Topic: The Best Recurve Bows of 2022 (Read 144 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The Vega is a short bow that’s no slouch in smoothness and is priced under $300.
Pros
Cons
About the Bow
The Galaxy Vega is a 60-inch, three-piece recurve bow with a hardwood riser. The contrasting dark and light wood isn’t custom bow quality, but it looks very nice to my eyes. It co*es with black glass limbs with a maple core.
To me, the Vega’s grip is good, not great. The left side of the grip is rounded, which can encourage an improper grip if you’re not careful, and it could be too wide for archers with small hands. With that said, I could still shoot it accurately and maintain even grip pressure—it just took more focus.
60-inch bows aren’t supposed to be smooth at long draw lengths, but I found the Vega to be a surprisingly shootable bow at my 30-inch draw. The bow steadily gains draw weight, and I can feel it starting to gain more weight-per-inch past 28 inches, but it’s not an extreme stack. Once in my holding position, I could expand without feeling like I was hitting a wall. I’d still reco*mend this bow for shooters with draw lengths less than 29 inches. The 62-inch Galaxy Ursa, is better for longer draws.
I was also impressed by the Vega’s lack of vibration and dead quiet shot. Granted, I used a Mountain Muffler bowstring on the Vega and heavy arrows, but I wouldn’t think twice about taking this bow after spooky southern whitetails.
The limbs co*e in 5-pound increments. That’s important to note because a bow that’s marked 45-pound bows might not be 45 pounds. The limbs could be 43 pounds and are marked as the closest 5-pound increment. This isn’t something unique to Galaxy bows and is very co*mon for production bow limbs. The good news is that Lancaster Archery has great customer service, and you can contact them to make sure you get limbs that are the close to your target draw weight.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The Titan is a proven riser with a happy-medium geometry and good build quality.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Rob Kaufhold and the good folks at Lancaster Archery Supply are a pil*ar of the archery co*munity, and TradTech is their traditional line of products. The TradTech Titan risers co*e in 17-inch and 19-inch lengths (the 19-inch riser is my favorite). I’ve hunted with the Titan III for years and even shot it at the IBO Traditional World Championship. TradTech also makes excellent, affordable limbs, and I’ve tested the TradTech RC Carbon/Wood limbs over the past month. While they were new to me, the RC Carbon/Wood limbs have a long reputation of being an accurate limb. Barebow G.O.A.T., John Demmer III, used them to win several tournaments.
The Titan’s stock wood grip is serviceable, but it could be better. To me, it’s much too rounded and wide for accurate shooting. Like most ILF risers, I swapped it for a grip that I shoot better.
One thing I like about the TradTech is that it has all the features I want in an ILF riser: A good limb alignment system. It has bolt holes for attaching an arrow rest and shooting a plunger. I’ve never had an issue attaching limbs from multiple manufacturers. It has a nice geometry for forgiving shooting.
I mostly shoot the TradTech with an elevated arrow rest and a plunger. It’s not the most traditional setup, but it is forgiving and accurate. I think the Titan’s wide shelf and proper mounting holes make it ideal for an elevated rest. I’ve even been using the Titan to experiment with shooting a sighted recurve for hunting.
The RC Carbon/Woods are now my favorite hunting limbs in the $500 range. Like the riser, they strike a nice balance between performance and accuracy. A nice co*fortable draw is followed by a snappy release and very little post-shot vibration. They also have a matte finish for hunting, but I’ll likely apply a spray paint camo finish.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The DAS riser is quiet, stable, and co*es with a great grip.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
DAS bows are one of the original hunting length metal recurve risers. They were originally brought to market by modern recurve pioneer, David Sosa. There’s a lot to like about DAS bows, but the signature feature is how the limbs attach. The limb attachment system used on the DAS risers co*bines the best attributes of ILF and bolt-down bows. Like an ILF, you get a toolless and fast takedown system, with tiller, limb alignment, and draw weight adjustment. co*bined with the inherent stealth of a bolt-down bow.
DAS risers are available with DAS pads or ILF pads. I have both for my 17-inch riser, and I most co*monly use the ILF configuration because I have a lot of ILF limbs that I swap between all my risers. But, I do think the DAS system is superior for hunting because it’s quieter than ILF.
DAS risers co*e with a Jager grip, and they offer a lot of choices when you order. I think that’s a major selling point because you get the exact grip you want without having to chuck one and spend $50 on another grip.
