for the hunter. Once the diamond core is sited in correctly for the shooter this is a very accurate bow.
One upgrade you might want to consider is the arrow rest which has a tendency to break down quickly.
This is by far my top choice. Offering a smooth pull, accuracy, light weight, and a quiet shot all for an extraordinary price. Outside of the reasonably simple upgrade of a new arrow rest this bows accompanying accessories are quality equipment. I don’t think you will be able to find a better bow in this price range then the Diamond Core
2. Quest Radical Right Hand Package
With a draw length of 17 1/2 to 30 inches, the Quest Radical Right Hand Package bow weighs in at around 40 lbs with a draw weight anywhere from fifteen to seventy pounds. In general, most users have found this bow to be a lightweight option. One of the key features with this bow is that the adjustable dual cam system doesn’t require a bow press and it specifically has a G5 stabilizer, string suppressor, halo rest, a quiver, G5 wrist sling and peep included with a four pin sight. From axle to axle, the entire piece is 29 1/4″–which is a shorter axle length to work with than similar products–and has a brace height of 7 1/8″.
Another thing that sets this bow apart from competitors is its IBO speed: at 295 fps, the Quest Radical Right Hand Package isn’t slow or lacking by any means. In fact, of all the things this product has to offer, its speed is really the highlight. Of those who have used this product, many have commented that they’ve definitely seen the advantages of its speed. Of the 10 best compound bows under $500, the Quest Radical Right Hand Package isn’t a bad choice and the price tag certainly meets the requirements: the product can typically be purchased for under $400, and for only ten dollars more, it can be bought in the AP Purple color for a more customized look. As seen in the title, the Quest Radical Right Hand Package is just that–specifically for right-handed buyers–although there is an upside: Quest offers a Radical Left Hand Package with all the same features and specifications as this product.
3. Leader Accessories Compound Bow (50-70 lbs)
If there’s one thing the Leader Accessories Compound Bow is optimized for–just like Quest Radical Right Hand Package–it’s speed. The maximum speed for this product is 310 fps–which is significantly high for a compound bow, and it has a let-off of seventy to eighty percent. As mentioned in its name, the draw weight for this bow ranges from 50-70 lbs, and weighs about 4 1/2 lbs with a draw length of twenty-five to thirty-one inches. Axle-to-axle, the piece is 31 1/2″–making it shorter than the Genesis Original Bow, but longer than the Quest Radical Right Hand Package.
The bow has an aluminum riser, and upon purchasing it, Leader Accessories recommends that buyers use thirty inch carbon and aluminum arrows for optimal performance. Some users have found that as long as caution is used, the draw length is fairly easy to adjust and the product comes with directions for changing the draw weight. Overall, the Leader Accessories Compound Bow has proven to be versatile for many individuals that have used it, and it’s not an expensive buy, either in the color black or autumn and green camo. One thing to note, however, is that the bow is made for right-handed people with no option to change the specifications to meet the needs of a left-handed individual.
4. Velocity Youth Archery Race 4×4 Compound Bow Package
The Velocity Youth Archery Race 4×4 Compound Bow Package shares a few things in common with some of the other 10 best compound bows under $500. For one, it has a shorter axle-to-axle length at only 28 inches–like the Quest Radical Right Hand Package–and is considered extremely lightweight at 2.8 lbs. The draw length on the bow is 19-29″ and its draw weight is 15 to 55 pounds.
Along with this, the Velocity Youth Archery Race is known for its composite 3-pin fiber optic pin sight, four arrow quiver, and fall away arrow rest. The typical arrows used are aluminum arrows with 100 grain field points and the brace weight is said to be 7 1/8″–similar to the Quest Radical Right Hand Package. Many users have found the product to be both easily adjustable–as it didn’t need a bow press to do so–and were surprised that it lasted as long as it did.
With a price typically under $200–although there is some variation, the Velocity Youth Archery Race 4×4 Compound Bow Package comes in Reaper Buck Camo and black colors. For someone who’s looking for a bow that’s going to shoot right out of the box, be easily adjustable and lighter–this might just be a great option. It’s somewhat similar to the Quest Radical Right Hand Package in both axle length and brace weight with the exception that this piece is lighter and the Quest bow is optimized for speed.
5. SAS Scorpii 55 Lb 29″ Compound Bow
When it comes to Compound bows, the Southland Archery Supply–or SAS–is fairly popular and have had many hits and the Scorpii Compound Bow is no exception to this rule, either. The product itself has a 28″ axle length–just like the Velocity Youth Archery bow–and a draw weight of 30-55 pounds. The draw length on the bow is also 19 to 29 inches–with adjustability.
One of the key features that SAS highlights with this product is its life span–it has compressed ABS limbs for a longer use. This is actually a fairly common thread amongst this brand to use these kind of compressed limbs in order to give their products a longer life. The bow will also shoot around 260 fps, and is very compact with a let-off at sixty-eight percent. Along with these specifications, the brace height is 7 1/2″ and fully loaded, the bow will weigh about 3.3 pounds. An important thing to note for the SAS Scorpii Compound bow is that it comes with a seven year warranty that will replace damaged or defective equipment. This brand is known for offering warranties with varying time limits, and for the owner of a frequent compound bow usr, seven years is quite a bit of use and offers plenty of opportunities for damage to be done. Overall, many customers were happy with how this product turned out–many found it of higher quality than they expected for its price and long-lasting as well. For purchasing the piece, there’s a couple of ways to do this and the price typically ranges from $140 to $180. The bow itself can be bought in a black color, or the pro package, which is the GC Camo color.
6. XGear Right Hand Compound Bow 30-55 lbs
As mentioned in the title, the XGear Right Hand Compound Bow has a draw weight of 30-55 pounds, and a draw length of 19 to 29 inches. Like some of the other 10 best compound bows under $500, this is a product that is made to be fast–it has a maximum speed of 296 fps. It has a bit of a shorter brace height than some competitors at 7″ and is only 28″ axle-to-axle.
The XGear Right Hand Compound Bow is easily adjustable, and both the draw weight and draw length can be changed without the use of a bow press–the only equipment needed is an Allen wretch which comes with the bow. One of the interesting features offered by this bow is its Arrow Spine Deflection which comes in at 0.441 inches.
There’s a few things that come with the purchase of this piece: a fiber optic sight, a release aid, drop away arrow rest, D string loop, a peep sight and two packs of the recommended 30 inch aluminum arrows. A lot of users found the bow easy to draw back and a relatively smooth shot–especially for its price (one of the cheapest on the list – see current price). For users who are looking for a product to be used with bow fishing, this may be a particularly good option to look at as its effectiveness in this area has been mentioned among past users. Upon buying the bow, it can be purchased in either a green camo or black color–both of which come with a kit.
7. SAS Seige Compound Bow
As mentioned before, SAS is a popular brand for compound bow users. Many of their bows are sold for under $500, and customers seem happy with both the quality and the price at which they pay for it. There’s quite a few SAS compound bows that could make this list, but the Seige Compound bow is a bit of a stand-out. Featuring an axle-to-axle length of 41″, this bow is by far the longest on this list. The let-off is around seventy percent, and the draw weight has a shorter range of forty to fifty-five pounds. SAS has actually marked this bow as “for adults only”, and the heavy draw weight appears to back that statement up as the typical teenage or child may have a hard time pulling it back as far as it needs to be.
The IBO speed of this piece is 206 fps, and it’s recommended to be used with 30″ carbon and aluminum arrows. There’s a five-pin bow sight, arrow rest, sight light, stabilizer, bow sling and tube peep sight and paper target that come with the purchase of this equipment. Like the other SAS compound bow, this one also has compressed ABS limbs. These limbs are unique in that they optimize the bow’s balance and strength for a longer lasting product all-together.
One thing that can be done to change the draw weight is to loosen or tighten its bolt. By tighening it, the bow will increase its draw weight by five pounds, and loosening it will have the adverse effect–the draw weight will become five pounds lighter. The weight of the piece itself is around four pounds–which makes it somewhat of a lighter bow to handle. Along with the compressed ABS limbs–a common highlight among SAS products–the bow is also made for right-hand users, has an adjustable bow sight and contains a three year warranty for any damage or defects.