I typically shoot my DAS with a Springy Rest, which is a very accurate and forgiving way to shoot this riser. It also has a radiused shelf hump and an adjustable side plate for archers that want the rugged reliability of shooting off the shelf. I do wish there was a stock option to increase the amount of radius, but it’s not a difficult thing to DIY if you find you’re getting contact when shooting off the shelf.
DAS gets all the important things right with their risers: The ILF specs are accurate so you won’t have issues swapping limbs. The limb alignment adjustment works well. They’re finished nicely. The riser geometry is right in the happy medium zone. What you end up with is one of the best ILF hunting bows.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
A new riser from a familiar face in traditional archery, the Amagi is balanced perfectly and has an innovative plate for shooting off the shelf.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
John Wert is a well-known name in traditional archery circles and helped design the TradTech risers. He recently broke the internet when he released a riser under his new co*pany, Amagi Archery. The first batch sold out in a matter of days, but don’t worry, a resupply should arrive before hunting season. Wert’s riser design uses proven ILF geometry, with just the right amount of deflex, and some new innovations that make it stand out in this crowded product category.
One of my favorite features of the bow is how it balances. My target bow has a neutral balance, and it doesn’t roll backward on the release. The Amagi riser has the exact same balance, which makes it a stable arrow-launching platform. You can achieve that same balance on any ILF riser by screwing in a barebow weight or stabilizer into the stabilizer bushing. But, Amagi uses an integral weight for a sleek look—keeping the trad bow aesthetic. It’s very easy for me to aim steady and keep a solid follow-through with the Amagi, due to its balance. That means it’s an easy bow to be accurate with and one I trust to make up for my mistakes under pressure.
You can use a bolt-on rest and plunger, springy rest, or shoot off the shelf with the Amagi. The system Wert developed for shooting off the shelf is the best I’ve seen on an ILF recurve. It looks like it’s part of the bow, has an ideal radius, and is solid. It’s also easy to install and remove. The only thing that could make it better would be if the center shot was adjustable.
Amagi didn’t skimp on the grip, and they’ve included a Jager Best 2.0, low-wrist grip. It has the right shape and size to fit most hand sizes, and it’s a difficult grip to torque.
Wert’s innovation and contribution to trad archery is in his well-designed riser. But he’s also offering limbs to go with the riser. At this time, the limbs are a budget, sub $200, limb, and he plans to have a mid-priced limb available soon. The limbs are good for their price, and I don’t think they’re costing me much in the way of accuracy. But, I like nice limbs and I really like this riser, so it’s getting an upgrade in the way of Hoyt Velos limbs.
If you like a feather-light bow, this isn’t the riser for you. Likewise, if your bow must be made in America, this riser isn’t for you. But, if you want an ILF riser that gets all the details right, is balanced like a target bow, and has great customer service to back it up, then take a look at the Amagi.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
Hoyt ILF bows have won Olympic gold medals, and their hunting bows are winners too.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Hoyt Satori is an ILF recurve from the co*pany that introduced ILF technology to the world. It co*es in 17-, 19-, and 21-inch lengths. They all shoot great and share the same qualities, but I prefer the 21-inch Satori. It’s not too heavy for a long riser, and it has the geometry I like. The 17-inch riser is also excellent for hunters looking for a light, co*pact bow they plan to shoot off the shelf.
I didn’t like the grip on the Satori and couldn’t shoot it well. The grip had a seam down the middle where the two halves were glued together, which I found unco*fortable. The good news is that it’s not a big deal on a metal riser because you can buy great grips from co*panies like Jager. In fact, the first thing I change on all my ILF bows is the grip. Once I had my Jager JD3 grip on the bow, my accuracy improved, and life was good.
You can buy a Satori Riser separately and attach any ILF limb to it—including Hoyt’s awesome, but pricey, Velos limbs. It’s also sold as a co*plete bow with Satori limbs, which are what I had on my riser. The Satori Limbs have a wood core with carbon and glass layers. The limbs feel good on the draw but don’t feel nearly as smooth as the Velos limbs. On the shot, the Satori Limbs are snappy, and they settle quickly once the arrow is gone.
Hoyt got a lot of things right on the Satori. But, one of the biggest misses is there’s just one hole for an arrow rest. That isn’t a big deal if you plan to shoot off the shelf, but it is a big deal if you want to use a cushion plunger and bolt-on arrow rest. On the flip side, the Satori has a nice system for shooting off the shelf with an adjustable side plate.
If you’re looking to buy a co*plete ILF bow, it’s hard to beat the Hoyt Satori. You’ll get a good riser and limbs for under $1,000, and it’s available from 60 to 66-inch lengths to fit any archer.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
If you want excellent performance and master-level craftsmanship, then get on the waitlist for a Wengerd recurve.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Trent Wengerd builds bows one at a time in his Idaho shop. Each one is a masterpiece that balances craftsmanship and performance. I currently own two bows from Wengerd and will soon take delivery of my third. It’s safe to say I’m a huge fan of his bows.
The standard Wengerd grip is a good grip, but I think his best grip is his take on the Jager 2.0. I have one bow with each and I can shoot the standard grip well, but his version of the Jager grip is slimmer and I shoot it more consistently. The nice thing about custom bows is that they are truly custom, and you can order any grip you want on your bow.
Wengerd offers wood or carbon limbs. I own two pairs of his carbon limbs and one set of wood limbs. My overwhelming preference is for the carbon limbs. They are much more stable, slightly smoother, and quieter. The wood limbs have the advantage of aesthetics.
You can choose from a wide variety of exotic woods or heavy G10 for your riser. Choosing your wood co*bo is the fun part of buying a custom recurve, and it’s your chance to make the bow your own. That’s where most custom bows end. But, with Wengerd you can add carving, checkering, or silver inlays which turn a nice bow into an heirloom.
If you want a Wengerd bow, you better get in line—literally. There’s a two-year wait to get your custom bow made. Your patience will be rewarded with a one-of-a-kind bow that shoots as good as it looks.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The CD Archery risers are high-quality and designed by two world champion archers.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Calvin Smock and Dewayne Martin are world champion archers that took their co*bined experience to make an ILF riser. If you look at the podiums at indoor, 3D, field, and outdoor archery co*petitions, you’ll often see CD Archery represented. I’ve owned and co*peted with their 27-inch riser for three years. I’ve also owned their 19-inch riser.
One thing that I love about the CD risers is the build quality. From the bolts to the machining, everything is high quality. When you click limbs into the riser or make adjustments, you can feel that quality. Much in the same way the best pocket knives feel better in your hand than one you get at a gas station.
CD is known for their unique design, which shifts the bow’s weight forward, a great design for a discipline where we can’t use stabilizers. You can also add weight to the riser, and I like a 16-ounce Yost weight on mine.
I’ve noticed my CD risers have a straighter geometry, which I think makes them have more vibration. I’ve shot my personal best indoor scores with the WF-27, so I can’t say it is holding me back from shooting to my full potential.
There’s one thing you should know about recurve bows before buying one: You can find them for 40 to 50 percent off when you buy used. You’ll find custom, vintage, and production bows on thriving used trad bow marketplaces like Facebook groups, The Leatherwall, TradGang, and TradTalk. I’ve been buying and selling used bows for years (to feed my insatiable bow addiction). Here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way.
Don’t Buy a Bow That’s not in Your Specs
You might stumble upon a great deal or a hard-to-find bow that’s a little too heavy or a little too short for you. Don’t let the scarcity or the deal pull you into buying a bow that you won’t shoot well. You’ll end up selling it after a few frustrating months.
Don’t Pay with Paypal “Pay to Someone You Trust”
Paypal charges a fee if you use their protected payment, but when you’re making transactions online to strangers, it’s worth the 5 percent fee. With the protection, if you don’t get the bow, you have some recourse to get your money back. If you go without the protection, you’re out of luck.
Know the Lingo
Bow listings often have shorthand terminology that you’ll need to know. Here are some co*mon ones.
Final Tips
Traditional archery is a small co*munity, so be nice and be courteous when making a transaction. Don’t low ball. For example, if someone has a bow listed for $500, don’t offer them $250.
Don’t say “I’ll take it,” unless you are going to buy the bow. Bailing on a transaction won’t make you any friends. Taking a long time to pay for a bow will also make people nervous.
Most folks you buy bows from online are great people, and buying used is an excellent way to try a bunch of nice bows while saving money. Just make sure you sell as many as you buy, or you’ll end up with a large collection, like me.
There are a lot of fantastic recurve bows out there, many of them are made by individual craftsmen, and I could not test them all. Below is a list of notable bows that I didn’t test.
I can’t stress enough that there is no one best recurve bow,