Several customers reported that this bow was very powerful and of great quality for its price–which is somewhat varied depending on color and what is purchased with the actual bow. There are several different color options, depending on the pice (see here). These different options can allow for different levels of personalization, and depending on your budget, you can end up with both a bow and a pro package or just the bow and paper target by itself.
8. Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro Bow Package
This hunting and recreation bow has a draw pull reaching from 13-31 inches and a mass weight of 3.2 pounds. This offers one of the most versatile options on the market with its draw weight ranging from 5-70 pounds, and it has an IBO speed of up to 310 fps. It is easy to see how this bow can be a safe bet for a child that can grow into the heavier pull or for someone new to the sport that may not be sure what the will prefer after some practice..
With these stats this bow offers what few others can in versatility and price. It is also easily adjustable for home adjustments. This deal also comes with the octane quiver and the apex three pin site.
Unfortunately the site is not particularly accurate so it might be worth investing in an upgraded. The timing on the bow does have a tendency to not stay tuned. The draw on the diamond edge is smooth and shoots very consistently. Over all this is a great buy, especially for someone new to archery or a child that can grow into the bow.
9. SAS Rage Compound Bow
The SAS Rage has a draw length of 26-30 inches and a draw weight on 55-70 pounds, its mass weight is 4.4 pounds and has a max fps of 270mps. The full package that can be found on Amazon includes: Rage Bow, Hard Bow Flight Approved Case, 1 DZ SAS Destroyer Carbon Arrows, 6 x Broadheads, Arrow Release, 5-pin Bow Sight, Trophy Ridge Quick Shot M Arrow Rest, Quick Detach Quiver, Tube Peep Sight, D-loop, Wrist Sling, String Wax and 8″ 6.5oz Aluminum Stabilizer.
Depending on the color you select this is a fantastic deal, typically ranging from under $200 up to $500. This bow is a great option for someone who is willing to personalize their purchase. While this bow does come with site, quiver and other accessories they aren’t particularly high quality which can drastically decrease your accuracy.
Over all this bow shoots very well and can be a great purchase.
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10. Genesis Original Bow
With a pretty cheap price tag, the Genesis Original Bow excels at being extremely versatile and a “basic” compound bow that works for anybody. For one, there are no draw length requirements and the draw weight is around twenty pounds–which can be adjusted to ten with a 3/16″ hex wrench that comes with the product. Along with this, the bow has composite limbs with an aluminum cam and idler wheel.
One thing that the Genesis Original Bow prides itself on is that it’s the first compound bow actually made to eradicate let-off so that it can be more useful for archers of all skill levels. For children who may be using the bow as they get older, the Genesis Original Bow is also adjustable as well and as the child grows, the bow can be changed accordingly. For this reason, the Genesis Original Bow stands out as an option that won’t allow young users to develop poor habits in archery that stem from a bow that doesn’t fit right. The NASP–or National Archery in the Schools Program–has named this product their official bow and it’s not difficult to see why. For archers who may be just starting out and unsure of what to do with a product that has all the “bells and whistles”, this is a great alternative. Essentially, the Genesis Original Bow’s simplicity is also its best feature and makes it a stand out among competition. Overall, however, the bow is 35 1/2″ from axle-to-axle, and has a brace height of 7 5/8″. There’s a 6061-T6 aluminum riser, cable guard and competition grip that are fitted for the bow, and the entire piece operates on single-cam technology. Upon purchasing, this compound bow is offered for both right-hand and left-hand users in one color: Realtree Camo.
Ten Great Options all worth Trying out
Each of these options offers a great quality for the price. The diamond edge pro is clearly the most versatile and would be perfect for a child. Its biggest selling point is its convenient adjustability pull and MPS. These adjustments are so simple they can easily be done in the comfort of one’s home. The SAS Rage is our most affordable option. However, it does have the slowest fps only reaching a max of 270, and its accessories are generally not very high quality. This second defect however, may not concern the buyer who is looking to customize their new bow. Our final option the Diamond Core is (in my opinion) the best overall option. Capable of shooting a 322 miles per second and only weighing 3.2 pounds this bow is an amazing buy, and receives our stamp of approval for the best compound bow under $500.
